Science topics – Page 9 – Whizz Pop Bang Blog

SPACE NEWS: Not so simple Cimon

Posted on 8th January 2019 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

The relationship between an astronaut and a flying robot took a surprising turn when the robot stopped doing what it was told. Cimon (which stands for Crew Interactive MObile Companion) is a football-sized intelligent robot that flies around the International Space Station. Cimon was designed to keep the astronauts company and to help them with their work. Recently, astronaut Alexander Gerst asked Cimon to play his favourite song. But when asked to stop and do something different, Cimon carried on talking about music, and eventually said “Don’t be so mean, please”.

While Cimon has been put away for the time being, Gerst hopes to see him back in action soon.

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SPECTACULAR SCIENCE: Glass Frog Heartbeat

Posted on 8th January 2019 | by Rachael Tapping | 5 Comments

These extraordinary tree-dwelling frogs live mostly in tropical areas of Central and South America. Most are tiny, ranging in size from 3 cm to 7.5 cm. They are usually green in colour, except for their undersides, where the skin is transparent. This makes it easy to see their internal organs, including their beating hearts!

Unlike tree frogs, glass frogs have forward-facing eyes. They have excellent eyesight for hunting prey at night.

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AIR POLLUTION: An invisible threat

Posted on 3rd January 2019 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

Whizz Pop Bang air pollution feature

How can science help? In this article we help children understand what causes air pollution, and how we as individuals can help to improve air quality. This article was featured in the SMALL WONDER issue of Whizz Pop Bang science magazine for kids, to buy this issue visit our online shop.

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Whizz Pop Bang eco policy

Posted on 13th December 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 2 Comments

Whizz Pop Bang magazine Eco hero icon

As an educational magazine focusing on science, we take our environmental responsibility very seriously. We’re a small independent publisher, which means we have control at each stage of the process – from design to production, through to distribution. We don’t sell to newsstands, high street shops or supermarkets, so we never sell on a sale or return basis (where often, only the cover would be returned and the rest of the magazine is destroyed). Extra copies are held in stock here at WPB HQ, to be sold as back issues. We sometimes receive magazines from the printers which have been slightly damaged in transit, so we donate these to breakfast clubs in deprived areas and hospices for children who are too poorly to go to school.

Every month we report on environmental issues in the news, highlighting eco heroes and how children and their families can help reduce their environmental impact. We have a regular feature called Emmi’s Eco Club, exploring environmental issues in a fun and creative way, encouraging our young readers to be proactive in reducing, re-using and recycling. We are also very careful about the items required for our experiments, which will be inexpensive, household items. For example, we suggest using alternatives to plastic straws and encourage people to buy eco balloons.

Whizz Pop Bang magazines are printed in the UK, using only paper from FSC/PEFC certified suppliers. Our magazines are delivered in paper envelopes, which can be recycled.

Are you looking for ways to help your children learn more about how they can be more environmentally friendly? Read on!

We’re huge fans of Kids Against Plastic, a campaign set-up by sisters Amy and Ella Meek, aged 15 and 13. These two are amazing, their drive and determination to change people’s behaviour is so inspiring!

“Not long ago we came across the UN’s Global Goals and got inspired to do our bit for the planet, and after finding out about the negative effect single-use plastic is having on the environment, we launched the Kids Against Plastic campaign.”

They have three key aims to help people avoid single-use plastics through EDUCATION (learning) and ACTION (doing):

Raise awareness and understanding of the problems caused by plastic misuse
Encourage and support others to become ‘Plastic Clever’ and reduce single-use plastics
Empower children and young people to believe they can make a difference

Follow Amy and Ella and find out what they’re doing to help us reduce our reliance on single-use plastics.

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We’ve got five copies of The Bacteria Book to giveaway!

Posted on 15th November 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 2 Comments

Bacteria book competition

The good, the bad and the ugly, bacteria are everywhere! Learn all about gross germs, vile viruses and funky fungi in this fascinating book written by the aptly named Steve Mould, published by Dorling Kindersley.

To be in with a chance of winning one of these books simply answer this question:

Where can bacteria be found?

a) Antarctic ice

b) Clouds

c) Ocean trenches

d) All of the above

Hint: the answer is in the Bug-tastic Bacteria issue of Whizz Pop Bang magazine!

To enter comment below with your answer by midnight on 30th November 2018. By entering this competition you agree to our terms and conditions.

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Listen to our exclusive interview with ESA astronaut Tim Peake!

Posted on 17th September 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

How lucky are we to get not one, but two interviews with ESA astronaut Tim Peake!!!!! Our editor Tammy chatted to Tim on the phone, asking him lots of probing questions from curious Whizz Pop Bang readers (see the list of questions below).

Listen to the full interview, complete with NASA footage and photos here 👇🏾

Enjoy space-lovers!

The questions Whizz Pop Bang readers asked Tim:

What did it feel like taking off in a rocket?
Do your ears pop during take-off like they do on a plane?
How long does it take to get into space?
How long does it take to actually get to the space station?
Do you have to stay put in the capsule for the whole journey? And what happens if you need the loo?
What does it feel like to be weightless?
What’s it like seeing Earth from space?
Does seeing Earth make you feel differently about the fragility of the environment?
What was your scariest moment in space?
Is it cold on a spacewalk?
Why does the Soyuz craft look so black and battered now?
Did it hurt when you landed?
What was it like coming back to Earth?
What do you miss most when you’re in space?
Where would you most like to travel to in space?
Do you think flights to Mars will ever happen?
Do you think we will ever find extra-terrestrial life?
What advice do you have for budding space scientists?

Photo and video credits Tim Peake, NASA, ESA, Victor Zelentsov and Scott Kelly.

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Take off this summer with our Sky High Science issue!

Posted on 2nd July 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

Wouldn’t it be amazing to fly like a bird? Or how do you fancy fluttering like a butterfly, or even soaring like a snake?! There are all sorts of flying phenomena to discover this issue. Have a go at making your own stunt plane, investigating different designs of straw planes and testing aerofoils. We interview Palaeontologist Liz Martin-Silverstone to ask her how on earth the giant pterosaurs were able to fly, plus we find out how drones work, and answer the question on lots of people’s minds… just how do planes fly???

Buy this issue here and fill your summer holidays with awesome science fun!! ? ✈ ?

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Flying snake!

Posted on 19th June 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

After launching themselves from a branch, paradise tree snakes flatten their bodies into a wing shape and ‘snake’ through the air, gliding between trees up to 30 metres apart!

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Pterosaur take-off

Posted on 19th June 2018 | by Jenny Inglis | Leave a Comment

Scientist think that large pterosaurs, like the giant Quetzalcoatlus, probably took off by leaping into the air from all four limbs. These animals were so enormous that if they only used their back legs to take off, like a bird, their thigh bones would have snapped!

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Whizz Pop Bang interviews with science heroes!

Posted on 11th June 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

Each month we interview a SCIENCE HERO to find out what real scientists do in their jobs. This is where we ensure we have a real mix of male and female scientists to inspire girls and boys, and particularly showcase women in STEM roles. Breaking down gender stereotypes is an important part of Whizz Pop Bang magazine as we strive for a future of equality.

Many of the scientists we interview are happy to be contacted by readers who have their own questions, a great opportunity to chat to real scientists! We love this tweet from Electrical Engineer Nikita Hari who’s passionate about inspiring kids into science, especially girls…

Are your kids super curious, always asking questions and exploring new ideas? Help them to nurture their natural curiosity with Whizz Pop Bang! Here’s a list of the 35 scientists we’ve interviewed to date:

Issue 1: Beccy Smith, Chocolate scientist

Issue 2: Karen Ladenheim, Robotics scientist, Stanford University

Issue 3: Lynn Whitfield, Bat ecologist

Issue 4: Dr Steve Brusatte, Palaeontologist, Edinburgh University

Issue 5: Rob Lambert, Antarctic explorer and polar scientist

Issue 6: Tim Peake, Astronaut

Issue 7: Susan Cheyne, Conservation biologist (orangutans)

Issue 8: Misha Lotto, young scientist, Blackawton Bees Project

Issue 9: Josie Campbell, Vet

Issue 10: Shane Cronin, Volcanologist (New Zealand)

Issue 11: Jennifer Andon, Entomologist

Issue 12: Dr Maddalena Bearsi, Marine biologist

Issue 13: Prof Robert Winston, Medical scientist, Imperial College

Issue 14: Sarah Shelley, Fossil hunter

Issue 15: Helen Czerski, Bubble scientist

Issue 16: Abbie Hutty, Mars Rover engineer

Issue 17: Lara Aknin, Psychology professor (gift-giving)

Issue 18: Emma Burke, Penguin aquarist

Issue 19: Ian Gilby, Primatologist, Tanzania

Issue 20: Caoimhe Doyle, Foley Artist, sound effect engineer

Issue 21: Amy Dejong, Food scientist, University of Wisconsin

Issue 22: Payton Barnwell, Nanotechnologist, Florida Polytechnic Uni

Issue 23: Dave Goulson, Bumblebee biologist

Issue 24: Huw James, Science adventurer

Issue 25: Alex Hildred, Maritime archaeologist

Issue 26: Cierra Martin, Seed guardian

Issue 27: Toby Gemmill, Orthopaedic vet

Issue 28: Dr Sheyna, Martian (sort of!)

Issue 29: Richard Stammers, Visual effects artist

Issue 30: Andres Ruzo, Geothermal Scientist

Issue 31: Lisa Elser, Gem cutter

Issue 32: Pratap Pullammanappallil, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida, USA

Issue 33: Dr Nicola Rooney, Research Fellow in the Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group at the University of Bristol

Issue 34: Nikita Hari, Electrical Engineer

Issue 35: Barry Drust, Professor of Exercise Physiology

Whizz Pop Bang magazine has helped to inspire lots of girls and boys to want to be scientists when they grow up! To buy a back issue (for just £3.75 inc UK delivery) visit our back issues shop or you can sign up for monthly magazines by post – simply subscribe online.

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