The speedy spread of COVID-19 around the globe has left many of us feeling out of control and helpless, so we asked Dr Naomi Thompson, Consultant Microbiologist for the NHS, what can we do about this coronavirus crisis?

“Washing your hands is the best way we can all help prevent the spread of infections, including coronavirus.

Wash all parts of the hand, including under fingernails, for 20 seconds – the time taken to sing happy birthday twice, or sing this song to the tune of ‘Row, row, row your boat’ twice instead:

Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Thumbs and fingers too,
Rinse and then make sure they’re dry,
That’s the thing to do!”

Here’s a fun experiment you can try at home to demonstrate the effectiveness of washing our hands well!

But why is plain old soap and water such a powerful tool against the spread of coronaviruses? Professor Pall Thordarson explains in The Guardian:

“The short story: because the virus is a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the virus falls apart like a house of cards and dies – or rather, we should say it becomes inactive as viruses aren’t really alive.”

Find out more in The science of soap – here’s how it kills the coronavirus by Pall Thordarson in The Guardian.

It’s crucial that we all follow the latest government advice about self-isolation – please click here to find up-to-date information.

Are your children feeling anxious about coronavirus (COVID-19)? Read anxiety-busting advice from childhood mental health specialist, Dr Naira Wilson, here.

Dr Naomi Thompson is a Consultant Microbiologist at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Professor Pall Thordarson is a professor of chemistry at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

Looking for a fun home science experiment that demonstrates why it’s important to wash your hands? This free science activity is brilliant! You just need three slices of bread, some grubby hands (soon to be washed!), a bar of soap, some sealable plastic bags and some spare time…

The most obvious germs you’ll grow are mould and bacteria. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not a bacterium, but this is a great demonstration of how a simple bar of soap can get rid of any nasties lurking on our skin. One to do with the kids while we’re all busy washing our hands as well as we can!

Find out how this simple step can fight the new coronavirus disease.

Are your children anxious about the spread of COVID-19? Here are some tips from childhood mental health expert, Dr Naira Wilson, on how to talk to your children about coronavirus.

You will need:
A bag of sliced bread
3 sealable plastic bags
A permanent marker pen
Soap and a nail brush
Clean tongs (optional)

What you do:
1. Label the three bags ‘control’, ‘clean hands’ and ‘dirty hands’.
2. Transfer a slice of bread into the ‘control’ bag without touching it with your hands and seal.
3. Take another slice out and rub your hands all over it, then put it in the ‘dirty hands’ bag and seal.
4. Wash your hands really well using warm water, soap and a nail brush.
5. Take out a third slice of bread and rub your hands on it, then seal it in the ‘clean hands’ bag.
6. Place the three bags somewhere warm and check them every day.

You should find:
After 5-7 days, colonies of bacteria and mould will be visible on the bread. This should happen sooner in the ‘dirty hands’ bag, as you transferred more mould spores and bacterial cells onto the bread. The control bag allows you to compare your experiment with bread that hasn’t been touched at all.

Throw away the bags without opening them, as some of this bacteria could be nasty.

This is a fantastic science activity that demonstrates the power of a bar of soap. Hand-washing is so important in fighting the spread of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19.

Find loads more activities all about bacteria in Bug-tastic Bacteria!

WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) is a leading wildlife conservation charity dedicated to saving wetlands. Visit a WWT Wetland Centre to discover award-winning worlds where you can see amazing wildlife (including otters and flamingos), take exciting boat safaris through water meadows and reeds, hand-feed exotic birds and see some of the world’s most dramatic and rare birds all in one place.  You’ll also find exhilarating adventure playgrounds, special events, waterside cafes serving delicious homemade food and shops with unique gifts!

We’re exploring watery worlds in the new edition of Whizz Pop Bang: SPLASH! It’s all about the science of ponds and, to celebrate, we’re giving away tickets to visit your local WWT Centre! Scroll down to find out how to enter.

SPLASH! Leap into the science of ponds is available in our shop now!

Click here to find your nearest centre!

Want to win a family ticket to a WWT centre? Two lucky winners will each win one family ticket* to a WWT centre and a Guess Who? Wetland Wildlife edition game!

To enter, simply answer this question in the comments:

What colour are flamingos’ feathers when they’re born?
a. Pink
b. Grey
c. Yellow

If you can’t see the ‘Leave a reply’ box below, click here to see the full version of this blog post.

* A family ticket allows two adults and two children to visit a WWT centre for one day (choose from Slimbridge, Martin Mere, London, Arundel, Castle Espie, Caerlaverock, Washington, Llanelli or Welney). Travel and other expenses are not included in this prize.
* Competition closes at midnight on 2 April 2020. Whizz Pop Bang’s competition terms and conditions are here.

Have you ever wondered what an ancient Egyptian mummy sounds like?

Scientists have brought the voice of an Egyptian mummy back from the dead with the help of a 3D printer. Nesyamun was an Egyptian priest whose mummified remains were scanned in a hospital CT scanner to measure the dimensions of his vocal tract. A team of researchers then made a 3D-printed copy of the vocal tract and used it with an artificial larynx to recreate the sound of Nesyamun’s voice. So far, they’ve only made one vowel sound but, with the help of computer models, the researchers hope to one day recreate full sentences.

This fascinating news story was featured in Whizz Pop Bang: Splash! Leap into the Science of Ponds which is on sale in our shop.

Want to know more about the science of Ancient Egypt? Then you’ll love issue 55, which is packed with the hidden science of mummies and pyramids!

Are you looking for science news for kids? Whizz Pop Bang features the latest science news, presented for children aged 6 – 11, every issue. Sign up here!