Whizz Pop Bang Blog – Page 36 – Awesomely amazing science magazine for kids

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!

Post Comment

WIN! Moth, An evolution story by Isabel Thomas

Posted on 14th June 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 13 Comments

To celebrate #MothNight2018 we’ve got a copy of this beautiful book, MOTH, by Isabel Thomas (one of our Whizz Pop Bang writers). Written for younger children, this is the retelling of the story of the peppered moth. A true tale, and ideal introduction to natural selection and evolution for children.

“This is the story of light and dark…”

Enter by answering this question in the comment box below:

What sort of moth is this story about?

A. Salted moth

B. Sugared moth

C. Peppered moth

Enter by midnight on Sunday 17th June. By entering this competition you agree to the terms and conditions on our website. Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for this book.

Post Comment

Agnes Arber photo in Whizz Pop Bang science magazine

Scientists from history

Posted on 11th June 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 3 Comments

Each month we celebrate a sensational scientist from history; an eminent figure in the creation, invention or discovery of a scientific breakthrough. How many famous scientists can you name? How many of those are women? Female scientists were often forgotten or unknown, simply because they were women. And yet their work was instrumental in discovering hugely important scientific breakthroughs.

Inside Whizz Pop Bang magazine your kids will discover the historic world of science; who invented computers, who discovered the milky way and who is responsible for how we forecast the weather. We tell the story of these fascinating scientists, both male and female, and how they came to discover incredible things.

A few examples of the less well-known women we’ve featured: Lise Meitner, whose work led to the discovery of nuclear fission, astronomer Caroline Herschel and Agnes Arber, botanist and early ambassador in helping the world to recognize the amazing talent of women in science. Read the full list of sensational scientists below.

List of the sensational scientists featured in Whizz Pop Bang magazine:

Issue 1: Mary Anning

Issue 2: Charles Darwin

Issue 3: Maria Telkes

Issue 4: Leonardo da Vinci

Issue 5: Lise Meitner

Issue 6: Louis Pasteur

Issue 7: Rosalind Franklin

Issue 8: Antoine Lavoisier

Issue 9: Mary Somerville

Issue 10: Charles Lyell

Issue 11: Caroline Herschel

Issue 12: Jacques Cousteau

Issue 13: Grace Hopper

Issue 14: Roy Chapman Andrews

Issue 15: William Henry Perkin

Issue 16: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Issue 17: Florence Nightingale

Issue 18: Albert Einstein

Issue 19: Gregor Mendel

Issue 20: Rachel Carson

Issue 21: Ibn al Haytham

Issue 22: Richard Feynman

Issue 23: Agnes Arber

Issue 24: Alfred Wegener

Issue 25: Jeanne Villepreux-Power

Issue 26: George de Mestral, velcro

Issue 27: Marie Curie

Issue 28: Nicolaus Copernicus

Issue 29: Hedy Lamarr

Issue 30: Archimedes

Issue 31: Anselmus De Boot

Issue 32: Joseph Bazalgette

Issue 33: Charles Darwin

Issue 34: Michael Faraday

Issue 35: Gerty Cori

To buy a back issue for just £3.75 (with free UK delivery!) visit our shop.

Post Comment

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.

Post Comment

World Oceans Day book competition!

Posted on 8th June 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 8 Comments

To celebrate World Oceans Day 2018 we’ve teamed up with the lovely team at Ivy Kids publishing with a cool book giveaway; Oceans in 30 Seconds, by Jen Green.

To enter this competition to win a copy simply answer this question in the comment box below:

Which of these is the deepest zone of the ocean?

a) Ladel zone

b) Hadal zone

c) Cradle zone

Enter by midnight on Monday 11th June 2018. Thanks to #IvyKids @QuartoKids for supplying five copies of this children’s book all about our oceans. By entering this competition you agree to the terms and conditions on our website.

Love learning about the sea? Buy this issue of Whizz Pop Bang for just £3.75 and learn all about the Secrets of the Deep!

Post Comment

WIN! The Story of Inventions by Anna Claybourne and Adam Larkum

Posted on 16th May 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 12 Comments

Competition time!

We’ve got five copies of The Story of Inventions to giveaway! Who invented the toilet, umbrella and diving suits? Find out in this fascinating book of inventions…

To enter simply answer this question in the comment box below:

Who created the world’s first electric motor?

a) Michael Faraday

b) Michael Magnet

c) Michael Field

Deadline to enter is midnight on 31st May 2018.

By entering this competition you agree to our terms and conditions. Thanks to Usborne Books for supplying the prizes.

Post Comment

Whizz Pop Bang science magazine – virtual dog breeding game explained

Posted on 12th April 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

Mini scientist Poppy explains how to play the virtual breeding game in the Purr-fect pets issue of Whizz Pop Bang science magazine.

Experiment with breeding different dogs together and see what colour the puppies are! Each dog has two copies of the coat colour gene. The black coat gene (B) is dominant and the brown coat gene (b) is recessive. This means that only puppies with bb genes will be brown, and all those with one or two B genes will be black.

What you do:

Cut out the cards on page 19
Choose a male dog and a female dog for breeding and lay their cards out on a table with the names facing up (you should have four cards)
Randomly choose one card for each dog and record the puppy’s genes and coat colour in the table below
Each litter produces four puppies so return the cards to the table, mix them up and repeat step 3 until you have recorded the genes and coat colours of four puppies
Keep choosing different dogs to breed to see what colour their puppies will be

You should find:
Even though Daisy and Max are black, they can still produce brown puppies together, but Buddy and Bella will never produce brown puppies, even if they’re bred with a brown dog. Only Molly with Rocky will produce all brown puppies. Brown puppies are rarer than black so they cost more. This is why pet breeders often breed closely related animals with rare features together.

To play this game, buy the Purr-fect Pets issue of Whizz Pop Bang magazine from our online shop for just £3.75 with free UK delivery.

Post Comment

WIN Paper Pets book with 10 pets to pop out and make!

Posted on 11th April 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 9 Comments

Today is National Pet day! The purr-fect day to launch our online competition to win one of four Paper Pets books, with 10 cute pets and their accessories to pop out and make. Each pet has a name, a house (or a perch for the parrot!) toys and even some food.

To enter this competition you’ll need your Purr-fect Pets issue of Whizz Pop Bang handy. Have you read about Charles Darwin’s pets yet? Tell us which of these animals he kept in the comment box below ??

Which pets did Charles Darwin keep?

a) newts

b) stick insects

c) pigeons

Enter by midnight on 30th April. Good luck!

Thanks to Quarto Kids for supplying four Paper Pets books for this Whizz Pop Bang competition.

Post Comment

How does it feel to find a giant dino footprint? We talk to paleontologist Steve Brusatte to find out!

Posted on 7th April 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

Did you hear about the huge dinosaur footprints discovered on the Scottish coast this week? We ask Steve Brusatte some very important questions about this awesome discovery…

*Paleontologist Dr Steve Brusatte at the dinosaur footprint site on the Isle of Skye*

We’re lucky to have Steve on the Whizz Pop Bang boffin team (our panel of expert scientists who advise us on the latest scientific developments), so we asked him a few questions about the latest dinosaur print to be discovered on the Isle of Skye.

1. Are there words to describe just how exciting it feels to discover these tracks?

It was a fantabulotastic feeling. I think that’s the best way I can try to put it into words! Because the moment of discovery is magical. When you find something that no human has ever seen before, something from hundreds of millions of years ago. It was actually one of my students who discovered these tracks. Davide Foffa is his name; he’s a PhD student, from Italy. I was very proud that my student found something so amazing!

davide foffa at footprint site — *Davide Foffa, one of my students who actually discovered these tracks*

2. Do you have a special dino discovery high five with your team?!

No! Although maybe I should invent one. Any ideas?

3. If people want to go and visit the Isle of Skye can they see the foot print? Can they put their own foot inside the print?

Yes they can, although the tracks are located at a protected site, so they can’t be tampered with. If you go and see them, be careful not to damage them. They’ve lasted for 170 million years and we want them to last for a long time more. It is an amazing thing to put your foot inside a dinosaur track. It gives you a sense of just how big these dinosaurs were! The biggest tracks are 70 centimeters across, so about the size of a car tyre!

Want to know more about discovering dinosaurs? Order the Fossil Frenzy issue of Whizz Pop Bang science magazine and read all about how to find a dinosaur with Steve Brusatte! Visit our online shop to buy this issue for just £3.75 (free UK postage).

Whizz Pop Bang science magazine for kids Fossil Frenzy cover

Whizz Pop Bang science magazine Issue 14 dinosaur hunting with paleontologist Steve Brusatte — *Whizz Pop Bang science magazine issue 14: Fossil Frenzy*

Post Comment

Whizz POp Bang science magazine for kids edible poo_5

Blurghhh it’s edible poo!

Posted on 29th March 2018 | by Rachael Tapping | 1 Comment

We’ve been inundated with your photos of edible poo!!!! The PLOP-TASTIC poo issue has been the most popular issue of Whizz Pop Bang, proving (as if any parent or teacher needed proof) that kids really do love talking about poo!

WARNING! DO NOT look at these photos whilst eating, or if you’re easily offended by the sight of very realistic poo on a plate…

Intrigued about the ingredients for edible poo? Buy the PLOP-TASTIC poo issue of Whizz Pop Bang science magazine from our back issues shop and let the poo-themed fun begin!

Post Comment