Melting icecaps are threatening one of the most important currents in the world, the Great Ocean Conveyor. If it stopped, it could have devastating impacts on our climate. Earth Science - Human Impacts - Learning Points. The Great Ocean...

Friction can be friend or foe. What is friction, how does it affect our lives and how can we alter it? Physics - Forces - Learning Points. Friction is a resistive force between surfaces moving at different velocities. Friction is...

Without the greenhouse effect, our planet would be too cold to inhabit, but it's currently a major cause of global warming. What is the greenhouse effect, and why is it such a conundrum? Earth Science - Human Impacts - Learning Points....

Learn how the industrial process of fractional distillation transforms crude oil into a variety of products, from plane fuel to road surfacing. Chemistry - Chemical Industries - Learning Points. Extraction of crude oil from Fractional...

The differences between thermosetting, thermosoftening and partially biodegradable plastics, and how they can be recycled. Chemistry - Chemical Industries - Learning Points. We throw away a lot of plastic and most is non-biodegradable....

Everything we eat contains calories. We need them to function and carry out everyday tasks. How do we know which foods are right to eat and which contain 'empty calories'? Chemistry - Chemical Industries - Learning Points. Calories are...

Exploring the science behind fireworks, discover how different elements are used to produce different colours of fireworks. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. In the mid-19th century the inventor if the Bunsen burner,...

From radio waves to gamma rays, the electromagnetic spectrum is useful in different ways. How does this radiation differ and how can they be used? Physics - Waves - Learning Points. Electromagnetic radiation exists along a continuous...

From polar bears to emperor penguins, how animals and plants survive in some of the harshest habitats on Earth - the polar regions. Biology - Adaptation And Evolution - Learning Points. A host of different animals survive in the coldest...

The Sun is dying, and getting hotter as it does. As life on Earth becomes unsustainable, could we move to Mars? Physics - Universe - Learning Points. The Sun will die in approximately 5 billion years. As the Sun ages, it will get hotter,...

Conduction, convection and radiation are all ways in which heat is transported. How does each work, and what are they useful for? Physics - Energy And Radioactivity - Learning Points. The three types of heat transport are conduction,...

From camels to lizards, how animals and plants survive in some of the hottest and driest habitats on Earth - the hot deserts. Biology - Adaptation And Evolution - Learning Points. Organisms survive harsh environments by physical and...

They walked on two legs, laid their eggs in nests, and some even glided through the air – find out more about the theropod dinosaurs, from which all birds evolved. Biology - Animal Kingdom - Learning Points. A Twig Curriculum Film....

Transition metals are the largest group in the periodic table. Find out what similarities they share, and how we make use of these metals. Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. Transition metals are found as a block in the middle...

Fireworks combine chemical processes, from combustion to spectroscopy, to create spectacular displays. Discover what happens when the fuse is lit. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Fireworks involve combustion and exothermic...

Discover how elements are formed in the centre of stars, and how some elements are formed in even more spectacular conditions. Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. Most elements were created in space. At the beginning of the...

Material that conducts heat or electricity very poorly, and so can be used to provide some measure of protection. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual...

We investigate the amount of energy stored in maize snacks and peanuts by burning them. The food is placed under an aluminium beaker of water before being set alight and the temperature change of the water is recorded. We can compare the...

We use filtration and evaporation to separate out a mixture of water, sand and salt. The sand is removed using filtration, as it did not dissolve in the water. The remaining solution is heated until the water evaporates, leaving behind...

We use a metal box holding rods of different materials to test their ability to conduct heat. The box is filled with boiling water and a paperclip is attached to the end of each rod using petroleum jelly. As the heat moves through the...

We use distillation to remove the water from ink. The ink is heated in a conical flask with a delivery tube running to a beaker. The water has a lower boiling point and so it evaporates before the ink. The water condenses as it travels...

We demonstrate an endothermic reaction by mixing hydrated barium hydroxide with ammonium thiocyanate. When these two solids react they take heat from the surrounding air. Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. Breaking bonds takes in...

We investigate the properties of two types of gas bubbles: methane gas bubbles and bubbles of the gas we breathe out. The air-filled bubbles sink and we are unable to set them alight, while the methane bubbles float upwards and are...

We use a Hero's engine model to show how equal and opposite forces can cause propulsion. Two holes are pierced in a metal bottle and some water is added. This is suspended above a Bunsen burner, and as the water boils and leaves the...