Curated Video
Plants in Extreme Environments
To survive, plants have developed adaptations to regulate temperature and water, and maximise the capture of sunlight. Some plants have even evolved to survive in extreme environments of hot deserts and Polar regions. Biology - Plants -...
Curated Video
Solutions
Why and how do substances dissolve? Discover what happens when you create a solution. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. A solution is the mixture formed when a solid dissolves in a liquid. A solvent is a liquid that can...
Curated Video
The Big Chill
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...
Curated Video
Cystic Fibrosis
What is cystic fibrosis? Find out what the symptoms are and how it is caused. Biology - Cells And DNA - Learning Points. Cystic fibrosis is a serious progressive, genetic disease that affects the whole body. Cystic fibrosis is caused by...
Curated Video
Rusting Nails
We investigate the conditions needed for rust to form. Four iron nails are placed under different conditions. One is half submerged in water. Another is completely submerged in boiled water. One is half submerged in salt water. The final...
Curated Video
Osmosis and Volume
We look at the effects of osmosis on the volume of potato and the appearance of red onion cells. Two cylinders of potato are measured and weighed before one is placed in salt water and the other in fresh water. We can see how osmosis...
Curated Video
Instant Crystals
We use a supersaturated solution of sodium ethanoate to demonstrate instant crystallisation. Sodium ethanoate is added to water and is then heated to allow all of the crystals to dissolve. When it is cooled it forms a supersaturated...
Curated Video
Bouncing Eggs
We use vinegar to remove the shells from eggs without breaking them. Two eggs are placed in a beaker of vinegar, but one is half coated with clear nail polish. The exposed shells dissolve over time and the eggs swell as more water moves...
Curated Video
Filtration and Evaporation
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...
Curated Video
Kiwi Fruit DNA
We extract the DNA from a kiwi fruit by mashing it with detergent liquid, salt and water. The mixture is then filtered and incubated before a layer of chilled ethanol is added. The jelly-like DNA can then be extracted. Biology - Cells...
Curated Video
Flame Test
We use a Bunsen burner to burn different chemical salts to see how the flame colour changes. This shows that sodium burns with a yellow flame, lithium burns with a red flame, barium burns with a yellow-green flame and copper burns with a...
Curated Video
Hydrogels
We use a disposable nappy to examine the superabsorbent properties of hydrogels. We add water to grains of hydrogel and watch them swell before adding salt to see the water escape. Chemistry - Chemical Industries - Learning Points....
Curated Video
Inflating Glove
We inflate a rubber glove using the gas produced during a neutralisation reaction. Bicarbonate of soda is added to vinegar in a beaker covered by a rubber glove and it expands. The gas is used to extinguish a flame, showing that it is...
Curated Video
Ionic Bonding
How metals and non-metals combine to form compounds with unique and very different properties. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. An electrically charged atom is called an ion. Ionic bonds are very strong. Ions are formed...
Curated Video
Inventions to Save the Planet
Discover some geo-engineering techniques that scientists are developing to manipulate Earth's climate. What are they and how would they work? Earth Science - Human Impacts - Learning Points. Geo-engineering strives to use technology to...
Curated Video
Salt: Separating Mixtures
Salt is found in the oceans and Earth's surface. How do we collect this salt and separate it from the materials it is mixed with? Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. Salt is found in oceans, lakes and underground rock beds....
Curated Video
Salt: Salt and Ice
Salt is routinely used to melt snow and ice on winter roads. But what is happening at the molecular level to cause this helpful change of state? Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. When salt is added to water it lowers the...
Curated Video
Hydroxide
Refers to the hydroxide ion, which is a negative ion consisting of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise...
Curated Video
Salt
In chemistry, an ionic compound containing positive metal ions and negative non-metal ions. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions. Twig Science...
Curated Video
More chemical reactions – What happens next?
Sodium is heated and added to a flask containing chlorine ... what happens next? Material processes - Changing materials - More chemical reactions A Twig Tidbit Film - What happens next? A short section of film is played and the children...
Curated Video
Minerals – Did you know?
Did you know that there are caves that are made entirely of salt? These were formed 6 million years ago. Material processes - Classifying materials - Minerals A Twig Tidbit Film - Did you know? A fascinating fact is revealed.
Curated Video
Minerals
Discover the world of minerals and learn about their uses. Material processes - Classifying materials - Minerals Learning Points Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a unique chemical make-up. Minerals have many uses. The...
Curated Video
Why is urine yellow?
Urine is a waste product produced by humans and animals. Why is it yellow? Life processes - Living processes - Excretion Learning Points Urine is produced by the kidneys and is excreted through the bladder. Urine is mostly water, excess...
Curated Video
Sea salt
Find out how we extract salt from seawater on an industrial scale. Material processes - Separating mixtures - Separation by evaporation Learning Points A solution is formed when a soluble substance dissolves into a liquid. Evaporation...