Science Education Insights

Robocop Never Looked This Good

 

When Claire Lomas severed her spinal cord 5 years ago, she was told she would never walk again.  Claire was a successful and talented Event horse rider who competed at 4* level.  But whilst competing at Osberton Horse Trials, in England in 2007, she collided with a tree.  Her injuries were to change her life forever.

 

During the collision, Claire fractured her neck, back and ribs.  She also punctured a lung, which resulted in pneumonia, and a tracheotomy was required so that she could breathe.   Sadly the fractures to her back had damaged Claire's spinal cord, resulting in paralysis from her chest down.

So, five years on and still paralysed, it is surprising, to say the least, to hear Claire say that she will be taking part in this year's Virgin London Marathon!

Her quest to get better and to walk again prompted her to contact the East Yorkshire Company, Cyclone.  They decided to work with Claire to test a remarkable ReWalk^TM Robotic suit for the UK market. The suit is manufactured by Argo Medical Technologies and comprises a light wearable brace support suit, which integrates motors at the joints, an array of sensors, a computer based control system and rechargeable batteries.  The Robocop-like powered exoskeleton is designed to help people with lower limb disabilities, such as Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Spina Bifida, to regain mobility and independence.

The ReWalk^TM suit is able to detect subtle changes in movement and center of gravity to enable the user to ‘walk’ with the aid of crutches. 

The problem of paralysis is not just the inability to walk.  Spinal injury affects sensation, bowel and bladder function, circulation, temperature regulation, sexual function, bone density and depression.  In addition, complications involving pressure sores, respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems are common.  By allowing someone with paralysis to stand up and move more freely, many of these issues can be addressed.  Claire has expressed great relief in being able to stand up again after five years of sitting down confined to a wheelchair.  

Claire, who is the first person in the UK to use the £43,000 ReWalk^TM unit, has so far managed to take 30 steps which is a major accomplishment.  However, she’ll need to walk around 55,000 steps to be able to complete the London Marathon in April.  She estimates that it will take her between one and two weeks to reach the end of the 26.2 mile course. 

Claire’s current motivation is provided by her one-year-old daughter, Maisie.  “We’re having a bit of a competition at the moment to see who can walk first!”

Research into Spinal Cord Injuries has come a long way over recent years. Although Stem Cell treatments grab the headlines, science is also providing breakthroughs with the aid of new technologies and materials that help to make systems like the ReWalk^TM robotic suit a real alternative for people like Claire.

You can find out more about Claire's London Marathon Challenge & her fundraising for Spinal Research

 

 

 

 

 

Google's Doodle Honors Invisible Wave

If you go to Google.com today, you’ll see a moving wave image instead of the usual Google logo. 

 

 

So what’s behind this animated image in Google’s corporate colours of red, blue yellow and green? 

The search engine giant is celebrating the 155^th birthday of the German Physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz and his pioneering work with electromagnetic waves.

Hertz was born to a wealthy family in Hamburg in 1857 and as a child quickly developed a love of science.  He was able to obtain his PhD on electromagnetic induction in rotating spheres when he was just 22 years old.

Hertz was fascinated by the earlier work of James Maxwell, a Scottish Physicist, who in 1873 stated that light, electricity and magnetism move in a wave formation.  Whilst Maxwell’s theory was correct it remained just a theory as he couldn’t find a way to prove it.

Hertz was inspired by this idea.  After he set up two electrified brass spheres in his laboratory, he was able to send sparks flying from one sphere to the another.  If the sparks were sending invisible waves through the air, he thought, then he should be able to create a receiver that would capture the waves.

Hertz created his receiver by using a curved piece of wire that almost made a complete circle except for a small gap at the top.  The transmitter and receiver were placed well away from each other so that nothing could connect them.  When the transmitter was activated sparks began to fly .. the invisible waves were able to travel through the air and light up new sparks on the receiver.

Hertz went on to prove that the waves moved at the speed of light and whilst some could be reflected by certain materials, some waves could pass through others.

Although he was triumphant in proving Maxwell’s theory, he couldn’t see a use for his discovery, claiming “It’s of no use whatsoever.  This is just an experiment that proves Maestro Maxwell was right, we just have these mysterious electromagnetic waves that we cannot see with the naked eye.  But they are there.”

Little did he realize that his work would be used in the development of the wireless telegraph, radio, television and even today’s Wi-Fi.

In 1930 the International Electrotechnical Commission agreed that Hertz’s name would be used to denote a unit of frequency.  The hertz (or Hz) measures cycles per second.

Sadly, this brilliant Physicist's career was cut short when he contracted Wegener’s granulomatosis (an incurable inflammation of the blood vessels) at the age of 36. Heinrich Rudolph Hertz died the following year in 1894 and was buried in Ohlsdorf, Hamburg.  His Widow and their daughters fled Germany after the rise of Adolf Hitler and settled in England.

 

No Batteries Required

 

Researchers at the University of Bedfordshire, in Great Britain, have been searching for an alternative to the humble household battery that we have all become so familiar with. 

We use and dispose of hundreds of thousands of batteries every year with many making their way to landfill sites.  As a result, toxic chemicals are being released into the ground. The University's Centre for Wireless Research team have been looking for an alternative to powering electronic devices and have been investigating power harvesting technologies.

Patent Application
Professor Ben Allen announced that the University has now applied for a patent application for a new system that uses radio waves as a power source.  Professor Allen's team includes David Jazani and Tahima Ajmal who have all been conducting experiments into the new system during their spare time.

As light, sound and even wind waves contain energy the team have explored the possibility that radio waves could also be harvested to produce energy.  Professor Allen said, "I am thrilled that our research into power harvesting has paved the way for this ground-breaking patent filing.  The emerging area of power harvesting technology promises to reduce our reliance on conventional batteries and with it offer positive environmental, economic and social impact."

Unconventional power sources could be the way forward for a world that is increasingly hungry to supply power to electronic tools, devices and gadgets.  Professor Allen and his team are excited to be working in this fast-developing area of science and technology and are planning to develop their power harvesting research further.

The University's Innovation Director Wesley Randle stated that, "Our creative academics from cross-disciplines are working together to convert their research ideas into tangible products."

 

Take a look at our 3B Scientific Tools & Experiment Kits

 

 

Stan Skeleton Turns Out To Be A Girl!

Ms. Amber Riddle, a 7th Grade Science Teacher and Softball Coach at Hawley High School in Texas, was certainly surprised when our team got in touch.  It was great to tell her that she had won a full size 3B Scientific Skeleton, worth $299.00, for her class!

Ms. Riddle attended the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers (CAST) that took place November 17-19 in Dallas, Texas.  Her name was randomly chosen from the many entries to our sweepstake to win Stan the Skeleton!

Ms Riddle said that her students were as excitd as she was to hear that hey had won and eagerly awaited their prize.

When the magnificent 3B Skeleton arrived, Ms. Riddle's students were quick to decide that it was a girl and promptly named her "Skulletta"!

Ms. Riddle said, "We all really enjoyed talking about the specific bones as we put her together .. A big discussion took place on which arm went on which side."  Clearly the students were very enthusiastic at having a new 'class-mate' .. so excited, in fact, that they decided to dress Skulletta in one of Ms. Riddle's softball uniforms!

Our 3B Scientific Skeleton couldn't have arrived at a better time as Ms.Riddle and her students are due to start learning about the human body shortly.

 

Ms. Riddle was grateful for the opportunity to bring anatomy and science to life with the aid of Skulletta the 3B Scientific Skeleton and said, "Thanks for doing this remarkable thing for my classes!"

Massive Solar Storm causes Northern Lights

If you live in the Northern hemisphere, your chances of seeing the Northern Lights have just increased!

As we reported in our recent post about Aurora Borealis, it is usually only locations much closer to the Arctic, such as Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Alaska that are able to see this amazing natural spectacle.  

However, thanks to a spectacular solar storm this week, you may get a glimpse of the Northern Lights even if you live much further south.  Canada, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England have already been able to report sightings rarely seen so far south.

The reason for these extra sightings is due to a huge coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun towards the Earth.

You can see from NASA's close-up of the January 22nd, M8.7 Solar Flare that a huge mass of hot gas erupts outwards sending light and high-speed particles into space.  The increased numbers of highly energetic protons that rush towards the Earth's atmosphere during a solar storm can cause interference with short wave radio communications, GPS signals and the Earth's power grid.  As the particles come into contact with the Earth's magnetic field they create the visual display of eerie lights that are usually only reserved for our Scandinavian cousins.

Several NASA spacecraft that specialize in solar observations have reported that the eruption comes from 'sunspot 1402' which has become increasingly active recently.  Solar activity tends to increase every 11 years and this is expected to be the strongest solar storm since 2005.  As solar activity during this cycle is due to reach it's maximum during 2013, it's likely that more flares will occur.

Have you seen the Northern Lights?  Leave a comment and tell us where you were when you saw them!

Will Hydrogen Power Ever Move Over To The Fast Lane?

Cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells could become increasingly popular in the UK, now that the government has officially backed a scheme to drive the industry forward.

The newly launched program - UKH2Mobility - will attempt to evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles with a proposed roll-out to consumers in 2014/15.

Why is Hydrogen a good alternative fuel?
When Hydrogen is used in fuel cell systems, it doesn't produce any carbon emissions (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons or particulates).  This means that it produces clean energy and will be a significant factor in the improvement of air quality and the reduction of C0₂.

Jerry Hardcastle, Vice-President for Vehicle Design and Development at Nissan announced, "This is an important step for the automotive sector towards the development of clean vehicle technologies and zero emission mobility."

Why hasn't Hydrogen been used as fuel before now?
Hydrogen-powered cars have long been thought of as the future of the auto industry but unfortunately have had more prevalence in Science Fiction than on our roads.  The problem has been making the technology, which has been available for some time, commercially viable.  The costs involved in extracting hydrogen for fuel as well as constructing enough re-fuelling stations has proved prohibitive.

Germany launched a similar initiative in 2009 and both Japan and California have also got state-funded projects up and running.

The UK government will be investing £400m during the next few years to support low-emission vehicles.  Specific grants aimed at increasing the uptake of electric, rechargeable and hydrogen fuel-cell cars will be offered.

General Motors reports that it has invested over $2billion in this type of technology so far.  It has a fleet of test vehicles in both Europe and the US, which already use fuel cells.  They hope that these vehicles will be ready to market from 2016.

However, without wide introduction of refueling stations, this technology is likely to remain stuck in the slow lane.

Are any other alternative fuels being considered?
It seems there is still some way to go in deciding which fuel will be best for the cars of the future.  After-all there is still plenty of research and development in the production of sustainable battery solutions to provide better electric cars.  Natural gas and solar power have also been considered.  The problem continues to be how to create large scale, environmentally safe ways to propel vehicles efficiently and economically without using fossil fuels.

Would you be prepared to change your car to one that made use of alternative fuels? 

How Many Endangered Animals Can You See?

We rather liked this clever poster campaign for the World Wildlife Fund, so we thought we'd share it with you - We can spot 14 hidden endangered animals in the poster ...How many can you find? (Click on the picture for a bigger image)

Declining habitat and deforestation are proving disastrous not only for the planet in general terms but in particular to numerous animal species.  

Forests only cover a small proportion of our planet and yet they are home to more than 90% of the world's land-based animal and plant life.  An area the size of New York State is being lost to deforestation every year... that's approximately 36 million acres of forest being chopped down every year.

We may not all have a forest on our doorstep but they have an enormous impact on our lives - Forests are essential to life on Earth.  

Here are 5 Forest Facts - 
What Forests do for us and why they are worth saving:

1. They provide a vast number of medicinal plants 
2. Forests help to purify the air that we breathe
3. They regulate local and global climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
4. 1.6 billion people rely on forest ecosystems for food, shelter, clothing, traditional medicine and subsistence agriculture.
5. Tree roots bind the soil and help prevent erosion. 

With 3B Scientific hands-on science kits and experiments, a wide range of conservation topics can

be investigated.  Whether it's looking at the Animal Behaviour Lab to study how animals adjust to environmental conditions or testing water and soil samples to establish an understanding of environmental issues and solutions, all support inquiry-based learning.

So, how did you get on with spotting the hidden endangered animals?  Did you find the Sloth and Crocodile too?

 

Get the Kids Out!

Last year we reported on American 3B Scientific’s Adam Waterson’s involvement with The First Lady & the Sleeping Asparagus.

We’re delighted to report that since then CNN has picked up the story and featured it in their ‘Schools of Thought’.  The story features the students at Burgess-Peterson Elementary school on the east side of Atlanta and the fully operational kitchen-garden that they have created with the help of Waterson and his team of volunteers.  Teachers and children have continued to succeed and have reaped the benefits, quite literally, by harvesting eight pounds of fresh produce from their labors for the Thanksgiving holiday last year.

So, why have we ignored this crucial element to educating children for so long?  

Allowing children to have hands-on problem solving experiences deepens their understanding and encourages further exploration in all subjects.  In an age where many children lack social interaction and rely on television or computer games for stimulation, opportunities to explore the real world are often far too few.

Initiatives like Waterson’s are helping promote an holistic approach to education; one where finding out the answers is about more than just reading a textbook.

Forest School is another way to allow children to experience problem solving and learning tasks outdoors. 

The concept originated from Sweden in the 1950s and was adopted by Denmark soon after.  The UK has expanded on the system from the early 1990s and now supports a large number of projects around the country. 

The philosophy of Forest School is to encourage, educate and inspire through positive experiences and participation in a woodland environment.  By engaging, motivating and setting achievable tasks, children learn to respect not only the environment around them but also their peers and communities.  

Older children are able to have the opportunity to learn how to put up shelters, prepare a fire, produce weaving to enhance structures and cook popcorn in a home-made ‘corn cooker’.   Whilst younger children get to experience bug searching, nature collections and fishing, which all prove to be great favorites.

Busy hands and busy minds take in a better understanding of their wider world when presented in an outdoor setting. Like Waterson’s gardening project, children find a use for math, economics and language skills when they understand how, for example, their food arrives on their plate or how their home is built.  

Here at 3B Scientific we have a hands-on approach to science with plenty of tools and equipment to help you create your own outdoor learning environment.  

• Portable Laboratories
• Botany Experiments & Kits
• Environmental Science Experiments
• Pocket Compass'
• Magnifying glasses & microscopes

 

As well-known educationalist Margaret McMillan once said: “The best class-room and the richest cupboard are roofed only by the sky.”

 

Contact us now if you'd like more information
on how to provide hands-on science for your children or school.  

Find us on Facebook and Twitter and tell us about your outdoor learning environments! 

        

 

 

Cavagnolo Spreads Scientific Excitement

We are delighted to see our colleague Ken Cavagnolo highlighted in this article by Georgia Tech Alumni.  Ken's passion for science and eminent professional career has made him an invaluable member of our 3B Scientific team.  He is committed to bringing the worlds of science education and technology together to appeal to a wider audience and specifically to enrich the science experience of students and teachers.

You can read the full article below...

Cavagnolo spreads scientific excitement with American 3B Scientific

It’s impossible to ignite a passion for science in students just by using textbooks, and one Georgia Tech graduate has spent his adult life creating new ways to make science come alive in classrooms across the United States. Kenneth Cavagnolo (Physics 2002) uses his rare insights in a variety of different aspects of science to design, develop and distribute hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory equipment that aids teachers with their instruction.

After graduating from Tech, Cavagnolo went on to earn significant post-graduate accolades at several different institutions. He earned a doctorate in Astrophysics from Michigan State University, a two-year post-doc at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and a one-year post-doc at the Observatoire de la Cote d’Azur in Nice, France. He originally began his career focusing on research, primarily on galaxy formation and evolution and the influence of black hole activity on the properties of large-scale structure. Soon, however, economic issues sent him down a different path.

“Due to changes in global science funding priorities, I transitioned out of pure research into a
product management role with the privately-held company 3B Scientific (3BS) where I am responsible for the Physics category,” he said.

Cavagnolo describes himself in his current role as being “a blend of a businessman, developer, scientist, marketer and lobbyist,” each of which help him develop some of the world’s best school lab environments.

“As someone who has had lengthy exposure to the academic, research and industry sides of the science world, I have found myself uniquely positioned to make meaningful contributions to discussions regarding U.S. science education policies and strategies,” he said.

Due to this ability, Cavagnolo’s career has taken him to Congressional offices as part of the Hands-On Science Partnership advocacy group. He has worked as a consultant for many different school districts for cutting-edge science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. It’s no wonder he considers his position to be such an amalgamation of vastly different roles.

To this day, Cavagnolo retains a soft spot in his heart for his undergraduate alma mater. He believes that his work will have a direct impact on many future Tech students.

“I am, or have been, deeply involved in both legs of the journey students undergo before and after life at Georgia Tech,” he said. “To ensure that Georgia Tech continues to receive students who are passionate about science, I have the responsibility to push my industry to provide teachers with the engaging tools needed to make science more than a book topic by demonstrating to students that taking apart the physical world through the scientific process is exciting and lucrative.”

Cavagnolo believes that one of the best examples of Tech’s commitment to fostering a passion for science is the rapid expansion of the Physics Department into the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. These are the very fields that captured his imagination as a student, and brought him to Tech in the first place. Every student who passes through the Center for Relativistic Astrophysics will at some point rely on people like him to create the best-possible classroom and laboratory experience.

“My focus in industry is to ensure that those GT students come away from their labs having interacted with the best equipment so that their passion is stoked and not frustrated, with the long-term goal being their advancement into a life as a professional engineer or scientist,” said Cavagnolo. “This full-circle aspect to my work is satisfying both professionally and personally.”

Despite all of the success he has found since leaving Tech, Cavagnolo still has an important, humbling message to all of its current students, and anyone else who has dreams of entering into the world of science.

“Aspire to fail,” he says. “It is the only way to assure that you will find success.”

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Creative Scientists Get Festive

 

 

Look a little closer and you'll realize that this Christmas card contains a rather unusual source of inspiration. Marine Scientist, Dr. Richard Kirby, has used his passion for microscopic sea creatures to create this festive scene.

The Christmas tree is in fact made from the paddle worm Tomopteris Helgolandica and the angels are images of Clione Limacina that, not surprisingly, are more commonly known as Sea Angels.

Dr. Kirby was inspired to make a Christmas montage after looking through photographs of plankton and being reminded of Christmas scenes.

And Dr. Kirby isn't the only creative scientist out there ...

The Nanotechnologists at the University of Glasgow have also proved that they are a creative and festive bunch too.  They have produced the world's smallest Christmas card!  The seasonal image of a Christmas tree measured just 200x290 micro-metres and is etched onto a tiny piece of glass.

The graphic you see here demonstrates how tiny their Christmas card is.  Completely invisible to the naked eye, this card would not only get lost in the post but you would be able to fit 8,276 of them on an ordinary postage stamp.

 

 

The Nanotechnology team produced the colors on the card by plasmon resonance in a patterned aluminum film in the University's James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.

This particular display of science is likely to be found in applications that are critical to developing digital television, cameras and computer screens.

 

 Have you seen some festive Science projects that you'd like to share with us?