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White dwarf
A small, extremely dense star characterised by high temperature and luminosity, no longer capable of nuclear fusion. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual...
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Compound
A substance composed of more than one chemical element, whose atoms are held together by strong chemical bonds and are combined in a fixed ratio. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using...
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Periodic table
A systematic arrangement of the chemical elements. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions. Twig Science Glossary Films reinforce abstract...
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Northern Lights and Solar Flares
A unique combination of sunspots, solar flares and magnetic fields combine to create a visual spectacle on Earth. But what are the forces at work? Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. Natural light displays known as Aurora...
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Discovery of the Atom
The story of New Zealand scientist Ernest Rutherford, who revolutionised science by discovering the structure of the atom in 1908. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. In 1908, Ernest Rutherford conducted the gold leaf...
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Earthly Treasures: Precious Gemstones
Discover the specific conditions needed for the formation of emeralds, rubies and sapphires; and how there is now potential to 'grow' them in laboratories. Earth Science - Geology - Learning Points. Emeralds are made from beryllium....
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The Sun - Our Star
Our Sun is a medium sized star, which creates the perfect conditions for life on Earth. What happens on the Sun and how do stars, including the Sun, live and die? Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. The Sun is 4.6 billion years...
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The Elements: Neon
Learn about the noble gas, neon, and its uses. Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. Neon is a colourless gas. When electricity is passed through neon, it produces a bright orange-red light. Neon is a noble gas and is inert,...
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Alloys
What exactly are alloys? What is it about their properties that make them so useful for a huge variety of purposes, from construction to jewellery? Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. Alloys are metals mixed with other...
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Introduction to the Periodic Table
In 1869, Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev created the Periodic Table, ordering the naturally occurring elements by their structure and properties. His Periodic Table changed the course of Chemistry forever, and even predicted the...
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Oxidation Reactions
Why do we cook our food wrapped in aluminium foil? Why does metal rust? It all comes down to oxidation reactions. Discover what happens to cause these reactions, and how to stop them. Chemistry - ReactionsLearning Points. The combustion...
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Radioactive Substances
What is radioactivity? Explore the difference between alpha, beta and gamma radiation and how their different properties can make them useful. Physics - Energy And Radioactivity - Learning Points. Radioactivity is the nuclear decay of...
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Mendeleev's Prophecy
When Mendeleev created the Periodic Table in 1869, he also predicted the existence of elements yet to be discovered, including gallium. What are the properties of this rare metal and why was its discovery so important? Chemistry -...
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The Legacy of John Newlands
The story of chemist John Newlands and his theory of the "Law of Octaves" that related chemical elements to notes in the musical scale. Did the scientific community accept his unusual theory and does it hold up to the laws of modern...
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The Curse of Phlogiston
The 17th century German chemist Johann Becher proposed that an element, phlogiston, was released when substances burned. He was wrong, and his incorrect theory led many early chemists to misunderstand the significance of some of their...
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Atom Structure: Electron Shells
Learn why electron shells are responsible for the properties of elements, and whether they are stable or have violent reactions. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. An element's reactivity is determined by the number of...
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What Are Stars?
What are stars made of? How are they born, how do they live, and how do they die? Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. Our nearest star is the Sun. A star is formed from a cloud of dust and gas, which shrinks under gravity and...
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Flame Colours and Fireworks
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,...
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Alkali Metals
Witness the exciting reactions that occur when alkali metals come into contact with other substances. What does this tell us about their properties? Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. The alkali metals make up Group 1 of the...
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Chernobyl Disaster
In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. What caused the explosion and why has Chernobyl become a lasting reminder of the dangers of nuclear power? Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points. The world's first...
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The Noble Gases
The noble gases were one of the last groups of elements to be discovered. From helium balloons to light bulbs, these gases have many uses in the world around us. Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. The noble gases are found in...
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Mars: The Search for Water
We know that Mars once had a landscape with oceans and rivers, but what happened to it? Physics - Universe - Learning Points. Although Mars is a freezing dry world today, it is thought the planet was once like Earth. If liquid water once...
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Reactivity Series: Reactive Metals
The discovery and uses of reactive metals throughout history, and how their uses have defined the period in which they were discovered. Chemistry - Periodic Table - Learning Points. The reactivity series ranks the chemical reactivity of...
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Flame Colours and Spectroscopy
The discovery by Robert Bunsen which allowed elements to be identified more easily, and even led to the discovery of new ones. Chemistry - Atoms And Bonding - Learning Points. Gustav Kirchoff assembled the first spectroscope - two...