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
Rock Cycles
Rocks are constantly on the move. Eroded by water, sinking into the sea, and ejected by volcanoes, rocks have their very own cycle of existence. Earth Science - Geology - Learning Points. The rock cycle is the process of rocks weathering...
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Energy Change of Reactions
Some reactions take in energy and some release energy. Why? And what are some common examples of each type of reaction? Chemistry - Reactions - Learning Points. An energy change occurs when reactions take place. Exothermic reactions...
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Forms of Energy
Energy comes in many forms. What are they, how do they differ and what can they be used for? Physics - Energy And Radioactivity - Learning Points. Energy is converted or transferred, but never lost. Energy is measured in joules (j)....
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How Do Fireworks Work?
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...
Curated Video
Friction
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...
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The Greenhouse Effect
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....
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Fractional Distillation - Crude Oil Separation
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...
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Recycling Plastics
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....
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What is a Calorie?
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...
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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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What Makes Up the Electromagnetic Spectrum?
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...
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Life in the Freezer
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...
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Next Stop Mars
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,...
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Heat Transport
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,...
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Life in Hot Deserts
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...
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How Did Birds Evolve?
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....
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We Are All Made of Stars
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...
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Transition Metals
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...
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Insulator
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...
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Water Uptake in Plants
We place two privet hedge shoots under different conditions to see how the amount of water they draw up will change. They are both placed in measuring cylinders with the same amount of water and a layer of oil is added to the top to...
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Measuring Food Energy
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...
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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...
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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...