Blog

Is there life on other planets? It may seem like we’re alone in the universe, but there’s still hope. The race is on to find signs of life on Earth-like planets, which have atmospheres and liquid water on the surface.

In some ways, Venus is Earth’s twin – it’s the closest planet to Earth, and it’s almost exactly the same size. But poor Venus flies too close to the Sun. Brighter sunlight and a runaway greenhouse effect makes Venus unbearably hot, with temperatures averaging more than 450 degrees Celsius.

It’s drier than any desert on Earth. On Mars, pure water exists only as a gas or a solid. Vast amounts of ice are found at the north and south poles and buried underground, but there’s not a drop to drink.

Written by Neha Karl 97 million people in India do not have easy access to clean and safe water – that is more than four times the population of Australia.

Written by Celia Berrell Regardless if it’s yours or mine, why is urine yellow? It’s mostly made of water yet becomes a stinky fellow! When blood’s red heme is broken down, it goes from brown to gold. You’ll see this if you get a bruise and watch it growing old.

Written by Justin McGuire This activity may splash some water around, so try it over a sink or outside.

Strike a match. It lights thanks to phosphorus. This element doesn’t just have fiery applications – it’s important for life itself.

Have you ever wondered what quantum physics was all about? Grab a tray of water and learn a bit about the strangest science of the twentieth century!

Chemical formulas, such as H2O (water) and CO2 (carbon dioxide), are handy as they identify which atoms are present in a chemical compound. This can in turn help to make predictions about their properties. But only knowing which atoms make up a compound sometimes isn’t enough. It helps to know how the atoms are arranged.

It’s a small molecule, made of oxygen and hydrogen atoms in a V-shape. It’s colourless, odourless and expands when it freezes into a solid. It’s water, and without it, we wouldn’t be here.