Thank you!

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Thank you for visiting our blog this school year. Please join us again in September for more Science related articles.

Science Ambassadors

Are dogs smart?

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Dog is a man’s best friend-dogs! They have been with us for thousands of years. They are always by our side in times of happiness and sadness. Learn more about these wonderful creatures by watching this video:

Lauren Simson 9D

Is your phone changing you?

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Have you ever wondered about the impact that your phone is having on your body? Some of the impacts are shocking! So, put down your phones, look up from the screens and look out to the world around you! 

Here is a video to explain in more detail:

Lauren Simson 9D

Hello JRCS Scientists!

We live in a spiral galaxy called the milky way.  In the galaxy we are one tiny spec. In our solar system there are 8 (9 if you include Pluto) planets. We are the 3^rd from the sun meaning we have the perfect conditions for life.

The names of the planets (and their conditions) are:

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It orbits the Sun quickly, once every 88 days. Mercury is small, Because Mercury is so close to the Sun meaning it is very hot. The surface of Mercury is gray to orange in color, and is covered with craters.

Venus, the second planet away from the Sun, is Earth’s closest neighbor. It is about the same size as the Earth.  We could not breathe on Venus, because the atmosphere would be very toxic to humans. This atmosphere gives Venus a brownish-yellow color. It also traps heat (making the surface of Venus the hottest in the Solar System.

Earth is a little more than 12,000 kilometers in diameter. It differs from the other planets because it has liquid water on its surface, maintains life, and has active plate movement.

Mars is a little more than half the size of the Earth.  Mars has a very thin atmosphere which is composed largely of CO₂. Its surface is very cold, and is covered with craters, volcanoes, and large canyons. Mars is reddish in color.

Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System. Its surface is made up of gas (mostly hydrogen), so that if you landed on the surface you would sink into it. Jupiter probably has a core of metallic hydrogen and rock.  The outer gas part of Jupiter is broken into bands of white, yellow, red, and brown clouds. Jupiter has 4 rings mainly composed of dust. Huge oval-shaped storms also occur on the surface.

Saturn is well known for its system of three rings. It is a large planet. Like Jupiter, Saturn is composed of mostly gas, and has a core composed of rock and metallic hydrogen. The surface of Saturn looks banded, and has a brown-yellow color. Saturn’s rings are probably composed of small particles of ice and rock.

Uranus is about 4.4 times the size of the Earth. It is covered by a thick layer of gas, and has a fairly uniform blue-green color. Uranus  is surrounded by a system of nine rings.

Neptune is slightly smaller than Uranus. Its atmosphere appears blue , and is marked by large dark blue storm systems. It is surrounded by a system of five rings.

Pluto in 2006 was renamed as a dwarf planet. Pluto is probably composed of rock. Its surface and color are unknown.

Photos source: Google images

By Deanna Allman 9D

Could we be immortal?

The answer is YES!

In the not-so-far future, we could be uploading ourselves to computers, having microscopic robotic organisms put into us and much more. We are evolving and quickly, but we should try to remember that although it is good to evolve, there are also many doubts about such futuristic technology. Here is a clip to explain more:

Lauren Simson 9D

What happens to you when you eat/drink too much of these daily foods?

Hello JRCS Scientists,

Today we will be looking at everyday foods that could kill you or harm your brain if you digest too much of them. Here is a short video explaining more about this:

These are all very interesting facts that could interest your science teacher as well as your class.

Lauren Simson 9D

Can plants THINK?

Plants have now been proven to REMEMBER a variety of different things: from pain to pleasure, they remember it all. They can only remember these things for a short time period but they still remember it! Watch this clip to get a better understanding on a plants memory:

Hopefully, you will now understand more about a plants remarkable memory.

Lauren Simson 9D

Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Hello JRCS Scientists!

If you are ever in Manchester you will find yourself with a great opportunity to visit the Museum of Science and Industry. Currently, they are showing how food controls your brain, body and eating habits. This is a great exhibition if visiting with children.

Also, you may get to see the exhibition of Tania Kovats sculptures and drawings. Kovat relates the oceans to three large metal bowls. Each bowl contains a solution that, due to evaporation, will change over time and reflect how different the world becomes each year.

This museum is free and open from 10 am to 5pm. It is open every day expect New Years day and the Christmas holidays.

Find out more information on their website:

http://msimanchester.org.uk/

Evita Ahmed-Hashmi 9D

The Science of a good diet to good grades

A long exam is like a mental marathon in which endurance is critical. Nutritionists emphasize the importance of healthy eating habits at this stressful time. They say the right food and drink can energize your system, improve your alertness and sustain you through the long exam hours. The wrong dietary choices can make you feel sluggish, jittery, or burned out. What you eat before your exams could affect your final grade! Lots of chocolate, crisps and energy drinks are often eaten in place of normal meals to “keep energy levels up”. However, this is not only harmful to your long-term health, but can negatively affect your exam performance.
The better the fuel your brain gets, the better you’ll study. It’s a…well…no-brainer.

So, what should I be eating if possible?

Oily fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel contain lots of protein and omega 3, which is essential to keep a functioning brain working well. Eggs for breakfast – these contain antioxidants and protein – boiled, poached or sunny side up. Vegetables and fruit. The natural sugars in fruit offer clean energy, so you don’t experience the crash that follows consumption of refined sugar, banana’s would be a good choice. Not all vegetables are created equal. For example, spinach has more to offer the mind and body than iceberg lettuce. Other great vegetable choices include bell peppers, broccoli and sweet potatoes, these give you much needed minerals and vitamins and also help relieve, shall I say, number 2 problems – maybe caused by eating too many eggs! Peanut butter – honest! I know it contains fats but it also contains proteins. A little will keep you full for a long time.

Stay well hydrated and choose your beverages well, though caffeine and sugar should be kept to a minimum since too much caffeine can make you jittery, try to drink moderate amounts. Better choices include water, fruit juice, milk, and anti-oxidant-rich green tea. It's a good idea to start the day with a big glass of water or a hot drink such as fruit tea. The European Food Safety Authority recommends women drink about 1.6 litres of fluid a day and men 2 litres, that's eight to ten 200ml glasses. Water is ideal, but healthy drinks such as milk or fruit juice count, tea and coffee count too, but are high in caffeine.

It's best to avoid fizzy and energy drinks, which are high in sugar, as they'll lead to energy peaks and troughs. Take a bottle of water into the exam, but take the label off. A study of university students found that those who brought drinks, especially water, with them into the exam performed on average 5% better than those who didn't.

What's the best breakfast on exam days?
Research shows that those who eat breakfast tend to perform better in exams. For the best breakfast, include slow-release carbohydrates, such as whole rolled porridge oats, whole grain toast with jam or low-sugar muesli, as they provide slow-release energy. Add a protein food, such as milk, yoghurt or eggs, to keep you feeling full for longer. On exam day aim to include a portion of a food rich in long-chain Omega-3 fats, such as smoked mackerel, as they are believed to have brain-boosting properties. A bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk and a piece of fruit would do the trick. Even if you normally skip breakfast or avoid eating when you are nervous, you should still make the time to eat something. Very simply, your brain needs the energy from food to work efficiently. You need to keep your mental focus on your exam and not on your hunger. It would be a shame to study intensively before your exam and then be too fatigued physically to do your best on exam day.

If you really cannot stomach food, then try having a protein shake or smoothie.

Try to give up crisps as these will fill you up quickly but are relatively low in fibre so you’ll soon feel hungry again. Popcorn is higher in fibre, so it releases its energy slowly, and is lower in calories than crisps, leaving you room for more nutrient-rich foods.

What should you eat before bedtime?
A heavy meal too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep, so try to have your last meal at least three hours before you go to bed. Then have a small snack such as a bowl of high-fibre cereal like porridge just before bedtime. If you need sweetener with cereal, go for dried fruit rather than sugar.

What should you drink at bedtime?
Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee, cola and chocolate, for least four hours before going to bed. Be aware that some people who are very sensitive to caffeine can still feel the effect 12 hours later. A warm glass of milk can help you sleep better.

What not to eat on exam day?
Stay away from foods made of white flour, such as cookies, cakes, and muffins, which require added time and energy to digest. Also avoid foods that are high in refined sugar, such as chocolates, desserts, and candies. Do not have turkey before an exam as it contains L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid which makes you feel sleepy. Save this for after your exams when you can relax.
Good luck!

Mr Glover
Director of Learning (Science)

Study tips

Here are some useful tips on remembering all those useful facts for your exams:

Sticky Notes - Write some key terms to remember on sticky notes. Place these sticky notes in places where you know you will have to visit regularly such as: a wardrobe, a light switch or even just a door. This way when you see the question on an exam you can easily visualise the answer!

Study smarter not harder: The brain understands information better in small shorter sessions than one very long one. For example it's more effective to study for 30 minutes in 20 sessions over a period of time than to study for 10 hours in one day without a break.

A key for keywords: If you think of yourself as more of a visual learner, then adding a little picture can help you remember. Create your own key of drawings for example the rock cycle. With igneous rock you could draw a little volcano next to it so that you remember it's formed when magma or lava cool and solidify. Or with sedimentary rock  you could draw a wave (ocean) because these rocks are formed by weathering or erosion.

Past Papers: Firstly try to complete a past paper with the usual conditions (a time limit , NO internet etc.). After doing so look at the mark scheme. Once you have checked how many marks you have gotten then you can print out the mark scheme and highlight it. A mark scheme shows you how to structure an answer to get the highest amount of points so by highlighting it you see the area/s of your answers that need the most improvement.

Avoiding Distractions: If you easily get distracted by other websites (Instagram ,Youtube etc) when revising, then apps and programmes such as https://getcoldturkey.com/ (pc) and forest http://www.forestapp.cc/ can help. Get cold turkey lets you block specific websites or even the whole internet when you are revising and during revision time it's almost impossible to cancel until the time is up. Forest is a timer, when you start it a tree starts to grow but if you leave the app at any time then the tree will die! (unless you allow specific apps to be viewed). 

Here are some Youtube Channels and videos that might be helpful:

• https://www.youtube.com/user/myGCSEscience (For revising)
• https://www.youtube.com/user/AsapSCIENCE/featured (For Science Fun)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgVQKCcfwnU (Peridoic Table Song)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m8KSDBUlO8 (Experiments to try at home)

By Tia Debenham 9A

Do you want to win £500?

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Would you like to win £500? Did you play Saving the Day game (click here)? If the answer is yes, answer 12 questions in the Saving the Day Treasure Hunt survey to be entered into the monthly draw. 

Science Ambassadors

All the little things that make us

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Humans are not just make of bone and muscle, they are made of something smaller; these are called CELLS! They make up every living thing plants to humans. Each type of cell have their own job and special aspects. All plant cells have the same structure as animal cells but with a few extra things like a vacuole and cell wall. Have a look at this diagram:

Source: BBC Bitesize

Find out more about the animal cells by watching this animation:

 

By Deanna Allman 9D

Photo competition winners

Hello JRCS Scientists!

It's time to announce our photo competition winners.

This is Science through your eyes:

1st place - Maciej Lew, Poland 
Magic rose

2nd place - Jędrzej Kujawiak, Poland
Optical fantasies

3rd place - Clare Morgan, UK
Squirrel

Special mentions:

Maciej Alankiewicz, Poland
The family

Emilia Matysik, Poland
Blooming flowers

Kornelia Kondracik, Poland
Winter wonderland

NHM Crime Scene Live

Hello JRCS Scientists!

If you are a fan of the CSI show, check out this amazing event at the Natural History Museum:

Crime Scene Live allows you to become a CSI investigator, analyse evidence and solve a crime. The event gives you a chance to work with experts in fingerprinting or forensic entomology:

Tomorrow's Engineers – Energiser Event

Hello JRCS Scientists! 

On Wednesday, two Y7 top set Science groups took part in the Tomorrow’s Engineers Energiser Event which has been designed to encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers.  Our students had a chance to work with an engineer, Mr Nigel Moore, and learn about his job. The pupils looked at the following areas: 

- Our World, Your Future – the effects of a growing world population;

- Potential Energy – the global energy mix including renewable and non-renewable energy;

- Kinetic Energy – building and testing a Solar Car;

- Engineering Careers – looking at what engineers do and the routes into engineering careers.

We had a lot of fun building wind turbines and cars of the future. Here are a few quotes from the students who participated.

“It was great finding out about all the different types of engineers, I have learnt a lot throughout this experience” Hannah Tolentino 7G

“After this experience we now know about many job opportunities in engineering” Matthew Korbuch 7I

“It was so fun, I forgot we were learning!” Devika Ahtty 7I

“This experience made me change my view on engineering completely. Now I think that any idea could be a reality with engineering” Joel Walpole 7A

“I feel like today’s engineering project opened up many career paths for me, as they taught me all the requirements of becoming an engineer while being incredibly fun” Jeremiah Ogunturin 7E

“It was a new experience for me and was very interesting to be able to do something an engineer does. Altogether, it was really fun.”  Renee Moundjongui-Bastos 7F

“My favourite part of the workshop was building the car. I enjoyed the creative part of the building process. I will probably consider engineering as an option for the future” Maya Quagraine 7H  

Check out our learning journey on the Carbon Capture and Storage Project (click here)

Follow the Smarties Science Club on Twitter!

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Our friends from the Smarties Science Club have recently joined the Twitter family. Follow them @JRCS_Smarties to get all the updates.

Earth Day 2016

Consider your planet, it's the only home we have.

Science Center NEMO, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam is a must-see when you visit this city. The world of Science and technology opens its doors there to everyone who wants to explore it. You can feel like a true scientist and conduct an experiment in a real lab!

JRCS to grow seeds from space!

Hello JRCS Scientists!

The scientists at The Smarties Science Club are preparing to become space biologists and embark on a voyage of discovery by growing seeds that have been into space.

In September 2015, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station (ISS) on Soyuz 44S where they will spend several months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March 2016. The seeds have been sent as part of Rocket Science, an educational project launched by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and the UK Space Agency.

JRCS will be one of up to 10,000 schools to receive a packet of 100 seeds from space, which they will grow alongside seeds that haven’t been to space and measure the differences over seven weeks. The pupils won’t know which seed packet contains which seeds until all results have been collected by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and analysed by professional biostatisticians.

The out-of-this-world, nationwide science experiment will enable the students to think more about how we could preserve human life on another planet in the future, what astronauts need to survive long-term missions in space and the difficulties surrounding growing fresh food in challenging climates.

Rocket Science is just one educational project from a programme developed by the UK Space Agency to celebrate British ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the ISS and inspire young people to look into careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, including horticulture.

Follow the project on Twitter: @RHSSchools #RocketScience

Check out the Smarties Science Club blog for more updates

Science through your eyes

Hello JRCS Scientists!

We would like to invite you to take part in a photo competition called Science through your eyes. Your task is to send us a picture you have taken yourself which represents an aspect of Science. Have a look at these examples: 

"Landing on the Moon, Science Museum London" by Rokas Radskas 8C

"Spider" by Clare Morgan 8F

"Water condensation" by Evita Ahmed-Hashmi 9D

Here are the rules:

1. You have to be the author of the photograph (no Google images will be accepted due to the copyright laws).

2. The photograph has to be emailed to Miss Ochwat by 4pm on Monday, 2nd May 2016 (KOchwat@jorichardson.org.uk).

3. In your email include the following:

- the photo

- the title of the photo with a short description where it was taken

- your name and form

4. You can send more than one photograph.

5. Winners will be chosen by the Science Ambassadors and announced on our blog on 5th May 2016.

6. LOCs for the winners and credits to everyone who participates will be awarded.

7. See Miss Ochwat in SC3 if you have any questions. 

The Chemistry of Egg

Hello JRCS Scientists!

How was your breakfast today? Did you enjoy your eggs? We are sure you did :) Have you ever wondered about the chemistry of the egg? Have a look at this poster:

Source: www.compoundchem.com

Click here if you would like to find out more.

Science Ambassadors

Help needed

Hello JRCS Scientists!

After Easter, a group of Y7 students will be taking part in Shell Challenge. We will need the items listed below. Please help us collect them - credits available for all helpers!

- clean yoghurt pots
- clear plastic bags
- plastic bottles (all sizes)
- bottle tops
- corks
- ice lolly sticks
- sprite cans

Please bring your items to SC3.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

Science Ambassadors

Easter in London

Hello JRCS Scientists!

If you are spending Easter in London, check out some of these events and places:

Easter at the Science Museum - click here for info

The Royal Institution - click here for info

London Easter Science Holiday Camps - click here for info

Have a restful break!

Science Ambassadors

DNA model

Hello JRCS Scientists!

A group of Y7 students is currently working on the second DNA model that is going to go into SC2. We need your help with this project! To complete it, we need to collect sprite cans. If you have any at home, please bring them to SC3.

Thank you!

Free forensics course!

Hello JRCS Scientists!

If you are a fan of CSI and forensic science, take an advantage of the free online course from Open University that starts on Monday, 21st March. You will be able to learn about how forensic psychology can help obtain evidence form eye witnesses and learn more how our minds are working. The course will also help you to boost your CV as certificates are given on successful completion.

Follow this link to register for the course - click here.

Science Ambassadors

Y8 Revision help

Hello JRCS Scientists!

Attention Y8 students! You should be revising for your end of term test at the moment. Here are a few videos that can help you revise biology:

Science Ambassadors

Women in Science

Hello JRCS Scientists!

To celebrate International Women's Day, we would like to introduce you to some amazing female scientists.

Marie Curie - the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and only woman to win twice, the only person to win twice in multiple sciences.

Rosalind Franklin - chemist and X-ray crystallographer who made contributions to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. Although her works on coal and viruses were appreciated in her lifetime, her contributions to the discovery of DNA were largely recognized posthumously.

Roberta Bondar - Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space.

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin -  biochemist who developed protein crystallography, for which she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964.

Image sources: Google images

Research: google, Wikipedia