This article considers to what degree the UK depends on nuclear power for the generation of electricity and examines the problems, environmental and technical, associated with radioactive waste. Historical failings, the waste backlog, classification, modern handling techniques and with decisions about final disposal are outlined to provide an…

The High School Project on Astrophysics Research with Cosmics (HiSPARC) is an international project in which secondary schools and academic institutions join forces to form a network of detectors to measure cosmic rays with extremely high energy. We present results of research done by students at the King Edward VI High School For Girls,…

These notes describe six practical activities for supplementing standard practical work in radioactivity. They are based on a series of workshops given at ASE regional and national conferences by the ASE's Safeguards in Science Committee. The activities, which demonstrate aspects of radioactivity, feature consumer items that happen to be…

It is frequently said that a good teacher will spice up their lessons with anecdotes and stories associated with the subject as these help to bring the subject alive. This is true in teaching radioactivity but it is not always easy to find a useful fund of stories--especially for a non-specialist. Paula Kennedy shares the stories and anecdotes…

Sense About Science is a UK-based charitable trust that equips people to make sense of science and of evidence on issues that matter to society. It was set up in 2003 in response to newspaper front pages being full of headlines about mobile phones "frying your brain", genetically modified "Frankenstein foods", the MMR vaccine,…

Derivation of the law of radioactive decay is considered without prior knowledge of calculus or the exponential series. Calculus notation and exponential functions are used because ultimately they cannot be avoided, but they are introduced in a simple way and explained as needed. (Contains 10 figures, 1 box, and 1 table.)

Describes practical applications related to X-rays, ultra-violet radiation, light radiation, short-wave infra-red radiation, medium-wave infra-red radiation, long-wave infra-red radiation, microwave radiation, and radio frequency radiation. Suggests that these applications be used during instruction on electricity. (JN)

Describes an investigation in which radioactive by-products of radon decay are collected and measured from a charged balloon. (WRM)

Reports on part of a survey into the teaching and learning of radiation and radioactivity that focuses on the relationships between students' feelings about and liking for the topics. Suggests that the nature of the content does affect the learning of some students. (DDR)

Twenty science experiments are presented. Topics include recombinant DNA, physiology, nucleophiles, reactivity series, molar volume of gases, spreadsheets in chemistry, hydrogen bonding, composite materials, radioactive decay, magnetism, speed, charged particles, compression waves, heat transfer, Ursa Major, balloons, current, and expansion of…