Science
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Three children who changed the world in 2020
Are you ever too young to make a difference? Three young people have used their different talents to stand up for their rights, care for people and make scientific breakthroughs.
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New vaccine promises a return to normal
Why is the Covid-19 vaccine such a big deal? The UK is the first country to approve a vaccine for widespread use. But the new vaccines also represent a huge step forward for science.
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The woman behind the world-saving vaccine
Should she get a Nobel Prize? Supporters say Professor Sarah Gilbert deserves the award after producing a vaccine for Covid-19. But some think it should be celebrated as a team effort.
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The plan to put giant solar panels in space
Is unlimited electricity a good idea? The UK government might soon build mile-wide solar power stations in space that can beam energy back to Earth. It could mean never-ending, green power.
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NASA plans human base on the Moon
Should the Moon belong to us all? In October, the US Space Agency discovered water there. Many powerful countries are interested in setting up lunar bases – but who should be in charge?
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The toy that could teach pets to talk
Is talking to our pets a good idea? One company has come up with a device that lets dogs learn words. By pressing buttons, the pets can “talk” to their owners about what they want to do.
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Coral crisis for Great Barrier Reef
Can we save the reef before it is too late? The Great Barrier Reef is dying: experts have found that over half of its corals have been lost. To save the rest, they say, we have to act fast.
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Brilliant women scientists win Nobel prize
Is science sexist? Two women have made history by sharing the Nobel Prize for chemistry. Only seven women have ever won the award, but the total for men is 180. Some say science must change.
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After 3,000 years Tasmanian devils are back!
Should there be more wild animals in the world? Tasmanian devils once roamed the mainland of Australia. Now, after thousands of years on a neighbouring island, they are being reintroduced.
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Attenborough: ‘Yes we CAN save the planet’
Can a film save the world? Sir David Attenborough hopes it can. In his new documentary, A Life on Our Planet, he predicts a terrifying future for Earth unless we all act now.
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This is a Golden Age of dinosaur discovery!
Can we learn anything useful from studying dinosaurs? Using new technology, scientists have learnt about them in the last 50 years than ever before. But some say it’s pointless research.
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Scientists plan oxygen factory on the Moon
The European Space Agency is working on a scheme to support human settlements on the Moon. It aims to build an oxygen plant to make rocket fuel and breathable air.
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Trees can help predict famines and wars
Scientists are finding that tree ring patterns are a time-map of rainfall and drought, accurately going back thousands of years. These might help us predict future famine and conflict.
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Priceless oil painting ‘ruined’ by repairs
One of the world’s most famous paintings has been carefully restored by experts to look as it would have looked when it was new, 600 years ago. But many experts think it has been spoilt.
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‘Smart skin’ makes virtual touch a reality
Should touch become digital? A new thin, wireless skin could allow us to reach through a computer and touch what is on the other side. Is it wonderful or disturbing?
- Science
- Reading Band 14+