Where Did Viruses Come From?
STEM Explained
Viruses are not living things - so where did they come from? Scientists have proposed three different hypotheses.
Bob Hanner
Professor
Pollinators are Important!
STEM Explained
Insects and other animals that are pollinators of plants play an important role in ecosystems.
Madiha Khan
Patent Examiner
The Science Behind the Calico Cat's Colours
STEM Explained
The patchwork fur colour of Calico and tortoiseshell cats is an interesting case of genetics, heredity and sex-linked traits.
Kara Layton
Postdoctoral Fellow
Introduction to the Fish Market Survey
Lessons
In this introductory activity, students will read two articles about the issue of fish mislabelling and complete two graphic organizers to identify the issue, its implications and possible solutions. They will complete the organizers individually and in pairs, and then discuss the results with the whole class.
The Chemistry of Redheads
STEM Explained
Learn how chemistry and genetics makes redheads stand out from the crowd.
What is Mitosis?
Backgrounders
Mitosis is an important part of cell division that helps organisms grow and repair themselves.
Why Scientists Believe in Evolution
STEM Explained
Scientists have accumulated so much evidence in the theory of evolution that it is one of the most widely-accepted theories in science.
Why Don't Fish Freeze in Cold Arctic Waters?
STEM Explained
Ever wonder how fish survive in the cold waters of the Arctic and Antarctic? It’s partly because of a brilliant evolutionary adaptation.
Vegetables
Picture Collections
14 images of some plants such as carrots, cabbage and leeks whose roots, stems or leaves are used for food
The Classification of Life: From Linnaeus to DNA Barcoding
Backgrounders
Learn about two taxonomy systems that scientists use to classify the life around us.
Should Scientists Clone Extinct Species?
STEM Explained
Cloning makes it possible to bring extinct species back to life. But is that a good idea?
Reptiles
Picture Collections
10 images of some cold-blooded vertebrates such as snakes, lizards and alligators typically having dry, scaly skin