News

Thank you from your winner Dave

Hello all! Thanks for voting for me, I’m genuinely surprised that I won. I came into the event just wanting to have fun and see how far I got, never did I expect to beat scientists of the Jack, David, Chris and Fiona’s quality, my apologies to them! I’m honestly amazed at the standard of the questions we were asked throughout the event, Quantum physics is not an easy topic to wrap your heads round, but you guys did excellently and you certainly helped me learn a lot in the meantime. It was also really good from a personal point of view to be forced to take stock of my work and figure out what it is specifically that I love so much, and what I’m most proud of. I’m at a stage of my career where I have lots of big decisions coming up about what to do next … Continue reading

Posted on July 2, 2013 by in News | 1 Comment

I’m a Scientist – your winner is… DAVE

Students have spoken. The votes have been counted. Congratulations Dave, we look forward to hearing how you spend your £500 prize money. Hard luck to Jack and David and thank you to all the other scientists who took part. You were all brilliant and each and every single one of you has contributed to the great success of this event. We’ve had two weeks of hot debate, stimulating chat and mind-boggling facts. Students, don’t forget to tell us what you think about science now you’ve taken part. Log in and fill in 4 quick questions in the pink box on the right of the browser, to be in with a chance to win a £20 WH Smith voucher. Also, fill in the event feedback survey to be in with a chance to win a £20 WH Smith voucher, here.

Posted on June 28, 2013 by ModShane in News | Leave a comment

I’m a Scientist – you’ve decided to let no one go, it’s a draw in Quantum!

We’ve counted, checked and rechecked the votes and now it’s game over for… No one! It’s a draw! Students, this means your votes are even more important in tomorrow’s final – your single vote really could decide the winner. So who’s in the final? “nice but nerdy!” Jack, “curious, excitable, friendly” David and “excitable, friendly, mischievous” Dave will fight it out for the £500 prize tomorrow. What would they do with the money, you ask? Jack says “Run a day of science activities for all, and try to build a levitating trainset“, David says “Create some mini particle detectors for schools (spark chambers), so they can run their own experiments” and Dave says “I’d like to create a series of YouTube videos that explain areas of physics on the GCSE and A-Level syllabus in greater depth“. The competition is hotting up and the scientists are pulling out all the stops to secure your … Continue reading

Posted on June 27, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment

I’m a Scientist – you’ve now evicted… Chris in Quantum Zone

We’ve counted the votes and now it’s time to evict… CHRIS Sorry to see CHRISgo after all your hard work. We hope you’ve had fun. In just 24 hours time the final 2 Quantum Zone scientists will be revealed to battle it out in the final. Who gets through to the final for a chance to win £500? YOU decide! Will it be “nice but nerdy!” Jack, “curious, excitable, friendly” David or “excitable, friendly, mischievous” Dave? The last 3 scientists have it all to play for and they need your vote. So vote NOW to make sure your favourite scientist makes it through to Friday’s final – VOTE HERE What do you think about science NOW? We hope that taking part in I’m a Scientist has been fun and interesting. But has it changed your view of science and scientists? Please tell us what you think about science now you’ve … Continue reading

Posted on June 26, 2013 by ModShane in News | Leave a comment

I’m a Scientist – 1st out is… Fiona

It’s been a fantastic event so far and the scientists have worked hard, answering hundreds of questions between them. But on Friday there can only be one winner in each zone, so some of them have to go. We are sorry to have to do this to you, but the first scientist to be evicted is… FIONA Thanks so much for all you’ve done. We hope you’ve enjoyed taking part. There will be evictions every day for the rest of the week, with the winner announced on Friday. Keep voting students! Who will walk off with the prize? YOU decide!

Posted on June 25, 2013 by ModShane in News | Leave a comment

DAY 6: Naked mole rats and parallel worlds

Evictions start tomorrow It’s week 2 and tomorrow sees the start of  the evictions, who will be first to go? Get your votes in! Today’s highlights in the Quantum Zone: How naked mole rats could help cure cancer: Would it be possible to use the gene that naked mole rats have that make them immune to cancer to help find a cure for cancer in humans? And Dave’s dreams of ruling over humans in a parallel universe: If you got sucked into a black hole and survived, and somehow got out into a parallel universe where humans are much less evolved, what would be the first thing you would teach them?

Posted on June 24, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment

DAY 5: Quantum computers, magnetic hovering and understanding science

The halfway point Week 1 may nearly be over, but we have the evictions to look forward to next week! The power is in the hands of the 5,000+ students. Today’s highlights in the Quantum Zone: Quantum computers vs normal computers: abbiejspinks : what do they do that normal computers don’t? chrismansell : normal computers can do everything. They just can’t do it efficiently. There are some problems that would take a normal computer billions of years to solve but a quantum computer would be able to get to the answer in a more feasible amount of time (i.e. a few months). An e.g. of such a problem is breaking an internet code. (I have a graph on my profile page showing this.) And lots more great questions… I know that magnets can be used to create small (toy sized) hovering vehicles, however in your opinion do you think this … Continue reading

Posted on June 21, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment

DAY 4: The Universe, the brain and the holographic principle

At day 4 we’re nearly half way through the event. Hope you’re all chatting, asking and voting! Today’s highlights in the Quantum Zone: A headache-inducing question… Where is the universe? It gives me a headache each time I think about this question… Comparing our brains to computers: If our brains are simply made up of chemical and neurons firing and stuff, then are we basically extremely advanced computers? And the holographic principle explained… What is the holographic principle?  

Posted on June 20, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment

DAY 3: Shrinking sheep and levitating frogs

Day 3 and there’s no let up in the number of chats and questions – 4,400 students registered and nearly 2,500 answered questions, not to mention loads more chats! Today’s highlights in the Quantum Zone: We heard about David’s top creation: razzledazzle : what was is your best creation yet? davidfreeborn : Making small particle detectors called spark chambers. They let you see tiny particles from other galaxies. Millions pass through your body every second Why sheep are safe out in the rain: joelthorpe : Why don’t sheep shrink in the rain? jackmiller : Their coats are covered in really waxy, waterproof substances collectively referred to as lanolin — they’re waterproof, just like you are! davidfreeborn : The wool on sheep does shrink in rain, but I’m not sure that the rest of the sheep does. Shrinking in rain would be very problematic, as they’d be an easier target for … Continue reading

Posted on June 19, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment

DAY 2: Levitation, chemical accidents and flying elephants

It’s only day 2 but the questions keep coming! Over 35 live chats and hundreds more great questions. Today’s highlights in the Quantum Zone: A levitating game of chess… rara97 : explain the levitating chess game jackmiller : They had superconductors stuck to their bottoms, and were cooled in liquid nitrogen above a bed of magnets! It turns out that superconductors have this really weird property where magnetic fields absolutely cannot change through them. So, if you have a material that becomes superconducting at a particular temperature — say that of liquid nitrogen — you can put them at a height above a magnet (by resting them on a block of wood), cool them down, remove the wood, and they stay there, Dave’s accidental chemical reaction: meesh : have you ever caused an accidental chemical reaction? Did you get sacked? davefarmer : yes- when I worked in a butchers shop … Continue reading

Posted on June 18, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment

DAY 1: Advertising, height and university

And so it begins… I’m a Scientist June 2013 has got off to a busy start. Across all zones we’ve had around 30 live chats, a few thousand questions asked outside of the chats, and there are now 3,300 students registered! Today’s highlights in the Quantum Zone: Some interesting questions on advertising: Do you believe that medical physics is under-advertised? A good one about height: I’m a very small child. Everyone in the year towers me. How can I grow? And one from a potential physicist..: For a budding physicist, what type of work experience should i look into, to help improve my university application, for physics related course?  

Posted on June 17, 2013 by in News | Leave a comment