The science team's e-magazine for curious secondary students, now living in one dashboard instead of a slideshow.
12 sections · Autumn term
A new Tute Scientist lands each half term. Open the current issue, catch up on a back issue, or see what is coming next.
Black History Month, frost flowers, the science of dance, pumpkin carving and more.
Live Open editionPlastic Free July, the science of football, shark dives and more.
Back issue Open editionIn production
Coming soonPlanned
Coming soonThe 14 teachers behind your Tute science lessons. Pick a face to find out what they love teaching, and the fact that might surprise you.
The heart and cardiovascular system
Read over 100 books on her Kindle last year, plus plenty of paper ones.
Tried a cool experiment at home, taken an amazing photo of nature, or got a science issue you care about? Send it to your teacher on the Learning Platform and you could feature in the next edition.
Your experiments, nature shots or projects.
A book review, an article or an opinion.
Black History Month takes place every October in the UK. It is a chance to celebrate the achievements, contributions and experiences of Black people throughout history, including people whose work has helped shape science.
A British space scientist and science communicator. She has worked on instruments used in space exploration and encourages young people to take an interest in STEM. Her work shows how science can be both a career and a way of helping people understand the universe around us.
A British nurse, academic and sickle-cell specialist. She helped set up one of the UK's first specialist counselling and screening centres for sickle-cell and thalassaemia, improving understanding and support for people affected by these inherited blood conditions.
An American chemist who developed ways of producing important medicines and chemicals from plants. His research helped make some treatments more accessible and showed how important chemistry is in medicine.
October is ADHD Awareness Month, a chance to celebrate the different ways people think, learn and see the world.
Many people with ADHD thrive when they can explore their interests and solve problems in their own way. ADHD can also come with challenges, but the right understanding and support can help people discover their strengths and reach their potential.
This month, let's celebrate different minds, different strengths and the unique qualities that make each of us who we are.
Each edition we share some science careers you may not have considered. This time: a radiographer and a wind turbine technician.
Radiographers use technology such as X-rays and other imaging equipment to help diagnose injuries and diseases. Therapeutic radiographers also use radiation as part of cancer treatment.
You normally need GCSEs including English, maths and science, then Level 3 qualifications such as A levels or equivalents, followed by an approved radiography degree. There is also a Diagnostic or Therapeutic Radiographer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, combining employment, study and training.
Watch our interview with a radiographerWind turbine technicians keep wind turbines working safely and efficiently. You could work on land-based or offshore wind farms, sometimes at considerable heights.
After GCSEs, you could take an engineering or maintenance course, such as a relevant T Level. A Level 3 Engineering or Maintenance apprenticeship can be an excellent route because you learn while working. University engineering routes are also possible.
| If you enjoy... | You could investigate... |
|---|---|
| Biology | Biomedical scientist, microbiologist, ecologist |
| Chemistry | Chemist, food scientist, chemical engineering technician |
| Physics | Radiographer, acoustics consultant, wind turbine technician |
| The environment | Ecologist, wind turbine technician |
| Helping people | Biomedical scientist, radiographer, dental technician |
| Practical work | Laboratory technician, dental technician, wind turbine technician |
| Being creative | Hairdresser, food scientist, dental technician |
| Technology | Radiographer, acoustics consultant, laboratory technician |
| Wildlife | Ecologist, microbiologist |
| Working with people | Hairdresser, radiographer, dental technician |
You don't have to know your future career just yet. Instead, ask yourself:
Science is not just a school subject. It is a way of understanding the world, and it can lead to hundreds of different careers.
National Careers ServiceHundreds of job profiles: qualifications, salaries, skills and routesTwo simple experiments for this half term: watch seeds germinate right behind the glass, then grow your own feathery ice crystals in a jar.
Every leap, lift and pirouette is biology and physics in motion. From the food that fuels a dancer to the forces in a spin, here is the science behind every step.
| Nutrient | Function in the body | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | Immediate energy source | Sugars and starchy foods (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) |
| Protein | Growth and repair | Meat, fish, eggs |
| Fat | Insulation and energy store | Dairy, meat |
| Water | General health | Drinks and food |
| Vitamins | General health | Fruit and veg, fish, meat |
| Minerals | General health | Meat, dairy |
| Fibre | Keeps the gut healthy | Cereals, fruit and veg (especially the skin), nuts |
Dancers need healthy diets that support muscle growth and provide enough energy for dancing. They need calcium for healthy bones and iron to help transport oxygen to their muscles. Staying hydrated matters too, and isotonic drinks can replace minerals lost through sweat.
Respiration is an enzyme-controlled reaction that takes place in the mitochondria of cells to release energy from our food. Muscle cells have lots of mitochondria so that they can release lots of energy. Respiration produces a molecule called ATP.
Anaerobic respiration happens in our muscles when they do not have enough oxygen. It is less efficient than aerobic respiration, producing fewer ATP molecules from each glucose molecule. It leads to an oxygen debt: oxygen is needed after exercise has finished to remove the lactic acid, turning it into carbon dioxide and water.
Our skeletons protect certain organs (brain, heart and lungs), support muscle attachments and store calcium. They allow us to stay upright and to move.
Muscles are attached to bones by tendons. Bones are attached to other bones by ligaments. Ligaments are not very stretchy; tendons have a bit of stretch to them.
Synovial joints contain synovial fluid to stop the bones rubbing against each other and causing damage. The bones also have a layer of cartilage for extra protection.
Antagonistic muscles work in pairs to move joints in opposite directions. When one muscle contracts, the other relaxes. The biceps and triceps in the arm are one example.
Like all sports people, dancers have to deal with gravity. In some forms of dance, dancers try to give the impression of little or no gravity by staying in the air for as long as possible or jumping as high as possible. Lifts in ballet try to look effortless, and street dance and breakdancing compete with gravity in obvious ways.
Standing on one leg is one thing, but spinning on it is a whole other realm of physics. The dancer must find and keep their centre of mass over the supporting leg throughout the spin to stay upright and controlled. During turns, torque and friction matter, and the position of the arms changes the speed of the spin and the moment of inertia.
The arabesque is a classic example of balancing weight on two sides. The dancer stands on one leg with the other extended behind, and the upper body leans forward to counterbalance it, keeping the centre of mass over the supporting leg.
Joints in our bodies act as levers. There are different classes of lever, depending on where the load, effort and fulcrum are.
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion, unless acted on by an external force. Once a dancer achieves a pose, inertia keeps them in place until muscle adjustments or a shift in balance move them.
Force is the product of mass and acceleration. In jumps and leaps, the greater the force a dancer pushes into the floor, the higher and further they can jump, as their muscles' work is turned into motion.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When a dancer pushes down into the floor, the floor pushes back with an equal force and propels them into the air. The same pair of forces starts a spin.
Say what you see! Each picture clue hides a key working scientifically term. Work it out, then reveal the answer.
From DNA to gravity, these scientists changed the way we see the world. Write down as many names as you can, then reveal the answers to see how you did.
Tip: tap the picture to see it full size.
Do you enjoy biology, art, photography or being creative? Enter the BioCraft competition run by the Royal Society of Biology and create your own original piece of work inspired by biology.
Your artwork could be inspired by:
Use any materials and creative skills you like. Your entry should include the title, the materials used and the science behind your artwork.
Two picks from the science team this half term: a true story from the space race, and a trip beneath the waves.
Hidden Figures is a film about the real Black women who worked at NASA in the 1960s to help send astronauts into space. They faced prejudice, racism and sexism, which made it very difficult for them to do their jobs.
Do you think there is equality for all scientists today?
Missed the latest WWF Happy by Nature live lesson? There is still time to catch up. In this Ocean Live Lesson, Steve Backshall takes you beneath the waves to explore ocean habitats and ecosystems, the amazing life below the surface, and how scientists and conservationists are working to protect our oceans.
Watch the recording at a time that suits you. If you enjoy it, there are earlier live lessons to catch up on too, exploring forests and the polar regions.
Pharmacists do far more than dispense prescriptions. They are highly trained healthcare professionals and medicines experts who can give confidential advice without you needing to book a GP appointment.
Your local pharmacy can be a great first stop for advice about minor illnesses, choosing over-the-counter medicines, managing side effects and using medicines safely. Pharmacists can also explain how medicines work and check whether they are safe to take alongside other treatments.
If appropriate, they may be able to treat you without you needing to see a GP. They will also recognise when further medical help is needed and refer you to the right service.
Services vary, so it is always worth asking what your local pharmacy provides.
On 13 November we celebrate World Kindness Day, and this year's theme is small acts, big difference. Kindness starts with you.
Looking after your mental health is important. You don't have to have everything figured out, and it's okay to have difficult days. Try to:
You never know what someone else might be going through. Try a small act of kindness:
Listen. Give them your attention and let them talk without judging.
Show you care. You could try saying:
You don't have to fix someone's problems to support them. Sometimes listening is enough. If you're worried about someone, tell a trusted adult. Getting an adult involved is a way of helping.
Before you post, comment or share, ask yourself: would I say this face to face?
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It's spooky, it's creative, it's science (ish)! Show off your skills and get involved with Tute Scientist by carving a science-inspired pumpkin.
Tiny particles, huge ideas. This half term Leo has turned the building blocks of everything into a poem.
Atoms are tiny, atoms are small,
But they are the building blocks of all.
Everything around us, everywhere we see,
Is made from matter, you and me!
Different types of atoms make elements too,
Like oxygen, carbon, and gold shining through.
When two or more atoms join as one,
A molecule is formed, and the work is done!
Water is a molecule, made up of three,
Two hydrogen atoms and oxygen, you see.
And deep inside each atom we know,
Even smaller particles are there below!
So atoms may be tiny, but now we can see,
They're the building blocks of everything we see!
Science is not just something that happens in a lab. It shapes the choices we make, the planet we live on and even the sport we love. This month: cutting down on plastic, and the hidden science of the beautiful game.
Football is not just about kicking a ball, it is full of physics, chemistry and biology. With the 2026 World Cup coming to the USA, our friends at Energising Futures have pulled apart the science behind the beautiful game, and the careers hidden inside it.
Six scientists whose curiosity changed the way we understand the universe, from black holes and CRISPR to continents that drift and animals worth saving.
Often called the "Green Nobel", the Goldman Environmental Prize celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things to protect our planet, from grassroots champions all over the world.
Get to know the teachers behind your Tute lessons. We asked them what inspires them, what they get up to outside the classroom, and the facts that would surprise you.
A simple experiment that is fun, easy and tasty, and teaches you about changes of state, heat transfer and freezing points, all while making a treat.
No tests, no grades, just fun. Each riddle points to a key scientific word, hidden behind clues, wordplay and a little brain fizz. Read carefully, think like a scientist, then reveal the answers.
Screen-time, sorted. A few of our favourite science things to watch, listen to and explore this month.
The stories the science team have been reading this month, from two-legged crocodiles to a rescue mission in space.
Science does not only happen in a lab, it happens everywhere around us. To celebrate her birthday, science teacher Chloe took her love of the natural world to a whole new depth, with a shark dive at the Blue Planet Aquarium.
Here at Tute HQ we love seeing what you have been getting up to. This month, Johanna shares what she learned from a very busy hive.
Global Wellness Day, on 14 June, is built on a simple belief: everyone has the right to live well. It is a chance to pause, make peace with ourselves and think about living well, not just for one day, but for the other 364 too.
Breathing slowly can calm you down and slow your heart rate in minutes. Soldiers use it to stay calm under pressure.
The science department have been thinking about the books they loved at your age, and where you might find them for less than the price of a 99 flake. Your new favourite might be hidden in here somewhere.