I Saw the Science

Social Distancing: If Trees Can Do It, So Can You!

This is not another article about how social distancing will flatten the curve. It’s not a plea for you to stay home. We trust our readers have the good sense to do so. Instead, this is an article about crown shyness. A fascinating story of how some trees got this whole social distancing thing right,…

Bee Our Friend! 12 Fun Facts About Bees

Bees live in a colony.A colony of bees consists of 20 000 to 60 000 worker bees. Honey could be considered as bees’ vomit.Bees draw nectar from flowers using their long proboscis and stores it in its ‘honey stomach’ which is different from its stomach that digests food. When the bees return to the nest,…

Never Enough Food – Can We Change Our Ways?

I’m sure you must have heard this saying: “Waste not, want not”. As kids, our parents taught us the values of consuming only what we need. Who would blame them? In times past, food was not so abundant, and certain foods counted as “luxuries”. These luxury food items were only consumed on special days such…

Bubble Tea: The Drink that Makes our Heart Go Boba-boba

Someone once asked me, ‘Why bubble tea? What’s so great about it?’ Are you kidding me? I can’t even fathom how could anyone ask that! Can’t say the same for everyone, but at least for me, bubble tea solves everything (not literally everything but you get me). It’s both a drink and a snack at…

Invaders All Around Us!

I was enjoying lunch at a hawker centre when I heard a familiar, shrill sound near my feet. A few seconds later, a Javan myna, hopped onto my table and eyed my food curiously. Not wanting to share my yummy meal, I quickly gobbled it up, thinking ‘Wow, these birds are becoming increasingly common’. Javan…

Interview with David from Golden Sunland

Golden Sunland is a company that is built on the principles of harmony between businesses and individuals to ensure profitability and progress within the rice industry. David Chen, the COO of the company, entered the hybrid rice industry with Golden Sunland in 2008. His passion for meaningful partnerships and his entrepreneurial abilities have helped achieve…

Plant Health: A High-rise Container Gardener’s Journey

My journey as a high-rise container gardener started about eight years ago. It was a thoroughly unremarkable beginning: after buying two adorable potted ivy and arrowhead plants from the nursery to ‘beautify’ our apartment, we (the wife and I) discovered to our horror that watering our new ‘acquisitions’ would cause water and soil material to…

Dalgona: The Stay Home Drink

I should have seen this topic coming when I asked my friends on Instagram what kind of science article they’d want to read. The idea that instant coffee could be whipped (quite literally) into something so aesthetically luxurious did intrigue me though. It was never my intention, but I am going to hop on the…

Plague Inc: Evolved Review

Plague Inc: Evolved, launched 5 years ago, has been brought back into the spotlight by the recent COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world. Many memes have been made with relation to this wildly popular game. So, for the uninitiated, what’s the hype about? Let’s start off with understanding what this game is all about….

5 Things You Need to Know about Air Plants

You may have noticed these delicate-looking air plants being displayed across walls or hanging from ceilings without any soil or water. How do they survive in the air without any soil and water? The truth is they are hardier than they look! Besides sprucing up your home decor, they also help to purify the air…

Alcohol: is it THE solution?

The current COVID-19 situation has effectively shut down several countries, including Malaysia, South Korea and Italy. It has also caused a global shortage of surgical masks and hand sanitisers. Most of us have heard that hand sanitisers containing at least 70% alcohol can keep our hands clean. Because of this, many people started to make…

Hijackers in Nature

With the fear of COVID-19 haunting the public, many of us have become warier of people coughing and sneezing around us. This sparked some random thoughts in my mind. I understand that our bodies produce mucus to deal with the viral infection. Coughing and sneezing out the mucus are ways for our bodies to get…

It’s all Greek to me

Every species of living things has its own unique scientific name, following a system laid out by Carl Linnaeus in his book “Systema Naturae” in 1758. The rules to naming a new living thing are very vague, it just has to be in Latin and follow a 2 name system with a genus and species…

From Pajama to Suit, a View of Personalised Medicine

It is said that personal encounters in life shape who you are or what you end up doing. My brush with terminal illness and the desperate need for medical therapy came when my father was struck with colon cancer. This was a good two decades back. Then there was no mention of personalised medicine in…

A Sticky Situation

Food was always something that inspired me. The way flavours and textures opened a world of experiences captivated my younger days. Most intriguing to me was the humble rice grain, which is actually the seed of a type of grass. This staple food for a large part of the world’s population held culinary wonders. My…

Nobel Scientists Novel Conversations

Nobel Scientists are like the celebrities of the scientific world. They are recognised for their unique contributions to Science based on ground breaking impact to the existing field of knowledge. They are akin to your Harry Potters of Hogwarts. As rare and magical as they might be, it is even more difficult to have a…

Digging for Dinosaur Fossils

Bite-Science Activities feature bite-sized science concepts that allow you to explore STEM concepts with your children through hands-on activities. Besides having a trove of child-friendly STEM activities, Bite-Science Activities also includes relevant STEM concepts and questioning techniques to better equip you on your STEM expeditions. Can’t get enough of these majestic creatures after DinoQuest? Recreate…

The Dig in Dinosaurs!

We often think of dinosaurs as big, menacing and mysterious creatures. Even though they are no longer with us, most children love everything about them! What draws children, and even adults to these magnificent creatures? My own fascination with dinosaurs began at a very young age. Whilst I could not find them in the zoo,…

Journey of Red Blood Cell

Millions of red blood cells are created in our bone marrow each second. Built with iron-rich haemoglobin, they are able to bind and transport oxygen to every single cell in the human body. Unlike other human cells, a red blood cell lacks a nucleus, giving them the flexibility to squeeze through the tiniest blood capillaries…

Five Amazing Places to Geek Out!

2 Mins Read There are many things and places under the sun hidden from plain sight that will take our breath away. These awesome things and places often defy expectations and definitions. In this edition, we hunt down five experiences for you to indulge your soul and lust for curiosity. So add these to your…

Tarantulas in Singapore?

5 Mins Read The first tarantula I ever saw was on one of my early trips, when I just started out exploring our forests here in Singapore. I was with a couple of friends and one of them suddenly pointed to a tree trunk. It was a scrawny, malnourished tarantula with a mite-infested mouth and an abdomen…

Mangroves: Nature’s Desalination Plant

Mangrove forests have great ecological significance, both to humans and the functioning of the natural environment. By protecting mangroves, we can help protect the future of our planet.

[ISDC2018] A Trip to the Grand Finals of the International Science Drama Competition by Nanyang Girls’ High School.

The following entries are submissions by International Science Drama Competition (ISDC) 2018 participants from Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School & Nanyang Girls’ High School on their memorable journey with Science Centre Singapore and participating in ISDC2018 overseas. Written by Lin Jingxi on behalf of the Nanyang Girls’ High School, Submitted by Eng Sheng, Science Educator, Life…

[ISDC2018] A Trip to the Grand Finals of the International Science Drama Competition by Nanyang Girls’ High School.

The following entries are submissions by International Science Drama Competition (ISDC) 2018 participants from Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School & Nanyang Girls’ High School on their memorable journey with Science Centre Singapore and participating in ISDC2018 overseas. Written by Ang Hui Wen Rachel on behalf of the Nanyang Girls’ High School, Submitted by Eng Sheng, Science…

[ISDC2018] A Trip to the Grand Finals of the International Science Drama Competition by Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School.

The following entries are submissions by International Science Drama Competition (ISDC) 2018 participants from Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School & Nanyang Girls’ High School on their memorable journey with Science Centre Singapore and participating in ISDC2018 overseas. Written by Boo Jin Xian on behalf of the Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School, Submitted by Eng Sheng, Science Educator, Life…

10 Moments To Remember From The International Science Drama Competition (ISDC) 2018

By See Eng Sheng and Melody Chew, Science Educators, Science Centre Singapore Lights! Camera! Action! The International Science Drama Competition (ISDC) recently concluded its fourth instalment with the Grand Finals taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! Singapore was represented by our Singapore Finals winners – Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School and Nanyang Girls’ High School….

Learning the art and science of greening at Greenology

By Tan Xing Yu, STEM Inc, Education Officer, Science Centre Singapore On 18 May 2018, 17 teachers from Damai Secondary School, Broadrick Secondary School, Ang Mo Kio Secondary School, Loyang View Secondary School, Ministry of Education Headquarters and Science Centre Singapore visited Greenology at Farnborough Road to learn more about the company’s involvement in the…

Playing with Optics

By Shah Kasmuri, Science Educator @ The Tinkering Studio, Science Centre Singapore. They say seeing is believing. But can we really trust what we see? Long before scientists were studying the properties of neutrons, artists had devised a series of techniques to deceive the brain into thinking that a person can be sawed in half,…

Sounds like a Bright Idea!

By Aminah Hydar, Benjamin Wong and Chen Siyu of Broadrick Secondary School Imagine waking up one day with limited electricity, reserved only for powering essential appliances at home, in schools and in offices. No more watching television, charging our phones and gadgets, using our computers, or even turning on the air-conditioner on a warm day. Seems unlikely? Well, if we are not careful about how we consume electricity,…

Robotics reassembled!

Calling out to all robot-lovers – we’ve got something right up your alley! The upcoming CRADLE S.M.A.R.T. gives you the opportunity to see robots come to life over a two-day camp at Science Centre. You’ll discover how actuators, electronics and computer algorithms activate robots, as well as you’ll get to assemble the robots from scratch, and…

Look forward to the holidays!

What better way to spend your holidays! If you are feeling perplexed over the making of holiday plans for your child, then fret not – you can enrol your child in an innovative and fun–filled 2-day science camp organised by Science Centre Singapore. The Truly Madly Science Programmes are truly mind-blowing as they explore science in the most creative ways…

Rainbow Culinary

If your child is refusing greens, this workshop might be the perfect one for you! Tired of mashing carrots or cutting celery into cube sizes to ensure that they stay hidden in your child’s food? Instead of forcing your child to eat something they dislike (aka vegetables), why not make them love it! Join Science…

Wrack your brain!

Due to a wrong move, your lab assistant and you are plunged into an unfamiliar time zone and travel back in time. There is no time for you to waste. Think hard and act fast before your time runs out – you have to hit the time machine’s emergency button to return to the present….

The colours in life

Written by: Benedict Tham and Dexter Lim “I am finding my wings so I can fly, and soon I’d be on my way.” Are you? If you think life is dull and boring, think again. Jointly presented to you by Science Centre Singapore and Butterfly Park Sentosa Singapore, ‘Butterflies Up-close’ boasts over sixteen different species…

Face your Fears!

Challenge yourself and conquer all of your fears this year at Science Centre’s Phobia Party! Not only do you get enjoy Science Centre at Night, you’re assured to sample some groovy food and drinks. Challenge your friends to face their fears at our Fear Challenge Stations, try your hands at our game stations or enjoy…

An InTREEguing Walk

Keen to stretch your legs and explore nature for a change? Want to take a look at some critters up close? Then check out Science Centre’s Intreeguing Walk occurring this Saturday, 5 May 2018! Perfect for anyone wishing to enjoy a guided stroll through nature while learning about the surrounding life. Registration closes on 28 Apr…

Science needs to be championed – Global Study by 3M

Are Singaporeans scientifically literate? And how interested are Singaporeans in pursuing science-related careers? Science is all around us – from the digestive system that churns your breakfast after sunrise to the instant blackout when you flick the light switch before flopping into the bed for a good night rest. Though our country is gradually venturing…

Five Second Rule

Five second rule – true or not? When I drop food on the floor, an automatic five-second timer starts ticking in my head. In a swift motion, I picked the food up and pop it in my mouth before my Mom can stop me. “Five second rule!”, I shout before my mum can say anything….

Keep your dreams in control

I was left stranded in a vast ocean. I remembered thrashing around with my flimsy arms, struggling to keep my face above water levels. In between quick breaths, I yelled for help — but to no avail because there was simply no one. There was no end to the waters (ocean) and it is unlikely…

Why do we cry when sad?

Call me a weeper or crybaby — when I’m triggered by a wave of emotions, streams of salty tears roll down my face uncontrollably and turn me into a complete hot mess. It could be the grief over my appalling results. Or the sorrow of losing something precious to me. Or it could be the…

Flamazing balancing skills

When you think of the crimson pink Flamingos, the first thing that comes into your mind must be their one-legged perch! Amazingly, Flamingos stand on one leg to have half of their body rested while the other half active, and they swap legs when the side of their body is well-rested. In fact, more muscles…

Are you afraid of the dark?

My favourite movie genre has got to be horror because I loved the thrill from being scared. But when darkness falls… I turn into a total scaredy-cat. My ears perk up at the tiniest sound; my pulse races and rings in my ears; my stomach churns whilst having wild thoughts. Despite being a young adult,…

Dust out!

What is the point of cleaning when dust accumulates so quickly? About four weeks ago, this question popped up in my mind while I was practicing the yearly cleaning ritual just before Chinese New Year. The house was spick and span after a long and dreary session but – lo and behold! – the dust…

Are you kidding me right meow?

Nine lives – Are you kidding me right meow? Are you a cat purr-son? If you are, the myth about cats having nine lives should be familiar to you. Science has proven that these furry felines do not have nine lives – in fact they only live one noble life. How did this myth come…

Local Asian Herbs

By Ajuntha Anwari Blue Rice Memory As a child I recall eating a delicious dish at a restaurant in Geylang Serai together with my family. It was a delicious rice dish that gripped my young imagination because the rice was coloured blue! I later learnt that the blue colour came from the blue pea vine…

Want to become ski-llful at skiing?

Zip. Crunch. Swoosh! We reach the bottom of the slope, adrenaline still rushing through our veins. We’re skiing! It’s fun and exciting, but we wondered – how are we able to slide on the snow, and ‘brake’ with our skis? The reason skis can slide over the snow is because the temperature at which water…

The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it. Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Myths about eclipses!

Did you know that eclipses in ancient history were terrifying? The bloodstained moon and the gradual disappearance of the blazing sun was apparently an ominous sight to behold then! Some cultures even saw these eclipses as celestial wrath that would bring misfortune and evil on them. With the upcoming Lunar Eclipse on 31 Jan 2018,…

Experimenting indoors is easy-peasy!

During my internship at Science Centre Singapore, I was given the opportunity to look through issues of Science Spy (a science magazine for children aged 9-12). It enlightened me on many different topics relating to life sciences and physical sciences, which inspired me to share something of my own – about friction! Friction is an…