Double Helix

Looking for seriously fun science, technology, engineering, and maths news for your curious kids or tech-talented teens? We've got you covered! Inside every issue you'll find articles, activities, puzzles, comics, and prizes galore. Perfect reading for enquiring minds, CSIRO's Double Helix magazine is packed with news, features, fun experiments, giveaways and more. Each issue focuses on a different theme, from smells to spaceships and beyond! With clear language and eye-catching design, the content promotes critical thinking, strengthens literacy skills and is the perfect fuel to spark or sustain an interest in STEM. Double Helix is published eight times a year. It is ideal for 8 to 13-year-olds and enjoyed by older readers as well.

HELIX HQ

ON THE DOUBLE

CAPYBARA KEY COULD TURN WASTE TO BIOFUEL • What’s hiding in the gut of the giant South American rodent known as a capybara? According to a new study from Brazil, it contains 2 molecules that could help break down farm waste.

MOON FARMING • When it comes to extended space exploration, plants can provide food and oxygen. But can they survive the harsh conditions of an extraterrestrial life? In a recent breakthrough, seeds sown in soil from the Moon have sprouted for the first time.

MAPPING A WILD WORLD • During the Melbourne lockdown of 2020, cartographer Anton Thomas began work mapping the world’s native fauna and flora. And he’s still hard at work on his mammoth project, called Wild World.

NIGHT-TIME SOLAR POWER • This team at the University of New South Wales have a bright idea! They’re developing a device that generates solar power at night. Here’s the lowdown.

MOTH-WING WALLPAPER

TINY ROBOTS DISGUISED AS CRABS • Engineers at Northwestern University in the United States have invented the world’s smallest, remote-controlled, walking robot, and it looks like a crab!

BY THE NUMBERS: MICROWAVE OVENS

RADIO ASTRONOMY: DINGO • This captivating painting is titled DINGO. It was painted by Phillipa Boddington, a Wajarri nyarlu (woman) from the Murchison region in central Western Australia.

ROBOTIC SMART BIN • Recycling bottles could soon get a whole lot easier and more efficient. CSIRO and University of Technology Sydney have developed Smart Bin Technology, which can automatically classify and sort recyclable bottles.

SUBSCRIBE

MEASURE UP! AUSTRALIAN REPTILES • Australia is home to some massive reptiles. The largest reptile in the world is our estuarine (ess-CHU-reen or ess-CHU-ryn) crocodile. Australia’s biggest turtle, the leatherback sea turtle, is the bulkiest of all living turtles. And some of our lizards and snakes aren’t lightweights either.

THE LOWDOWN ON ENGINEERING • Unlike science and maths, there’s no ‘engineering’ subject at school. But engineering uses both science and maths skills, and has many different applications. Engineers work on everything from computers to spaceships!

READY, SET, Spaghetti • A student team known as ‘The Impastas’ are basking in glory after winning their university’s annual Pasta Bridge competition.

SAY CHEESE TOUR A CAMERA MUSEUM • How often have you snapped a selfie? Or bunched up for a family photo? Probably more times than you can count.

PROJECT TRANSFORMATION!

POSTER

EYES ON FLIES

NEW REVIEWERS NEEDED!

DOUBLE HELIX SPOKE TO BRYAN LESSARD, AUTHOR OF EYES ON FLIES

TIME-TRAVELLING SHED

WATCH THE MOON TURN RED • HELLO, EARTHLINGS! GAIL LEXY HERE TO REPORT ON THE UPCOMING TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

ELECTRIC TRANSPORT • There’s an electric revolution underway! Electric cars, e-scooters and e-bikes are all becoming super popular. But plenty of bigger vehicles are being electrified too.

POWERFUL PEOPLE • SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO FIGURE SOMETHING...