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.

Double Helix

HELIX HQ

ON THE DOUBLE

BABY OYSTERS ROCK

BUMBLEBEES JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

MANY ARMS MAKE GREAT THROWERS

CHARGING UP THE FUTURE

LASER-BEAM LIGHTNING ROD

SOLAR-POWERED SHEEP

I HEAR YOU, FRIEND

BY THE NUMBERS: POWER ME UP!

OCEAN FORESTS

SNOT TRANSPLANTS UNBLOCK NOSES

WHIPPERSNAPPER SUPER SHRIMP

COLOURFUL TREE CHEMISTRY • NGUGI SCIENTIST AND ARTIST STEPHANIE BEAUPARK USES BOTH SCIENCE AND ART TO EXPLORE MATERIALS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE WORLD WORKS. SHE STUDIES THE CHEMISTRY OF DYES MADE FROM GUM TREES – INCLUDING THE ONES SHE USES IN HER OWN ART.

BANKING ENERGY • SOLAR AND WIND POWER HELP PROVIDE ELECTRICITY. BUT BECAUSE THE WIND ISN’T ALWAYS BLOWING, AND DAYS ARE NOT ALWAYS SUNNY, WE NEED WAYS TO STORE THESE TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TO USE LATER. STORING ENERGY CAN BE A TRICKY THING: WE NEED TO MAKE IT SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT. ENTER CSIRO RESEARCHERS, WHO ARE LOOKING TOWARDS AN ELECTRIFIED FUTURE.

AN ENERGY HIT • We all love sugar, and it’s not only for the taste – it gives us an amazing burst of energy, too. But how is sugar made, where does it come from, and how does it end up in all those tiny sachets?

Mighty microbes • Humans have a love–hate relationship with bacteria. But scientists are working with these tiny creatures to make our life on Earth more sustainable. Here’s how.

ENGINEERING FIREWORKS

POSTER

Into the Sideways World

Can You Get Rainbows in Space?

Go Extinct! Megafauna

TIME-TRAVELLING SHED

DIRECTING PLANES FROM SPACE • HELLO, FREQUENT FLYERS AND FRIENDS! GAIL LEXY HERE, REPORTING ON SKYKRAFT’S NEW SPACE-BASED AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

BETTER SOLAR • Solar energy is powering our renewable future. But there’s more to solar than black panels on your roof!

Power the world • SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT IS TO GRAB A SCRAP OF PAPER AND DO A QUICK CALCULATION. SCIENTISTS CALL THESE ’BACK OF THE ENVELOPE’ CALCULATIONS. GET YOUR ENVELOPE READY!

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION?

WHAT GOES UP

MAGIC BEAN • CREATE YOUR VERY OWN MAGIC BEAN THAT APPEARS TO MOVE AND JUMP BY ITSELF!

BUILD A RUBBER-BAND POWERED CAR • EVERYONE LOVES FLICKING RUBBER BANDS, RIGHT? NOW YOU CAN HARNESS THAT EVIL FOR GOOD, MAKING A RUBBER-BAND PROPELLED CAR THAT, WITH A LITTLE LUCK, WILL WHIZZ ACROSS THE LOUNGE ROOM.

RAINBOW PLASTIC • HAVE YOU HEARD OF POLARISED SUNGLASSES? IN THIS COLOURFUL ACTIVITY, WE’LL INVESTIGATE WHAT THEY CAN DO!

MAKE IT COMIC

ENERGY SOURCES

PUZZLES

PRIZES