Science in action

Science and medicine
1 When studying scientific subjects, ________ is one of the main factors if you want to make progress, which is why it's important to ________.
2 First of all, we have to formulate our ________ and then we have to demonstrate it in practice.
3 In order to bring ________ new funding, we have to apply for grants from governments. It's not ________.
4 It is now possible to replace several organs with ________, and the risk of rejection is lower than in the past.
5 You don't need much ________ knowledge to pass the exam.

1 To use the machine, you have to ________ the security code.
2 Travelling is a good way to ________ your horizons.
3 We need to ________ our market to become more inclusive.
4 What about finding a course that ________ in homeopathy?
5 The researchers found a way to ________ the nervous system.
6 I think you need to ________ the report's findings.
7 If we want to buy the new car, we need to ________ on our holiday spending.

1 the report/write/yesterday
________
2 hopefully/find/solutions/to global warming/by 2030
________
3 the conference/organise/at the moment/?
________
4 some researchers/never/give/the recognition they deserve
________
5 the paper/must/write/by/the end of the month
________
6 viruses/not always/easy/detect
________

1 Those dinosaur footprints were said ________ (leave) over 200 million years ago.
2 The visitors ________ (suppose) to be here by now but I can't see them anywhere.
3 It ________ (generally/believe) that insects evolved about 450 million years ago.
4 That doctor over there ________ (believe) to be an expert in cancer treatment.
5 This new laboratory ________ (think) to have cost over 100 thousand pounds to set up.
6 It ________ (claim) that a universal flu vaccine ________ (develop) very soon.

Intelligent mould
Slime mould is something we normally associate with a rather shaded and damp garden. It flourishes in moist areas such as where there are piles of rotting leaves. It is a single-cell organism and as such is neither an animal, plant or fungus. In recent studies, a slime mould has been found to spread out and grow like Tokyo's subway system. It cannot create tissues and has no organs or body system. However, much to a group of scientists' surprise, this mould is able to remember, make decisions and solve rather complicated optimization problems regarding its efficiency. When it is put in a dish with cereal placed on it to reproduce the subway map, the mould branched out over the map. Without any coordinating system like a brain, it recreated the efficient subway system in a matter of a few days. It showed a surprising level of adaptability. It seems that it uses its body to sense the environment around it before it makes a decision about where to go. In conclusion, it does not have a brain but can perform a lot of the behaviour we associate with the thought process.
1 The mould only has ________.
2 It follows the pattern of an underground ________.
3 Cereal was put in a specific ________.
4 Its behaviour indicates a ________ level of versatility.
5 Even without a ________, it demonstrated how adaptable it is.
6 It ________ decide about where it goes.

Talking science with children
We all know that children are curious and so here are some ways to help them get involved in science. Take advantage of their questions to bring (1) ________ connected subjects and collect data. Encourage them to share their perspectives and observations. You can invite curiosity during a walk in the countryside or a day at the beach, where the nature around you can (2) ________ explored in many ways. Observe the changing tides and study the creatures in rock pools. Observations can be recorded (3) ________ the children in words, drawings or photographs. It's also important to carry (4) ________ experiments. This can be done in the kitchen at home, but remember that experiments can be messy occasions, so be ready with gloves and protective clothing. And if something goes wrong, (5) ________ can be a good opportunity to investigate with your child. A mistake can lead to other possibilities and provide opportunities to refine your ideas, understanding, and hypotheses. Have them suggest ideas. This is what's known (6) ________ trial and error. Science is the backbone of our society, it's (7) ________ always rocket science, and where better to start than with children.

Infectious diseases
Animals and humans live closer together than ever before due to population growth, ________ (forest) and climate change and how much we have urbanized. This is why our animals' health is ________ (vital) important, both for us and them. Millions of people rely on animals not only for food but also for livelihoods and core needs such as clothing, transport and power. What's more, animal and human health are ________ (connect). In fact, three quarters of emerging ________ (infect) diseases in humans are 'zoonotic' – which means they can spread from animals to the human population, such as with SARS, Ebola and Bird influenza. One way to do this is by monitoring outbreaks of diseases and ________ (category) them. This requires collaboration between global and regional partners who ________ (note) other organisations when necessary and can be done with the help of computers and warning ________ (net). Obviously, prevention is even better, and this can be fostered by analysing disease data to create forecast maps of outbreaks. This will help us keep one step ahead of potential threats and stop epidemics from ________ (wide).

Take a bottle and put a ________ on top of it. The coin will start moving because the heated air expands and rushes out of the bottle's ________.
Put some full egg boxes on the floors and ________ onto it. The eggs will support your weight like the ________ that support the weight of a cathedral.
To do this experiment, you need a balloon, water, and a ________. If you fill it with air and place it over a fire, you expect the rubber to get so hot that it breaks. But if you fill it with water, the ________ it from popping.

1 They always say that ________ is better than cure and there is plenty of ________ to support this.
2 We managed to ________ our new passes activated.
3 A ________ has recently been made in how keyhole heart surgery is carried out.
4 Researchers will need to ________ their findings with the new results.
5 The fundraising campaign brought ________ a lot of donations for the new wing of the hospital.
6 The building is ________ to let in as much light as possible.

1 I'm glad that we all seem to be on the ________ wavelength.
2 They need to ________ the laboratory equipment cleaned by a professional company tomorrow.
3 Antibiotics ________ about a huge reduction in the number of deaths from infections.
4 It ________ widely believed ________ doctors that we'll soon find a cure for most cancers.
5 Equipment must not ________ removed from the premises ________ workers without permission.