issue 2, August 2014

Hip Hop Science Spaza and iFani team up for National Science Week 2014!

Hands up students!! Who knows iFani?? BIG Hip Hop artist right? BUT did you know he is also a SCIENTIST? AND he is working with Science Spaza to kick off our Hip Hop Science Spaza programme. He is the Ish!

In the last Spaza Space, we during National Science Week, so launched out Hip Hop Science stay glued to your TV sets! Spaza Competition where YOU You thought studying Science was are taking 4 science facts from one difficult, neh? But you need to of your Science Spaza resources experiment! iFani was also raised and turning those 4 facts into a in difficult circumstances, but RAP song, right? Now how dope he could see the poetry and the is that? science in things, just by observing With National Science Week just his surroundings… (and some around the corner (2-9 August hard work). So put some hard 2014), we have invited iFani to work in here, and lets get some work with learners in Durban RESULTS. We want your RAP to write RAP songs out of the entry by 30 September 2014. science facts they have been DOUBLE IT UP!! learning, and then to BATTLE it (Hip Hop Science Spaza out for the BEST rap song of the Competition deadline extended DAY! We will be going live with until AFTER National Science this workshop on Hectic Nine-9 Week – 30 September 2014!)

Top TIPS: How to write a good rap song! Enter the Hip Hop Science Spaza competition Keep it simple! It must have rhythm, it must have a beat, it must rhyme! and stand a chance of having your track recorded Take 4 facts from ONE of your Science Spaza resources and work a rhyme around for the Hip Hop Science Spaza 2014 CD! those four facts. Get your teacher to check that your science facts are correct. Some tips from our American friends – Google: the Rap Genius Forum A selection of the best of the 2014 competition will be Content – Generally, what the artist(s) are saying in the song. Different minds professionally recorded and distributed to all registered like different kinds of content in songs. However, most good songs don’t have Science Spazas. Not only will you be learning science, you’ll also swearing. be teaching it to other science learners across South Africa. Lyrics – The actual words used to convey what is trying to be said in the song. Lyrics play the biggest role in determining if a song is good or not. Clever Rules of the Hip Hop Science Spaza Competition: wordplay and a nice rhyme scheme can make a song way better. In hip hop/rap, • Closing date: 30 September 2014. just about every good song is poetic in some way. • Rap songs must be based on a school textbook topic or Emotion – Emotion also plays a big part in how good a song is. People can feel a Science Spaza resource topic, e.g. Static Electricity. the emotion in songs like it is part of the beat. Expressing emotion, whether it Download all the resources for free and see the be anger, sadness, happiness, etc., can always make a song better. It is also how Rules and Conditions of this competition at people make personal connections to songs. www.sciencespaza.org. Beat – Not much needs to be said about this. Having a great beat can make a • No swearing, and be respectful of women. song with not-so-good lyrics worth listening to. • Submissions can be whatsapped to 076 1737 130 There are many more qualities that make a song good, but these are the main ones. or emailed to [email protected].

Jive Media Africa What time is it? Welcome to the second issue of Spaza Space celebrating National Science Week! National Science With events around the country we’ll be exploring the role that science plays in our Week time!!! lives… today and in the future. We’ve got lots in store! Mzansi’s There’s even a cool maths trick Oh yeah ... it’s that time of own award winning Rap artist and you can win prizes with the year again where we (and computer scientist) just the Mathemagic challenge! celebrate Science in the got behind the Hip Hop Science Find out about robots or dig world we live in. Spaza competition (watch into our crystals activity and Hectic Nine-9 on SABC 2 during discover why the whole world Sindi Buthelezi National Science Week) and you is celebrating the International can find out more about the Year of Crystallography! National Science Week (NSW) is Science Genius battles in New an initiative of the Department of As always you can also catch up York City on page 5. See what Science and Technology (DST) on news and pics from the clubs. GZA has to say about science that is celebrated annually across And remember, we want to hear and Hip Hop! And don’t delay – South Africa. It involves various science, Tomorrow’s world” and from you so tell us what you’re send us your entry! stakeholders and role players who the sub-themes are robotics, doing for science week – even if conduct fun science-based activities crystallography and Maths. You can find out more about a it’s just chilling with your friends during the week. The South African National Science Week 2014 runs career in computer science in and Spaza Space! Because Agency for Science and Technology from 2 to 9 August 2014, and it will another adventure with Agent knowledge is Ncah! Advancement (SAASTA) has be launched on the 2nd of August Zee. You can even meet a few been appointed by the DST as in Bloemfontein. The Science Spaza Team the implementing agency and computer scientists -then dive the national project manager for You can visit your nearest Science into some cool science stories National Science Week. Centre or turn to page 4 to see from the SAASTA Young Science what fun activities they will be Writers competition. NSW runs simultaneously in all doing this year. You will also get an nine provinces and in various opportunity to meet other kids who To find out more or to advertise in Spaza places per province. So if you are are fascinated by science and, who fascinated about Science of any Space contact [email protected] or call knows, together you might make Robert on 033 342 9382 kind, NSW 2014 is definitely for the world a better place. you. This year’s theme is “Today’s

logical explanation: the very space and so how far away the apartment Cosmic Conundrum between galaxies is expanding, was. Supernovae work the same a relic from the Big Bang, the way, except the distances are much, Adapted from an article by Michelle Knights for the Young Science Communicators beginning of the Universe. The much greater. Competition detective took a bite and thought In 1998, two teams of astronomers a muffin starts off small, with all independently made measurements Smoke curled thickly around the dark room and around the the chocolate chips close together, but of distant supernovae. Both teams detective’s head. Brilliant stars shone out of the velvet sky and his in the oven it expands, driving the found something very strange. All eyes watched them, thinking, as a cigarette burned forgotten in his chocolate chips away from each other. the supernovae were farther away mouth. There was something wrong with the Universe and he was And so the chocolate chip Universe than they should be. The most had made perfect sense for most of going to find out what it was. All he knew was that they called it logical explanation is this: not only the 20th century. But all that had “dark energy”. is space itself expanding, but instead suddenly changed. of slowing down as we’d expect, it It all started with Einstein, who expanding or contracting but could The data was impossible, yet it is expanding faster and faster and could never have predicted the not be stationary. Einstein couldn’t was undeniable. The detective faster... intrigue that would surround what accept a non-static Universe so had seen the images himself, but So Einstein’s cosmological constant he called his “greatest blunder”. he fudged his equation, adding it still didn’t make any sense. It Einstein’s beautiful theory of what he called “the cosmological could be right after all, thought all had something to do with General Relativity, the world’s first constant”, which somehow exactly the detective. Only some kind of exploding stars. There are stars real explanation of gravity, implied balanced gravity and kept the weird anti-gravity could cause exploding in the Universe all the that the whole Universe could be Universe static. the expansion of the Universe to time: they run out of fuel, collapse accelerate. They call it “dark energy”. In the dark room under deepening and explode. But there’s a special night, the detective wondered what kind of these “supernovae” that is So what causes this accelerated it really meant for the Universe to a standard candle. The detective expansion? No-one knows. Even be static or otherwise. But Einstein glanced at the only lit window in though the leading scientists who realised the Universe couldn’t the apartment block across the made the discovery in 1998 have be static when Edwin Hubble street. If he knew what kind of received the Nobel Prize in Physics published his results showing that light bulb they were using, say a 60 for their discovery, still no-one every galaxy in the distant Universe watt bulb, then he could measure really has any idea what dark energy was moving away from us. The only how bright the window appeared could be or how it works.

Page 2 Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 from NEwS the CLUBS

This is where you, the members of the Science Spaza clubs, get to share your news and have your say about science issues

Dordrecht Inextricables

We live in a small town called Dordrecht. Our spaza name is “The Inextricables”, which means to be closely linked or impossible to disentangle. We started our club mid-2013 and currently have 28 members. Members include grade 10, 11 and 12 learners. Our meetings are held every Wednesday afternoon in our science classroom. We learn so much during each meeting. The wide variety of topics broadens our knowledge and helps us to better understand the world we live in. We share ideas and hear different opinions. Topics that we found very interesting were the planet and galaxy session as well as the traditional facial we had!! We are looking forward to this year and hope to make new discoveries. Thank you for the Science Spaza, we appreciate it! We would like to welcome our new grade 10 members. Elmien

Goratileone Oepeng We have close to 25 members. Our science link that was shown on the pamphlet, I saw club’s main focus is to learn more about the registration form on the Science Spaza “We started our science club last year, things that we don’t know about.Our science website and I registered.The following day November 2013. As I take a look at our club’s name means “Discover That’’ and our at school I asked some learners and my community, we are the only science club that motto is “Everything is discovered before friends to join the science club I started. They exists and participates in Science Spaza. it is known’’. Having a science club at our agreed and started attending. The Science I started this science club, “Tshimologo’’ school is great because some of the learners Spaza activities give us more information because I saw that there was a need for it. they want to do certain science careers like and knowledge on different science topics. engineering, medicine and more others they Sometimes they make us think hard to find a want to become scientists. Our science club solution to the problems. Science spaza helps is making a big difference in our school, us in many ways: they give us name tags, as it helps us to have more knowledge and files, activities and posters with great science a love of science. In the beginning I didn’t information. Being part of Science Spaza know anything about science clubs until I make us feel that we belong somewhere and found the Science Spaza pamphlets which there are other schools which with Science were very informative and contain great Spaza clubs that we can compete with because information about science clubs. Then in science we have to compete in order to I took my cell phone and clicked on the realise our mistakes. Thanks.

K.H.S Science Club Our Science club has helped us a lot towards Meet Hleketani Mukhari of the Hleks At first we were told to enter [Science Spaza], building our confidence and improving our but we lacked self-confidence because we 101 Science Group. We scientific knowledge. It has created a great were thrilled to receive thought that science clubs were only for platform where we can perform practical Hleketani’s entry for geniuses and our intellect was not at that science ideas. It has broadened our minds, our Hip Hop Science standard. Our teachers encouraged us to enter Spaza competition the club and they told us about the benefits of enabling us to apply our experience from the entitled Laws and entering the club. science club in our studies. Regulations of Life!! Please send your We thought to ourselves, “If they can do it, By K.H.S science club students: Fono Kuhle, Koyi entries to us in time for why can’t we?” And that was the start of our Vuyo, Zangqa Someleze (10H) and Shabalala Mbali, 30th September 2014!! love for science. Mwanda Ndyebo, and Kumkati Pheleka (10A)

Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Page 3 National Science Week 2014 Events Guide Check out what’s happening at your local Science Centre during National Science Week 2014!

Sci-Bono North West Discovery Centre University

1. Science in a mall 2. FIRST Technology Science Centre Dates: 2-3 August 2014 & 9 -10 Challenge August 2014 Date: 2 August 2014 1. Science Festival 2. National Science Week Time: 09h00 - 16h00 Venue: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre Dates: 28 July - 1st August 2014 Dates: 2-9 August 2014 Venue: Kagiso Mall (2 - 3 August) & Time: 09h00-16h00 Time: 08h30-15h30 Venue: North-West University Alberton City Shopping Mall (9 - 10 Target group: general public & youth Venue: North-West University (Mafikeng campus) August) (Mafikeng campus) Time: 9h00-15h30 Activities: Target group: general public and Target group: grades 4-12 and Target group: grades 4-12, university youth Robotics tournament general public students, educators and general For more information: Activities: public. Contact Person: Johannes de Vries Activities: Science shows and interactive Tel: 012 382 5250 Career Exhibition, science shows, Activities: science exhibits E-mail: [email protected] learners’ workshops, presentations Career exhibition, science shows, For more information: and games learner’s workshops, presentations, science games, science quizzes, Contact Person: Christinah For more information: Raphahlelo science karaoke, science poem, Contact Person: Mr. Bushy Moabelo Tel: 011 639 8501 science posters, science Drama [email protected] Cell: 0839795279 E-mail: [email protected] For more information: Contact Person: Lerato Molebatsi 3. Science on the Street 4. Speak2aScientist Tel: 018-3892606/7 Dates: 4-8 August 2014 Date: 7 August 2014 E-mail: [email protected] Venue: Beyers Naude Square Venue: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre Time: 09h00 - 16h00 Time: 18h00 - 20h00 Target group: general public and Target group: general public and youth youth

Activities: Activities: Science shows and interactive Evening talk by an awesome scientist Olwazini science exhibits For more information: For more information: Contact Person: Thami Mangena Discovery Contact Person: Thami Mangena Tel: 011 639 8427 Tel: 011 639 8427 [email protected] Centre [email protected] 1. Science Boxes 2. Youth’s involvement in Date: 4 August 2014 saving our planet 5. Science and Technology 6. Inventors & Inventions Time: 09h00 - 14h00 Date: 7 August 2014 Focus Week Indaba Venue: Olwazini Centre, Golden Time: 9h00 - 13h00 Dates: 4-8 August 2014 Date: 9 August 2014 Horse Casino (PMB) Venue: Hall in Edendale/Scottsville Venue: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre Venue: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre Target group: educators from the area (PMB) Time: 09h00 - 14h00 Time: 09h30 - 14h30 uMgungundlovu District Target group: general public, out-of- Target group: school learners Target group: general public and school youth youth Activities: Activities: Educators workshop doing science Activities: Join 10 000 other learners in this Activities: practicals using available household Out-of-school youth to be addressed spectacle of today’s science and Inventors will display and talk tomorrow’s world. Engage with about their proudly South African material about different environmental issues and the role they can play to save possible future employers and inventions For more information: experience science in action. the planet. For more information: Contact Person: Spar Duma Tel: 033 395 8230 For more information: For more information: Contact Person: Thami Mangena Cell: 082 745 3610 Contact Person: Thami Mangena Tel: 011 639 8427 Contact Person: Sam Khumalo Tel: 011 639 8427 [email protected] Tel: 033 395 1536 [email protected] Cell: 078 376 1536

Page 4 Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Science Genius (Hip Hop) B.A.T.T.L.E.S in NYC By Sindi Buthelezi and Hilary Kromberg eliminated the stigma of science being boring. They took science concepts and turned them What Prof Chris Emdin (Rap It’s spring semester in New York City, and into cool hip hop raps that made the crowds go Genius) has to say: the kids are having the time of their lives…. crazy as they moved with the different beats. Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. is an initiative that On the 27th of June they had a Hip Hop The winners were a group of two guys and a is focused on utilizing the power of hip-hop Science Battle, on a real Battle Ship!! gal, as well as a gal going solo. The prizes?? music and culture to introduce youth to the wonder and beauty of science. The core They won time with GZA from the Wu- message of the initiative is to meet urban Yeah! The battle was hosted by Science Tang Clan and they will tour other schools youth, who are traditionally disengaged in Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S (Bringing Attention performing around the country in the USA. science classrooms, on their cultural turf and to Transforming, Teaching and Learning They get to go on radio stations and record in provide them with the opportunity to express Science). Science Genius is the brain child of a studio!! the same passion they have for hip-hop a funky hip hop Science Education Professor culture for science. Chris Emdin and Hip-Hop icon GZA. Now who would’ve thought? Hip hop meets Science!!! Uber cool :-) 18 kids from 10 schools participated in the B.A.T.T.L.E.S – some performed their science rap in groups, others went solo. They

Here’s what some of the people had to say about the BATTLES... Joshua Haimowitz @HaimysWords Jun 28 So proud of my brilliant student Victoria for winning #sciencegenius, people like you help shape the world @chrisemdin #hiphoped

Nitty Scott MC @NittyScottMC Jun 28 so inspired by the young souls i witnessed today. these kids coming up are oozing with talent & tremendous spirit. #HipHopEd #sciencegenius

IAN LEVY @Ianplevy Jun 28 #sciencegenius was absolutely incredible!!! In awe by the performances, so proud of all the young people who rocked today!! #HipHopEd

What GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan has to say: “Now that hip hop has become the single to communicate the information learned most dominant cultural touchstone in from their science teachers … I believe that the lives of most youth, Chris Edmin, science is important because it helps you Rap Genius and I have come together to gain a deeper understanding of yourself sponsor Science Genius. We chose hip hop and your surroundings. Knowledge of one’s as an art form to educate the listeners about environment specifically through science scientific topics. As I said before I am not can increase self-awareness, confidence, a science teacher. I go into classrooms as and critical thinking skills that can translate an artist and provide a model for students outside of the classroom.”

Hip Hop Science Spaza teamed up with Ikamva Youth KZN and rooted Souls. Getting inspired by Christopher Emdin and Hilary Kromberg Inglis, we brought science and music together with explosive results!

Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Page 5 www.agentzee.org

About Agent Zee Visit my website: Heita! Hola and watsup peeps! I’m sure we’ve all heard answer. There’s a whole world out there to discover! that scientists are nerds or that science is ONLY for boys! agentzee.org So stay in touch with me through my website, Facebook Well, NONE of that is true and I’m here to break the rules! page and Twitter account where I profile Mzansi’s great [email protected] I am Zinhle. African woman. Science student. Science scientists, career opportunities and the latest science diva and science junkie! news from SA and around the world. @agentzee My student friends know me as Zinhle. When faced with Remember, nothing can stop you guys! The power is a challenging science problem I transform into Agent within you... AgentZee Zee and venture into the great unknown in search of the

Heita peeps! Check out these two amazing dudes who are studying Computer Science: Mabu Manaileng from University of Limpopo

Mabu Manaileng is 23 years old from a village he’s focusing on developing modelling units for called Ga-Masemola in Sekhu-khune district under-resourced languages. He likes watching of the Limpopo Province. He obtained both soccer and cricket, science-fiction movies and his B.Sc. and B.Sc. Honours in Computer Science scientific debates. In his spare time he likes from University of Limpopo - Turfloop Campus. engaging in public debates and promoting science. Mabu is presently studying towards a Masters He is most inspired by Carl Sagan when he said: degree in Natural Language Processing aka Speech “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to Technology, a field of Artificial Intelligence where be known”. Abejide Ade Ibijola from University of Witwatersrand

Abejide Ade Ibijola is 28 and from Ekiti supported teaching in the School of Computer State in Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Science Science and won a number of academic awards degree with Honours, graduated as the overall and distinctions, such as: the Best Tutor for the best student with First Class in Theoretical and year 2013; Microsoft’s Local and International Applied Computer Science in 2007. He progressed Publications Award 2013; and the Postgraduate and bagged a Masters degree in Advanced Merit Award 2014. When he’s not researching, Computer Science with Distinction, specializing he likes playing soccer and chess video games, in Video Game Development and Game AI following soccer leagues around the world, Algorithms in 2011. He’s currently pursuing a PhD stepping on the pitch to play soccer and watching in Computer Science, focusing on Automatic science fiction movies. He is inspired by the words Program Comprehension at the University of the of an unknown author which say: “There aren’t Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in South Africa. many geniuses in this world, the rest of us have to Since his PhD enrolment at WITS in 2013, he has study hard if we desire it”.

Page 6 Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Interested in a career in Computer science? Check out Watsup peeps! Whoever said scientists which SA universities offer it: ain’t cool and funky clearly •  hasn’t met iFani, the dopest Degree: BSc with majors such as Information Technology, Electronic Computer Scientist in Mzansi! Engineering – most universities. The 2014 SAMA Best Hip Hop • Bachelor of Information Technology Award winner did a BSc (Hons) Computer degrees are offered at some Science & BSc Computer Engineering universities – Rhodes University, at the University of Cape Town. Whilst University of Cape Town, University of the Western Cape, Nelson Mandela doing his undergrad, iFani attended Metropolitan University, University Hip Hop shows, battles and cyphers of Free State, Wits, University of around the country and released Stellenbosch, University of Pretoria, UNISA, University of Kwazulu Natal, mixtapes! University of Johannesburg. University This charming and witty MC is living proof of Zululand, University of Fort Hare, North West University, Monash. that scientists are HIP and FABULOUS!

Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Page 7 Robotics in South Africa Bongiwe Mbatha

When you hear the word “robot”, do you picture huge Transformer- like machines with artificial intelligence? Robots seldom look like people, but they are increasingly being used for tasks that make our lives easier and safer.

The first robot bore no to follow a person carrying heavy resemblance to humanoid equipment for them. It will map (human-like) machines, it was a its environment along the route so steam powered bird made out of that it can go home by itself! wood by the Greek mathematician There are also robots being Archytas almost 2500 years ago. developed for South African Robots are now used in sectors mines where the world’s deepest such as mining, healthcare, Robotics at the CSIR: The South African Mobile Intelligent Autonomous Systems gold deposits lie. This could make Image credit: CSIR and http://thetechieguy.com farming and oceanography to mining possible even where it is name a few. unsafe for humans to go because it In 2011, a team of researchers is too hot and humid. at the Centre for Scientific and So what is the future for robotics? Did you know? Industrial Research (CSIR) Will they take over from humans? „„ Liam, a young South African boy born without fingers, received a robotic completed work on the CSIR Highly unlikely! But it is clear hand thanks to a team that included a South African carpenter and a US Autonomous Rover, a vehicle able that scientists are getting creative, prop maker. to drive itself using information and the robotic pets, lawn mowers „„ A robot made by Honda, ASIMO, was capable of learning like a small child. from satellites and local sensors. and vacuum cleaners already on It could have conversations, throw a ball and dance and run with smooth The team is now working on an the market show that Robots have movements. ‘autonomous mule’, a cart able a big role to play in the future. Nano-robots and drug therapies – Can DNA save the day? Adapted from an article by Michelle Robinson for the Young Science Communicators Competition

DNA nanotechnology is a new scientific field and one that seems more like science fiction. What if you could take DNA, the genetic material inside your cells, and use it to construct microscopic structures or even tiny machines that perform specific functions? The potential applications for this technology are fascinating and inspiring, especially in terms of treating and curing disease. Above: Electron microscope images of DNA To understand DNA In the past ten years the field folded into various origami shapes nanotechnology, you need to of DNA nanotechnology has Image credit: Rothemund, 2006 think small. Very small. Imagine exploded, with researchers from Left: A model of a DNA box with cancer something being one-thousandth around the world exploring therapeutics (purple) inside of it of the size of a strand of human how to develop and harness the Image credit: Douglas et al, 2012 hair. Scientists are investigating power of DNA. In a new field and manipulating matter at this called “DNA origami”, scientists minute scale, including DNA. demonstrated how they could make any shape you want, from tiny robots as they moved along DNA is a molecule found in fold DNA into two and three- simple cubes to smiley faces. their path. Could these robots one day find diseased cells and destroy all living things that holds the dimensional shapes. In 2012 a Harvard researchers recently them? Or move along blocked instructions for how they are built team from Harvard used DNA created a hinged DNA box arteries, cleaning them? and work. DNA can be chemically bricks, designed similarly to filled with an anti-cancer drug altered and bound to various other children’s Lego bricks, that were that opens when it comes into The medicinal applications of compounds, opening up a number stacked and shaped in the same contact with diseased cells, DNA nanotechnology are quite of possibilities for creating DNA way that Lego can be. You can releasing the drug. Scientists far away, as this technology is machines. from the Technische Universitaet new. These devices have to be An artist’s Muenchen created a “nano- developed further and must be rendering of a needle” that could be used to much more rigorously tested, nano-bot walking along a DNA track kill harmful bacteria by injecting especially in the human body. Image credit: http://www.dailymail. them with drugs. At Columbia Yet we may see the day when co.uk/sciencetech/article-1278133/ University tiny spider-like robots this incredible technology, which Meet-nano-spiders-The-DNA-robots- day-walking-body.html) made only out of protein and sounds like something out of a DNA were designed to walk along Hollywood blockbuster, is readily a DNA track. Using microscopes, available. the scientists could watch their

Page 8 Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 CLOSING

Science Spaza – Mathemagic Thalia’s Mathemagic Challenge EXTENDED!DATE Here’s a cool mathemagic trick! This magic trick can be done with Try it on your friends – they’ll any algebraic expression that can Are you a mathemagician? WHO CAN ENTER? think you’re reading their minds! be simplified to a single number. Mathematicians do maths. All Science Spaza Clubs Can you make up algebraic steps Mathemagicians make magic happen 1. Choose any whole number HOW TO ENTER? for your own magic trick? when they share their love of maths. „„ Choose a mathematical idea that between 1 and 100. We want to hear from you. Share a Magic Square Puzzle your group finds interesting, and a 2. Multiply the number by 2. maths concept and win books for your title. science club worth R1000.00 3. Add 14 to the total. A magic square is a square made „„ Write an explanation for people 4. Divide the total by 2. up of numbers so that, whichever Who was Thales? who don’t know about it. Include direction you add the numbers, diagrams or pictures or stories to help 5. Subtract your original number Thales was a Greek philosopher and they come to the same total. For others to understand it. from the total. mathematician who lived about 600 BC. He is called the “Father of example, the magic square below SENDING YOUR ENTRY 6. Your answer is 7. Science” because he tried to explain has a total of 15. „„ Include your club’s name, address natural events by using reason instead So what’s going on? and phone number. of supernatural beliefs. One of his Let’s write these steps as an 2 7 6 15 ideas was the Intercept Theorem in „„ Include the names of the members algebraic sum to work it out. geometry, known as Thales’ Theorem. who participated, and the name of a Pretend “x” is the number you first 9 5 1 15 contact person. thought of. Let x be the starting Who is Thalia? „„ Send your entry to: number. Now let’s write out all Mathemagic Challenge, Jive Africa, 4 3 8 15 P O Box 22106, Mayor’s Walk, 3208 or the steps from the Magic Maths email it to [email protected] by Activity as an algebraic expression 15 15 30 September 2014. and simplify it: 15 15 15 See www.sciencespaza.org for Rules and Conditions of this competition (2x+14) – x 2 Can you find the missing numbers JUDGING in the magic square shown below? We’re looking for ideas that help 2(x+7) inspire others to understand and enjoy = – x 2 Thalia Rogers maths. We’ll be asking: 8 „„ Is it interesting? Thalia is an inspiring South African divide the top and bottom by 2 „„ How clear is the explanation? schoolgirl who won a prize for maths. „„ Is the presentation original? = (x+7) – x 11 7 3 She donated the prize to Science Spaza to run the Mathemagic The winning club’s entry will be = 7 Challenge. It’s her way of sharing her printed in Spaza Space. passion for maths! Be a mathemagician!

Advertorial.pdf 1 2014/03/04 2:42 PM

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ARCHER ESE R G We use communication satellites every day when we watch IN IONS TECH S Digital Satellite television (DStv), access the internet or use AT N N R IC E our cell phones. E I S P A N E O T E T O I

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Y NGINE CM Y E ER NC MY E RECAST U FO ER Spacecraft are launched into space on rockets and need to be CY Q ER E H monitored along the way. SANSA provides launch support and CMY R T F A two Mars launches – NASA’s Mars Science K E recently assisted

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Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Page 9 It’s not a reptile, it’s a mammal! James Ragedi, National Zoological Gardens Education Intern

As reptilian as these animals may look, pangolins are fully-fledged mammals. One of the major differences between mammals and reptiles is of course the presence of scales in reptiles. However, Pangolins have hard plate-like structures overlapping each other over the entire surface of the animal, except under the belly and inner surface of the limbs.

With only 8 species of pangolins wild because they are extremely left worldwide, only four are endangered. They are also very found in Africa. All four pangolin difficult to keep in captivity species are under some form of because of their diet. threat from either the bush meat These mammals are closely related trade (the three central African to animals such as anteaters, species) or the muti trade (the sloths, and armadillos; hence they Ground pangolin in southern are also dubbed “scaly anteaters”. Africa) This is attributed to One of the four species of African Pangolin A fascinating thing about poaching and illegal trade, as some pangolins is the length of their people think their keratin scales tongue, which can extend to a have medicinal value. According include scientists, concerned You can also play a role in length greater than that of its own to the International Union for citizens, government and non- protecting these unique creatures body. Conservation of Nature (IUCN), government organisations such as by contacting the African the Endangered Wildlife Trust Pangolin Working Group on these species are likely to be the The African Pangolin Working (EWT), FreeMe, the National www.pangolin.org.za if you spot most traded mammals globally. Group champions pangolin Zoological Gardens of South or photograph a pangolin in the conservation in Southern It is very difficult for one to Africa and Lapalala Wilderness wild. Africa, and their partners encounter a pangolin in the School. Structural Biology, WTF? (Why the fuss?)

Adapted from an article by Simon Broadley for the Young Science Communicators Competition

Structural biology in South Africa has never held as much promise as it does right now. But what is structural biology and what does it have to do with the International Year of Crystallography being celebrated around the world this year?

Structural biology is the the study that keep our cells working. By crystal, form a diffraction pattern of the molecular structure of accurately knowing the shapes that helps identify the structure biological molecules to determine of enzymes, effective medicines of the enzyme. There are different European Synchrotron Research how a change in structure can be developed to kill disease- machines that produce X-rays; Facility (ESRF) in France. This affects how they work in the causing bacteria. To determine however, the best and brightest agreement will let scientists from body. Designing antibiotics to the structure of these enzymes, X-rays are produced by a huge South Africa use the synchrotron keep us free of disease is one a technique called X-ray machine called a synchrotron. for free. Not only is this exciting of the things that structural Crystallography, which reveals because we now have access to In May 2013, South Africa biologists do. For this they must how atoms are arranged within a a synchrotron, but also because became one of 20 countries understand the shapes of very crystal, has been developed. This the ESRF is the most powerful (and the first African country) tiny molecules – called enzymes, process requires beams of X-rays, synchrotron source in Europe! to sign an agreement with the which are the biological factories which when passed through a Once scientists have identified the structure of an enzyme, they can then share their data and post their findings on a website called the Protein Data Bank for the whole world to see. This way, all scientists can benefit and use each other’s data. Studying structural biology in South Africa will give you a chance to play a part in developing the drugs that will fight disease- causing bacteria.

Page 10 Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014

You will need:7 sheets of paper a pen try this out on  some friends to   Copy the numbers from page 3 of this resource onto the pieces of paper. Do you notice anything about the number patterns?

2 Super POWERS Super Page 1 Page Activity Divide each piece of paper into 5 rows and 10 columns. Tell someone you’re about to read their mind. Ask them to think of a number between 1 and 100. 1 3 and an or www.SAASTA.ac.za some curiosity interest in finding out more about the world! 4 For more information visit www.dst.gov.za visit www.dst.gov.za For more information National National celebrates Science spaza of science week , an initiative of Science and the Department a implemented by SAASTA, Technology, Research business unit of the National Foundation. ScienceSpaza To be fi lled in by responsible adult (parent/teacher) responsible adult (parent/teacher) by lled in be fi To Name: ______Surname: ______Position: ID Number: ______(parent/teacher): Signature ______Date:

a group of friends who are excited about science! 1 a parent or teacher to assist you a time and place to meet 3 2 What moves you? What moves Media Africa. of Jive Spaza is an initiative Science www.sciencespaza.org at out more Find need: resources You will Register and support. now to receive FREE rica Af J ive Medi a Local knowledge is lekker! Start your own Science Spaza Start Zulu people in South Africa have a method Zulu people in South Africa have one for counting to 9 using only 5 the fingers on one hand hand . For 1 to with the smallest and starting are used, adding fingers till the whole hand is For 6 the thumb (or isithupa shown. For - meaning 6 in isiZulu) is used. 7 the thumb and forefinger are used and the middle ring fingers are added for 8 and 9! Postal address: ______address: Postal ______Name of school: ______Municipality: ______Province: club: science Name of your ______Name of contact person: ______number: ______Telephone ______Email address: online at www.sciencespaza.org application or submit your 086 610 5453 email: [email protected] to 3208 Fax Walk, 22106, Mayor’s Send PO Box to science spaza application form application science spaza Science Spaza is grateful to Dave Ryan, Royal Bafokeng Maths Specialist for Specialist for Maths Bafokeng Royal Ryan, Dave to Spaza is grateful Science this resource. to his contributions

Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014 Page 11 what's going on here? Page 2 different power of 2. So 9 only appears on the card starting with 1 (the 2 and card starting with 8 (the 2     There are great job opportunities, such as: 6 4

careers Statistician Mathematician Electronics and electronic engineering Computer scientist Each of the 7 cards starts with a be the number they were thinking of!) When you are sure have added up correctly tell them the answer (which will just between their eyes. concentrate fiercely on their head... their number appears on. Pretend to Ask them to tell you which cards There are 7 powers of 2 from 1 to 100: 2 2 2 4 2 (=16), 2 (=4) , 2 0 and 2 (=1), 2 6 (=64) 3 card). 1 5 3 (=2), 0 (=8), (=32) card) some or all of 1 to 100 can be numbers from written using these powers 5 All the of 2. cards their number is on. top left of each the Add up the numbers at 97 = 64 + 32 +1 2

Try some other numbers!

grasp of exponents. of grasp

students have a good good a have students

mathematics. Good Maths Maths Good mathematics.

very important in later later in important very

gr 7 and continue to be be to continue and 7 gr Add these up and you

formally introduced in in introduced formally Exponents (powers) are are (powers) Exponents

For example: curriculum curriculum

get to 9! links can be written For example 9 as 2 6 + 2 3 2 (8) plus 0 (1) 5 + 2 0

copy these numbers for the super powers at work Page 3 maths because they are so powerful! Exponents or powers are used all over 84 85 86 87 92 93 94 95 100 62 63 68 69 70 71 76 77 78 79 44 45 46 47 52 53 54 55 60 61 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 28 29 30 31 36 37 38 39 7 6 5 4 82 83 86 87 90 91 94 95 98 99 62 63 66 67 70 71 74 75 78 79 42 43 46 47 50 51 54 55 58 59 10 11 14 15 18 19 22 23 26 27 30 31 34 35 38 39 7 6 3 2 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 activity on pageactivity 1 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 62 63 96 97 98 99 100 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 62 63 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 26 27 28 29 30 31 48 49 50 51 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 62 63 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 44 45 46 47 56 57 58 59 60 61 26 27 28 29 30 31 40 41 42 43 10 11 12 13 14 15 24 25 9 8

Page 12 Spaza Space, Issue 2, August 2014