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Science, Maths & Technology
Investment casting
A temporary initial pattern is made from wax. The mould, or investment, is made by dipping the wax pattern into a vat of refractory slurry, which solidifies around the outside of the wax pattern. This process is repeated until the required wall thickness is achieved. The original wax pattern is then melted away, leaving a hollow mould in which ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Hallowain't III: Thorny devil
It's a spiky devil. It's also known as a dragon. So is it a dragon from hell? No.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Blue Planet II - One Ocean: The videos
Get a taste of episode one, and go behind the scenes, of our lush love letter to the deep blue.
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Nature & Environment
Hallowain't III: Woodfrogs
A block of ice melts away, and there sits a frog. Is this an ice monster of some sort? No.
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Nature & Environment
Hallowain't III: Vampire squid from hell
Is there something truly demonic about the vampire squid from hell? No.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Low pressure sand casting
To reduce porosity in the cast 3D component, molten metal is poured slowly, to avoid turbulence, into a holding furnace. The molten metal is then gravity fed upwards, through a riser tube, and into a sand mould to solidify.
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Science, Maths & Technology
"V" Process (Vacuum sealed moulding process)
Plastic films and sand are sculpted over a pattern using heat, vibration and vacuum to form a mould in the shape of the component to be cast. Suction by vacuum is used to hold the mould in place until the molten metal has solidified.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Sand casting
Sand is used as the mould material. Sand is compacted round a pattern, into a two part mould, to form a cavity in the shape of the component to be cast.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Injection moulding
A process where polymer pellets are melted, then hydraulically injected into a mould to solidify into 3D thermoplastic components.
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Science, Maths & Technology
What part did citizen science play in hurricane disaster relief?
The Caribbean was hit by two powerful hurricanes in quick succession - Irma and Maria. Citizen scientists were amongst those who swung into action to help, explains Rebekah Yore.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Why is discovering gravitational waves from a neutron star collision a big deal?
Scientists have detected gravitational waves by the violent collision of two huge stars weighing more than the sun and more than 100m light years from the Earth. Here's why it matters.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Exploring comets: A short introduction
As Rosetta brings us more knowledge of what comets are, Dave Rothery celebrates a growing understanding of these hurtling space rocks.