Science Learning Hub logo
TopicsConceptsCitizen scienceTeacher PLDGlossary
Sign in
concepts

electromagnetic spectrum

Colours of light

Article

Colours of light

Light is made up of wavelengths of light, and each wavelength is a particular colour. The colour we see is ...

Read more
The electromagnetic spectrum – picture dictation

Activity

The electromagnetic spectrum – picture dictation

In this picture dictation activity, students use a range of skills to investigate some ways humans use the waves on ...

Read more
What is UV?

Article

What is UV?

Ultraviolet (UV) light is part of a family of radiations called the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. UV is just beyond the ...

Read more
Diagram of radiation blocked by atmosphere before reaching Earth

Article

Light and telescopes

The universe is full of amazing things, but we need help to see most of them. There are many types ...

Read more
Remote sensing and water quality

Article

Remote sensing and water quality

When you look across a lake, what colour do you expect to see? The common answer is usually blue – but what shade of blue? The ...

Read more
Light – colour and fluorescence

Article

Light – colour and fluorescence

Visible light is the small part within the electromagnetic spectrum that human eyes are sensitive to and can detect. Visible light waves consist of different wavelengths. ...

Read more
Light – polarisation

Article

Light – polarisation

Polarised sunglasses look like regular sunglasses, but they are able to filter out the glare from automobile windscreens and the surface of water. The glasses you ...

Read more
Light and shadows

Article

Light and shadows

When children draw pictures of the Sun, they often show rays radiating outwards – similar to the image below. At this stage of our Sun’s life ...

Read more
Mapping the Milky Way’s magnetic field

Article

Mapping the Milky Way’s magnetic field

Astronomers at Victoria University were part of an international team led by Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA), which has pooled their radio astronomy observations ...

Read more
Light basics

Article

Light basics

Light is a form of energy produced by a light source. Light is made of photons that travel very fast. Photons of light behave like both ...

Read more
Satellite sensing

Article

Satellite sensing

Satellites are equipped with a wide range of super sense technology. Sensors have been developed that can detect radiation returns for many parts of the electromagnetic ...

Read more
Solar energy

Article

Solar energy

The Sun is the source of almost all our energy. It is a huge ball of hot gases that gives off energy as heat and light. ...

Read more
Space revealed – question bank

Article

Space revealed – question bank

An inquiry approach is a method often used in science education. The question bank provides an initial list of questions about the secret lives of planets, ...

Read more
History of planet hunting – timeline

Article

History of planet hunting – timeline

Since finding all the planets in our Solar System, the search was on for planets around other stars (extrasolar planets). As methods and technology improve, more ...

Read more
Space revealed – key terms

Article

Space revealed – key terms

New Zealand astronomers use different wavelengths of light to reveal information about stars and galaxies and to find new planets. This resource provides explanations of the ...

Read more
Professor Denis Sullivan (1942–2019)

Article

Professor Denis Sullivan (1942–2019)

Position: Former Professor, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington. Field: Astrophysics. Collecting data How do you study things you can’t touch, or ...

Read more
Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt

Article

Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt

Position: Professor of Radio Astronomy, Curtin University and Director, Murchison Widefield Array. Field: Radio Astronomy. The universe as a laboratory Do you want to explore the ...

Read more
Distances in space

Article

Distances in space

Distances in space are really, really big. The Voyager 1 spacecraft is heading out of our Solar System at 62,000 km per hour, but even at ...

Read more
Colliding galaxies

Article

Colliding galaxies

The 100 billion galaxies in the universe are not just scattered randomly in space. Most galaxies are arranged in small groups or larger clusters. The galaxy ...

Read more
The Sun and white dwarfs

Article

The Sun and white dwarfs

Professor Denis Sullivan studies white dwarfs – small and dense stars that are cooling down after being red giants. Our Sun, and most other stars, will ...

Read more
Planet hunting

Article

Planet hunting

Hundreds of extrasolar planets (around other stars) have been found using several methods, including transit, ‘wobble’ and microlensing. New Zealand scientists are part of the hunt ...

Read more
Space revealed – introduction

Article

Space revealed – introduction

Astronomers studying space have two big problems: A lot of things in space seem invisible – they do not give out light we can see. Scientists ...

Read more
You, me and UV – question bank

Article

You, me and UV – question bank

An inquiry approach is a method often used in science education. The question bank provides an initial list of questions about good and the bad of ...

Read more
UV and sunbeds

Article

UV and sunbeds

The New Zealand Ministry of Health website states, “Using a sunbed is never recommended. They are not a safe way to tan or boost your vitamin ...

Read more
Monitoring UV

Article

Monitoring UV

Dr Richard McKenzie, a senior scientist for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), has been conducting research into ultraviolet radiation for a number ...

Read more
Children’s exposure to UV

Article

Children’s exposure to UV

Researchers like Richard McKenzie have shown that summer radiation in Aotearoa New Zealand has the potential to burn and, as research shows that excess UV exposure ...

Read more
You, me and UV – introduction

Article

You, me and UV – introduction

Often we hear of ultraviolet radiation (UV) in the media. The message given is that it is a dangerous and invisible component of sunlight that is ...

Read more
  • ‹
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • ›

See our newsletters here.

NewsEventsAboutContact usPrivacyCopyrightHelp

The Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao is funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Science in Society Initiative.

Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao © 2007-2026 The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato