Table of contents for Issue 352 - December 2024 in MiniMag

Welcome to our magical December issue, where the festive spirit meets the wonders of science, wildlife and heroism! This month, we celebrate Christmas by marvelling at the beauty of lights – both on our trees and in the sky! Discover the natural wonder of auroras, where nature puts on a mesmerising show. For our action-loving readers, the cover star of this issue is none other than Sonic the Hedgehog! In the latest movie, Sonic takes on powerful villains to protect his world – a thrilling adventure packed with resilience and daring feats. Our Christmas movie spotlight, “Niko Saves Christmas,” follows the heartwarming tale of a young reindeer with big dreams to soar with Santa’s team. It’s a story of courage, belief and the magic of following your dreams. Amid the…

Have you ever heard of the Northern Lights? They’re just one part of a magical display in our sky known as auroras! Auroras are beautiful light shows that appear in the northern and southern regions of Earth. In the north, we call them the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, and in the south, they’re known as the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. Both are created by the Sun and our planet’s magnetic field, giving us a glimpse of nature’s true wonders! What makes auroras shine? Auroras are caused by tiny particles from the Sun, known as solar wind. When these charged particles reach Earth, they interact with gases in our atmosphere like oxygen and nitrogen, creating shimmering lights that stretch across the sky. This happens in areas closest to Earth’s…

Ho, ho, ho! It’s that magical time of year when Santa is busy with his elves, packing his sleigh full of presents and double-checking his Naughty and Nice lists. While Santa is getting ready, he left some holiday fun for you to enjoy! Get into the Christmas spirit with a merry maze, a festive word puzzle, some spot-the-difference cheer, and some jolly colouring-in pictures. Let’s make this Christmas unforgettable! Find the chimney! Did you know? Unlike most deer species, both male and female reindeer grow antlers. Males typically shed theirs in early winter, while females keep theirs throughout winter, which means Santa’s reindeers might actually be female! Find the right top view! Answer: No 5 Spot the 10 differences! Long Journey Santa travels over 510 million km on Christmas Eve! That’s…

Algae may look like simple green slime, but these tiny organisms are hard at work performing one of nature’s most essential tasks – photosynthesis! Just like plants, algae absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use sunlight to convert it into energy, producing oxygen as a byproduct. This process is a powerful natural tool for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere, making algae a surprising superhero in the fight against climate change. By growing algae in a bottle, you’re creating your own mini carbon-sucking system, learning first-hand how algae turn light and air into life! PHOTOSYNTHESIS Plants make food for themselves using photosynthesis: they take carbon dioxide from the air and use sunlight to turn it into glucose (sugar). Algae, also known as “that slimy green stuff” in many water habitats,…

Bees pollinate around 75% of the world’s crops, helping to produce food for people and animals. Over 1 million sea birds and 100 000 sea mammals die each year due to plastic pollution. The UK’s Scottish wildcat is one of the rarest animals in the world, with fewer than 100 left in the wild! Scientists believe that conserving natural habitats doesn’t just help wildlife – it also benefits us by providing clean air, water and more stable climates. Hedgehogs can travel nearly 2 km in one night as they forage for food like insects, slugs and even small snakes! Did you know that every year, more animals find themselves at risk of disappearing from our world forever? Wildlife conservation is all about protecting our planet’s incredible variety of animals and plants,…

Have you ever felt your toes squelch into some slime on the bottom of a rock pool or pond? That gross slimy feeling, caused by tiny algae, can turn into a really good feeling for humanity if we become serious about putting algae to work. PUTTING SLIME TO WORK! We’ve all seen movies where climate change and the scramble for resources leave the world in ruins. We know we need to act, but what can we actually do? The answer might surprise you: microalgae! What is microalgae and why should we care? Microalgae are tiny, water-dwelling organisms that might remind you of the green stuff in ponds. But don't let their size fool you Ð these little organisms pack a powerful punch! Microalgae are like nature’s ultra-efficient solar panels, converting…

Get ready to dive into the wild world of amazing animals! We’re exploring creatures from the jungles to the ocean and everywhere in between. Test your animal knowledge with our crossword puzzle and challenge your eyes with our find-the-difference challenge. So, sharpen your pencils and get ready to explore the wild side! DID YOU KNOW? Some bears can hibernate for up to seven months without eating, drinking, or going to the bathroom! During this time, they slow down their heart rate to conserve energy, making them true survival experts. Polar bears are incredible swimmers and can paddle for hours at a time! They use their large front paws like paddles to glide through icy waters, sometimes covering up to 100 kilometres in a single swim! FIND 10 DIFFERENCES! Africa is…

The market for algae-based products is booming and currently valued at around $14 billion globally. Algae products come in a variety of forms. For example, biofuels, which we use in huge quantities, are low-cost but high-volume items. Meanwhile, some high-value proteins derived from algae can sell for millions per kilogram, serving as crucial ingredients in pharmaceuticals or specialty health products. PERFECT CONDITIONS Countries like the U.S., the U.K. and China have been exploring the potential of microalgae since the 1980s, but their cooler climates make large-scale algae cultivation challenging. In warmer regions with consistent sunlight and mild climates, conditions are ideal for year-round algae growth. These favourable environments offer a unique opportunity to expand algae production as part of a sustainable future. Meeting future food needs sustainably By 2050, the…

Soil is way more than just dirt! Beneath our feet, this rich, brown layer is a powerhouse that helps plants grow, cleans our water, and even fights climate change. By learning about soil’s incredible roles in both our environment and our future, we start to understand why scientists say it’s one of Earth’s most valuable resources. Let’s dig deeper into two fascinating roles soil plays: helping our planet’s climate and protecting itself through conservation efforts. Soil and Climate: Earth’s unsung climate warrior Soil doesn't just grow plants Ð it’s a natural hero in fighting climate change! Healthy soil absorbs carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere and stores it underground. This process, called carbon sequestration, helps reduce the amount of CO2 in our air, slowing the effects of climate…