ScienceClips to go: Epigenetics, Acivation Barrier, Mean Value, Quantum Leap

You think you know your science? With ScienceClips to go you learn that some things are different than we often think or even learnt about in school. Here you get surprising facts about physics, chemistry, or biology. Let’s start with epigenetics!

Giraffe Necks Through Epigenetics?

Like you, many people have been taught that Darwin’s theory of evolution is right, and Lamarck’s theory is wrong. Geneticists now know that Lamarck’s theory isn’t complete bullshit, because environmental factors can indeed alter the genome of an organism. Learn more about epigenetics in our “ScienceClip to go”:

More about epigenetics can, of course, be found in molecular genetics textbooks.

The Activation Barrier

Have you ever wondered why even the most reactive chemicals, when you mix them with other reactants, don’t just spontaneously react? – The short answer is: For any chemical reaction to proceed, you must first overcome the activation barrier. Learn more about the Activation Barrier in our “ScienceClip to go”:

More about chemical reactions can, of course, be found in chemistry textbooks.

What Does “Mean Value” Really Mean?

If someone told you that the average weight of a size M egg is 58 grams, you could expect that half the eggs in a carton will weigh at least 58 grams. What may be true for eggs, however, is often plain wrong when looking at more interesting things …

More about the important difference between the average and median Value can, of course, be found in maths textbooks.

The Quantum Leap

Who hasn’t heard it? Something’s going to be better, faster or easier. A real „quantum leap“. But how big, really, is a quantum leap? Learn more in our “ScienceClip to go”:

More about the physics of the quantum leap can, of course, be found in quantum mechanics textbooks.