So you like science?  Brilliant! And the best part of science is doing experiments. Evans publishing Group have a new edition of their fab 'Young Scientists Investigate' series out. With six books in the series it covers the whole spectrum of science. Electricity, Sound and Music, Plants Around Us, Light and Colour, The Human Body and Forces and Movement.

Packed with activities and bright photographs they also, cleverly, contain notes for parents and teachers too! Evans have been kind enough to give us two sets of the six books to give away.

All you have to do is tell us why you would like to win these books.

Send us an email with your name, age and address to:

Hay-Wire.Clubhouse@nesta.org.uk with ‘LET ME GET MY HANDS-ON IT!’ as the subject. The winners will be chosen on Thursday 15th December at 5pm.

Of course if you aren't lucky or can't wait, you can order, or get more information on any of their titles, by visiting www.evansbooks.co.uk, or calling Evans head office on 020 7487 0920.

Good luck!

And talking of hands-on science…

Running over custard is the latest way experts are trying to get kids doing more experiments in the classroom.  Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards ran over a pool of the yellow stuff at the National Science Museum on Monday to show science can be lots of fun. He didn't sink because the impact from his feet hitting the custard made it act like a solid rather than a liquid. 

So how does that work?  Well remember the Augustus-flavoured-chocolate-coated GLOOP from Haywire Issue No. 26? Have another look and refresh your memory.

Experts say not enough kids learn science, and want to get you more interested in the subject. They reckon doing more experiments could make the subject more enjoyable.

A survey of 510 science teachers found two in three didn't have time for experiments, while many said safety rules had put them off.

What do you think?  Do you enjoy science lessons?  Would you like to do more experiments? Tell us how you feel by sending us an email with your name, age and address to: Hay-Wire.Clubhouse@nesta.org.uk with ‘SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS’ as the subject.

Here are two lucky would-be experimenters right now!  It’s amazing what you can do with an empty pop bottle…

Harry Potter and the Inky Blackness of Deep Space.  No it’s not the title of the next Harry Potter adventure! The International Space Station (ISS) crew have been treated to a special showing of the latest Potter film.

US astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev asked to see Goblet of Fire, so mission control beamed it into space for them to watch. What?  Didn’t they realise it was a PG (Parental Guidance) rating?  Maybe they should have sent their mums up too in case it got a bit scary! Wingardium Leviosa!

The screening provided a relaxing break for the crew, who are 55 days into their six-month stay on the ISS.

Would you like to become an astronaut? It’s not easy. NASA, the US Space Agency, says you must be physically fit and highly qualified in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. And if that wasn’t enough you need at least 1,000 hours experience of piloting a jet aircraft. And the training takes up to two years. Even so, what a fantastic job!

Click here if you want more information on space.

How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?
Deep-pan, crisp and even

What’s the best Christmas present in the world?
A broken drum – you can’t beat it!

What carol is heard in the desert?
Camel ye faithful

Know any more? Then send them in to Hay-Wire.Clubhouse@nesta.org.uk with ‘XMAS FUN’ as the subject line.  Don’t forget to put your name and age and we’ll print them in the next issue.