Resource: Little and large

The Big Picture series was launched in January 2005, successor to LabNotes. The publication provides teachers and post-16 students with up-to-date information on key areas of biomedical research, while exploring their social and ethical implications.

The nanoscience issue focused on the science and application of nanotechnologies, engineering at scales smaller than 100 nanometres (for comparison, a human hair is 80 000 nm wide). Many exciting opportunities exist, but the strange properties of material at such scales take us into areas of unknown risk.

The obesity issue looked at physiological, psychological and social influences on weight control, as well as the personal and social consequences of rising levels of obesity. It also encouraged readers to consider who should take responsibility for tackling this mounting problem.

Issues and supplementary materials are freely available on our website. The obesity issue also features an interactive online game for students, who have to raise an 'Ob', an alien life form with a tendency to become obese. The nanoscience issue also included an online activity – a version of a ‘Democs’ game, which enables classes to debate the regulation of an emerging area such as nanotechnology.