Physics and Maths
Atomic Clocks
The time by which we all live is now maintained by incredibly accurate atomic clocks. Find out how they work, why we need their accuracy and how they may become even better in the future.
Atomic firsts
Who split the atom and what was its importance? Find out about some famous discoveries that helped determine the structure of the atom.
Huygens' Clocks
Christiaan Huygens spent years devising new mechanisms to improve timekeeping, including the pendulum and the balance wheel and spring - devices which governed almost all clocks and watches for the next 300 years.
Big clocks
Find out about the development of early public clocks, from the 14th century examples at Salisbury and Wells to the 19th century mechanism which operates Big Ben.
King George III
The King George III Collection at the Science Museum is a unique assembly of early apparatus for demonstrating scientific principles. Through these objects scientists were able to disseminate their knowledge of the 'new science'.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie and the history of radioactivity: find out about the extraordinary work of Marie Curie and her family.
Strange Surfaces
This story looks at striking and significant mathematical surface models from the 19th century, together with interesting and attractive models being made today.
