With politicians from around the world having a meeting in Glasgow during the autumn term, it seemed fitting that we should run a theme about climate change. Lynda Dunlop at York and Elizabeth Rushton at King’s College London have co-ordinated the themed part of this issue.  We also have a wide range of other articles, ranging from the construction of light bulbs, reactivity of metals in water, inspirational science books, creative scientists, and sustainability at post-16 level, plus much more.