Where does science happen?

You may need to work in many different locations, depending on what it is you're investigating.

Here are some common places where science happens.

• Laboratory: A laboratory is a controlled environment where scientists can use special equipment and make accurate measurements. For example, mixing and heating chemicals, or analysing an animal's DNA.

• Fieldwork: To observe how something works in nature, or to collect samples that can be analysed in the lab, scientists need to do fieldwork. This can take place anywhere! For example, observing how gorillas behave in the wild, or collecting lava samples from a volcanic eruption.

• Observatory: Observing stars and galaxies requires powerful telescopes, which are often found on top of high mountains or are launched into space.

Scientists work in every possible environment on Earth, but they're also interested in the wider universe. Sending people into space isn't easy, but we may soon be able to set up a research station on Mars. It's important to find out what effect such an alien environment might have on the human body, as well as plants, animals and technology.

One way of testing these effects is to run investigations on the International Space Station. There's still gravity acting here, but it doesn't have its usual effects, so the astronauts float and seem to be weightless.