By Ceri Pitches Threading through history: the vertical transmission of Davy, Faraday and Tyndall’s lecture demonstration practices By Ken Arnold Thinking things through: reviving museum research By Tim Boon Editorial By Julia Tcharfas Through the lens of a space tourist By James Sumner Review: The thrilling adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: the (mostly) true story of the first computer, by Sydney Padua By Andrea Bandelli and Elly A. Konijn Museums as brokers of participation: how visitors view the emerging role of European science centres and museums in policy By Alison Boyle and Harry Cliff Curating the collider: using place to engage museum visitors with particle physics By Luisa Massarani Science communication in Latin America: what is going on? By Justin Dillon Sputnik and the ‘scientific revolution’ – what happened to social justice?