10 November: a day to bring science closer
World Science Day for Peace and Development is observed every year on 10 November. UNESCO uses the day to connect science and society, encourage people to engage with science and show its relevance to everyday life.[1]
For 2026, UNESCO is focusing on how scientific cooperation can help people find common ground. You can mark the day informally by exploring a small question of your own; no special equipment or scientific training is needed.[1]
Separate what you notice from what you wonder
Start by choosing something familiar that catches your attention. It could be a sound, a texture or something you see. Describe just what you notice in a few words: write it down if you like, or simply put it into words in your mind.
Next, give your curiosity a separate sentence. Rather than settling on a reason straight away, ask what might be different or whether you would notice the same thing another time. Not knowing the answer is a fine place to begin. The examples below pair possible observations with questions they might raise.
| Something you might notice | A question it could raise |
|---|---|
| Leaves by a window had different shades of green | Could the amount of light make a difference? |
| Droplets appeared on the outside of a cold cup | What might change if I moved the cup? |
| The Moon was visible in the evening sky | Will it be in the same place tomorrow? |
These are prompts for your own observations, not explanations of their causes. Try replacing an example with something you have noticed.
Follow one question a little further
To follow a question further, turn it into a few specific search words and look for an explanation from a science museum, university or public science organisation. If you are curious about the Moon’s position, for example, you could search for “why does the Moon appear in different places on different nights”.
You could also revisit what you noticed before looking it up, or describe it to someone and ask what they think. If that conversation brings up another question, jot down a few words so you can return to it later.