Science Buddies Blog (Page 106)

Gifts to Give the Grownups--That You can Put to Good "Scientific" Use!

December 16, 2010 11:10 AM

Earlier this week, we posted a list of cool science-y things you might add to your own wish list... things that would be fun to explore and might win holiday brownie points with Mom and Dad for sheer educational value. Hopefully you made sincere, compelling, and scientifically sound arguments. But now it's time to take a look at grown-up gadgets and science toys. Do you need to buy something for Mom, Dad, Uncle Joe, or Grandma? Maybe you've been thinking about what to give?… Read more

Scientifically Speaking: A Holiday Wish List

December 13, 2010 1:00 PM

If you're making lists and checking them twice this holiday season, make sure you put on your science cap as you think through what you really want! Well, that would be our suggestion. There may be many things on your list, but sometimes the best gifts to receive are ones that you can use over and over and over again, ones that will inspire and challenge you, and ones that let you explore, discover, create, and, yes, play. Plus, we know that moms and dads, aunts and uncles, and especially… Read more

DNA-Based Crime Prevention

November 16, 2010 9:54 AM

Depending on where you live, you may find that even local corner stores have sections that are kept under lock and key. Over-the-counter drugs and even toys often end up under "please ask for assistance" supervision. It can be frustrating to have to get a clerk to help you get your cold medicine, batteries, or the newest pack of trading cards, but it makes sense. From surveillance technologies to exploding ink security tags to simple lock-and-key access, businesses are doing what they can to… Read more

Bitter is Better for Bronchial Tubes

November 10, 2010 1:12 PM

Do you wrinkle up your nose at the taste of something bitter? That's partly what your taste buds do—help warn your body against something that is bitter and could be poisonous. While your tongue may or may not like the bitter taste of foods like radishes and dandelion greens, your lungs might react differently! A team of researchers from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins recently discovered that the lungs have "taste receptors" (like the ones on your tongue). That was a… Read more

Cholera Season

November 1, 2010 8:01 AM

Smallpox, typhoid fever, bubonic plague, cholera... These may be health problems you know best from history class—or even from novels in your literature class. In a world in which super-bugs lurk on the medical fringe and new viruses like H1N1 and SARS have threatened to explode to pandemic proportions, it's sometimes easy to discount diseases, viruses, and bacteria that have proven epidemic in the past. But many of these bugs from "long ago" haven't ever completely disappeared. A bit… Read more

Trapped Below Ground: The Importance of Circadian Rhythm

October 26, 2010 9:10 PM

Nuts and Bolts: The study of Circadian Rhythms is called chronobiology. It's not about bugs! "Cicadas" are the insects that come back periodically—every 13 or 17 years in the case of some species. But the bugs (often called locusts) are not related to circadian rhythm. The term "circadian" stems from the Latin "circa" (which means "around") and "diem" (which means "day"). Thirty-three workers were rescued recently after being trapped under ground when a mine… Read more

Making Radio Contact with the Space Station

October 21, 2010 8:33 AM

If you consider FM-radio a bit old-school compared to your portable MP3 stash, it may be time to think again—with a look to the sky. Not only is it possible to see the International Space Station with the naked eye, it's also possible to make unofficial radio contact—from home or school! The ISS is equipped with its own HAM radio setup, enabling classes and interested amateur radio operators to talk to someone in space via radio. Tracking the ISS and attempting to make contact… Read more

A Vinegar-Based Effort to Save the Danube

October 14, 2010 11:11 AM

Red Sludge: What is It? According to The Associated Press coverage of the Hungarian spill, "red sludge is a byproduct of the refining of bauxite into alumina, the basic material for manufacturing aluminum. Treated sludge is often stored in ponds where the water eventually evaporates, leaving behind a dried red clay-like soil." When a reservoir collapsed last week in Hungary, an estimated at 35 million cubic feet of toxic waste rushed into neighboring waterways and headed for the… Read more

Nobel: Palladium as a Catalyst

October 7, 2010 10:25 AM

Key Terms: Synthesis: forming or building a more complex substance or compound from elements or simpler compounds. Palladium: a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pd Catalyst: a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without being affected by the reaction The 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki for their development of a procedure for "palladium-catalyzed cross coupling," an organic chemistry process… Read more

A Competition for Tech-Savvy High School Girls

October 6, 2010 6:00 PM

Applications are being accepted for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing until October 15, 2010. U.S. high school girls, grades 9-12, who are interested in computer science or technology are encouraged to apply! Sponsored by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), the award recognizes high school women who have distinguished themselves in the area of computing and technology. To find out more about NCWIT and the Aspirations in Computing award, visit the… Read more

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