Science Buddies Blog (Page 109)

Morning Music

April 27, 2010 5:45 PM

I was on my way to the car one morning last week, and as I rounded the car to open the door, I noticed the repetitive trill of a bird. It was loud, persistent, and close. Stopping to listen, I swiveled around, searching the early morning street. There it was, a house finch perched atop a street light, its red throat catching the gleam of the sun breaking through the trees to the east. There are other birds in my area I've stopped to listen to in recent years. Some of them have become… Read more

Earth Day: Polar Caps

April 22, 2010 10:03 AM

As you observe Earth Day 2010 today, it's the perfect time to talk with students of all ages about conservation, recycling, and the importance of being good caretakers for the Earth. The following newly released Science Buddies science project can help students understand the issues surrounding global warming and the ice caps. These caps may seem far away, but melting due to climate change may have significant impact on the size of oceans. The trickle-down problem is the increased risk of… Read more

Ash Air

April 16, 2010 12:30 PM

Eruptions this week of a volcano that sits beneath a glacier in Iceland forced the evacuation of local residents who were in the path of the meltwater run-off from the glacier as surface melting occurred in response to the energy and temperature underground. As reported by guardian.uk.co, the floods arrived shortly after the initial eruptions, and the plume of ash blotted out the sky. Carried by winds, the ash wreaked havoc this week for international airports. British airports were… Read more

Student Journal Spreads Science

April 14, 2010 9:58 PM

Falconium boasts savvy design, engaging art, and a wide range of student-authored science articles. A student-run journal being put out by students at Torrey Pines High School in Encinitas, CA is giving science students a rare opportunity—the chance to publish their work for a widespread peer audience. While literary journals are common fare in many schools, student science journals are less common. There's opportunity here for emerging scientists to share their research and… Read more

Dim Light; Bright Science

April 12, 2010 9:34 AM

David Johnson, a 7th grader from Windsor Charter Academy, went to the Colorado State Science Fair last week with a science project idea he found on the Science Buddies website. Answering questions posed by the Science Buddies Topic Selection Wizard helped Johnson find a good match for his interest in circuits and electronics— and a novel use for a #2 lead pencil! Sliding Light: How to Make a Dimmer Switch (Science Buddies Difficulty Level: 6) Congratulations to David!… Read more

Methane: Handle with Care

April 6, 2010 11:45 AM

An explosion yesterday in the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia is responsible for at least 25 deaths. Another four miners are still missing, but rescue missions have reportedly been called off due to dangerous levels of methane gas. Once the underground tunnels are ventilated, a process being assisted through the drilling of holes in the side of the mine to allow more oxygen to enter, rescue and recovery operations can continue. The New York Times reported that officials hold out hope… Read more

Scientist's Pick: Minty-Fresh Chemistry

April 6, 2010 9:25 AM

Last month, Staff Scientist Dave opened a Science Buddies meeting with a small can of breath spray, a gas grill igniter, a film-canister, a homemade wooden apparatus to "hold" the canister in place, and the question: "Is it okay if I set this off in here?" A few minty sprays into the canister, a few clicks of the lighter, and the canister was propelled across the room with a noisy "bang." In subsequent demonstrations, Dave showed other ways to expand upon the initial experiment, even… Read more

Mercury and Venus with the Naked Eye!

April 2, 2010 10:59 AM

Whether you're an amateur astronomer or just one to look out the window at night from time to time and notice a particularly bright moon, it's been a year of big sightings in the night sky. The year kicked of with a "Blue Moon" on New Year's Eve. Then last week there was a rare chance to see Mars near the moon—an opportunity that won't come again for another two years! For the next few days, there's another evening sky opportunity you don't want to miss. If you've got clear skies… Read more

Kite Science

March 31, 2010 11:01 PM

Kites are a great way to explore science at high—and low— altitudes! A casual walk down a popular beach boardwalk or promenade often affords the chance to watch a kite master at work. While the familiar diamond kite may be the kite of your childhood, today's kites come in a near-dizzying array of shapes and sizes, many with a variety of tails that spin and twirl in the air, creating spirals of color and movement. Watching a high-flying kite can be deceptive. It spins. It… Read more

Science Fair Project Troubleshooting Guide

March 31, 2010 9:24 AM

What to Do When a Project Goes Wrong Science fair season may be winding down at most schools, but scientific exploration at home and in the classroom continues year-round. And where there is science, there are variables and materials and controls and reactions and things that change and bond and grow ... and things that don't. Lots of things can go wrong with a project, even with a well-designed, well-scheduled, and conscientiously-run project. Learning to handle a project that doesn't… Read more

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