Science Buddies Blog (Page 110)

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

Meet Marc Church: Mechanical Engineer

March 30, 2010 7:24 AM

Marc Church, Mechanical Engineer, Lockheed Martin Marc Church, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Lockheed Martin, has always been a "builder" at heart. At age nine, he dreamed of being an architect and drew house plans for fun. A few years later, a retired railroad engineer moved in next door, and Marc's focus switched from architecture to engineering as he perused plans of railroad bridges and received mentoring from his neighbor. Marc went on to study mechanical engineering at… Read more

"Sunny" Photograms

March 18, 2010 1:24 PM

Botanical print by Anna Atkins, courtesy of The New York Public Library, www.nypl.org These days of mid-March as Spring approaches have been unusually sunny here in the Bay Area. Short sleeves. Sunglasses. Sunscreen. The quest for a bit of shade. The rain and fog may be just around the corner, but a sunny afternoon is a great time to explore the colorful composition of light, the filtering properties of various colors, and a light-activated chemical reaction--all while making… Read more

Fun with Seek and Find

March 10, 2010 12:34 PM

I love puzzles of all sorts. Word puzzles. Number puzzles. Mazes. Codes. Brain teasers. Not surprisingly, I passed on my willingness to tinker with a pencil and paper in an attempt to solve this or that challenge to my kids. Years ago, we spent countless hours poring over the pages of I Spy, Where's Waldo, and various spin-offs on the "can you find it hidden on this page" concept. In addition to the regular I Spy titles, the Can You See What I See? books by Walter Wick (one of the… Read more

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