Science Buddies Blog (Page 95)

Science Buddies and Astellas Announce Chemistry Contest Winners

May 8, 2012 8:20 AM

By Kim Mullin The winners of the Rosalind Franklin Chemistry Contest, sponsored by Science Buddies and the Astellas USA Foundation, have been determined! Rosalind Elsie Franklin was an important female chemist whose research using x-ray diffraction helped lead to the identification of the structure of DNA. Through this contest, Astellas hoped to inspire young scientists, and females in particular, to pursue chemistry research and careers.Students Receive Honors Students in grades 6-12… Read more

Success Story: The Science of Video Games

May 7, 2012 11:33 AM

Three years in a row, this fifth grader has turned his interest in video games into a winning science investigation. For Xavier, a new science project assignment is a great opportunity to learn about another aspect of game design and development—and have fun at the same time. Game on! Xavier Downey (above) is a veteran science fair winner. Exploring various angles of science related to video game play and video game design, Xavier has made the leader boards at local science fairs three… Read more

Science and Art: Mutant Sunflowers

May 3, 2012 9:24 AM

Variations in gene expression can lead to anomalies in flowers. Some of Van Gogh's sunflowers were of a mutant variety, and scientists recently tracked down genes that may be responsible. When we think of a sunflower, many of us think of a bright yellow flower with a large, dark center, like the one shown above. In Van Gogh's famous serious of sunflower paintings, there are typical sunflowers intermixed with a few mutant ones. These mutant sunflowers posed a puzzle for plant scientists,… Read more

Parent Perspective: Understanding Your Role in Your Student's Science Project

May 1, 2012 8:58 AM

Watching kids trying to create super bubbles reinforces the importance of hands-on learning for this science mom—and reminds her that parents should watch but not take over. Image: Bigstock. A trip to the science museum strikes a chord for a science mom contemplating her role as a parent supporting her son as he tackles his first school science project. Interested in exploring bubble science with your students? Blow the Best Bubbles from Scientific American's Bring Science… Read more

Success Story: Tracking Wolves

April 23, 2012 1:57 PM

By Kim Mullin Tracking wild Minnesota wolves for your 6th-grade science project? When you live in Louisiana? As this animal enthusiast discovered, with the availability of online data and a Science Buddies Zoology Project Idea, you don't have to live "near" wolves to study them. An exciting project about wolf movement and behavior grabs the attention of an animal-enthusiast preparing for his first science fair. The Project Idea from Science Buddies' zoology area required Dakota (pictured… Read more

The Wonder of Bioluminescence: Organisms that Glow

April 19, 2012 4:22 PM

Many beaches and waters glow blue or green thanks to marine organisms that create their own light as a result of a biochemical reaction. The above photo, taken by photographer August Bach at Grayton Beach, shows "waves" of glowing blue light cast by bioluminescent organisms along the Florida shore. The image below shows the startling bioluminescence of the Panellus Stipticus fungus. Visitors to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City can see firsthand photos of… Read more

A Game of Letters

April 13, 2012 9:29 AM

Born on April 13, 1899: Alfred Mosher Butts, inventor of Scrabble®. The history of the Scrabble® game makes for interesting reading. As is the case with many eventual success stories, Scrabble is a game that didn't succeed at first. A chance discovery by the president of Macy's in the 1950s brought the game to the public. Today, millions of households own a copy of Scrabble®, and the game holds an enduring place in the hearts of word aficionados worldwide. The image above shows… Read more

Learning from Worms

April 9, 2012 11:35 AM

April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. But if you look closely, you'll find that April showers also bring creepers, slimers, wrigglers, and crawlers out in force. Every student's and every parent's tolerance level for organisms like insects, arthropods, annelids, and isopods varies. But the simple fact is "bugs" are everywhere—and some of them, like many kinds of worms, play an important role in habitat webs and biospheres. Students can learn a lot about by observing… Read more

New Resources Guide X-ray Exploration

April 5, 2012 12:17 PM

For some students, the most enticing science project or weekend driveway science experiment is one that explodes or burns—a project with clear wow factor and just enough danger to make it exciting. If you live on the wild side of science and X-ray science hasn't made your radar yet, it's time to take a heavy-atoms look at what's possible and where your curiosity might take you. The electromagnet spectrum contains both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, some of which we are… Read more

Putting Your Eggs All in One (Dye) Basket

April 2, 2012 10:29 AM

A year after an egg-based impromptu family science exploration, this science mom prepares for the next phase of her family's hard-boiled egg and dye bath testing: natural dyes. The process of hard-boiling and dyeing eggs offers a great chance for informal, at-home, science exploration. The eggs shown above were dyed using an assortment of natural ingredients and showcase a range of colors that can be achieved by experimenting with fruits, plants, and spices. Image: Emily Weaver… Read more

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