SuperScience articles from April 2006

SuperScience archives from April 2006

Grin and bear it.(grizzly bears )
April 1, 2006... There's good news for the grizzly bears that live in and around Yellowstone National Park. The park's grizzlies were once in danger of dying out. Overhunting was partly to blame. So the U.S. government placed the bears on the Endangered...

Hunted hippos.
April 1, 2006... The largest number of hippos in the world used to live in the Congo, a country in Central Africa. Most of these hippos could be found in the country's Virunga National Park. But in the last 15 years almost all of the park's hippos have been...

Fuel change?(NASCAR)
April 1, 2006... NASCAR is in the news! NASCAR automobiles can travel over 282 kilometers (175 miles) per hour. To achieve these superfast speeds the car engines require a special fuel. This fuel contains a chemical element called lead. As the car...

Power walk.(backpack)
April 1, 2006... A new backpack does more than just carry your portable music player, game system, or cell phone. It can power your gadgets if their batteries are running on empty. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania designed the backpack to...

The case of the tongue zapper.(electricity)
April 1, 2006... This month, learn about electricity. "Happy Earth Day!" shouted Pam as she took a seat beside her friends on the school bus. "Yeah right," said Will. "Look at all the pollution." He pointed out the window to a disturbing scene: Dark...

America's least wanted: alien critters are destroying the environment.(SPECIAL EARTH DAY ISSUE!)(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... Did you know that the United States is crawling with aliens? It's true. Over the past 200 years, thousands of exotic animals and plants have arrived here from other countries. Most are harmless. But a few dozen are big-time bad news. Scientists...

Cling on: how can people transport seeds?(hands-on)
April 1, 2006... THINK: Invasive species are organisms that are not native to a particular area, and are often a danger to the plant and animal life around them. They are often from faraway places. How do you think invasive species are able to travel to...

Wind power: can wind transport seeds?(hands-on)
April 1, 2006... THINK: What are some objects that can blow in the wind? Are these objects light or heavy? Are these objects designed in a speciaL way that would allow them to blow in the wind? PREDICT: Some seeds are carried to other regions by the wind....

Coral reef crisis: is pollution harming the world's coral reefs?(earth science)
April 1, 2006... If you take a dip in any of the warm tropical waters of the world, you'll most likely find rainbow-colored structures along the ocean floor. These structures, called coral reefs, are made of limestone that's been deposited by tiny animals...

Shell shock: how does pollution affect coral?(hands-on)
April 1, 2006... THINK: Are organisms such as plants and fish more likely to live in clear water or in muddy, polluted water? PREDICT: Coral consists of small underwater organisms that produce hard, limestone shells. These shells protect the organisms from...

Mystery photo.(The Back Page)
April 1, 2006... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It contains a green coloring called chlorophyll. 2. Some lose their chlorophyll in the fall and turn orange or yellow. 3....

You asked.(dogs' color vision)
April 1, 2006... Q: Can dogs only see in black and white? A: No, but there is a limit to the colors they can see. To see colors, dogs--and people--rely on special cells (the most basic units of structure and function in an organism) in their eyes. These...

Coral map.
April 1, 2006... Look at the map above. It shows the major coral reefs of the world. Use it to answer the questions below. 1. Which coral reef is located east of Africa and west of Asia? 2. In what body of water is the Rainbow Reef found? 3. Which...

Earth Day special.
April 1, 2006... Earth Day is April 22. And there's no better way to celebrate than by using this issue of SuperScience! This month's cover story, "Alien Invasion," profiles a group of invasive species that are popping up in the United States. The article...

Scavenger hunt.(science quiz)
April 1, 2006... Search the magazine to find the answer to part A of each question. Then, search your brain to find the answer to part B! 1 a: What is kinetic energy? b: Which of the following demonstrates kinetic energy: a rock in the grass or a frog...