SuperScience articles from April 2008

SuperScience archives from April 2008

Glowing kitties.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Here's a trick your cat can't do: glow in the dark. Scientists have created cats that glow bright red when they are placed under ultraviolet light, a type of light that can't be seen by humans. To make the cats glow, South Korean...

That's hot.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(Bhut Jolokia chili pepper)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... If you like eating spicy food, the Bhut Jolokia chili pepper is for you. Scientists al New Mexico State University have discovered that it is the world's hottest chili pepper. Like all chili peppers, this variety gets its fiery heat from a...

Far-out voyage.(EARTH SCIENCE)(Voyager 2)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So long! A spacecraft named Voyager 2 is leaving the solar system. Scientists blasted the probe into space in 1977. They sent it on a mission to travel beyond Earth's solar system. Earth and the other planets in...

One big bug.(LIFE SCIENCE)(2.5 meter scorpion)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Here's a bug you wouldn't want scampering around your home. Scientists have discovered the ancient remains of a scorpion that is estimated to have been 2.5 meters (8 feet) long. Researchers discovered a fossilized claw of the scorpion in...

What you have to say about the environment.(EARTH DAY UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... Earth Day is April 22. This annual event was started in 1970 to remind people to think about the state of the environment and what they can do to protect the planet. This year, SuperScience has been asking for your opinions about the...

The case of the sinking seagulls: this month, learn about water pollution.(science mystery)
April 1, 2008... Read the story below. Then, use the materials listed at the end to solve the mystery. "Go faster, Dad!" Anna yelled. She and her twin brother, Simon, were on a motorboat on a river. Their dad pushed the throttle, and the boat shot forward....

Behind the scenes of Nim's Island: discover the real-life science behind a new Earth-friendly movie.(life science)(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At first glance, Nim Rusoe seems like a typical 11-year-old: One of her favorite activities is playing with her friends in her backyard. But Nim's backyard is a lush forest on a remote island and her friends are wild...

Find your way: can you make a compass to detect Earth's magnetic field?(hands-on)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... THINK. What are some ways in which animals like birds and sea turtles find their way around Earth? PREDICT: Earth is like a huge magnet with a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole. Many animals use Earth's magnetic field to guide...

Turkey power: could turkey dung power your town?(physical science)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Today, the United States gets most of the energy it needs by burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal. This process harms the environment by creating pollution and contributing to global warming. Scientists have...

Go with the flow: can you create electricity?(hands-on)
April 1, 2008... THINK: How is the electricity that powers your home created? PREDICT: When power plants burn fuel like oil, coal, or turkey dung, chemical energy in the material is turned into electrical energy. That electrical energy is used to create an...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)(Brief article)(Photograph)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It is made up mostly of small grains of the mineral quartz. 2. It is shaped by the movement of wind...

You asked.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: HOW DOES A SNAKE'S MOUTH OPEN SO WIDE? A: If you could open your mouth as wide as a snake can, you could swallow a watermelon whole. But your movement is limited because your upper jaw is fused to your skull....

Word scramble.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Unscramble the letters below to spell out vocabulary words from this issue. We've given you a fun fact related to each word to help you figure out the correct answer. Fun Fact: Roughly 85 percent of the energy in the United States comes...