SuperScience articles from February 2006

SuperScience archives from February 2006

A wild idea.(LIFE SCIENCE)
February 1, 2006... Imagine elephants and lions roaming over the Great Plains of North America. That's what some scientists from Cornell University in Ithica, New York, have in mind. Over the next century, they want land to be set aside in the U.S. heartland for...

Cavity buster.(dental cavity)
February 1, 2006... Most dentists discourage people from drinking sugarloaded soft drinks. After all, too much sugar can damage your teeth. But if you can't resist taking a sip, dentists from Temple University in Philadelphia suggest that you use a straw. It will...

Ships ahoy.(Viking ships )
February 1, 2006... "Captain" Rob McDonald loves to study Viking ships so much that he decided to build one of his own-using 15 million ice cream sticks! McDonald spent two years gluing the sticks together until he finally had a boat he could sail. Like...

Space out!(spacecraft)
February 1, 2006... China's newly developed space program is out of this world. Recently, the country launched two manned spacecraft. Now, China is hoping to send an explorer outside the spacecraft to conduct the country's first spacewalk. To perform a...

The case of the ketchup caper: this month, learn about viscous materials.(science mystery)
February 1, 2006... Read the story below. Then use the materials listed at the to solve the mystery. "This is the worst film I've seen," said Dan, a bit too loudly. He and his friends decided to spend their afternoon at the movie theater watching a disaster...

Animal sweethearts: discover some amusing ways in which animals find their mates.(life science)(Cover story)
February 1, 2006... Soon it will be spring--the time when most animals start a family. Reproducing is important business in the animal world. It allows each animal's species to survive, and it's a way for animals to pass on their genes to their offspring. In order...

Perfect build: can you design an attractive structure?(hands-on)
February 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you were decorating your house for a party. What kinds of decorations would you use? Why? PREDICT: To attract a mate, a male bowerbird builds an arched or dome-shaped structure called a bower, and then decorates it with...

Shell shocker: how much weight can an eggshell hold?(hands-on)
February 1, 2006... THINK: A male bowerbird knows how to build a sturdy bower. He usually builds his bowers in the shape of an arch because it is one of nature's strongest shapes. When an object is placed on top of an arch, the force that the object creates...

Chill out! Scientists explore one of the coolest caves on Earth.(earth science)
February 1, 2006... Hazel Barton awakens to the sound of a thundering crack. She realizes that the morning sun has warmed the ice near her tent, causing it to split. Barton unzips her tent and steps outside, shivering. She is in Greenland, a large island mostly...

Slip and slide: does temperature affect a glacier?(hands-on)
February 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you are walking across a floor. Would you be more likely to slide if the floor was wet or dry? PREDICT: A glacier is a large moving sheet of ice. What kind of glacier would move faster: a frozen glacier or a melting glacier?...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)
February 1, 2006... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET!). 1. It was once considered a fruit. But in 1893 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it should be called a vegetable. 2. It is a...

you asked.(the Back Page)
February 1, 2006... Q: Why do people have hair in their noses? A: Nose hairs may look gross, but believe it or not, they're an important part of your body. When you inhale air through your nostrils, the air flows through your nose, down your trachea...

Crossword.(the Back Page)
February 1, 2006... Use this issue of SuperScience to fill in the crossword puzzle. When you're finished, unscramble the colored letters to find the word that best completes the sentence below. ACROSS 1. A--is a moving sheet of ice. 2. A female...

Science supplement.
February 1, 2006... When it comes to teaching science, standard textbook features aren't always enough: Simple facts and photos can often fail to inspire students. That's where SuperScience, comes in. Each issue of SuperScience strives to breathe new life into...

Scavenger hunt.(science quiz)
February 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: Define drag. b: Would a boat experience more drag if it was sailing in molasses or in water? 2 a: How do...