SuperScience articles from January 2005

SuperScience archives from January 2005

Tongue twisters.(newsblast)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Everyone knows parrots can copy human speech. But how they do it has been a mystery--until now. Scientists from Indiana University just discovered that these chatty birds use their tongues to talk--just like humans. Parrots, like art...

Dirt buster!(newsblast)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Are your parents tired of cleaning your dirty clothes? Here's a solution: A new self-cleaning fabric! Researchers in Hong Kong coated a cotton fabric with a special chemical. Then they got the fabric dirty. Next, the researchers exposed it...

Dino day care.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... When you think of a dinosaur, the image of a caring baby-sitter hardly comes to mind. But that may soon change. New evidence suggests that some dinosaurs really did care for their young. The evidence comes in the form of fossils, or the...

Mini chopper.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... What's 8 centimeters (3 inches) tail, weighs less than an empty soda can, and has a propeller? It's the world's smallest and lightest helicopter! Scientists from a Japanese company called Seiko Epson spent years working on the little...

The case of the busted volcano: this month, learn about the properties of acids and bases.(science mystery)
January 1, 2005... "I am so excited about this science fair!" exclaimed Cindy. She had just finished setting up her plant project. "Me, too," replied Lance, struggling to put his model of the solar system together. He stared at the small Styrofoam ball in his...

Wild about winter: it may be freezing outside, but these animals still feel the heat.(life science)
January 1, 2005... Brrr! Below-zero temperatures, howling winds, deep snow--winter can get pretty extreme. Now imagine being stuck outside without your warm winter gear. You'd scramble inside quickly, right? Yet some animals thrive outside in winter. Hundred-ton...

Huddle up: can you keep warm in the middle of a huddle?(hands-on)
January 1, 2005... THINK: Pretend you are lying in bed on top of the covers. Your left side is against the mattress, while your right side is exposed to the air. On which side will your body be warmer: your left side or your right side? PREDICT: Which will...

Blubber bag: how can you keep warm in the winter?(hands-on)
January 1, 2005... THINK: If you felt cold, would you add a layer of clothing or take a layer off? Why? PREDICT: Which will keep you warmer: blubber (a layer of fat) or cotton balls? YOU'LL NEED: * A LARGE BOWL * COLD WATER * 10 ICE CUBES...

Journey into the earth: scientists go to great depths to learn more about an amazing cave.(earth science)
January 1, 2005... After hiking two miles in the desert heat, cave explorers Hazel Barton and Nancy Holler Aulenbach drip with sweat. But their long, steamy trip is definitely worth the effort. As they lower themselves down on thick ropes into a deep, dark pit,...

Crystal creations: can you form crystals?(hands-on)
January 1, 2005... THINK: Pretend that you went swimming in an ocean and then let your skin dry. After your skin dried, would it feel different than if you had gone swimming in a lake? Why? (Hint: Which body of water has more salt: an ocean or a lake?) ...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)
January 1, 2005... What's pictured in the magnifying lens? To find out, use these hints (plus a dictionary or the Internet!). 1. It is a reptile, or a cold-blooded animal that has dry, scaly skin or hard plates. 2. It has a protective shell that is made...

You asked.(the Back Page)
January 1, 2005... Q. Why do we get blisters? A. The skin is made of three connected layers: a thin outer layer, a tough middle layer, and a sensitive inner layer called the dermis (DIHR-mus). The top two layers protect the dermis. Sometimes, an object--like...

Pole to pole.(the Back Page)
January 1, 2005... In this issue of SuperScience you read about animals that live in super-cold regions. The temperatures for the two coldest regions on Earth are shown in this graph. Compare the temperatures, and then answer the questions that follow. ...

SuperScience combines science and reading.
January 1, 2005... SuperScience fulfills a very special niche in your classroom. It weaves the wonders of science and the natural world with today's increasing pressure to teach language arts. Each issue of SuperScience contains feature-length, nonfiction...

Scavenger hunt.
January 1, 2005... 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 gravity? b: How do helicopters overcome gravity? 2 a: How does a polar bear's skin help the bear...

No-sweat bubble test (reading comprehension).
January 1, 2005... DIRECTIONS: Read each question below, and then use the article "Wild About Winter" (pp. 6-9) to determine the best answer. Fill in the correct bubble completely. 1. What color is a polar bear's skin? (A) White (C) Blue (B) Black (D)...