SuperScience articles from January 2006

SuperScience archives from January 2006

The eyes have it.(manatees' tears tested for diseases)
January 1, 2006... Scientists at the University of Florida may have found a new way to check manatees for signs of disease: by looking at the tears in the animals' eyes. This new method is easier and less painful than the method that is currently used. To...

Happy Birthday, Ben!(Benjamin Franklin)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... January 17 marks the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth--and that's something to celebrate. This Founding Father wasn't just an important politician and inventor, he was also a gifted scientist. In fact, Franklin helped prove that...

Saving face.(cleaning of momuments)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Last July, several workers ctimbed Mount Rushmore and did what had never been done before: They cleaned the faces of the four Presidents that are carved into the monument. Why did Mount Rushmore need cleaning? Researchers discovered...

Sunny delight.(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Imagine getting to see three sunsets in one day. If you lived on one recently discovered planet, you might have that chance. That's because the planet has three suns moving across its sky! The planet is located outside our solar system,...

The case of the sunken loaf: this month, learn about fungus.(science mystery)
January 1, 2006... "Oh no!" cried Mrs. Simms as she removed a loaf of bread from her grocery bag. "This is no good." "What happened, Mom?" asked Max as he ran into the room. His sisters, Jen and Mindy, soon followed. "This bread is moldy," said Mrs....

Wild ideas: when it comes to improving technology, scientists turn to animals for help.(physical science)(Cover story)
January 1, 2006... Many animals have a knack for doing amazing things: They can soar through the air, climb up walls, and swim superfast. Their awesome abilities have inspired scientists to create inventions that copy their every move. Read on to see how...

Drag race: what shape travels through water the slowest?(hands-on)
January 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you were ice-skating against the wind. Would you skate faster if you were standing straight up or if yOu were slightly crouched over? PREDICT: Most objects moving through water experience a slowing force called drag. But...

Sound proof: which material can reduce sound?(hands-on)
January 1, 2006... THINK: How do you think a conversation might sound if you were wearing a pair of earmuffs? Would the conversation sound different if you took the earmuffs off? If so, how? PREDICT: Night owls are silent when they fly because they have...

Crash course? Scientist wonder if a space rock could destroy life on Earth.(earth science)(Mike Shara)
January 1, 2006... On July 16, 1994, scientists around the world turned their telescopes toward Jupiter to watch an amazing event. A number of icy objects known as the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet hurtled toward the giant planet at a speed of 60 kilometers (37 miles)...

Gravity game: how does gravity affect different objects?(hands-on)
January 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you and your teacher were to weigh yourselves on a scale. Who would weigh more? PREDICT: Gravity is a force that pulls all objects toward one another. It is the same force that pulls objects towards Earth. The more mass an...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)
January 1, 2006... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1 It is often found on a field that measures 91 meters (300 feet) long and 49 m (160 ft) wide. 2 When thrown with force (a push),...

You asked.(pimples )
January 1, 2006... Q: Why do we get pimples? A: To keep your skin healthy, your body produces a special oil. The oil removes dead skin cells (the body's most basic units of life) from underneath your skin and carries them to the surface through tiny openings...

On the move.
January 1, 2006... In the "Wild Ideas" article, you read that dolphins can move at a speed of 22 miles per hour. How does that compare to the speed at which other animals can move? To find out, look at the bar graph below. Then, answer the questions that...

Look for our special Katrina supplement.
January 1, 2006... Dear Teacher, With this issue of your magazine, we have included one copy of a special supplement. Written by Professor Denny Taylor, with photos by Taro Yamasaki, this supplement is a tribute to the principals and teachers who reopened...

Scavenger hunt.(science quiz)
January 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 a conductor? b: Benjamin Franklin found that a metal key attracted electricity. Name some other...