SuperScience articles from January 2009

SuperScience archives from January 2009

Shaky situation.(EARTH SCIENCE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A massive earthquake that rocked China last May hurt not only people, but pandas too. In critical panda habitat, mudslides cascaded down mountains. Surveyors found that the mudslides destroyed caves and trees...

Girls = boys.(LIFE SCIENCE)(problem-solving skills)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it comes to doing well at math, are girls equal to boys? A new study says yes! Janet Hyde, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, recently studied the math-test scores of 7 million students between...

Hidden painting.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(Vincent van Gogh)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The famous painter Vincent van Gogh created many masterpieces. But the artist didn't always have the money he needed to buy new Canvases, so he often had to paint over his older works. Now, scientists have developed a way to clearly view van...

Dog tired.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you've ever seen a person yawn and found yourself following suit, you're not alone. Recent research shows that dogs often catch yawns from people too! Scientists from the University of London studied dogs to...

The case of the missing ring: this month learn how matter occupies space.(science mystery)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Read the play below aloud. Then, use the materials listed at the end to solve the mystery. Characters NARRATOR 1 NARRATOR 2 NARRATOR 3 MEG SHANNON MR. FLAY CUSTOMER Scene 1 Narrator 1: Meg and...

Attack of the monster insects: find out why science-fiction sized insects one roamed earth. Then discover the secrets of the biggest ones alive today!(life science)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If a little spider skittering along the wall makes you squirm, imagine spotting a human-sized millipede scurrying across the floor. Millions of years ago, such a sight would have been common. Cockroach-like insects...

Wild-weather birds: a scientist braves harsh weather conditions to study an unusual group of flamingos.(earth science)(Felicity Arengo)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Felicity Arengo tells people she studies flamingos, they usually picture her working in a T-shirt in a warm and sunny spot. But when Arengo heads out to observe the pink birds in the wild, she needs far more...

Rock star: find out how your birthstone transforms a diamond in the rough into a dazzling gem.(earth science)
January 1, 2009... January: GARNET Symbolizes: Loyalty There are several kinds of garnet. The most common one is mined from a gray rock called garnet schist (SHIST). After it is extracted from the rock, garnet is cut and polished to shine as a deep red...

Crystal shapes: can you make crystals using everyday substances?(hands-on)
January 1, 2009... THINK: After you've read "Rock Star" (p. 12), name some minerals. What qualities must a material have in order to be classified as a mineral? PREDICT: Will crystals form more quickly on a smooth surface or on a rough surface? You'll...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)(parachute)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING GLASS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It slows the motion of a moving object by creating a force called drag, which holds an object back. 2. Its name is a word...

You asked.(planet Pluto)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: Why isn't Pluto a planet anymore? A: Pluto is not a planet anymore because it is too small. Pluto was first discovered in 1930 and since then, many objects that are larger have been found in space. "There...

Word scramble.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Unscramble the letters below to spell out the 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: This super-hot substance is called lava when it goes above...

SuperScience integrates your curriculum!(SCHOLASTIC)
January 1, 2009... Welcome to the new year! Here at SuperScience, we strive to fill a special niche in your classroom by integrating the wonders of science into a variety of curricula. From features like the latest science news to a fictional read-aloud play, you...

Flamingo numbers.(GRAPH-READING SKILLS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Directions: There are six species of flamingo in the world today. Each one has a different shade of pink, color pattern, and leg color. Some species of flamingo are in danger of dying out. The graph below contains information about current...

No-sweat bubble test.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Directions: Read each question below, then use the article "Attack of the Monster Insects" (pp. 6-9) to determine the best answer. Completely fill in the bubble next to that answer. 1. Which insect is about three times as heavy as a mouse?...