SuperScience articles from March 2006

SuperScience archives from March 2006

Hover craft.(hummingbirds)
March 1, 2006... Hummingbirds' wings beat so fast that they appear to be a blur. How do they do it? Scientists recently uncovered their secret. In order to fly, birds need to achieve an upward force called lift. They do this by flapping their wings. To...

That sinking feeling.(quicksand)
March 1, 2006... For years, people have been warned about the dangers of quicksand. They believed that if you fell into this mixture of sand, clay, and saltwater, you would sink to the bottom. But recent findings reveal that it is impossible for a person to...

Hear this!(hearing loss)
March 1, 2006... Take off those headphones and listen up. Doctors believe nonstop noise from portable music players can lead to hearing loss. Portable players can produce sound as high as 91 to 121 decibels (a unit that measures the loudness of sound)....

Double trouble.(two-headed turtle discovered in Cuba)
March 1, 2006... Two heads are not better than one! That's what scientists have to say about a two-headed turtle that was discovered in Cuba, a country near Florida. According to scientists, the turtle's rare condition will hurt its chances of survival....

The case of the soccer shocker: this month, learn about hard water and soft water.(science mystery)
March 1, 2006... Read the story below. Then use the materials listed at the end to solve the mystery. As Hal took a seat in the school cafeteria, he noticed a large sign on the wall. It read, "Go Tigers!" He sighed and turned to his friend Sean. "Do you...

The race to space: will your next vacation be in space?(physical science)
March 1, 2006... NASA, look out! Once upon a time, you had to be an astronaut to travel into space. But not anymore! Recently, a privately built spacecraft called SpaceShipOne carried a crew of non-astronauts into space and back. Now, other private companies...

Balloon car: does weight affect movement?(hands-on)
March 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you were holding a weight. Would it be easier for you to move if the weight were light or heavy? PREDICT: Suppose two cars were to experience an equal thrust (a force that pushes objects forward). One car is carrying a lot of...

Rocket power: can you determine how far a balloon wilt travel?(hands-on)
March 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you had 5 minutes to travel across the water in a boat. Which would propel you farther in that period of time: a paddle or a motor? PREDICT: When you release air from a balloon, thrust causes the balloon to zoom forward....

Night fliers: a scientist searches the night skies to investigate bats.(Nancy Simmons)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Night is falling in a forest in French Guiana (gee-AH-nah), a country in South America. Nancy Simmons, a zoologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, hikes along a trail. She opens a black net attached to long wooden poles....

Chip challenge: can you find ways to group different potato chips?(hands-on)
March 1, 2006... THINK: What are some characteristics that you and your parents have in common? What are some characteristics that make you different? PREDICT: There are many differences among bats. To understand these differences, scientists classify bats,...

Mystery photo.
March 1, 2006... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It is a fruit that absorbs (soaks up) water through its leaves. 2. It is covered with needlelike tips called spines. 3....

You asked.(cracking knuckles)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Q: Why do your knuckles crack? A: When you "crack" your knuckles, you are really pushing your joint in or out of its normal position. A joint is the part of your body where two bones meet. Your joints contain a special liquid called...

Think and link.
March 1, 2006... Use the stories in this issue to determine the missing word in each of the statements below. Then write the word in the space provided. The answers in the colored boxes spell out the answer to the fun fact below. 1. The world's largest bat...

Renew for 2006-2007!
March 1, 2006... As you prepare for the end of this school year, the staff at SuperScience is busy planning its issues for the next school year. As always, the nonfiction articles, mysteries, and experiments in each issue of SuperScience will not only...

Scavenger hunt.
March 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: How does the two-headed turtle's condition hurt its chances of survival? -- b: What would be some problems if...