SuperScience articles from May 2006

SuperScience archives from May 2006

Cyber girl.(Afra Karim Randhawa )
May 1, 2006... At age 5, Afra Karim Randhawa saw a computer lab for the first time and was determined to learn more. By 7, this young girl from Pakistan was able to use a computer program called PowerPoint. Last year, at age 9, Afra passed an exam that...

Power walk.(Maggie, African elephant )
May 1, 2006... When Maggie, an African elephant at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, was weighed two years ago, she tipped the scales at 4,137 kilograms (9,120 pounds). Zoo officials concluded that she was 454 kg (1,000 lbs) overweight. Maggie had to shed those...

Winged wonder.(pterosaur remains discovered)
May 1, 2006... Scientists believe that ancient animal remains discovered on a beach in England are that of a previously unknown species of pterosaur (TEH-Roh-sore). Pterosaurs are related to dinosaurs and are considered winged reptiles (animals that have a...

Hairy situation.(hamadryas baboon)
May 1, 2006... This baby hamadryas (huh-MAH-dree-uhs) baboon named Reggie had a thick head of black hair--that is, until his mom got carried away with her tender loving care. To keep their tiny tots clean, mother baboons will often lick and pluck their...

The case of the single sprout: this month, learn about the properties of matter.(science mystery)
May 1, 2006... Early one morning, the Simpson kids--Lynn, Bryce, and Jason--sat on their porch surrounded by bags of soil, seeds, and three identical green flowerpots. Each kid was planting seeds that would grow into daisies--just in time for Mother's Day....

Catch the wave: get the scoop on wave science from the world's top surfer.(Kelly Slater )(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... Kelly Slater lies stomach-down on his surfboard. Taking a peek behind him, Slater spies a bulge of water building up. With long, deep strokes, he uses his hands to paddle forward toward the shore. When the billowing wave reaches Slater, it...

Sink or float: can you tell which object will float?(hands-on)
May 1, 2006... THINK: Density is the amount of mass in a given object. For a surfboard to float, would it have to be made of material that's more dense or less dense than water? PREDICT: Objects either sink or float. If you were to place a metal paper...

On the rise: can you turn a sinker into a floater?(hands-on)
May 1, 2006... THINK: If you dropped a bowling bali into the ocean, would it sink or float? Would the same happen if the bowling bail were placed on a boat in the ocean? PREDICT: Suppose you had an object that sank in the water. What might you do to make...

Leapin' lizards: go behind the scenes of a museum exhibition on scaly lizards and snakes.(life sciences)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Darrel Frost has an animal-friendly office at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. In one section of his office, the walls are lined with several tanks holding lizards and snakes. Frost walks over to one of the cages and...

Create an exhibit: can you create a museum exhibit?(hands-on)
May 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you wanted to create a museum exhibit that featured mice and snakes. Would you place the mice and snakes in the same space? Why or why not? PREDICT: Pretend you are a curator. It is your job to create an exhibit that must...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)
May 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 crustacean, or an animal with outer skeleton, a segmented body, and five or more pairs of legs. 2. Younger ones Live...

You asked.(skin wrinkles )
May 1, 2006... Q: Why do people get wrinkles as they grow older? A: To remain wrinkle free, your skin must be stretchy and have the ability to keep in moisture. When you are young, your skin contains lots of fibers called elastin. Elastin makes your skin...

Surf and turf.(the Back Page)
May 1, 2006... Look at the map above. It shows the average height of waves in the Hawaiian Islands. Use it to answer the questions below. 1. If you wanted to surf 45-foot waves, which Hawaiian island(s) would you go to? 2. How high are the waves off...

Renew for 2006-2007.
May 1, 2006... As you prepare for the end of this school year, the staff of SuperScience is busily planning ahead for next fall. As always, next year's issues of SuperScience will help you meet national content standards and provide you with complete lesson...

Scavenger hunt.(science quiz)
May 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 do officials at the Alaska zoo plan to help Maggie the elephant lose weight? b: Suppose you wanted to...