SuperScience articles from May 2008

SuperScience archives from May 2008

One-of-a-kind koala.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeepers creepers, where'd he get those peepers? Frankie is the world's first known koala to have blue eyes. All other koalas have brown irises, or the colored parts of the eye. The iris color is believed to be an...

Future flight.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(SpaceShipTwo passenger spacecraft)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scientists have unveiled the design of a vehicle that could one day launch you into space. SpaceShipTwo is the first craft designed to take tourists on a flight in space. Created by scientists at the company...

Stop and go.(EARTH SCIENCE)(tectonic plates)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... A new study is changing scientists' understanding of Earth's surface. For nearly 50 years, geologists have described Earth's surface as being like a giant conveyor belt: It is made up of huge slabs of rock called plates that slowly move across...

Webbed feet?(LIFE SCIENCE)(spider silk for socks)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] People could soon be slipping spiderwebs on their feet. Scientists have discovered a way to use spider silk to make socks. The silk that spiders secrete to make their webs is very strong. Scientists have long...

The case of the missing footprints: this month, learn about the moon.(science mystery)
May 1, 2008... "I can't believe we are going to meet the famous astronaut Ned Legstrong!" said Mia. She and her friend Nick Were celebrating "Space Month" with their science class at a local space museum. "It must have been amazing to be one of the first...

Horse power: scientists explore how taming horses change the course of history.(life science)
May 1, 2008... Try to imagine a world without horses. A horse played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War: In 1775, Paul Revere galloped his horse through the night to alert American settlers that the British army was invading. Would the war have ended...

Herding horses: can you identify different horse breeds?(hands-on)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... THINK: Describe the characteristics of different breeds of dogs. For instance, how is a poodle different from a German shepherd? PREDICT: Pretend you are the manager of a horse farm. Three different people are hoping to purchase horses from...

Cool science jobs.(careers)(sports scientist)
May 1, 2008... Who: Bitt Sands Job: sports scientist What is a sports scientist? A sports scientist is someone who analyzes the movements of athletes and studies the forces on their bodies. We use this data to help athletes fine-tune their...

Scream machines: discover the forces behind some heart-pounding rides.(physical science)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're headed to an amusement park this summer, get ready to be blown away. Today's rides are more hair-raising than ever. Whether the ride is a slippery water slide or a towering roller coaster, the secret to...

Ramp roller.(hands-on)(roller coaster)
May 1, 2008... How does the height of a hill affect the motion of a rotter coaster? THINK: Do skateboarders soar higher into the air when they ride on a tail ramp or on a short ramp? PREDICT: Many roller coasters start with the cars going up a "lift...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. The study and classification of these is called dactyloscopy. 2. They have many types of patterns,...

You asked.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: Why are some people's earlobes attached to their heads and some people's hang freely? A: The shape of your earlobes depends on your genes. The gene that controls your earlobes has two forms, or alleles...