SuperScience articles from November 2005

SuperScience archives from November 2005

Honeybees feel the sting.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Last winter, more than half the honeybees in the United States died. A deadly pest called the Varroa (vah-ROE-ah) mite was to blame. The Varroa mite was accidentally brought to the United States from China more than 20 years ago and has...

It's a wrap!(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... A large part of a ski resort in Switzerland rests on a giant glacier (a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land). So when workers at the resort learned that the glacier was in danger of melting from warm temperatures, they took...

On the rise.(Mount Everest)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain. It is 8,850 meters (29,030 feet) high. But, according to some scientists, those measurements are no longer correct. They believe that Mount Everest has grown! How could this happen? Earth's...

Feed me!(Taronga Zoo in Australia)(saltwater crocodiles)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... The Taronga Zoo in Australia recently welcomed some new members to its family--five saltwater crocodiles! The baby crocs are only about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. But with a healthful diet of insects, tadpoles, and fish, they may...

The case of the fishy leak: this month, learn about water pressure.(science mystery)
November 1, 2005... "This glass is going to be tough to polish," said Erin, staring at a giant fish tank at Earle Aquarium. "Tell me about it," said Aiden. "It won't be so bad," said Molly, trying to cheer everyone up. She had been working at the aquarium...

The wolf's tale: America's gray wolves were nearly wiped out. But now these animals are back--and changing the world around them.(life science)(Cover story)
November 1, 2005... Yellowstone National Park is brimming with gray wolves. On any given day, these wild animals can be seen traveling in packs through the park's forests, caring for their young, or letting out loud and spirited howls while perched on a...

Food find: how do animals in an area affect each other?(hands-on)
November 1, 2005... THINK: What food do bees that live in a hive make? What do you think might happen if birds ate all these bees? PREDICT: Each organism in a given area depends on another organism for food. What do you think might happen if one organism were...

Chain game: can you create a food chain?(hands-on)
November 1, 2005... THINK: A load chain is the way in which organisms in an ecosystem interact with one another, according to what they eat. For example: An insect eats a plant, and a bird eats that insect. How do you fit into a food chain? PREDICT: The...

Sunken city: why Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans.(earth science)
November 1, 2005... When Hurricane Katrina whirled toward the Gulf Coast last August, many residents of New Orleans scrambled to evacuate. The storm's fierce winds--which averaged more than 145 miles per hour on land uprooted trees and tore apart houses along the...

Water wear: what kind of hill would wear away quickly?(hands-on)
November 1, 2005... THINK: Suppose you were rinsing two plates. One has remains of food on it, while the other does not. On which plate would water flow down faster? PREDICT: Soil erosion is the wearing away of soil--usually by water. The farther and faster...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)
November 1, 2005... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET!). 1. It is made of a large wheel that turns on an axle (shaft). 2. The tallest one in the world is 112 meters (367 feet) high. ...

You asked.(fungal infection form damp areas)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Q:Why does foot fungus Occur? A: Fungus is a plantlike organism that's too small to be seen by the naked eye. Some types of fungus grow in warm, damp areas--such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and on surfaces near swimming pools. When people...

Hurricane scale.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a rating system for hurricanes. The scale is used to give people an idea of what kind of damage a hurricane might cause. The scale is shown below. Use it to answer the questions that follow. Wind Speed...

Hurricane relief.(Editorial)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Many of you have been asking how Scholasticis contributing to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. To address the critical need for assistance, the Company will make an immediate donation of $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief...

Scavenger hunt.(ASSESSMENT)
November 1, 2005... 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 water pressure? -- b. Do you think that water pressure has anything to do with the reason that...