SuperScience articles from November 2006

SuperScience archives from November 2006

The great escape.(EARTH SCIENCE)
November 1, 2006... A mouse piggybacking on a frog may seem strange, but the floodwaters that these animals were escaping from were anything but unusual. In fact, they are a very common sight in India during the country's annual rainy season. India's...

Big bucks.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)
November 1, 2006... Counterfeit, or fake, money causes big problems for banks and other businesses--but hopefully not for much longer. A company in Japan has developed a machine that spots these illegal bills before they are spent. To create the machine,...

Steve Irwin remembered.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Obituary)
November 1, 2006... Steve Irwin was known to people around the world as the Crocodile Hunter. But Irwin who died on September 4, was much more. He was a wildlife conservationist whose main mission was to protect our planet's most endangered animals. "I was...

Monkey business.(LIFE SCIENCE)
November 1, 2006... Do hot sunny days make you crave ice cream? Researchers from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland say that some monkeys also base food choices on the weather. The researchers tracked 24 Gray-cheeked Mangabeys (MAN-guh-BAYS) in the...

The case of the stained sweater: this month, learn about plant adaptations.(science mystery)
November 1, 2006... "That plant's leaves are as big as your head!" Dean exclaimed to his friend, Frank. The boys were on a field trip at a botanical garden. "Wow!" remarked Frank. He turned to his teacher. "Where does that plant come from, Mrs. Davis?" ...

Ready, set, action! Meet some of nature's coolest movers and shakers.(animal locomotion)(Cover story)
November 1, 2006... Animals move around in so many different ways. Snakes zip along the ground undetected, birds soar through the air, and fish swim swiftly through some of the strongest ocean currents. How do they do it? Many animals have special body parts that...

Fun floater: can you help an "insect" float?(hands-on)
November 1, 2006... THINK: Suppose you were in a pool, lying on an inflatable raft. What would happen to you if the life raft deflated? PREDICT: The backswimmer is an insect that can suspend itself upside down beneath the water's surface. The insect is able to...

Cool science jobs.(Grant Imahara, special effects expert)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... Who: Grant Imahara Job: Special Effects Expert What is a Special Effects Expert? A special effects expert is someone who uses special sound or visual tricks to enhance a scene in a movie or play. There are different types of...

Solar system shakeup! Discover why scientists say Pluto is no longer a planet.(earth science)
November 1, 2006... True or False? Pluto is a planet. This answer isn't as simple as it seems. For years, scientists have debated whether or not Pluto fits in with the other planets such as Mars and Venus. And last August, they finally concluded that Pluto is not...

Shape shifters: can you change a "planet's" shape?(hands-on)
November 1, 2006... THINK: What shape is Earth? PREDICT: Most planets aren't perfectly round. Rather, they are slightly flat at their poles and bulge at their centers. This pumpkin-like shape is the result of the planet's spinning and its density, or the...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)
November 1, 2006... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It is made of many scales, which provide shelter for seeds. 2. It can be found on a tree that belongs to a group called...

Hidden words.(the Back Page)
November 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 sentences provided. The answers in the colored boxes spell out the answer to the fun fact below. 1. A [][][][] baby can...

You asked.(earwax)
November 1, 2006... Q: Why does earwax form? A: Earwax is a sticky substance that's produced by special glands (organs that make and release a specific substance) inside your ear. Earwax may seem gross but it's actually very important. Since the outer part of...

Science in the news!
November 1, 2006... As many of you are aware, the International Astronomical Union has revised the definition of a planet, and consequently, Pluto has failed to make the cut. The former ninth planet in the solar system now joins two other celestial bodies--Ceres...

Freeze or fry.(earth's atmosphere)
November 1, 2006... Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere, or a blanket of gases that traps the Sun's heat. Earth's average surface temperature is 15[degrees]C (59[degrees]F). Without its atmosphere, Earth's surface temperature would drop by 30[degrees]C...