SuperScience articles from October 2004

SuperScience archives from October 2004

Thrill seekers unite!(newsblast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... What do extreme bike riders, mountain climbers, and skydivers have in common? Research shows that these thrill seekers may all have a special gene called DRD4. A gene is a section of DNA (a chemical code that contains information about your...

Lickety split!(newsblast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Chameleons (kuh-MEEL-yuhns) are famous for their fast-moving tongues. These little lizards can launch their lickers at a speed of 20 kilometers (13 miles) per hour. So what's the secret behind this tongue action? Scientists in the...

Space case.(newsblast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Is there life on the planet Venus? Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso seem to think so. They believe the second planet from the sun may be home to microbes (creatures too small to be seen by the naked eye). The news comes as...

Hippo helper.(newsblast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Spending just a little time in the sun can damage your skin. That's why it's important to wear sunscreen. So what are hippos to do? These animals spend entire days in the hot African sun. No sweat--they "wear" sunscreen, too! Researchers...

The case of the nasty note: the properties of milk fat will help crack this case.(science mystery)
October 1, 2004... "I'm coming," shouted Kara after she heard the doorbell ring. She was struggling to put on a pair of bright-yellow butterfly wings. When she opened door, she found her friend Amy wearing a pig costume, and her friend Tim dressed as a...

Tuning in: scientist Bruce Miller listens to bats as they use shrieks and chirps to find food.(physical science)
October 1, 2004... Each night, hoards of bats swoop through the jungles of Belize, many letting out shrieks and chirps as they fly. Although other bats can hear these sounds, most of the calls are too high-pitched for humans to hear. But zoologist...

Sound effects: do sound waves bounce off different surfaces in different ways?(hands-on)
October 1, 2004... THINK: If you were dribbling a basketball, would the ball bounce better on a gym floor or a grassy field? PREDICT: Do sound waves bounce better off smooth surfaces or rough surfaces? YOU'LL NEED: * 2 SHEETS OF POSTER PAPER,...

Listen up: how well can you hear sound coming from different directions?(hands-on)
October 1, 2004... THINK: Suppose you turn your back to a person who is speaking to you. Could you hear that person's voice better or worse than when you were facing the person? PREDICT: Does the direction in which a sound is traveling affect how well you...

Attack on the Titanic! Scientists returned to the famous shipwreck they discovered almost 20 years ago. What they found may shock you.(earth science)
October 1, 2004... On the cold, dark night of April 14, 1912, more than 2,000 people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a giant cruise ship called the R.M.S. Titanic. With hardly any warning, the ship scraped a massive iceberg. As water rushed into the ship,...

Saltwater wreck: what effect does seawater have on shipwrecks?(hands-on)
October 1, 2004... THINK: Does anything happen to a nail after it's been left out in the rain? PREDICT: Will steel corrode (wear away) more in fresh water or saltwater? YOU'LL NEED: * 2 CLEAR, PLASTIC CUPS * MARKER * 3 TABLESPOONS SALT ...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... What's pictured in the magnifying tens? To find out, use these hints (plus a dictionary or the Internet!). 1. It can grow in the ground or on trees. 2. It's a type of fungus (living thing that looks like a plant but cannot make its own...

You ask.(the Back Page)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Q: Why do we yawn? A: Although no one is really sure why we yawn, some scientists believe that it's our body's way of telling us to take in more oxygen. When we breathe, our bodies take in a gas from the air called oxygen. Oxygen helps our...

Hidden words.(the Back Page)
October 1, 2004... A B Y S S A L T S H T A B A E G O B L U R V E N U S E Y W N H A N L N E E D N A D X E D O R R O C Circle these words hidden in the puzzle. Then,...

SuperScience meets your needs.(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... What's on your agenda this month? If you're teaching life, Earth, or physical science, you'll find what you need in this issue of SuperScience. Your students are sure to enjoy this month's SuperScience mystery on pages 4-5. After students...

Scavanger hunt.
October 1, 2004... 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 an AnaBat? b: Why do you think an AnaBat is important for saving endangered bats? 2 a: How does...

No-sweat bubble test.
October 1, 2004... (reading comprehension) DIRECTIONS: Read each question below, and then use the article "Tuning In" (pp. 6-9) to determine the best answer. Fill in the correct bubble completely. 1. Which of the following statements is FALSE? (A)...