SuperScience articles from October 2005

SuperScience archives from October 2005

Dinosaur disaster.(EARTH SCIENCE)
October 1, 2005... More than 65 million years ago, Earth was struck by a giant asteroid (a space rock that moves around the sun and is smaller than a planet). Most scientists believe that this crash wiped out many animals, including the dinosaurs. How could an...

Trike to bike.(bicycle turns to tricycle)
October 1, 2005... Learning to ride a bicycle was just made easier--thanks to a new bike called the "SHIFT." The SHIFT changes from a two-wheeler to a tricycle anytime the rider needs help balancing. The SHIFT starts out as a tricycle with two crooked rear...

Strrrrrike!(slow motion)
October 1, 2005... Have you ever tried to hit a baseball and missed? Chances are the ball was traveling too slowly. According to a recent study, kids have a more difficult time hitting slow pitches than fast ones. What's the reason? It has a lot to do with your...

Great escape.(red-eyed tree frogs )
October 1, 2005... Red-eyed tree frogs can escape a snake attack--before they even hatch! Researchers made the discovery while studying frog eggs in Panama. Before the frogs hatch, they are called embryos. They grow Inside eggs that are bunched together in a...

The case of the cereal swapper.(iron)
October 1, 2005... This month, learn about iron. Early one morning, Laura walked slowly across the grounds of Camp Sunflower. Her friends Charlie and Grace were there, stuffing their backpacks. The kids were preparing to hike to the lake, where the yearly...

Fright lights: deep in the ocean, strange creatures use light in surprising ways.(physical science)
October 1, 2005... "Imagine what it's like to be a creature living deep in the ocean where there is little or no sunlight," says George Matsumoto, a scientist who studies deep-sea animals. It's so dark that not only is it difficult to find a meal, but it's also...

Color creator: can you split light into different colors?(hands-on)
October 1, 2005... THINK: What color is sunlight? What colors might you see in the sunlight after it rains? PREDICT: How could you separate light into different colors? You'll Need * A flat, clear rectangular container * Water * Handheld...

Water colors: can you change the color of light that is in water?(hands-on)
October 1, 2005... THINK: What color is seawater? How would seawater look different if you were to add mud to it? PREDICT: Light (white light, or sunlight) is made of seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. When light passes...

Voyage of discovery: a historic South American cruise led to groundbreaking findings about the wild kingdom.(Charles Darwin )
October 1, 2005... Why don't polar bears live in a steamy rain forest? Why don't pandas live in the Arctic? It may seem obvious to you that animals in different regions also have different survival traits. But how did they develop these adaptations in the first...

Iguana puzzle: can you tell where an animal lives just by looking at it?
October 1, 2005... THINK: Describe a polar bear's appearance. What is it about a polar bear that makes the animal well suited for the environment in which it lives? PREDICT: Pretend you are a zookeeper who is expecting two shipments: One contains a land...

Mystery photo.
October 1, 2005... WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It is a fruit that belongs to the same family as squash and cucumbers. 2. The largest one ever grown weighed 517 kilograms...

You asked.(ears)
October 1, 2005... Q: Why do our ears pop? A: Usually, the air pressure (the force of air) inside the middle part of your ear is equal to the air pressure outside your middle ear. But that changes at great heights, where air pressure is lower. Suddenly, the...

Hidden words.
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRESSURE REFLECT OCEAN TRAIT HABITAT IRON NEURON ASTEROID LIGHT Circle these words in the puzzle above. Then, use the uncircled letters to spell the answer to the question...

Ready, set, explore!
October 1, 2005... SuperScience recently teamed up with one of the most renowned names in scientific research--the American Museum of Natural History in New York City--to produce a series of articles aimed at educating and inspiring your students. The series,...

Scavenger hunt.(science puzzle)
October 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: How is an asteroid different from a planet? b. How is an asteroid similar to a planet? 2 a: How do neurons...

No-sweat bubble test (reading comprehension).
October 1, 2005... DIRECTIONS: Read each question below, and then use the article "Fright Lights" (pp. 6-9) to determine the best answer. Fill in the correct bubble completely. 1. What colors of sunlight are the first to be absorbed by ocean water? (A)...