SuperScience articles from October 2008

SuperScience archives from October 2008

Not so sleepy sloths.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's time for a wake-up call. Scientists have discovered that sloths aren't the sleepyheads they were believed to be. Sloths that live in captivity in zoos can spend up to 16 hours a day asleep. But in their...

Computer whiz.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(Jon Penn)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... When the computers at Jon Penn's school suddenly needed repairing last year, the now 12-year-old came to the rescue. The computers at Victory Baptist School in Arkansas stopped working properly after the person in charge of them abruptly...

Fiery twisters.(EARTH SCIENCE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scientists have spotted tornado-like storms sweeping across the sun. The fiery twisters are a type of solar storm. These storms happen when jets of hot gas, called plasma, get ejected from the sun's outer layer....

Easy cleanup.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The next time a ship accidentally dumps oil in the ocean, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge may have just the thing to clean it up. The researchers have developed a supersoaking towel just for oil spills. ...

The case of the smeared campaign: this month, learn about the properties of ink.(science mystery)
October 1, 2008... CHARACTERS Narrator 1 Kate Olsen Ben Jones Jackie Flynn Narrator 2 Narrator 3 Principal Lopez Read the play below. Then, use the materials listed at the end to solve the mystery. Scene 1 Narrator...

Planet disaster? Scientists warn about the dangers of a changing climate.(earth science)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The world's climate is changing. Scientists say the effects of these changes could be devastating to living things on Earth--including humans. It's likely that people your age will see these effects firsthand. But...

Heat wave: what type of light bulb gives off the most heat?(hands on)
October 1, 2008... THINK: Do you feel warm or cool if you sit directly beneath a bright reading lamp? PREDICT: Different light bulbs use different amounts of energy, measured in watts. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use less energy than traditional...

Cool science jobs.(careers)(Interview)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who: Irena Mites Job: Food Scientist What is a food scientist? Food scientists help to create foods and drinks. Some food scientists are in charge of dreaming up new flavors. Others inspect the foods to make...

Discover how toxic chemicals help animals survive in the wild poison power.(life science)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A hungry snake lunges toward a mouse. In a split second, the snake opens its mouth, revealing two sharp fangs. The snake uses its fangs like medical needles to inject the mouse with a powerful venom. The snake sits...

Warning signs: can you tell whether some animals are poisonous?(hands-on)
October 1, 2008... THINK: What are some ways in which animals warn potential attackers to stay away? PREDICT: Many animals use poison or venom as a form of defense against predators. If a predator tries to kill and eat them, the toxic chemicals make the...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. It is made of thin layers of the element silicon. 2. It may be installed on the roof of a house....

You asked.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: Why do bubbles sometimes burst in midair? A: bubble sometimes bursts in midair because of gravity, the force that pulls all objects toward Earth. Gravity tugs on a bubble as it floats through the air. The...

Think and link.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Use the stories in this issue to determine the missing word in each of the statements below. Write the word in the boxes provided. Then, unscramble the letters in the colored boxes to spell out the answer to the fun fact below. Note: The yellow...

SuperScience combines science and reading.
October 1, 2008... SuperScience fills a very special niche in yore- classroom. It weaves the wonders of science and the natural world with today's increasing pressure to teach language arts. The feature-length articles in each issue of SuperScience will help...

Ow power!(CHART-READING SKILLS MATH SKILLS)(Chart)
October 1, 2008... The chart below shows some of the world's most poisonous animals. Scientists rate an animal's poison with a number called [LD.sub.50]. It is a measurement of the amount of poison required for it to be deadly. A smaller [LD.sub.50] means a more...

No-sweat bubble test.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Directions: Read each question below, and then use the article "Planet Disaster?" (pp. 6-9) to determine the best answer. Fill in the correct bubble completely. 1. Which of the following is NOT an example of a fossil fuel? (A) carbon...