SuperScience articles from September 2005

SuperScience archives from September 2005

A laughing matter.(chimpanzees, dogs, rats too laugh)
September 1, 2005... Humans love a good laugh--and they're not alone. Recent studies suggest that laughter is an instinct (behavior that an organism inherits) found in humans, chimpanzees, dogs, and even rats. Experts say that animals laugh to express their...

Whale of a song.
September 1, 2005... For years, scientists have known that whales sing songs. But why they do so has been a mystery--until now. Scientists at Cornell University have recently learned that whales sing in order to communicate with each other across the ocean. ...

Floating on air.(balloons)
September 1, 2005... Giant balloons will soon be floating over New Mexico. These fun floaters are part of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. To launch these big balloons, pilots simply turn on a burner. This burner heats the air inside the balloon's...

Dig this!(mile deep hole to research earth)
September 1, 2005... Imagine digging a hole that's nearly a mile deep. Scientists recently did just that! Using a drill, they dug a hole so far below Earth's surface, they almost reached the planet's middle layer, the mantle. If one day the drill reaches the...

The case of the startling sound: this month, learn how sound travels through liquids.(science mystery)
September 1, 2005... As James hurried through the auditorium doors, he took note of the banner that hung high above the stage. It read, "Dover Elementary School Presents: Titanic: Tragedy at Sea." His attention shifted to the stage where some students dressed...

Wild about tigers: a little love goes a long way in saving threatened tigers.(life science)(Cover story)
September 1, 2005... Don't try this at home! Kissing a tiger--a creature known for its sharp claws and bone-crushing jaws--is never a good idea. This monk is willing to risk it because he helped raise the tiger. The monk and others at his monastery are determined...

Layer effect: can you keep an animal warm?(hands-on)
September 1, 2005... THINK: Football players often play when the weather is very cold. What do football players wear? What might happen to a football player if he wore a heavy coat while playing? PREDICT: Tigers living in cold regions have fur that's thick to...

Animal tales: can you understand animal language?(hands-on)
September 1, 2005... THINK: How can you tell when someone is feeling angry? Sad? PREDICT: Many animals, like tigers, use actions and sounds to communicate with other animals in their group. Suppose you were a scientist studying a group of animals. Could you...

Land of fire: scientists trek up violent volcanoes to answer some burning questions.(earth science)
September 1, 2005... It's morning on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the temperature is already sweltering. But the day is about to get much hotter for Jim Kauahikaua (kah-wah-HEE-kah-wah). He and other scientists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are hiking up...

Create a crater: can you predict the size of a crater?(hands-on)
September 1, 2005... THINK: Suppose you were inflating a balloon. Would the balloon be more likely to pop if it had more air trapped inside or less air? PREDICT: During a volcanic eruption, hot gases trapped beneath rock build up. This pressure causes the rock...

Mystery photo.(puzzle)
September 1, 2005... What's pictured in the magnifying lens? To find out, use these hints (plus a dictionary or the Internet!). 1. It takes in groundwater through its tong roots. 2. It has needlelike spines instead of leaves. 3. It gets its name from...

You asked.(space travel)
September 1, 2005... Q: How do astronauts use the bathroom in space? A: In space, objects tend to float around because there's no gravity (force that pulls two objects together). So going to the bathroom can be difficult. To avoid a mess, astronauts on board a...

Ring of fire.(volcanoes)
September 1, 2005... Many volcanoes are located around the Pacific plate. That's why this area is called the "Ring of Fire." Study this area in the map above. Then answer the questions below. 1. There are seven continents on Earth. How many continents are NOT...

SuperScience combines science and reading!
September 1, 2005... SuperScience fulfills a very special niche in your classroom. It weaves the wonders of science and the natural world with today's increasing pressure to teach language arts. Each issue of SuperScience contains feature-length nonfiction articles...

Scavenger hunt.(science quiz)
September 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: Define the pitch of a sound. -- b: If whales sang songs in oceans full of corn syrup, would their songs be a...