Science News for Kids articles from August 2006

Science News for Kids archives from August 2006

Ants on stilts.(ants can measure distance)
August 9, 2006... If you want to know how far you've walked, you can choose among several strategies. You can measure your route on a map. You can wear a handy gadget, such as a GPS device that calculates distances or a pedometer that counts your steps. Or you...

Dead star exploding.(supernovas)
August 9, 2006... If the relaxing nature of stargazing makes you think that space is a peaceful place, think again. The galaxies are full of violent explosions that rip apart stars and hurl clouds of gas in all directions. Scientists recently got their...

Sahara cemetery.(research on ancient human occupants )
August 9, 2006... Paleontologist Paul Sereno and his team were looking for dinosaur bones in West Africa in 2000 when they stumbled upon something unexpected. First, a member of the crew spotted the fossilized armor plates of a crocodile sticking out of the...

Atomic drive.(nanocars discovered by Rice University )
August 23, 2006... Trucks, tractors, and bulldozers are impressive machines. They can rip into the earth or carry tons of gear. Large vans line the streets of many neighborhoods in the United States. Meanwhile, everyday automobiles seem to be getting bigger and...

Lakes on Titan.(Brief article)
August 23, 2006... Minnesota is called the land of 10,000 lakes for good reason: There are natural pools of water everywhere. Scientists have long thought that liquid-rich lands such as Minnesota are unique to planet Earth. New evidence suggests otherwise. ...

Pluto and the plutons.(a planet or not)
August 23, 2006... It's a planet! No, it's not! Yes, it is! No, it's not! It sounds like a schoolyard spat, but astronomers have been debating for years whether Pluto is truly a planet. Many people want to keep Pluto in the planet family. So,...

A sour taste in your mouth.(tongue)
August 30, 2006... Think of all the amazing things that your tongue does for you. Specialized cells on your tongue, for example, give you the power to enjoy (and gag at) the spices and other flavors of the world's cuisines. For years, scientists have been...

Dark collision.(dark matter's existence)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Scientists have long suspected that invisible stuff called dark matter holds galaxies together as they whiz through space. But, because no one can see dark matter, they haven't been able to prove that it exists. Recently, astronomers...

Saving Africa's wild dogs.(Gregory Rasmussen)
August 30, 2006... For Gregory Rasmussen, a typical workday starts just before sunrise. The wildlife conservation biologist studies African painted dogs in Zimbabwe, and that's when these endangered animals usually wake up. As a pack of wild dogs sets off to...