Science News for Kids articles from July 2007

Science News for Kids archives from July 2007

Catching some rays.(solar energy)
July 11, 2007... Harnessing the power of the sun is nothing new. People have had solar-powered calculators and buildings with solar panels for decades. But plants are the real experts: They've been using sunlight as an energy source for billions of years. ...

Nice chimps.(chimpanzees)
July 11, 2007... When an animal helps out another animal, it usually gets something valuable in return. For a long time, many scientists thought that only people could behave generously just because it feels good. This kind of behavior is called altruism. ...

The history of meow.
July 11, 2007... My cat, Abigail, acts like a wild animal sometimes--dashing around the house and pouncing on imaginary prey. A new study helps me better understand her behavior. It traces the history of the housecat to wildcats that lived thousands of...

Polar bears in trouble.
July 25, 2007... Alaskan polar bears are masters of ice. Even during the frigid days of winter, these furry white creatures don't hibernate in cozy dens, like other bears do. Instead, they go north, hunting for seals living in the ice-covered water. In...

The best defense is a good snow fence.(Interview)
July 25, 2007... If you're a loyal reader of Science News for Kids and you're interested in science fairs, you may already know about 17-year-old Erica David. And even if you haven't heard of Erica yet, you'll probably be interested in this science fair...

What comets are made of.(73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW3))
July 25, 2007... Astronomers are watching a comet break into pieces, practically before their eyes. Their observations, reported by scientists at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., are giving surprising insight into the...