Science World articles from April 2007

Science World archives from April 2007

Family tree.(LIFE/PLANTS)(research aiming to find the nearest relative of the plant Rafflesia arnoldii)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... For 180 years, scientists had been unable to pinpoint Rafflesia arnoldii's nearest relatives. That's because this plant--with its rotten smell and 1 meter (3 foot)-wide bloom--is unlike most other plants. At last, scientists have found its...

Popular science.(GRAPH IT/PHYSICS)(popularity of physics as a subject among high school students)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... More high school students than ever are taking classes to study how the physical world works. What's behind the soaring popularity of physics? Physics classes used to focus heavily on mathematics. Over the last 20 years, schools have...

Psychic squirrels.(LIFE/REPRODUCTION)(research says that squirrels produce more offspring when there is abundance of food supply)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Can red squirrels predict the future? No, but scientists say they can predict when spruce trees will grow a bumper crop of their favorite food--spruce seeds. Stan Boutin, a biologist at Canada's University of Alberta, and fellow...

Metric mission.(SPACE/MOON)(use of the metric system in future NASA moon missions)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... NASA hopes to send astronauts to the moon by 2020--the first such mission since 1972. Unlike their predecessors, these lunar explorers won't be measuring the distance from Earth to the moon's surface in miles. NASA has decided to ditch these...

Germ warfare.(PHYSICAL/NANOPARTICLES)(United States Air Force technology used to kill germs in clothes)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Got dirty laundry piling up? U.S. Air Force technology could keep your clothes cleaner longer. The technology was first used to keep soldiers healthy. Microbes, such as bacteria, thrive in dirty clothes. Deployed troops often can't change...

Glacier golf.(EARTH/GLACIERS)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Participants in the World Ice Golf Championship in Greenland don't have to worry about typical golf problems such as balls stuck in sand traps or lost in high grass. Instead of grassy greens, they'll be teeing off on icy fairways in frigid...

Secret species: scientists team up to discover and preserve tropical wildlife.(LIFE CONSERVATION)(wildlife unique to Vietnam)(Cover story)
April 2, 2007... In the early 1990s, as government researchers hiked through the forests of Vietnam, they spotted something they had never seen before: the top half of a skull with long, curved horns. The bones resembled a hybrid of a half-goat-half-antelope....

Twisted chase: two daredevils hunt down tornadoes to find out more about these super-fierce storms.(EARTH TORNADOES)(Sean Casey and Steve Green)
April 2, 2007... A car is one of the worst places to be during a tornado. Swirling winds can reach more than 480 kilometers (298 miles) per hour. That's powerful enough to toss even the largest vehicle like a little toy. Knowing this, it might be hard to...

Together forever? Twins who ape physically connected to each other face a difficult decision: to separate or remain joined for life.(LIFE REPRODUCTION)
April 2, 2007... For 16-year-old twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel, everything takes teamwork, whether it's playing basketball, typing IMs, or walking across the room. That's because these girls share a body, with each twin controlling one arm and one leg. ...

Lights out : city lights are erasing the stars, wasting energy, and hurting wildlife. Find out what's being done to darken the night.(PHYSICAL LIGHT POLLUTION)
April 2, 2007... A century ago, stargazers could look up and see a black sky speckled with 2,500 or so twinkling stars. They could easily make out the broad cluster of stars called the Milky Way galaxy, home to our solar system. Today, only 1 in 10 Americans...

Mystery Blob.(GROSS OUT)(usage of ambergris, a waxy substance found in whales)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Think your relatives give you weird gifts? Last December, 67-year-old Dorothy Ferreira received a 1.8 kilogram (4 pound) glob of waxy substance from her sister. Ferreira's 82-year-old sister had found the mysterious gunk 50 years ago on a...

Explain this!(YOU CAN DO IT)(use of Styrofoam cups to protect saguaro cactuses from the cold)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Thirsty plants? ANSWERS Last January, workers at a nursery in Arizona topped the saguaro cactuses in the photo with Styrofoam cups. Styrofoam is a good insulator, or material that slows heat movement, so it keeps the plants warm...

Tease your brain.(YOU CAN DO IT)
April 2, 2007... These animals are playing tug-of-war. If the first two games are ties, which group will win the third contest? ANSWERS The frogs win

Science news.(CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING)(science quiz)
April 2, 2007... DIRECTIONS: Read the Science News section on pages 4 to 7. Then, test your knowledge by filling in the letters of the correct answers below. 1. Harvard scientists tested the DNA of the Rafflesia arnoldii to (A) find ways to protect the...

Whirlwind.(CHART-READING SKILLS)(interpretation of facts about tornadoes)
April 2, 2007... In "Twisted Chase" (p. 10), you learned that tornadoes are very dangerous. Complete this activity to discover when and how often they strike. Part A: Graph It On a separate piece of paper, create the following graphs: 1. Create a bar...

Two of a kind.(quiz about conjoined twins)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... DIRECTIONS: First, read "Together Forever?" (p. 14). Then, solve the clues below to complete this crossword puzzle. To spell out the bonus words, unscramble the letters in parentheses. ACROSS 1. An--()--is an egg, or female sex cell....

Light pollution.(animals affected by light pollution)
April 2, 2007... AS EARTH'S HUMAN POPULATION GROWS, and more people gain access to power supplies, the amount of light flooding the night sky continues to soar. A mere one third of the world's people can stiII spy the Milky Way galaxy at night. Light pollution...

Star search (Part 1).(CHART-READING SKILLS)(quiz about stars)
April 2, 2007... On December 31, 1879, Thomas Alva Edison gave the first public demonstration of electric lighting. Since then, people have flooded the night sky with artificial light--blotting out the view of many stars. On a clear, dark night far from...

Make the switch.(LANGUAGE-ARTS SKILLS)(directions for an activity that would help spread community awareness regardng pollution)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Follow this activity to learn how light pollution affects your community and how you can help educate others about the issue. PART A: Research the Issue DIRECTIONS: Use the Internet to do research and answer the following...

www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/44/lightpoll.html.(Web Links)(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... How does teaching about light pollution meet the U.S. National Science Education Standards? Find out in the Astronomical Society of the Pacific E-newsletter for educators, The Universe in the Classroom. Read Volume 44 on light pollution at:...

www.darksky.org.(Web Links)(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... The International Dark Sky Association is a nonprofit organization helping to preserve the darkness of the night sky. Their Web site has an in-depth news roundup of articles on light pollution and resources--lesson plans, classroom activities,...

www.globe.gov/GaN/.(Web Links)(education program by Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment)(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... To let students see firsthand how stars are obscured by light pollution in their area, get involved in the yearly World-Wide Hunt for Stars. Participants follow five easy steps to report the visible magnitude of stars in their area and then use...

www2.nature.nps.gov/alr/lightscapes/.(Web Links)(online photographs of lightscapes taken at United States national parks)(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... National Parks are some of the few places in the U.S. where you can still get a clear view of the night sky. To see beautiful photos of these lightscapes, or areas without light pollution, and learn more about light-related topics, check out:...

www.skytonight.com/resources/darksky/3307451.html.(Web Links)(interview with Jennifer Barlow, organizer of the National Dark-Sky Week)(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 2, 2007... Teens are also involved in the movement to cut down on light usage. Meet Jennifer Barlow, who got involved in reducing light pollution when she was only 15 years old. She single-handedly organized National Dark-Sky Week, which has been observed...

The Light Bulb (Inventions That Shaped the World).(Book review)(Brief review)
April 2, 2007... The Light Bulb (Inventions That Shaped the World), by John R. Matthews, Scholastic Inc., 2005. Explore the genius of inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison as he creates his greatest invention. This book details the history of how we...

The Stars: A New Way to See Them and Find the Constellations.(Brief article)(Book review)
April 2, 2007... The Stars: A New Way to See Them and Find the Constellations, by H. A. Rey, Houghton Mifflin, 1976. These two classic books offer a unique way to introduce beginning stargazers to constellations and heavenly bodies. Each contains a combination...

There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars.(Young adult review)(Book review)
April 2, 2007... There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars, by Bob Crelin, Amie Ziner (mnstrator), Sky Publishing Corporation, 2006. Using illustrations and poetry, this book tells the story of how light pollution has changed the landscape of the night sky. It's a fun...

On the Wing: American Birds in Migration.(Brief article)(Book review)
April 2, 2007... On the Wing: American Birds in Migration, by Carol Lerner, HarperCollins, 2001. Everything you want to know about how and why birds migrate. Clearly written and well researched, this book includes realistic illustrations of bird species, maps,...

Lighting trends.(GRAPHING SKILLS)(activity regarding living room lights used in the United States)
April 2, 2007... How long do you keep the lights switched on in your home? The U.S. Department of Energy surveyed 474 households on how each family illuminated their home. The chart below shows the combined results. Study the chart to complete the sections that...

Night flights.(MAP READING SKILLS)(quiz regarding migratory birds)
April 2, 2007... Every year during the spring, birds migrate northward over the U.S. to their breeding grounds in Canada's boreal forest. Many species only travel at night, relying on the stars and moon to navigate. The long journeys can take the fliers over...

Bright idea.(RESEARCH SKILLS)(educational activity regarding lighting and Thomas Alva Edison)
April 2, 2007... BRIGHT IDEA The world hasn't always been so brightly fit at night. In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison invented the first practical light bulb and, soon, the entire world made the switch to electric lights. To find out how this invention changed...

Frilly find.(frilled shark )(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Shake it.(wooden-frame houses stand major earthquakes)(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Making cents.(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Wave rider.(boat design)(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Mom? Dad?(komodo dragon gives birth without mating)(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Science World[R] celebrates Earth Day! April 22 is Earth Day. What are you going to do to help save the planet?(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Life on the edge: a high school senior spreads the word about how global warming is threatening his remote community's livelihood.
April 16, 2007

Hands-on-science: (no lab required).
April 16, 2007

Hot wheels: follow a fleet of solar cars as they zoom past kangaroos in Australia's wild Outback.
April 16, 2007

Recycled wardrobe: find out how yesterday's trash might end up in your closet.(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Take action: go green: here are some simple things that you can do to help save the environment.
April 16, 2007

Get the facts: drug abuse puts your whole body at risk.
April 16, 2007

Explain this!(aircraft landing)(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Tease your brain.(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Teacher to teacher: Tips for using Science World in the classroom.(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Science news.(science education)(Brief article)
April 16, 2007

Health literacy and drug abuse.(National Institute on Drug Abuse's Nora D. Volkow)(Brief article)
April 16, 2007