Science World articles from December 2007

Science World archives from December 2007

Scare tactics.(LIFE/ANIMAL BEHAVIOR)(mobbing)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In The Lion King, Timon the meerkat faced down hyenas; it turns out his real-life cousins are equally brave. Instead of running from predators, groups of meerkats raise their tails and run toward the enemy, making...

Schools: disinfected.(GRAPH IT/HEALTH)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This October, a high school student in Moneta, Virginia, died from an infection of a deadly strain of bacteria. Since then, infections caused by the same superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),...

Mixed-up fish.(LIFE/CONSERVATION)(Colorado River trout, instead of greenback cutthroat trout, repopulates Colorado streams)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For 20 years, biologists have been restocking Colorado streams with greenback cutthroat trout to save the endangered fish from extinction. At least that's what they thought they were doing. Jessica Metcalf, a...

Sticky solution.(PHYSICAL/CHEMISTRY)(nonsticky Clean Gum)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Grossed out by gum stuck to your shoe? Scientists at Revolymer, a cam pony in the United Kingdom, have solved the problem by inventing a new nonstick chewing gum. Revolymer's gum contains a chemical compound that...

Numbers in the news.(SCIENCE NEWS)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... 160,000,000 years ago, two huge rocks in the Asteroid Belt collided. Scientists believe the smash, up was the source of the asteroid that crashed into Earth, killing the dinosaurs. 299,792,458 meters per second is the speed of light. Albert...

Coyotes on the move: wild coyotes are moving into our cities and suburbs. Can we all get along?(LIFE: ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Last spring, a coyote led police on an overnight chase through New York City's Central Park before it was finally captured. In April 2007, a coyote wandered into a Quiznos store in Chicago and chilled out in a...

Know your neighbors.(nuts & bolts)(animals living in urban areas)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Like coyotes, many wild animals have learned to adapt and thrive in urban and suburban areas. Here are some species that might be your neighbors. RACCOONS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Due to loss of natural habitat, more raccoons live...

Hands-on science (no lab required).(differences between coyote and dog)
December 10, 2007... After reading "Coyotes on the Move" (p. 6), try this activity to find out how to identify a coyote in your neighborhood. PREDICT Can you tell the difference between a coyote and a dog? MATERIALS pencil * paper PROCEDURE...

Name that element! Which element on the periodic table can whip up a short-order storm, have you seeing double, and help repair an aching tooth? Follow these eight clues to find out. Then turn the page to test your chemistry IQ.(OUR POPULAR MYSTERY SERIES RETURNS!)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (CLUE 1) CHA-CHING This mystery element is rarely seen by itself in nature. As a result, some ancient cultures considered it to be even more valuable than gold (Au). The majority of the mystery element is...

I want that job!(CAREERS)(atmospheric scientist)
December 10, 2007... Fascinated by rain, snow, and storms? Consider becoming an atmospheric scientist. WHAT'S AN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST? An atmospheric scientist studies the atmosphere, or the protective layer of gases surrounding Earth. That includes...

Jade hunter: a scientist travels far and wide in search of an elusive, rare gemstone.(EARTH: GEMS AND MINERALS)(George Harlow)(blue-green jade)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] George Harlow climbs up a steep mountainside. The air is dry and the sun intense, but Harlow doesn't let the harsh conditions get to him. He is on a mission, and nothing--not even the poisonous snakes and stinging...

Picky eater?(EXPLAIN THIS!)(Eurasian crane)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWERS Explain This! This baby Eurasian crane eats from a special feeding "spoon" disguised to look like mom. That's because humans are caring for this chick at a British wildlife reserve, and baby birds...

Tease your brain.(YOU CAN DO IT)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Using each number once, fill in the circles with the numbers 1 to 6. The circles have consecutive numbers. For example, 4 cannot be connected with 3 or 5. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tease Your Brian [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Voice...

On a skull, why is there no bone where the nose is supposed to be?(ASK ScienceWorld[R])(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Your skull is the bony framework of your head. It has a triangular hole where your nose sits. At the peak of that hole are two small bones, called nasal bones, supporting the top of the nose. The rest of the nose is...

Tips for using Science World in the classroom.(Teacher to Teacher)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Dwight Sieggreen, science teacher at Hillside Middle School in Northville, Michigan, suggests using this activity to help boost student discussions while reading "Coyotes on the Move" (p. 6): Divide students into groups of four. Then, instruct...

Science news.(CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING)
December 10, 2007... Name: -- DIRECTIONS: Read the Science News section on pages 3 to 5, Then, test your knowledge by filling in the letters of the correct answers below. 1. Which of the following is NOT characteristic of meerkats' mobbing behavior? ...

Name that element!(CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING)(silver)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... DIRECTIONS: Defend or dispute the following statements. (Hint: Defend means to explain why a statement is correct. Dispute means to explain why a statement is incorrect.) 1. Bandage manufacturers are adding silver to bandages. 2....

Windy city coyotes.(CHART-READING SKILLS)
December 10, 2007... Name: -- In "Coyotes on the Move" (p. 6), you learned that many coyotes live in cities without people even noticing them. Those that are trapped by wildlife officials are usually released into the wild. Complete this activity to learn how...

Word roundup.(VOCABULARY BUILDER)
December 10, 2007... Name: -- DIRECTIONS: First, read the feature articles in this issue. Then, solve the clues below to complete this crossword puzzle. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWERS 1. amalgam 2. opportunistic 3. scat 4. circuit 5. ores 6....