Science World articles from May 2002

Science World archives from May 2002

Antarctic meltdown? (Earth News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... LAST MARCH, a Rhode Island-size ice chunk sheared off the northern portion of the Larsen B Ice Shelf, a massive plate of floating ice lining the eastern coast of the arm-shaped Antarctic Peninsula. The 650-ft. (220-meter) thick slab smashed...

Unbeelievable! (Freeze Frame).(killer bees)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... BEWARE THE buzzing bush! Last February, landscapers discovered this refrigerator-size bee colony nesting in an oleander bush in Phoenix, Arizona. "It was the largest, most horrendous bee colony I've ever seen in my 38 years of bee removals!"...

Hubble gets help. (Space News).(Hubble Space Telescope)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... THE HUBBLE Space Telescope received an out-of-this world tune-up. Last March, four astronauts/repairmen aboard the space shuttle Columbia docked onto Hubble and performed five "space walks" over 11 days to spruce up the 12-year-old telescope....

Thrills and spills: you don't have to jump out of a plane to live on the edge this summer. Thanks to physics, you can head to the amusement park for spine-tingling terror--without the danger. (Physics: Newton's first law/inertia).(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... ARE STOMACH-FLIPPING roller-coaster loops your idea of fun? Then here's a question you probably don't want to ask yourself mid-loop: If gravity causes objects to fall toward Earth, why doesn't your coaster train plunge to the ground? The answer...

Burger time! (Nutrition: the balance diet).(includes related nutritional information)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... YOU HATE to waste ride time on a sit-down lunch, but your nose gets wind of a mouthwatering beefy-burger smell drifting from a fast-food stand. Sure, a burger is tasty and convenient, but is it a healthy meal choice? Yes--if it's part of a...

Ice cream man. (Food chemistry: states of matter).(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... IMAGINE LICKING a double-decker cone and getting a mouthful of coarse ice. That texture may be fine for a snow cone, but for ice cream it's totally wrong! "People expect a smooth, creamy feel without any sharpness on the tongue," says food...

Toys of summer: whether you're hiking, chilling at the beach, or hanging on a rainy day, these high-tech toys deliver on fun--and science. (Physics: radio and infrared waves/magnetism).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... THE VECTRON (REMOTE-CONTROLLED FLYING SAUCER) WHAT IS IT? A flying saucer controlled not by aliens but by a hand-held remote. At your command, it lifts off, hovers, and flies--a first for any electric-powered toy. You can also program...

Crack! Clunk! Physicists--and players--tune in to the sounds of baseball. (Physics: acoustics).(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... STAR HITTER Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants steps up to the plate, cocks his bat, takes a monster swing, and CRACK! By sound alone, the fans know Bonds has slammed another homer. And so does Baltimore Orioles outfielder Melvin Mora. "As...

American beauty: Arizona is home to one of the world's greatest geological marvels. Scientists still don't know when the Grand Canyon was formed. (Geology: rock formation).(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... IF YOU think summer is one natural wonder, how About the Grand Canyon? In the next three months, several million sightseers, hikers, and river rafters--more than 25,000 visitors a day--will hit one of the most spectacular geological highlights...

Beach survival tips: what's summer without a trip to the beach? But basking the scorching sun has its pitfalls.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... Beach survival tips: what's summer without a trip to the beach? But basking the scorching sun has its pitfalls. For starters, chronic exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays--an invisible form of radiation that penetrates and alters the...

Gross out? (You can do it: activities & oddities).(Komodo dragon)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... KOMODO DRAGONS, like Doni, will eat just about anything--even teddy bears. Veterinarian Jim Rasmussen of the Minnesota Zoo yanked one out of Doni's stomach last February. An X-ray showed the stuffed animal--accidentally dropped into Doni's...

Make your own ice cream. (Hands-On Science).
May 6, 2002... It's easy to make all-natural ice cream at home. The recipe below makes enough for a single serving. Be sure to eat your ice cream right away, because this ice cream doesn't keep well in the freezer. You Need: small heavy-duty Zip-loc...