Science World articles from October 2008

Science World archives from October 2008

Boogie bird.(LIFE/ANIMAL BEHAVIOR)(Snowball the Cockatoo)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Snowball the cockatoo has a real feel for music. He bobs his head and stomps his feet to the beat when his owners play his favorite song, the Backstreet Boys' "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." Until now, there...

Ice-free passage.(EARTH/ICE AGE)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... More than 10,000 years ago, glaciers covered much of North America. New research suggests, however, that there was a period of time during the last ice age when North America wasn't as icy as once thought. Ronald Janke, a geography...

American idle.(GRAPH IT/HEALTH)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Are active youngsters destined to become teenage couch potatoes? A new study tracking 1,000 children in the U.S. found that at age 9, most kids engaged in more than one hour of physical activity a day. But by age 15,...

Wall walker.(PHYSICAL/FORCES)(Stickybot)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Robots are literally climbing the walls these days, thanks to a gecko-inspired robot called Stickybot. Stickybot is a biomimetic robot. That means its design copies something from nature. In this case, Stickybot's toes are covered with...

Gas bags.(GRAPH IT/GLOBAL WARMING)(cow's belch)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When cows belch, they're not just using bad manners--they're also contributing to global warming. That's because bovine burps release methane, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. Scientists in Argentina are fitting cows...

Locker style.(PHYSICAL/MAGNETISM)(magnetic wallpaper)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Every year, Sarah Buckel and her friends decorated the insides of their lockers. "It's your own space at school and it's nice to have something to express your individuality," says the 16-year-old. But the sticky contact paper they used...

Numbers in the news.(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... 28,000,000 insect specimens are housed at the Natural History Museum in London, England. Scientists have found an unknown bug living in the museum's own garden that doesn't match any In their collection. 29,035 feet tall is the height of...

High-tech rescue: an innovative project spares manatees' lives.(PHYSICAL: TECHNOLOGY)(Cover story)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A manatee carcass lies belly-up on a stainless steel dissecting table. The lifeless body, which looks to weigh about 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds), is disfigured with gashes. To Andy Garrett, it's an all-too-familiar...

I want that job! Shalin Shodhan is a video-game engineer'. It's his to make video games eye-catching and fun to play.(CAREERS)(Interview)
October 6, 2008... WHAT IS YOUR JOB? I work for Maxis, a videogame development company, and I do graphics programming. Basically, I write programs that make the worlds in our games look amazing. For example, we recently carne out with Spore. In this game,...

High-school heroes: when emergencies erupt, a squad of teen responders is ready.(LIFE: HEALTH)(Posties)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Seventeen-year-old Dan Connell is taking notes in history class when his beeper goes off. Dan drops everything and rushes out during the middle of his teacher's lecture. In most schools, his action would land him in...

Famous cats, fenced in: the fur is flying over the fate of a group of cats famous for their odd feet.(LIFE: GENETICS)(Hemingway cats)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each year, thousands of people visit the late Ernest Hemingway's former home in Key West, Florida. Most tourists go to see where the famous writer penned A Farewell to Arms and other popular novels. But there's an...

Hands-on science: (no lab required).
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DIRECTIONS Use what you know about genetics to check if a cat breeder knows his facts. MATERIALS paper * pencil PROCEDURE 1) You've decided to take up a new hobby: cat shows. To start off your...

Warming signs: scientists warn about the dangers of a changing climate.(EARTH: CLIMATE CHANGE)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Earth's climate is changing, and according to scientists, kids your age will bear the brunt of the potentially damaging affects of a warmer world. By studying how the climate system works, experts can learn how...

Bloodsicle.(GROSS OUT)
October 6, 2008... There's no lemon lime or blue raspberry for this cool cat. She likes her ice pops flavored with cow blood. The frozen treat helped the female African lion, named Nababiep, cope with a summer heat wave at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. ...

Mystery photo.(YOU CAN DO IT)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT'S THIS? Hint: These edible flowers might be found on your dinner plate. ANSWER Broccoli

What are freckles?(ASK ScienceWorld)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Freckles are skin cells acting up in response to the sun. They are darker than neighboring skin cells because they produce more melanin. This chemical gives skin its color and guards against the sun's ultraviolet...

Explain this!(YOU CAN DO IT)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scuba Pooch? Answer This Chihuahua's realistic scuba costume helped him win a fashion contest at a dog show in the Philippines. Just like a human diver, the pup named Mondex was outfitted with a neoprene...

Tease your brain.(You CAN DO IT)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Try to mentally solve this problem without spilling the beans. 1. Fill cup A to the top with beans. 2. Pour half of the beans from cup A into cup C. 3. Pour half of the beans in cup C into cup D. 4. Pour all of the beans in cup...

Tips for using Science World in the classroom.(Teacher to Teacher)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... Kim Wiens, this teacher's edition's contributor, suggests: Every issue of Science World provides a wonderful opportunity for students to practice one of the most effective activities for improving student achievement: summarizing. To help...

Science news.(CHECK FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING)
October 6, 2008... DIRECTIONS: Read the Science News section on pages 3 to 7. Then, test your knowledge by filling in the letters of the correct answers below. 1. Scientists studying a cockatoo appearing to dance in online videos discovered that. (A)...

Manatee count.(CHART-READING SKILLS)
October 6, 2008... In "High-Tech Rescue" (p. 8), you learned that many manatees die each year because of human-related activities, such as collisions with watercraft or crushing by canal locks. Complete this activity to learn more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Word warm-up.(VOCABULARY BUILDER)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... This activity will help you learn the vocabulary in "Warming Signs" (p. 18). DIRECTIONS: In the chart below, write a definition or an explanation for each of the featured vocabulary terms. Then, create a visual cue--such as a drawing, an...

Shakeout, rattle, and roll.(GRAPH IT/EARTHQUAKES)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On November 13 at 10 a.m. (PST), millions of people will drop to the floor, find cover, and hold on tight as part of the Great Southern California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in United States history....

Girls = Boys.(LIFE/EDUCATION)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... Boys are better at math than girls, right? Wrong. A new study shows girls in grades two through 11 perform as well as boys on state math tests. Twenty years ago, Janet Hyde, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, found a small gap...

Hidden painting.(PHYSICAL/ENERGY WAVES)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The painter Vincent van Gogh created Starry Night and many other famous masterpieces, using brightly colored globs of paint. But the 19th-century artist's limited funds often led him to resort to recycling his...

Noisy eaters.(PHYSICAL/SOUND)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... Mysterious twice-daily underwater spike in noise near New Zealand's reefs had left scientists wondering what's causing the uproar. Now, they have figured it out: It's the sound of loudly chewing sea urchins. The urchins feed using sharp...

Snowy River.(EARTH/CAVES)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Deep underground in New Mexico's Fort Stanton cave is a glistening white "river" of crystal. The formation, called Snowy River, is at least 6 kilometers (4 miles) long, making it the longest known cave formation. And...

Gorilla Haven.(GRAPH IT/CONSERVATION)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... Scientists recently stumbled on a rare find: scores of western lowland gorillas hidden in the isolated forests of the Republic of the Congo in Africa. Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered. Poaching (illegal...

Numbers in the news.(SCIENCE NEWS)
October 27, 2008... 50,000,000 years old is the estimated age of a piece of amber bought on Ebay by a scientist. The hardened tree sap contained a previously undiscovered extinct insect. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 5,300 years old is the age of a mummified...

Up in flames: when the smoke has cleared, it's up to wildfire investigators to determine the cause of a fire.(EARTH WILFIRES)(Cover story)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alan Carlson crouches and surveys the smoldering woodlands around him. Just hours before, flames had swept through the area burning everything in their path. This wildfire was just one in a string of suspicious...

Hands-on science.
October 27, 2008... (No Lab Required) After reading "Up in Flames" (p. 8), try this activity to test your investigative skills and uncover the cause of a wildfire. PREDICT Suppose you were a wildfire investigator who had just arrived on the scene of...

I want that job! Bernard Krause is a bioacoustician. He studies the noises animals make to learn about them and their habitats.(CAREERS)(Interview)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... WHAT IS YOUR JOB? I record animal sounds for a living. I'm a bioacoustician. "Bio" means life and "acoustician" refers to a person who explores sound. Every organism, whether it is a microscopic virus or a 27 meter (90 foot) whale,...

Speaking up for a better world: how I tried to help protect the environment.(EARTH RECYCLING)
October 27, 2008... For years we have heard it is important to recycle. This year, I had a chance to try to make a difference and help recycling efforts. I am a high-school sophomore in New Rochelle, New York. My global history teacher, Mr. Chris Wade, taught...

Name that element!(OUR POPULAR MYSTERY SERIES RETURNS!)
October 27, 2008... Which element on the periodic table adds a twist to a frozen snack, colors leafy plants green, and cushions the blow in car crashes? Follow these eight clues to find out. Then, turn the page to test your chemistry IQ! CLUE 1 STAYING...

It's your choice.(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... 1. Name that element! -- 2. Which of the following is a gas? A Astatine (At) B Berkelium (Bk) C Xenon (Xe) D Zinc (Zn) 3. Arsenic (As) belongs to group --. A 1 B 6 C 12 D 15 4. Which of the...

Fish facial.(GROSS OUT)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most spas offer beauty treatments such as manicures and facials, but some are taking appointments for an unusual service: Customers can choose to soak in warm pools and get their body parts nibbled on by tiny fish....

Genetics and addiction: scientists are uncovering new information from the field of genetics that will be able to help in the prevention and treatment of drug addiction.(HEADS UP REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Crawford has an identical twin. His 16-year-old brother, Keith, is his mirror image. John has brown hair, brown eyes, and a slightly crooked smile. So does Keith. John weighs about 160 pounds. Ditto for Keith....

Mystery photo.(YOU CAN DO IT)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT'S THIS? Hint: These may have a spooky face. ANSWERS Mystery Photo: pumpkin

Explain this!(YOU CAN DO IT)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daddy Long Legs? ANSWERS Explain This! This 9 meter (30 foot)-tall spider looms outside of the Tate Modern, an art museum in London, England. Artist Louise Bourgeois created the steel sculpture in honor...

Tease your brain.(YOU CAN DO IT)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... Starting with the first word, change one letter to form a new word, and write it in the following blank space. Continue to do this until you arrive at the final word of each puzzle. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWERS Brain Teaser: ...

How come our hair becomes white when we are old?(ASK)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hair turns white or gray because at a certain age hair follicles stop producing melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair. Specialized cells around the root of each hair strand, called melanocytes, pump...

Science news.(CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING)
October 27, 2008... DIRECTIONS: Read the Science News section on pages 3 to 7. Then, test your knowledge by filling in the letters of the correct answers below. 1. Why do experts think a large-scale earthquake drill is necessary in Southern California? ...

Recycling decoded.(GRAPHING SKILLS)
October 27, 2008... In "Speaking Up for a Better World," you learned that an increase in recycling decreases the amount of plastic put into landfills. Different types of plastic containers are coded to make recycling easier. Complete this activity to learn more...

Periodic puzzler.(PERIODIC TABLE)(Brief article)
October 27, 2008... Now that you've named this issue's mystery element ("Name That Element!" p. 16), use your problem-solving skills and your periodic table to solve this puzzle. In the space below, fill in the shaded letters to reveal the mystery phrase. ...