As a kid you learned that Earth has continents. American students are taught there are seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Students in other countries are taught there are five or six continents. (Which do you think they consider one continent?) One thing we can agree upon: long, long […]
There is much to enjoy about summer–sunny, no-school days with self-selected to-do lists bursting with ‘chores’ such as taste-test donuts, tie-dye tshirts, or perhaps something more ambitious like learn to sew or train for a half marathon. But, summertime also has its downside. Summer breezes blow in all sorts of unpleasant weather. High winds and […]
Last week, on June 3rd, a group of professional fishermen caught what they suspect is a record-setting shortfin mako shark. The 1,323.5 pound, 11 feet long, 8 feet around shark was caught after an hours-long tussle off the coast of California. While they are waiting for the measurements to be verified, a controversy has surfaced: […]
From plague to super-hot environments, microbes are extreme survivors and thrivers. Buried for seven centuries, the Black Death was recently unearthed in London. While excavating for a new rail line, thirteen bodies were found lined up in a row with evidence they were laid there in the mid-14th Century. Experts believe they may have been some […]
Last month we familiarized ourselves with the organizations that support and drive the STEM efforts in the K-12 realm. The amount of resources available to educate, advise, and train teachers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields are impressive and meaningful. The future of this nation will rely heavily on the innovation and problem-solving […]
Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated each year on April 22. Â Founded by United States Senator Gaylor Nelson, what began as a teach-in focused on environmental issues has become an international celebration of the beauty and fragility of Earth, a call to protect Earth’s diverse microcosms, an examination of our individual and collective impact […]
A string of warm days, blooming daffodils and crocuses, honey bees buzzing through the air—these are the first signs of spring. This year you may have noticed something amiss in these early signs of spring. This year there are fewer honey bees. It is not a new phenomenon. In 2006, farmers and beekeepers noticed honey […]
Twenty to thirty seconds of “pure terror”! This is how many earthquake survivors describe their experience. Anyone who has ever experienced an earthquake or seen a volcanic eruption first hand knows the true power of nature. Modern technology enables us to study our planet in ways and visualize it in ways that were just not […]
Zoo: An excellent place to study the habits of human beings. ~ Evan Esar When you think of a zoo, what picture comes to mind? Perhaps the image of a petting zoo or a city zoo pops in your head … or even an animal park that has more of a natural habitat for its […]
Students may find it difficult to believe that it is possible for a microscopic animal called a zebra mussel to disrupt an entire ecosystem simply by popping up in places it does not belong. Though invisible to the naked eye, these creatures are having an increasingly powerful effect on the areas they have infiltrated. Just […]