Is it spring? To answer this question, step outside; what evidence of spring do you see, hear, or feel? Ask an astrophysicist when spring begins and she will likely consult the solar calendar. Accordingly, vernal equinox arrived at 12:57 pm EST on Thursday, March 20, 2014. That moment marked the point at which the sun […]
Much of our population lives along or near a coastline. This is typical of most of civilization for recorded history. Proximity to the ocean even today enables the trade of commerce from one land to another. Living near the ocean also tends to make one wonder. Oceans cover over 70% of Earth’s surface. But…what lies […]
Young adults rarely think cancer will strike them personally, or at least not until they are much older. Although it is true that children and teens are a relatively small proportion of cancer patients, genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors come into play and sometimes cancer arises due to known inherited risk or by complete surprise. […]
On Tuesday, December 13, 2011, physicists using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced that they think they are closing in on the Higgs boson. This hypothetical particle, if it exists, would explain how particles have mass. On Tuesday, December 13, 2011, physicists using the Large Hadron Collider […]
Earthquakes happen every day – literally! Humans have very “anecdotal” perceptions; that is to say, if a major earthquake hits “near home”, then we tend to assume that earthquakes are becoming more frequent and common. Is that the case? This lesson looks into our planet’s composition and just what earthquakes are all about! Earth is […]
Last month, students explored an introduction to kinematics and interacted with a variety of Web sites about position graphs (or distance-time graphs). This month we will move forward and take a look at how the changes in velocity are reflected on a graph. Velocity–time graphs, or acceleration graphs, reveal how the change in motion of […]
Put a human face on the gas laws to help make these chemical equations and concepts more memorable. Like all science, principles, equations, and other types of frameworks and devices for helping humans better understand the nature of nature; it is built on the experiments, creativity, and knowledge from scientists that came before. The gas […]
Whaling, the business or practice of hunting whales, can be traced back to prehistoric days. By the 16th century, the Basque whalers from Spain and France found great prosperity off the Labrador Coast and in the Strait of Belle Isle capturing right whales and bowhead whales. These hunters were followed by the Dutch and the […]
Panthera tigris, more commonly known as the tiger, is one of the world’s awe-inspiring animals. At local zoos, crowds gather at the tiger habitat, amazed at the grace and power of these magnificent cats. All over the world, the tiger is a symbol of strength, vitality and natural beauty. A world without tigers seems impossible […]
Think of a time that you were digging in soil. You probably saw some earthworms. Or maybe after a rain shower, you have seen earthworms on driveways and sidewalks. These temporary wet conditions give worms a chance to safely move to new places. What is an earthworm? Earthworms—often called night crawlers, garden worms, or worms—are […]