Scientific Literacy with Ms. Ghazarian 2012-2013: April 2013

Friday, April 26, 2013

Microscopic Caffeine Fiends

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/researchers-create-a-bacterium-that-cant-live-or-reproduce-without-caffeine/

Scientists tweaked the genes of a bacterium so that it requires caffeine to live and reproduce. Now, they can use this microbe to measure concentrations of caffeine in beverages such as soda, coffee and energy drinks. When the microbes are added to a water-weakened version of one of those drinks, the bacteria grow and the liquid turns cloudy — but only if the drink contained caffeine. In caffeine-free Coke (top left), no cloudiness appears.

Credit: Barrick Lab/University of Texas at Austin

Giant Dry Ice Bubble Experiment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tHOVVgGkpk

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/dry-ice-crystal-ball-bubble

Einstein's Gravity Theory Passes Toughest Test Yet

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130425142250.htm

Superdense neutron star, emitting beams of radio waves as a pulsar, center, is closely paired with a compact white-dwarf star. Together, the two provide physicists with an unprecedented natural, cosmic "laboratory" for studying the nature of gravity. The grid background illustrates the distortions of spacetime caused by the gravitational effect of the two objects. (Credit: Antoniadis, et al.)

Deadly New Flu

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-kind-of-influenza-h7n9-that-started-in-birds-is-now-taking-a-toll-on-humans/

Infectious Animals

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/infectious-animals/

Jonathan Epstein studies how diseases are transferred between animals and people. This bat, Pteropus giganteus, commonly carries Nipah virus. The germ killed hundreds of people and more than one million farm animals.

Credit: EcoHealth Alliance

Cool Jobs: The Science of Secrets

Brought to you by Sabina

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/cool-jobs-the-science-of-secrets/

Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. The chickadee gets its name from its distinctive call. The greater the danger, the more “dees” a chickadee adds to the call’s end.

Credit: Christopher N. Templeton

Secret Signals

Brought to you by Sabina

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/

Chemicals called pheromones act as messengers between individuals. Many plants and animals — including squid — respond to such secret chemical signals.

Credit: Roger T. Hanlon

Amazing Mystery Liquid!

Brought to you by Annie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeDhaWEEvfg&list=SP968ED56DA875D222

http://science.wonderhowto.com/how-to/classic-chemistry-colorize-colorless-liquids-with-black-magic-aka-iodine-clock-reaction-0139128/

Friday, April 19, 2013

Kepler Telescope Spots Two Planets in Life-Friendly Orbit

Brought to you by Mr. Brennan

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/kepler-telescope-spots-two-planets-in-life-friendly-orbit/2013/04/18/3702721a-a86c-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html

This handout artist concept provided by Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics shows the newly discovered planets. The year in space: In 2013, scientists captured stunning images of the planets, a galaxy, a planetary nebula and more from space.

Amazing Water & Sound Experiment - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENITui5_jU&playnext=1&list=PL968ED56DA875D222

Worms, Your Unlikely Allies

Brought to you by Jahan

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/09/worms-your-unlikely-allies/

Although hookworms, shown here in the intestines, didn’t lessen the symptoms of people with asthma in a recent study, scientists are finding that other parasitic worms can help people with immune disorders.

Credit: CDC

Getting a Grip

Brought to you by Jahan

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/getting-a-grip/

Immerse your hands in water for a while, and wrinkles will form. Those wrinkles improve a person’s grip on wet, slippery objects, says a new study.

Credit: Mitchio/Flickr

Amazing Science with Steve Spangler - YouTube

Brought to you by Izzy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur8DZnjlhPw

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/who-is-steve-spangler/steve-s-march-2009-ellen-visit

Bad for Breathing

Brought to you by Jahan

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/study-connects-pollution-to-several-common-diseases-that-affect-the-lungs-and-airways/

Strawberry DNA - YouTube

Brought to you by Izzy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCu7T_1_WLo

http://unschoolgirls.blogspot.com/2011/05/science-fair.html

Sound Cloak

Brought to you by Jahan

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-device-hides-objects-from-sonar/

Caption: This strange-looking cage can hide an object inside it from being detected by sound waves.

Credit: L. Sanchis et al

Friday, April 12, 2013

These Ants Boast Mighty Grip

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/asian-weaver-ants-boast-strong-sticking-power-and-quick-reaction-time-helps-them-hold-onto-trees/

This Asian weaver ant can dangle a weight more than 100 times heavier than itself without losing its grip on the surface above it.

Credit: © Thomas Endlein

This Shrimp Packs a Punch

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/

The peacock mantis is colored olive green, orange and red, with leopard spots on its deadly forelimbs. Adult members of this species can chip or even smash the glass of an aquarium.

Credit: Roy Caldwell

Life Found Deep Below Antarctic Ice

Brought to you by Faith

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348007/description/Life_found_deep_below_Antarctic_ice

Under hundreds of meters of ice lies Antarctica’s network of lakes and rivers. Three research teams have attempted to sample the subglacial lakes Ellsworth, Whillans and Vostok.

Credit: WISSARD/NSF