SCIENCE NEWS - PORCUPINE #17

PORCUPINE

SCIENCE NEWS - FARLEY #15

Farley the Red Panda

Farley, a young red panda, has been through a lot in his short life. Watch him grow and thrive under the care of his keepers.

FARLEY

SCIENCE NEWS - REINVENTING THE TOOTHBRUSH #16

Reinventing The Toothbrush

Hate brushing your teeth? A strange new 3D printed toothbrush can drastically cut down your brushing time to less than six seconds, according to its manufacturer Blizzident.
The toothbrush looks more like a mouthguard a toothbrush. It is lined with 400 soft bristles that clean the wearer's teeth when they grind them from side to side. It is made using the same dental scans that dentists use to fit braces, so each model is specially made.
Blizzident says it performs all the necessary brushing steps that many people regularly forget. "Because you are brushing all your teeth at the same time, you are brushing extremely quickly," said Blizzident. "You brush all the difficult-to-reach and interdental regions without even having to think about it."
But novelties like this come at a price. Unlike regular manual toothbrushes, which cost under $5, a customer's first toothbrush costs $405. Each brush lasts for one year and can be reconditioned for less than $140.
This isn't the first time someone has tried to reinvent the toothbrush's design, which has basically stayed the same for hundreds of years. A student at New York's School of Visual Arts tried to popularize the miswak "tooth-cleaning" stick that is popular in the Middle East and Asia. The miswak stick is used by biting or cutting off an end of the stick before each use, which exposes new, clean bristles inside the stick.
Would you use Blizzident's new toothbrush, a miswak stick toothbrush, or neither?

SCIENCE NEWS - HUMPBACK WHALES #14

Mammals: Humpback Whales

 

SCIENCE NEWS - WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SWALLOW GUM? # 13

Ah, chewing gum. We all love you. You’re so sweet and chewy. We even love to blow bubbles with you. But every now and then we accidentally — gulp! — swallow you. Oh no! Is there anything to worry about?

Some of you may have heard an old wives’ tale that goes something like this: if you swallow gum, it will stay in your digestive system for seven years. Wow! That’s a long time, but is there any truth to it?

Nope! When you swallow gum, your digestive system (which includes parts of your body, like your stomach, small intestine and large intestine) treats the gum like any other food. Some of the parts of gum, such as sweeteners, softeners and flavorings, are broken down by the digestive juices in your stomach. Any nutrients your body can use are saved and the rest is pushed on through your digestive system.

There is one part of gum that can’t be digested, though. It’s the gum base or resin. Gum base consists of chemicals developed by scientists to make gum chewy. These chemicals resist digestion, but they don’t sit around in your stomach for seven years.

Instead, your body recognizes that it can’t digest the gum base and simply moves it along in the digestive process until it is eventually eliminated from your body. Doctors estimate it would usually take about two days to digest and eliminate any gum you may swallow.

Although swallowing gum is usually harmless, it’s not a good practice to swallow your gum regularly. Doctors point out that swallowing a large amount of gum at once or swallowing many smaller pieces in a short time span could lead — in rare cases — to problems in the digestive system.

So enjoy your chewing gum, but spit it out in the trash when you’re finished with it. Doctors also recommend you stick to sugar-free gums, so that you won’t put your teeth in jeopardy of developing cavities.



A Tree Grows In Corey from Corey Hunt on Vimeo.

quiz

SCIENCE NEW - CAGE MATE #12

Dallas Zoo Baby Cheetahs Get An Unusual Cage Mate

By Meera Dolasia on September 9, 2013

Two eight-week old male cheetahs, are about to start their new life at the Dallas Zoo with an unusual  cage mate - A eight-week old male black Labrador Retriever puppy named Amani.

Winspear and Kamau who weigh a mere 8lbs and 6lbs respectively, were born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA. After spending two weeks under the careful observation of experts, they were deemed fit to go start their lives at the zoo.

However, when the two got there, they were surprised to be greeted by an equally cute room-mate! Little Amani whose name means 'peace' in Swahili has been placed there because experts believe that he will not only be a good playmate for the wild cats, but also, provide a calming influence on the naturally aggressiveanimals. That's because dogs, especially Labradors are very comfortable in public settings and seeing Amani's calm demeanor around the thousands of visitors that are bound to flock to the zoo to see the cuties, may help the cheetahs realize that the humans pose no threat to them.

This is going to be especially important in the case of these two because they are going to be part of the zoo's Animal Adventure Outreach Program to help teach the public about their highly endangered species. As to whether the strategy will work and if the unusual companions will get along and continue being mates when Winspear and Kamau are over 3 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh a hefty 140 lbs, is anybody's guess. But for now, the three babies seem to be getting along just fine.

Cheetahs, who get their name from the Hindi word 'Chita', which means 'spotted one' are the world's fastest land animals capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. Oddly enough, these gorgeous cats are not considered part of the elite group of 'Big Cats' that include the lion, tiger, jaguar and leopard because they lack the ability to roar! While these aerodynamic cats once roamed the open grasslands, savannas, dense vegetation, and sometimes even mountainous terrains of Africa, the Arab Peninsula and Asia in large numbers, they are now on the brink of extinction, especially in Asia where they were hunted down ruthlessly for their beautiful skin.

The cheetahs that are still living in the wild, face numerous challenges ranging from loss of habitat to conflict with humans, as well as the fact, that they are not the strongest of animals and are often unable to fend their cubs falling prey to the more aggressive lions, jackals and hyenas. With only between 15,000 to 25,000 believed to be left in the wild, conservation programs such as the one Winspear and Kamau are part of, are becoming increasingly crucial for the animal's survival.

SCIENCE NEWS - CLASS PET? #11

Looking For An Exotic Classroom Pet? Professor Bechtel May Be Able To Help!

By Meera Dolasia on September 12, 2013

How cool would it be if instead of learning about exotic animals like Patagonian maras (large rodents that resemble rabbits) and bearded dragons from textbooks, you could do it by touching, feeling and maybe even breeding them? That is how the students fortunate enough to be taught by Michael Bechtel at Saydel High School in Des Moines, Iowa, experienced biology for many years.

Bechtel who grew up on a farm in Waukon says his obsession with animals began with goats. However when he decided to start his collection he went for the more unusual ones like a pet ball python and dove, which may sound like an odd combination to some, but made perfect sense to the animal lover.

Over the years, he has added so many more snakes and reptiles that his collection is too large to even count. He also has numerous rats, mice, hamsters, tortoises, Australian Tree and Pacman frogs, as well as, a hedgehog. And if that is not enough he even has hundreds of cockroaches, safely tucked away in a large cage of course.

Here's the best part though - While he had a few of these animals when he joined Saydel High School, the rest were accumulated during his tenure there, largely because his students enjoyed interacting with the animals so much, that they kept pushing him to add more and even helped him breed some of the more rare species. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, Bechtel decided to incorporate the animals into his classroom curriculum.

Their first breeding experiment began with a Red-Tail Boa. When the professor discovered the snake coiled around 27 babies one fine morning, he quicklysummoned his students via the school's intercom asking them to come assist in the birthing process, which involved cutting the baby snakes' umbilical cords and weighing them. Not surprisingly, they were hooked and Bechtel could not be happier.

As word of this unusual classroom education spread, he received several requests from fellow teachers asking if they could buy some of his animals for their classrooms. While Bechtel was not ready to sell his pets, he was perfectly happy to'loan' them for an entire year. Not only that, he also helped set up the animal in the classroom and even, trained the teacher on how to care for it. In the eight years he taught at Saydel, he placed animals in more than 15 districts and 100 classrooms.

In order to ensure that his pets were being well-taken care of and continue the education process, he made it a rule to assign a couple of his students to check on the loaned animals every other month and also, give the kids in the classroom a short presentation about them. 

Unfortunately for Saydel High School, Mr. Bechtel recently decided to leave and join his alma mater, Wartburg College as Associate Professor of Science. The good news is that Bechtel is still willing to share his animals with all Iowa teachers, because as he succinctly puts it, 'naturalistic learning just wraps kids in' - So if you happen to live in the Corn State, be sure to persuade your teacher to adopt one of Bechtel's pets by simply contacting the biology department of Wartburg College inWaverly, Iowa.

Resources: infor.warturg.edu, wcfcourier.com.

KWWL

KWWL

SCIENCE NEWS - GATOR #10

We were traveling through the Wonderopolis swamp the other day, just looking for some frogs to join us in a game of jump rope. We stumbled upon an alligator and a crocodile playing cards. We chatted for just a bit about the weather.

As we were leaving them to continue our search, we received an unexpected send-off that proved an old adage true and brought tears to our eyes. As we departed, they said:

Alligator:          See you later!

Crocodile:       After a while!

Speaking of crocodiles, we couldn’t help but notice that the crocodile we met had big, strong jaws and razor-sharp teeth. We got to WONDERing about crocodiles and thought we’d share with you what we learned.

The word “crocodile” comes from the Ancient Greek word for “lizard.” The American crocodile is no ordinary lizard, though.  In fact, crocodiles have more in common with birds and dinosaurs than they do modern-day reptiles!

Among the largest of the world’s crocodiles, the American crocodile can grow to be as long as 20 feet! It can be found in North, Central, and South America. Although a few American crocodiles live in southern Florida, most of them live in the swamps, creeks, ponds, and wetlands of southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

The American crocodile is now considered an endangered species. Experts believe their numbers have decreased over the years due to two main factors: being illegally hunted for their tough, scaly skins and loss of habitat as swamps have been converted to other uses.

American crocodiles feed mainly on small mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, frogs, and insects. Their large jaws are incredibly powerful. With the strongest bite of any animal, a crocodile can bite down with a force of over 5,000 pounds per square inch.

How powerful is that? How about over 10 times more powerful than the bite of a great white shark? It’s true! But don’t worry. American crocodiles aren’t overly aggressive. They tend to be shy and stay away from humans, who rarely see them in the wild.

American crocodiles are very successful predators. Their long, streamlined bodies allow them to swim very quickly to catch prey. They can also move very quickly on land over short distances. An Australian freshwater crocodile was measured traveling 11 miles per hour on land. Some crocodiles have even been known to attack and kill sharks!

GATOR QUIZ

SCIENCE NEWS - TORNADO COUNTRY #9

Two years ago, a tornado destroyed parts of Joplin, Missouri. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

More tornadoes rip across the United States than any other country. Which states do they affect the most?

By Joe Bubar

MAP Click here for a map of the U.S. states with the highest frequency of tornadoes. WORDS TO KNOW meteorologist a person who studies the weather technology inventions built to try to make everyday life easier

Each spring, huge cone-shaped clouds of swirling air sweep through towns and cities in the United States. Like vacuums, they suck up everything in their paths, tearing through homes and tossing cars. They’re tornadoes—and they can happen anywhere at anytime.

Scientists are learning more about these deadly storms. A recent study shows where twisters pose the biggest threat to people in the U.S.

STORM STATES

For decades, the area stretching from Texas to South Dakota has been nicknamed Tornado Alley. More twisters strike there than any other place in the world. But it’s actually not where tornadoes can cause the most trouble.

Meteorologist Grady Dixon and his team have studied data on more than 50,000 tornadoes that have touched down in the U.S. since 1950.

“We looked at the entire path of all tornadoes to find out how often they pass through different areas,” Dixon told Scholastic News.

He found that people living in states to the east of Tornado Alley are at greater risk of experiencing a twister. Why? Most tornadoes that form there are faster and last longer than tornadoes in Tornado Alley. That means they pass through more places where people live. Dixon’s research helped identify what’s being called the “New Tornado Alley.”

TORNADO WARNING

Meteorologists are using this new information to raise awareness about twisters in states outside the better-known Tornado Alley. They want more people to know the signs of a twister and what to do if one is heading their way.

But predicting exactly when and where twisters will form is still difficult. Right now, most people have less than 15 minutes to prepare for one.

One thing that has helped alert people to tornadoes is new technology like smart phones. “If someone sees a tornado coming, he can take a video on his phone, post it, and 10,000 people know about it within minutes,” says Dixon.

SCIENCE NEWS - COTTON CANDY GRAPES #8

MARINE CROP CIRCLES #7

By Meera Dolasia on August 25, 2013

 The unsolved mystery of the 'crop circles' - Intricately carved large designs that magically appear on farms all across the world, has been plaguing scientists for centuries. Some speculate that they are the work of farmers trying to attract tourists, whilst others believe that they are alien art. But when similar creations started to appear underwater off the coast of Southern Japan, there seemed to be no explanation - logical or otherwise! Similar to their counterparts on dry land, the circles that were first spotted by local divers in 1995, measured an impressive seven feet in diameter and comprised of beautiful ridges 'carved' out from the sand at the bottom of the ocean floor. But who, was the artist? That remained a mystery until September 2012, when Japanese deep-sea photographer Yoji Ookata came across one during his regular dives in the Pacific Ocean. Intrigued to find the creator, he returned to the same spot a short time later with a television crew. As luck would have it, his timing was perfect - They caught the artist in the act. Sadly enough, it was not an alien trying its skills on a different medium, but a five-inch long male, pufferfish! Over the course of their research, the team observed not one but ten similar 'construction projects' going on simultaneously. It took each between seven to nine days of tireless swimming back and forth whilst expertly using their fins to flick sand, to create the perfect ridges and valleys. And lest you think the male fish were competing in some kind of sand sculpture competition, you could not be further from the truth. Turns out that these small but poisonous fish do it to attract mates. And believe it or not, the females pick them based on how good their 'fin' work is - At least that's the conclusion the photographers reached after watching them scout out a number of circles, before settling for the one with the most intricate hills and valleys. In order to ensure that their mate is well-taken care of, the considerate males also dragged small rocks and seashells and placed them around the periphery - Not only did they look decorative, but also, provided nutrition. What's even more impressive is that the sand circles are not just artistic, they are also very useful. That's because the females use them to lay their eggs carefully in the center so that they can be protected from the ocean currents by the ridges, which may also be the reason the smart fish seeks out the circles with the highest number of them! Of course an assertion that tiny fish are responsible for these amazing sand sculptures is almost as unbelievable as stating that crop circles are the work of aliens. That is probably why Yoji Ookata and his team decided to release this video of the pufferfish working away feverishly. You truly have to see it, to believe it! Now if we could only unravel the mystery of the crop circles, life would be perfect!

DIAMONDBACK RATTLE SNAKE #6

Diamondback, Big Bend National Park

Photograph by Fred LaBounty, My Shot

I carry snake tongs when I travel to Big Bend National Park to move snakes from the warm roadways in the mornings so they won't be run over. I came across this diamondback near Panther Junction. He went on the defensive as soon as I exited my truck. I didn't want to pass up the photo op and photographed him.  I then moved him into the underbrush about 30 feet from the roadway.

Identifying Features The Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is a heavy bodied snake with a triangular shaped head. There are two dark diagonal lines on each side of its face running from the eyes to its jaws. It has dark diamond-shaped patterns along is back. The tail has black and white bands just above the rattles.

Extra Fun-facts The rattle of the rattlesnake is made up of a protein called keratin (the same protein that your hair and fingernails are made of). A new segment is added each time a rattlesnake sheds, but they can shed at different rates. Because of this, and the fact that segments can break off, you really can't tell a snakes age by counting the segments. A rattlesnake can move its rattle back and forth 60 or more times per second. Rattlesnakes give birth live, and can have up to 25 babies (called 'neonates') in a brood. Full grown rattlesnakes can range from 3 to 7 feet in length. The average rattlesnake can live 15 to 20 years. A rattlesnake can move the rattle on its tail back and forth 20-100 times in just one second. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, which means that they produce eggs but the eggs hatch in the mothers body, and therefore result in live birth of the young. The rattlesnake’s signature “rattle” is formed from the hardened remnants of the snake’s shed skin. The rattle grows segment by segment, adding a section with every year’s molt. The rattlesnake can survive 2 years without eating. Rattlesnakes give birth around the beginning of the fall season. Predators of rattlesnakes include roadrunners, large birds, coyotes, and kingsnakes. Other animals who see these snakes as a threat and may try to trample them include cows, horses, antelope, and deer .

SCIENCE NEWS - BONOBO #5

The bonobo, once called the pygmy chimpanzee, is a unique species of ape, native only to forests on the left bank of the Congo River. 

The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is threatened by habitat destruction and human population growth and movement, though commercial poaching is the most prominent threat. It typically lives 40 years in captivity, though its lifespan in the wild is unknown.

Where is the Congo River?

What is Endangered Species List?

Poaching is good for Bonobo?        True    or        False

SCIENCE NEWS - BELUGA WHALES #4

A Win for Whales?
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration denies the Georgia Aquarium’s request for more beluga whales
AUGUST 07, 2013By Justin Chan with AP reporting

FRANCO BANFI—BARCROFT MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

Beluga whales swim in icy Arctic waters near the coast of northern Russia.
On Monday, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rejected the Georgia Aquarium’s request to import 18 whales that were captured off the coast of Russia.
The Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest aquarium. It is already home to four belugas, or white whales. In 2012, the aquarium requested 18 additional whales to help people learn more about the species and improve breeding efforts.
A law says that belugas can only be brought into the U.S. and put on display if there is an educational reason for doing so, they are captured without being hurt, and their capture doesn’t harm the local population of whales. Under this law, NOAA denied the aquarium’s request.
“Naturally, this is deeply disappointing to the dedicated Georgia Aquarium scientists and animal care professionals who have worked so diligently to help ensure the sustainability of beluga whales in human care at our facility and others in North America,” the aquarium said in a statement, upon receiving the news that their request had been denied.
In a letter to the aquarium, NOAA said that the proposal did not meet guidelines under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits the importation of marine animals without a permit. In order to receive permission, the aquarium had to prove that the import would not harm the population of belugas living near Russia. NOAA says that the live capture of the whales has contributed to the population’s significant decline.
The Great DebateBelugas are smart, social animals that live in groups called pods. “Belugas are very important to our polar oceans,” Michael Payne, who works for NOAA, told TFK. “They’re a key member of the whale family in those waters.”STREETER LECKA—GETTY IMAGES
Visitors observe a beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium. Last year, the aquarium asked permission to import 18 more whales for public display.
More than 210 belugas currently live in aquariums and zoos around the world. Many people believe that keeping belugas in captivity will help aquarium visitors learn about the species and will help scientists protect it. But many people and animal rights groups believe belugas should stay in the ocean to survive. Critics of keeping belugas in captivity say that the whales are being used for entertainment, instead of to help their survival. These groups are celebrating NOAA’s decision.
The Georgia Aquarium has 60 days to appeal the decision in court. “We remain committed to working on behalf of beluga whales and all marine life through education, conservation, exceptional animals care, research and public display,” the aquarium’s statement says.

Defend Your Answer:

1)   Should Beluga Whales be kept in Aquariums?
2)   Do Beluga Whales have a dorsal fin?
3)   Beluga Whales are in ______ ?

• schools
• herds
• pods