Assignments
Free Thinking FridayWednesday, January 17, 2018 at 10:40 am
Should Glitter Be Banned? One Researcher Certainly Thinks So!
For most people, the mention of glitter brings back fond memories of colorful preschool and kindergarten projects. However, the sparkly material is also prevalent in everyday grown-up products like makeup, decorations, and even iPhone cases. Unfortunately, while the fairy-dust-like substance is great for lifting our spirits, it is not so good for the environment, which is why one researcher is calling for a worldwide ban.Free Thinking FridayWednesday, January 17, 2018 at 10:40 am
St. Louis Zoo Welcomes Eight Adorable Cheetah Cubs
With fewer than 10,000 cheetahs left in the wild, the addition of even a single cub is hailed as a victory. Hence, you can only imagine the excitement caused by the January 3, 2018 announcement of the birth of eight cheetahs at the St. Louis Zoo in Missouri. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which manages 12 cheetah conservation facilities — including the one at the St. Louis Zoo — this is the first time such a large, healthy litter has been born. Previously recorded births have averaged between three to four cubs.Free Thinking FridayWednesday, January 17, 2018 at 10:39 am
2018 CES Provides A Glimpse Into Upcoming Tech Products
For the past 50 years, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been impressing Americans with innovative products created to enhance their lives. This year’s show, held in Las Vegas from January 8 to 12, was no different. Over 180,000 people flocked to view and test the thousands of gadgets that consumers can look forward to purchasing in the near future. Here are a few that grabbed our attention.Free Thinking FridayThursday, August 31, 2017 at 10:40 am
Hurricane Harvey Slams Into Southern Texas
Hurricane Harvey, which began as a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, August 23, rapidly escalated to a Category 4 storm as it made its way towards Southern Texas. As expected the powerful hurricane, which packed 130mph winds, made landfall near the city of Rockport on August 25 at about 10:00 pm local time, causing widespread destruction. Three hours later, it made a second landfall on the northeastern shore of Copano Bay, this time as a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds!Free Thinking FridayThursday, August 31, 2017 at 10:39 am
Millions of Glowing Sea Creatures Invade U.S. Pacific Coast
A massive patch or “blob” of warm water experienced along the usually cool U.S. Pacific coast from 2013 to 2016 wreaked havoc on the marine ecosystem. Fishermen in Alaska reported seeing warm water sharks, while California beachgoers encountered tropical poisonous water snakes. Though the return of cooler temperatures in 2017 rid the area of most unwanted visitors, bioluminescent pyrosomes ((Pyrosoma atlanticum) have decided to stay and are now washing up along the coast in unprecedented numbers.Free Thinking FridayThursday, August 31, 2017 at 10:37 am
Wounded Plants Warn Neighbors Of Potential Danger
You might not think of plants as particularly chatty but in reality, they communicate surprisingly well with each other, especially when faced with danger. According to a recent study in the journal, Frontiers in Plant Science, injured plants send out emergency signals to alert neighbors to start building up their defenses.Free Thinking FridayThursday, August 31, 2017 at 10:36 am
Get Ready For A Close Encounter With A Massive Asteroid!
Earlier this month, millions of Americans were treated to a rare spectacle: a total solar eclipse that was visible from coast-to-coast. While Florence, a massive asteroid that will zip past our planet on September 1, will not overshadow the stunning event, it will make history of its own. According to Paul Chodas at the Center for Near Earth Object (NEO) Studies, the space rock is the largest to pass this close to our planet since the first near-Earth asteroid was discovered over a century ago.Free Thinking FridayThursday, August 31, 2017 at 10:36 am
Spinach Leaf Transformed Into Beating Human Heart Tissue
Innovations like 3-D printing have enabled scientists to make significant progress in manufacturing various bioengineered organs and tissues. However, the one organ that has been hard to replicate is the human heart. That’s because current technology is unable to replicate the network of tiny blood vessels that transport oxygen inside a tissue as dense as the human heart muscle.Join Class
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