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Nottingham, NH, United States
I'm a middle school science teacher at Nottingham and I love biology!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Science Apps!

Science Apps - Science NetLinks:  Here is a link to many amazing science apps! Experiment with gravity or explore how classification works... These are tested by science educators and many of the apps are STEM based! 'via Blog this'

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Solar race across Australia

Solar race across Australia: "News: Solar race across Australia    
   

In the latest issue of Double Helix magazine, we feature solar powered cars racing from Darwin to Adelaide. They zoomed to the finish line last week. The winner is Dutch team Nuon with their car Nuna 8!
"



'via Blog this'

Friday, October 2, 2015

Aussie volcano chain

Aussie volcano chain: "News: Aussie volcano chain    
   

The longest chain of continental volcanoes in the world was recently discovered in Australia. It stretches from near Mackay in Queensland down to Cosgrove in Victoria.
 
Don’t be alarmed. These volcanoes aren’t going to erupt anytime soon. It has been millions of years since any of the volcanoes in the chain have erupted. We’ve known about each individual volcano for a long time, but didn’t realise they were related."



Read more about Australia's volcanos and try the super cool copper crystals experiment!!



'via Blog this'

Friday, September 25, 2015

Hitting a fractal beat

Hitting a fractal beat: "Article: Hitting a fractal beat
   
   
Ever notice that tree branches look a bit like tiny trees, and the veins on a leaf look like tiny branches? Fractals are geometric recurring patterns that appear similar no matter if you look up close or from far away. Fractals may seem complex, however they are very common. They occur all the time in nature and can be found just about anywhere – even in a piece of broccoli.

Recently, fractal patterns have been discovered in an unexpected place – music. A team of researchers noticed some groovy patterns in the drumming style of Jeff Porcaro, famous drummer of American rock band Toto.
 "



Click the link to read the rest of the article!



'via Blog this'

Friday, September 18, 2015

Robot assassin protects the reef

Robot assassin protects the reef: "News: Robot assassin protects the reef    
   

The crown-of-thorns is a venomous starfish that lives in the Great Barrier Reef. Growing up to massive lengths of 80 centimetres and having a body entirely covered in toxic spikes, the starfish is almost indestructible and is a vicious predator. They eat coral, the building blocks of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s said that one adult starfish can eat up to ten square metres of coral every year.
 "



'via Blog this'

Friday, September 11, 2015

Rare rocks and Dodgy dice

Rare rocks and Dodgy dice: "rticle: Rare rocks
   
   
Zoologists discover unknown animals, and botanists discover plants. And although you might not know it, each year geologists discover 50–60 minerals that have never been seen before. So how many minerals are yet to be discovered?"



Check out the try at home activity "Dodgy Dice", too!

'via Blog this'

Friday, August 28, 2015

New tessellation discovered

New tessellation discovered: "Article: New tessellation discovered

         If you wanted a really cool bathroom, what shape would you use for the tiles? Squares will work, or rectangles, or even hexagons. But can we use five-sided tiles? You may not know them, but there are a whole range of pentagonal tiling shapes. And a few weeks ago, mathematicians found a new one to join them."



Cool! You probably will be looking at tessellations in math class this year.  You can wow your math teacher with this!

'via Blog this'

Friday, August 21, 2015

Electric sprites, and butter Make run activity

Electric sprites, and butter run activity: "News: Electric sprites    
   

Thunder and lightning may be frightening, or exciting. But what happens above can be even more thrilling. In the upper atmosphere above these storms, you might find something called a transient luminous event, which can look like a jellyfish, carrot or column.
"

Make sure you check out the try at home activity, too!

'via Blog this'

Latest from Science News for Students

Latest from Science News for Students:  Wow! There are a wide variety of articles in this month's edition - gender, demise of bees, how bacteria affects water flow and more! Check it out!!



'via Blog this'

Should we redesign humans? | Playlist | TED.com

Should we redesign humans? | Playlist | TED.com:



This is a really cool TED talk. What do you think? Should humans be engineering cells, tissues and organs to improve our bodies?

'via Blog this'

Ebola vaccine, and viewing your retina

Ebola vaccine, and viewing your retina: "News: Ebola end in sight    
   

It looks like the Ebola epidemic that has ravaged West Africa for over a year may soon be under control. Last week, there were only a handful of new cases in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, scientists are getting closer to a vaccine to prevent these outbreaks from occurring again.
 "



Also in this issue: photographing your retina!

'via Blog this'

Science Learning Hub Newsletter, August 2015 - All about Space

Science Learning Hub Newsletter, August 2015 - All about Space:

Interested in outer space? Then this is a must read!

'via Blog this'

Mysterious number measures mass

Mysterious number measures mass: "rticle: Mysterious number measures mass
   
   
Six hundred and two sextillion is a huge number. It’s so big that most people can’t even write it out in numerals. And yet, many scientists use this number every day. So what’s the deal with 602 000 000 000 000 000 000 000?"



Learn all about Avogadro's number! :)



'via Blog this'

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Can you solve this logic puzzle?

Can you solve this logic puzzle?:  This is one of several excellent TED talk lessons. Can YOU solve the puzzle??



'via Blog this'

The forgotten history of autism

The forgotten history of autism:  This TED talk is quite interesting.



'via Blog this'

Sigma Xi SmartBrief

Sigma Xi SmartBrief:  More new science discoveries - worms with teeth, new organism gets a name and news from outer space!



'via Blog this'

Chris Urmson: How a driverless car sees the road | TED Talk | TED.com

Chris Urmson: How a driverless car sees the road | TED Talk | TED.com:



How do you feel about driverless cars? Watch this video and see if you think any differently!



'via Blog this'

OPERATION WILD | Elephants | PBS

"The Hog Island Osprey Nest and its viewers are saddened today as what appeared to be an eagle took both young osprey chicks from their nest in the afternoon hours Friday. Explore founder Charlie Annenberg reflects on a nest that feels so much emptier tonight."



Explore has many wonderful stories, but some of them are sad. Life and death are daily struggles that animals in the wild face. Some survive, but others do not. Check out Explore to learn more about the nature around you.



'via Blog this'

Maryn McKenna: What do we do when antibiotics don’t work any more? | TED Talk | TED.com

Maryn McKenna: What do we do when antibiotics don’t work any more? | TED Talk | TED.com:



'via Blog this'

Latest from Science News for Students

Latest from Science News for Students: "BODY & HEALTH, GENETICS, MICROBES, FUNGI & ALGAE
New ways to flight the flu
By Kathiann Kowalski, Jun 26, 2015 07:15 am
Influenza sickens millions each year. A worldwide epidemic could kill many of them. Fortunately, new ways to fight the flu offer hope — before it’s too late. Read More
"



This is just one of the many interesting articles in this edition of Science News for Students!



'via Blog this'

Philae’s back and Build your own satellite

Philae’s back and Build your own satellite: "News: Philae’s back!
     
   
Deep in space, a cold, sleepy robot has woken and is calling home.
"



'via Blog this'

Monday, June 15, 2015

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Name Pluto, and biscuit moon

Name Pluto, and biscuit moon: "News: Name Pluto :           Vote on your favourite names for Pluto’s craters and canyons.
"

Also in this issue - try the make at home edible model of the phases of the moon!

'via Blog this'

Friday, April 17, 2015

Quokka cuisine, and code necklace

Quokka cuisine, and code necklace:

Even though it has the cutest smile in the marsupial world, quokkas still need a good supply of food, water and rest spots to survive. Check out some quokka selfies and find out how scientists are studying them!



'via Blog this'

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Asteroid impacts, and cup lifters

Asteroid impacts, and cup lifters: "Deep underground in the centre of Australia is evidence of the biggest asteroid impact in the Earth’s history.
 
It wasn’t just a single impact, but a twin strike from a meteorite that may have split into two as it plummeted towards Earth.
 "

This week's try at home activity looks like it would make a fun class competition - let me know if you want to try it out!



'via Blog this'

Sunday, March 1, 2015

An ocean of plastic

An ocean of plastic: "
 
Each year, around 16 plastic bags full of plastic enters the oceans for every meter of coastline – but where is it coming from?
 
Chris Wilcox, a researcher at CSIRO, used maths to find out how much plastic countries around the world are throwing into the oceans. It turns out it’s a lot.
 "



'via Blog this'

Forest measurement, and a ball shooter

Forest measurement, and a ball shooter: "
 
Drones, lasers, planes and liquid nitrogen were all called in to measure the growth of a Tasmanian forest.
 
Sometimes measurement can be a little more exciting than you might think. Recently, researchers brought together by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network [TERN] used a range of high-tech instruments to measure 25 square kilometres of Tasmanian forest."



Learn more abouto forest measurement, plus find out how to make a very cool ping pong ball shooter at home!



'via Blog this'

Rob Knight: How our microbes make us who we are | Talk Video | TED.com

Rob Knight: How our microbes make us who we are | Talk Video | TED.com:  You have roughly 3 pounds of microbes that live in you! Learn about how they shape who you are!



'via Blog this'

Friday, February 13, 2015

Bumpy touchscreens, and bouncy bubbles

Bumpy touchscreens, and bouncy bubbles:  Touch screens are pretty cool, but what if you could feel textures on touch screens? Also, the at home project in this edition of Science by Email is awesome! Bubbles that you can hold! Check it out!!



'via Blog this'

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Friday, February 6, 2015

Whale hearing, and phone amplifier activity

Whale hearing, and phone amplifier activity:

Are we hurting whales through noise pollution? Learn more and try the make at home activity to build your own phone / ipod speaker!



'via Blog this'

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Today marks the 29th Anniversary of the Challenger Shuttle Disaster


While my students are far too young to have seen this first hand, this day will be etched in my mind forever. One of NH's teachers was aboard the shuttle when it unexpectedly exploded. The tragedy was painfully close to home and the world watched in horror and disbelief. Today, brave men and women continue their exploration of our known universe. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/on-29th-anniversary-of-challenger-disaster-nasas-day-of-remembrance/