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15 Things We Learned This Week!

What did you learn this week? Let us know in the comments or at education@ngs.org.

This week, we learned …

… the Mariana Trench is so deep, you can hear earthquakes above you.

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, magma burn and earthquake rumble. Photograph courtesy Pacific Ring of Fire 2004 Expedition. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration; Dr. Bob Embley, NOAA PMEL, Chief Scientist. (CC BY 2.0)
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, magma burn and earthquake rumble.
Photograph courtesy Pacific Ring of Fire 2004 Expedition. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration; Dr. Bob Embley, NOAA PMEL, Chief Scientist. (CC BY 2.0)

 

… Mongolia is changing all its addresses to three-word phrases. (is.this.future?)

Mongolian neighborhoods like this one (mixing traditional yurt housing with modern plots) will no longer be designated by numbers and streets. For example, the new system would change the address of the US Embassy in Mongolia from: US Embassy Denver Street #3 11th Micro-District Ulaanbaatar 14190 Mongolia to constants.stuffy.activism Photograph by Dean Conger, National Geographic
Mongolian neighborhoods like this one (mixing traditional yurt housing with modern plots) will no longer be designated by numbers and streets. For example, the new system would change the address of the US Embassy in Mongolia from:
US Embassy
Denver Street #3
11th Micro-District
Ulaanbaatar 14190
Mongolia
to constants.stuffy.activism
Photograph by Dean Conger, National Geographic

 

… ships are too big.

 

… the problem with professional development.

What’s the problem with our Grosvenor Teacher Fellow professional development program? There’s not more of it. Photograph by CT Ticknor
What’s the problem with our Grosvenor Teacher Fellow professional development program? There’s not more of it.
Photograph by CT Ticknor

 

… the most sophisticated science lab on Earth uses medieval forestry techniques.

Yes, in addition to the largest and coolest science experiments on Earth, CERN also has genuine fairy-tale forests. Elves and quarks, united as they should be.
Photograph by Erwan Le Marrec/ CERN

 

… there are concealed cities in Angkor, a hidden monument in Petra, and the Amber Room may be stashed in a Nazi bunker in Poland.

Angkor Wat is the most famous temple complex of the Khmer culture. CLICK TO VIEW FULL-SIZE!
Illustration by Juan Velasco, National Geographic
The most famous remnant of the Nabatean culture is the iconic “treasury” monument in Petra, Jordan. Photograph by Jodi Cobb, National Geographic
The Russian “Amber Room” was decorated in amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors. It was looted during World War II. Photograph by Branson DeCou, courtesy University of California at Santa Cruz

 

… McDonald’s is the glue that holds communities together. (Mildly off-color language in the video here.)

 

… punctuation is going out of style, period. Full stop. Don’t tell LL.

 

… interracial friendships decline as kids enter adolescence—and teachers may play a part.

This is a posed photograph. Photograph courtesy GeoBee
This is a posed photograph.
Photograph courtesy GeoBee

 

… Iceland is turning carbon emissions to stone.

 

… where the International Space Station will go to die.

The oceanic pole of accessibility, the point in the ocean furthest from any landmass, is the earthly home of Cthulhu. Map by Timwi, courtesy Wikimedia. Public domain.
The oceanic pole of accessibility, the point in the ocean furthest from any landmass, is the earthly home of space capsules and Cthulhu.
Map by Timwi, courtesy Wikimedia. Public domain.

 

… why one African national park might ban animal apps.

Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic
Tourists interact with a mountain gorilla. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic

 

 

… smart birdhouses might improve air quality.

 

… a simple numbers game could make kids better at math.

 

… how (and why) to move a city.

8 thoughts on “15 Things We Learned This Week!”

  1. Nice effort by Mr Lam for our environment.. By using simple technology make bird’s house and giving data of surrounding air… We can also use this idea to make our atmosphere clean and clear….

    Reply

  2. Spacecraft cemetery,,, OMG!!! Like a graveyard for spacecraft objects, satellites and any other orbiting objects made by man… How difficult it would be to make an object entering back into the earth.. Making too much calculations …uff!!! MIR was of 142 tons..

    Reply

  3. In this project they are stopping the leaking of grounded carbon dioxide but what about that carbon dioxide which is on ground emitted through air conditioner, vehicles, factories, green houses etc…. And if they solidify carbon dioxide what would be use of that which is consuming too much water and money also???

    Reply

  4. MacDonald!!! A good place for people to share special moment of life… People gathered talk ,make connections , be social… Unfortunately I have allergies from all the things made at MacDonald except coffee and ice cream…

    Reply

  5. A good effort by CERN!!!! Use of horses for logging which is more environmently friendly….

    Reply

  6. Defination of learning is not defined easily I think… Everyone has their own measurements.. What we know we have learnt.. Professional learning is about activities, practice and hard work…

    Reply

  7. Congratulations to Magnolia which is good to be first country for the use of three words phrases address…. So now it would be easy for mangolians to drop or receive a mail…

    Reply

  8. As still as the sea!!! But after this new discovery by hydrophone it seems that old idiom is about to change now… As noisy as the sea…. It’s really surprising to know that the deepest point on the earth has a great hustle bustle than above the surface….

    Reply

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