Fireworks! Fun, Facts and lots of Photos for the Fourth

July 4th has always been one of my favorite holidays. What’s not to love about sunny weather, backyard barbecues, parades, national spirit and—of course—fireworks?! FIREWORKS! While fireworks have long been a hallmark of Independence Day celebrations in the United States—the first was in Philadelphia in 1777—the explosive concoction is much older than our nation! The first fireworks probably originated in China nearly 2,000 years ago. … Continue reading Fireworks! Fun, Facts and lots of Photos for the Fourth

Bioluminescent Beasties Light Up California Beaches

SCIENCE Red tides and bright blue waves make SoCal glow. (San Jose Mercury News) What is bioluminescence? Use our great resource as a go-to reference. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Why are waves turning electric blue when crashing into California beaches? Miles of Southern California beaches are experiencing a “red tide”—a rapid, dense accumulation … Continue reading Bioluminescent Beasties Light Up California Beaches

This Rock May Increase Your Internet Speed by 1000%

TECHNOLOGY The “miracle material” perovskite could hold the key to ultra-high-speed communications and computing, researchers say. (Forbes and Newsweek) Where can you find perovskite? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas A new use of the familiar mineral perovskite could make the Internet 1,000 faster! Scientists are discovering new characteristics of perovskite due to its ability … Continue reading This Rock May Increase Your Internet Speed by 1000%

Radioactive Lagoons at Atomic Test Sites

SCIENCE Scientists found lingering radioactivity in the lagoons of remote Pacific atolls where the United States conducted nuclear weapons tests more than 50 years ago. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) The ocean isn’t the only place radiation is lingering—meet the scientists who pee plutonium. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including today’s simple MapMaker Interactive map.   Discussion … Continue reading Radioactive Lagoons at Atomic Test Sites

Solar-Powered Device Pulls Water from Thin Air

SCIENCE You can’t squeeze blood from a stone, but wringing water from the desert sky is now possible, thanks to a new spongelike device that uses sunlight to suck water molecules from air, even in low humidity. (Science) How else is solar energy being harnessed? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas The great Science article … Continue reading Solar-Powered Device Pulls Water from Thin Air