Tag: microbes

Classroom Ideas, Creature Feature, Current Event Connection, Main

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

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Main

Potentially Powerful New Antibiotic Discovered in Dirt

SCIENCE A new class of microorganisms kills drug-resistant “superbugs”—and lives in dirt. (Washington Post) Learn more about antibiotics and the biotics they target with our Q&A here. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas New research outlines the discovery of a new strain of antibiotics found in dirt. What are antibiotics? Use our resource here for … Continue reading Potentially Powerful New Antibiotic Discovered in Dirt

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Classroom Ideas, Creature Feature, Current Event Connection, Main

What is Killing These Funny-Looking Antelope?

ENVIRONMENT The sudden, mass death of 200,000 saigas provides a dark omen for what might happen to wildlife in a changing world. (The Atlantic) What other threats do saigas face? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas The terrific Atlantic article outlines the environmental threats faced by saigas, a critically endangered species of antelope. What are … Continue reading What is Killing These Funny-Looking Antelope?

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Main

The Last Snow on Earth May Be Pink

ENVIRONMENT As glaciers thaw, one colorful group of microorganisms is thriving. (The New Yorker) Enough with the microbes—what else causes red snow? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit Text Set. Discussion Ideas The terrific New Yorker article explains the phenomenon of “watermelon snow.” What is watermelon snow? Watermelon snow, also called pink snow or blood snow, is … Continue reading The Last Snow on Earth May Be Pink

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Main

Crystal Caves Hold Long-Dormant Life

SCIENCE Scientists have extracted long-dormant microbes from inside the famous giant crystals of the Naica mountain caves in Mexico—and revived them. (BBC) Where else have ancient microbes been found? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including a link to today’s simple MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas Scientists are excited about the extremophile microbes just discovered at the … Continue reading Crystal Caves Hold Long-Dormant Life

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