Temperature’s Effect on Toad Speed

This little gem caught my eye on G+ thanks to Carl Zimmer. Remember yesterday’s movie of the toad eating in slow motion? Now watch this one. It’s still a toad eating a cricket, but this time it’s filmed at two different temperatures. Keep two things in mind – first, the toad’s body temperature is the [...]

DIY smart phone or iPhone microscope for under $10

Thanks to Crabfu, you can turn your iPhone–or other smart phone–into a hand-held microscope for a few bucks. Just pick up a cheapo microscope. (Like this: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22831) Glue it to a cheapo case. (For example: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.41250) Think of all the great things you’ll be able to explore!!! Watch the video and then go to Crabfu’s post [...]

The Pluto Files

In 2006, the IAU came up with a definition for a planet, and Pluto didn’t fit the bill. People protested, sent hate-mail, and refused to follow the new rule. The Pluto Files is a great account of atmosphere at the time.

Summer Science-Reading Contest!

What’s even better than reading science books?  Getting a prize to do it!  The beautiful @ScienceGoddess, known as Joanne Manaster in the real world, is teaming up with the not-as-beautiful-but-still-an-alright-guy @Scienticity, known as Jeff Shaumeyer, to put on 2 summer reading contests!  One for kids ages 8 through 12, called KidsReadScience, and one for teens [...]

Messing Up the Clean – Why Can’t BP Get It Right?

It’s been almost a month since an oil rig about 50 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and resulted in what has since promised to become one of the greatest ecological disasters of all time.  Within 2 days of the explosion, an oil slick approximately 5 square miles appeared in the Gulf.  At [...]

Musical Learning – The Roundup

In your youth was Sesame Street.  If you were lucky when you got older there was Bill Nye.  Now it would seem you’re too old for education set to music.  But if that’s what you think, you’re wrong.  Check out these tunes: Thanks to ProfDodd for the tip – They Might Be Giants sings all [...]