[ECP] SCIENCE: Educational CyberPlayGround K12 Newsletter Resources
- From: Educational CyberPlayGround <admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: K12NewsLetters@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 -0400
Greetings All,
Happy Reading for today.
best,
<Karen>
1)
Mathematicians Map E8
http://www.aimath.org/E8/
Details about the mapping by mathematicians of "the inner workings of
one of the most complicated structures ever studied: the object known
as the exceptional Lie group E8." Provides an overview of the project
and explanations of E8, Lie groups, and groups and symmetry. Also
includes technical material "intended for mathematicians who want a
more detailed explanation of the Atlas project and the E8
calculation." From the American Institute of Mathematics.
2)
Rube Goldberg Contest at Purdue
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/rube/rube.index.html
Details about this competition inspired by cartoonist Rube Goldberg,
in which "college students nationwide compete to design a machine
that uses the most complex process to complete a simple task," such
as screwing in a light bulb, in 20 or more steps. Provides a FAQ,
results of past competitions (back to 1999), photos of some of the
machines, and background about Rube Goldberg and the contest. From
Purdue University.
3)
The Race From Space
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/exp14_boston_marathon.html>http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/exp14_boston_marathon.html
210 miles above Earth, Expedition 14 crew member Sunita Williams will
attempt to do something no other astronaut has ever done. She will
run the Boston Marathon while in orbit.
4)
Hilton Pond Center [ HARD FREEZE]
http://www.HiltonPond.org
Like many locales in the Carolinas, Hilton Pond Center awoke to a
very hard freeze on Easter morning, which caused environmental
problems we first detected with our sense of smell.
The newspapers have been full of articles about how the cold will
hurt this year's peach harvest, but what about damage to trees
themselves? Many tender new leaves were killed by cold, which
undoubtedly will have lasting impact on woody plants--to say nothing
of caterpillars that would have eaten those leaves AND hungry birds
that will be looking for caterpillars as they pass through in
migration. And what about all this dead foliage on Trumpet Creeper?
Will the plants still be able to make nectar-laden blossoms that
attract hummingbirds?
Our sense of smell and how it's related to the potential long-term
devastation wrought by a late cold snap is the topic for our
1-9 April 2007 "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay, accessible at
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070401.html
As always we include a tally of birds banded, a list of recaptures
(of which there were several old-timers), and miscellaneous nature
notes.
5)
NOVA presents "First Flower"
Broadcast: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
http://www.pbs.org/nova/flower/
(NOVA airs on PBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings as
broadcast dates and times may vary. This program can be used up to
one year after it is recorded off the air.)
21st-Century Plant Hunter
http://www.pbs.org/nova/flower/hinkley.html
Find out the difference between wild plants and garden flowers,
what it was like during the golden age of plant hunting, how
plant diversity in China compares to that in the United States,
and more in this interview with horticulturist Dan Hinkley. Five
video extras of plant life the Hengduan Mountains are featured.
(QuickTime, RealVideo, or Windows Media plug-in required for
video.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)
Mother of Gardens
http://www.pbs.org/nova/flower/gardens.html
Take a look at some of the most stunning transplants from the
wilds of China to the world's gardens. (Flash plug-in required;
printable version available.) (Grades 3-5,6-8, 9-12)
Flowers Modern & Ancient
http://www.pbs.org/nova/flower/anatomy.html
Watch a video that illustrates how a lily reproduces and see how
the lily's reproduction compares to that of an ancient
Archaefructus plant. (Flash plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)
Pick the Pollinator
http://www.pbs.org/nova/flower/pollinator.html
Match seven plants with their pollinators and find out how
flowering plants have come to dominate the botanical world.
(Flash plug-in required; printable version available.) (Grades
6-8, 9-12)
Teacher's Guide
http://www.pbs.org/nova/teachers/programs/3405_flower.html
In this classroom activity, students extract DNA from bananas.
(Grades 6-8, 9-12)
Program Transcript
http://www.pbs.org/nova/transcripts/3405_flower.html
The site includes a complete narration for this program.
6)
NASA Science News for April 12, 2007
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has observed a remarkable eclipse
of a supermassive black hole, allowing a disk of hot matter swirling
around the hole to be measured.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12apr_blackholeeclipse.htm?list111411
NASA Science News for April 13, 2007 Dusty Hurricanes
What happens to a hurricane when it gets hit by a dust storm? This is
an important question because Atlantic hurricanes are born not far
from the Sahara desert. Recently NASA scientists gathered data that
brings them closer to the answer. They did it by flying directly into
a dusty hurricane.
<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/13apr_dustyhurricanes.htm?list111411>http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/13apr_dustyhurricanes.htm?list111411
7)
2007 Guitar Woods
Recent developments in CITES regulation
enforcement, which are starting to make it very difficult to travel
internationally with most stringed instruments on almost any itinerary.
The intent to protect endangered species has created an inconsistent
maze of red tape, so that players had best not chance, for example,
crossing a border with pernambuco (most fiddle bows) or Brazilian
rosewood (even fingerboards or bridges on older guitars) before doing
some serious legal preparation. For further discussion of this situation,
see the p. 35 article in the Jan-Mar newsletter of the AFM Nashville local
Other related posts:
