Science News for Kids » Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Wed, 22 May 2013 22:09:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 This shrimp packs a punch http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:52:57 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16122 Mantis shrimp are related to crabs and lobsters. They come in a gorgeous array of colors. Credit: Roy Caldwell

Researchers learn a lot from mantis shrimp, colorful marine creatures that possess deadly weapons and complex vision]]> Mantis shrimp are related to crabs and lobsters. They come in a gorgeous array of colors. Credit: Roy Caldwell

Researchers learn a lot from mantis shrimp, colorful marine creatures that possess deadly weapons and complex vision]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/feed/ 0 Cool Jobs: Delving into dung http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:56:09 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15401 Wood’s colleague, Janet Wilmshurst, studies a piece of moa poop. Credit: Jamie Wood

Scientists uncover fascinating secrets through the study of animal feces ]]> Wood’s colleague, Janet Wilmshurst, studies a piece of moa poop. Credit: Jamie Wood

Scientists uncover fascinating secrets through the study of animal feces ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/cool-jobs-delving-into-dung/feed/ 0 Secret signals http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:40:20 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15339 Chemicals called pheromones act as messengers between individuals. Many plants and animals — including squid — respond to such secret chemical signals. Credit: Roger T. Hanlon

Animals respond to chemical messages they may not even realize they’re swapping]]> Chemicals called pheromones act as messengers between individuals. Many plants and animals — including squid — respond to such secret chemical signals. Credit: Roger T. Hanlon

Animals respond to chemical messages they may not even realize they’re swapping]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/feed/ 0 When the nose no longer knows http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/pollution-can-endanger-aquatic-animals-by-damaging-their-sense-of-smell/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/pollution-can-endanger-aquatic-animals-by-damaging-their-sense-of-smell/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:40:03 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15131 Clown fish raised in acidified waters don’t respond properly to smells. For example, they swim toward the scent of a predator instead of away from it. Credit: Simon Foale, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Pollution can endanger aquatic animals by damaging their sense of smell]]> Clown fish raised in acidified waters don’t respond properly to smells. For example, they swim toward the scent of a predator instead of away from it. Credit: Simon Foale, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Pollution can endanger aquatic animals by damaging their sense of smell]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/pollution-can-endanger-aquatic-animals-by-damaging-their-sense-of-smell/feed/ 0 Monkeys’ mistake detector http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/monkeys-mistake-detector/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/monkeys-mistake-detector/#comments Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:00:24 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13681 A small part of a macaque’s brain is activated when it sees another monkey making a mistake. Credit: Elisabeth Aardema/iStockphoto

Specific brain cells in macaques respond to fellow animal’s error]]> A small part of a macaque’s brain is activated when it sees another monkey making a mistake. Credit: Elisabeth Aardema/iStockphoto

Specific brain cells in macaques respond to fellow animal’s error]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/monkeys-mistake-detector/feed/ 0 DNA hints at ancient cousins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/dna-hints-at-ancient-cousins/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/dna-hints-at-ancient-cousins/#comments Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:45:21 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13604 By analyzing the DNA of some modern-day Africans, scientists have found that our ancestors may have mated with an unknown, humanlike species thousands of years ago. Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Tishkoff

Scientists find evidence of an extinct humanlike species within modern-day Africans]]> By analyzing the DNA of some modern-day Africans, scientists have found that our ancestors may have mated with an unknown, humanlike species thousands of years ago. Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Tishkoff

Scientists find evidence of an extinct humanlike species within modern-day Africans]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/dna-hints-at-ancient-cousins/feed/ 0 Iron versus climate change http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/iron-versus-climate-change/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/iron-versus-climate-change/#comments Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:43:09 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13519 A tiny organism called a diatom can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and carry the carbon to the bottom of the ocean. Credit: Marina Montresor, SZN / Alfred Wegener Institute.

Metal deposits can promote the growth of ocean algae that gobble greenhouse gas]]> A tiny organism called a diatom can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and carry the carbon to the bottom of the ocean. Credit: Marina Montresor, SZN / Alfred Wegener Institute.

Metal deposits can promote the growth of ocean algae that gobble greenhouse gas]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/iron-versus-climate-change/feed/ 0 Weird weather http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/global-warming-helped-trigger-heat-waves-and-droughts-last-year/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/global-warming-helped-trigger-heat-waves-and-droughts-last-year/#comments Fri, 03 Aug 2012 17:31:36 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13476 Texas soil cracked by a prolonged drought. Scientists are beginning to link such extreme weather events to global warming. Credit: © Ann Worthy, iStockphoto

Global warming helped trigger heat waves and droughts last year]]> Texas soil cracked by a prolonged drought. Scientists are beginning to link such extreme weather events to global warming. Credit: © Ann Worthy, iStockphoto

Global warming helped trigger heat waves and droughts last year]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/08/global-warming-helped-trigger-heat-waves-and-droughts-last-year/feed/ 0 Tomatoes’ tasteless green gene http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/07/tomatoes-tasteless-green-gene/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/07/tomatoes-tasteless-green-gene/#comments Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:00:03 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13282 Modern tomatoes (all-over light green fruits at right) lack the correct version of a gene that helps them make flavorful molecules. In its correct form, the gene results in a tastier tomato with a dark green patch at the top (fruits at left). Credit: Courtesy of Hakan Aktas.

Choosing tomatoes for color reduces fruit’s flavor, study finds]]> Modern tomatoes (all-over light green fruits at right) lack the correct version of a gene that helps them make flavorful molecules. In its correct form, the gene results in a tastier tomato with a dark green patch at the top (fruits at left). Credit: Courtesy of Hakan Aktas.

Choosing tomatoes for color reduces fruit’s flavor, study finds]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/07/tomatoes-tasteless-green-gene/feed/ 0 Cool Jobs: Studying what you love http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/07/cool-jobs-studying-what-you-love/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/07/cool-jobs-studying-what-you-love/#comments Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:15:52 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=13234 Dorcas-with-python_feature1

Researchers study the same animals that fascinated them as kids]]> Dorcas-with-python_feature1

Researchers study the same animals that fascinated them as kids]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/07/cool-jobs-studying-what-you-love/feed/ 0