Science News for Kids » Earth & Sky http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:07:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Tornado caught storm chasers http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/06/storm-chaser-tim-samaras-died-doing-what-he-loved-collecting-tornado-data-for-science/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/06/storm-chaser-tim-samaras-died-doing-what-he-loved-collecting-tornado-data-for-science/#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:08:35 +0000 Janet Raloff http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17580 This map shows the path of the monster twister that killed the Samaras team. It was the largest U.S. tornado on record, at one point spanning a record 2.6 miles wide. Credit: Nat’l. Weather Serv./Norman, Okla.

Tim Samaras died doing what he loved — collecting tornado data for science]]> This map shows the path of the monster twister that killed the Samaras team. It was the largest U.S. tornado on record, at one point spanning a record 2.6 miles wide. Credit: Nat’l. Weather Serv./Norman, Okla.

Tim Samaras died doing what he loved — collecting tornado data for science]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/06/storm-chaser-tim-samaras-died-doing-what-he-loved-collecting-tornado-data-for-science/feed/ 0 Black hole mysteries http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/black-hole-mysteries/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/black-hole-mysteries/#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 17:00:44 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17202 Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole. Though black holes are invisible, they can create brilliant light shows. This illustration shows a black hole devouring a star. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

Scientists are just getting to know the black holes that help anchor our cosmos]]> Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole. Though black holes are invisible, they can create brilliant light shows. This illustration shows a black hole devouring a star. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

Scientists are just getting to know the black holes that help anchor our cosmos]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/black-hole-mysteries/feed/ 0 Major twister hits Oklahoma http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/major-twister-hits-oklahoma/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/major-twister-hits-oklahoma/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 21:22:53 +0000 Janet Raloff http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17134 White ball-shaped cloud structures in this satellite image point to where intense thunderstorms formed on the afternoon of May 20, 2013. The big round ball at top center is where the killer tornado developed. It ravaged Moore, Okla.Caption: Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC

Its speed, which largely determines the damage it causes, is still unknown]]> White ball-shaped cloud structures in this satellite image point to where intense thunderstorms formed on the afternoon of May 20, 2013. The big round ball at top center is where the killer tornado developed. It ravaged Moore, Okla.Caption: Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC

Its speed, which largely determines the damage it causes, is still unknown]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/major-twister-hits-oklahoma/feed/ 0 Pee is for power http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/the-water-in-urine-can-be-a-source-of-hydrogen-for-electrical-generators/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/the-water-in-urine-can-be-a-source-of-hydrogen-for-electrical-generators/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 19:36:32 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17098 Adebola Duro-Aina (left), Oluwatoyin Faleke (center) and Zainab Bello (right) designed a system that uses urine to produce a fuel. Generators that run on this fuel, rather than gasoline, would avoid spewing carbon monoxide, a toxic pollutant. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

The water in urine can be a source of hydrogen for electrical generators]]> Adebola Duro-Aina (left), Oluwatoyin Faleke (center) and Zainab Bello (right) designed a system that uses urine to produce a fuel. Generators that run on this fuel, rather than gasoline, would avoid spewing carbon monoxide, a toxic pollutant. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

The water in urine can be a source of hydrogen for electrical generators]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/the-water-in-urine-can-be-a-source-of-hydrogen-for-electrical-generators/feed/ 0 Fungi as carbon keepers http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/fungi-as-carbon-keepers/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/fungi-as-carbon-keepers/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:40:46 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16404 A recent study of forested Swedish islands found that tiny fungi in the soil store most of the carbon found in the forest floor. Credit: Photo courtesy of Karina Clemmensen

A common type of fungus stores most of a forest floor’s carbon underground]]> A recent study of forested Swedish islands found that tiny fungi in the soil store most of the carbon found in the forest floor. Credit: Photo courtesy of Karina Clemmensen

A common type of fungus stores most of a forest floor’s carbon underground]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/fungi-as-carbon-keepers/feed/ 0 New, older age for the universe http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-older-age-for-the-universe/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-older-age-for-the-universe/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:44:56 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16305 This map shows the energy left over from shortly after the Big Bang, as mapped by the Planck space telescope. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (known as absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer, while blue spots are slightly cooler. Astronomers hope this map can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang]]> This map shows the energy left over from shortly after the Big Bang, as mapped by the Planck space telescope. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (known as absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer, while blue spots are slightly cooler. Astronomers hope this map can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-older-age-for-the-universe/feed/ 0 Out-of-this-world atmospheres http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/light-from-a-distant-giant-world-hr-8799c-offers-clues-to-the-gases-in-its-atmosphere/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/light-from-a-distant-giant-world-hr-8799c-offers-clues-to-the-gases-in-its-atmosphere/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:14:46 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16202 This illustration depicts the planet HR 8799c (foreground) orbiting its star. Two other planets in the system can also be seen in the drawing. Credit: Image courtesy of Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Mediafarm

Light from a distant, giant world offers clues to the gases in its atmosphere]]> This illustration depicts the planet HR 8799c (foreground) orbiting its star. Two other planets in the system can also be seen in the drawing. Credit: Image courtesy of Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Mediafarm

Light from a distant, giant world offers clues to the gases in its atmosphere]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/light-from-a-distant-giant-world-hr-8799c-offers-clues-to-the-gases-in-its-atmosphere/feed/ 0 Martian microbes, maybe http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/billions-of-years-ago-mars-could-have-been-teeming-with-very-small-martians/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/billions-of-years-ago-mars-could-have-been-teeming-with-very-small-martians/#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:10:21 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16101 The first sample of Martian rock drilled by the rover Curiosity. Scientists say the rock provides evidence that microbes could have once lived on Mars. Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS Permission: press photo, NASA public domain

Billions of years ago, Mars could have been teeming with very small Martians]]> The first sample of Martian rock drilled by the rover Curiosity. Scientists say the rock provides evidence that microbes could have once lived on Mars. Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS Permission: press photo, NASA public domain

Billions of years ago, Mars could have been teeming with very small Martians]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/billions-of-years-ago-mars-could-have-been-teeming-with-very-small-martians/feed/ 0 Bad for breathing http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/study-connects-pollution-to-several-common-diseases-that-affect-the-lungs-and-airways/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/study-connects-pollution-to-several-common-diseases-that-affect-the-lungs-and-airways/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:00:13 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15951 Researchers have connected exposure to high levels of pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, to a greater likelihood of having asthma and allergies. Caption: Photo courtesy of the EPA

New study connects pollution to several common diseases that affect the lungs and airways]]> Researchers have connected exposure to high levels of pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, to a greater likelihood of having asthma and allergies. Caption: Photo courtesy of the EPA

New study connects pollution to several common diseases that affect the lungs and airways]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/study-connects-pollution-to-several-common-diseases-that-affect-the-lungs-and-airways/feed/ 0 Predators as climate helpers http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/predators-as-climate-helpers/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/predators-as-climate-helpers/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:25:52 +0000 Janet Raloff http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15697 This freshwater stickleback eats the tiny animals in stream water that graze on plants and algae. This predation allows those plants and algae to collect and store carbon, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. Credit: Nicole Bedford, UBC

In lakes and streams, fish and insects can help protect aquatic plants that gobble up greenhouse gas]]> This freshwater stickleback eats the tiny animals in stream water that graze on plants and algae. This predation allows those plants and algae to collect and store carbon, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. Credit: Nicole Bedford, UBC

In lakes and streams, fish and insects can help protect aquatic plants that gobble up greenhouse gas]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/predators-as-climate-helpers/feed/ 0