Science News for Kids » Tech & Math http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Better chow yields more milk http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/better-chow-yields-more-milk/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/better-chow-yields-more-milk/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:53 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17223 Bennett Lee Gibson, a 15-year-old dairy farmer from Ogden, Utah, found that feeding dairy cows a costly but more digestible corn boosted milk production — and his profits. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

A more nutritious form of corn for dairy cows boosts farm profits, teen investigator finds]]> Bennett Lee Gibson, a 15-year-old dairy farmer from Ogden, Utah, found that feeding dairy cows a costly but more digestible corn boosted milk production — and his profits. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

A more nutritious form of corn for dairy cows boosts farm profits, teen investigator finds]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/better-chow-yields-more-milk/feed/ 0 Building with moon rocks http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/working-on-the-moon-with-lunar-soil-and-grit-could-prove-easier-more-efficient-and-less-costly-than-using-earthly-materials/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/working-on-the-moon-with-lunar-soil-and-grit-could-prove-easier-more-efficient-and-less-costly-than-using-earthly-materials/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28:31 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17159 Sergio Parra, a 17-year-old engineer from Hoschton, Ga., analyzed concrete made from materials likely available on the moon. His findings suggest that construction on the moon might be more economical than previously thought. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

Working on the moon with lunar soil and grit could prove easier, more efficient and less costly than using earthly materials]]> Sergio Parra, a 17-year-old engineer from Hoschton, Ga., analyzed concrete made from materials likely available on the moon. His findings suggest that construction on the moon might be more economical than previously thought. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

Working on the moon with lunar soil and grit could prove easier, more efficient and less costly than using earthly materials]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/working-on-the-moon-with-lunar-soil-and-grit-could-prove-easier-more-efficient-and-less-costly-than-using-earthly-materials/feed/ 0 Flagging loose bolts http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/smart-alert-washer-automatically-flags-when-a-nut-is-coming-loose-warning-of-potential-danger/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/smart-alert-washer-automatically-flags-when-a-nut-is-coming-loose-warning-of-potential-danger/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 00:11:48 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17105 Mei Kam (left), Mei Di Zhu (center) and Jia Ying Zhong (right) designed a “smart washer” that provides an alert when the nut holding the washer on a bolt comes loose. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

“Smart alert washer” automatically flags when a nut is coming loose, warning of potential danger]]> Mei Kam (left), Mei Di Zhu (center) and Jia Ying Zhong (right) designed a “smart washer” that provides an alert when the nut holding the washer on a bolt comes loose. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

“Smart alert washer” automatically flags when a nut is coming loose, warning of potential danger]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/smart-alert-washer-automatically-flags-when-a-nut-is-coming-loose-warning-of-potential-danger/feed/ 0 Avoiding ‘hot’ wheels http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/teen-designs-device-that-could-almost-double-the-life-of-airplane-tires/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/teen-designs-device-that-could-almost-double-the-life-of-airplane-tires/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 22:35:18 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17086 Phillipe Lothaller, a 17-year-old senior from Cape Town, South Africa, has invented a device that could save airlines big money by extending the life of tires. The metal device at left is an early mock-up of the design. A newer version (seen in white at center) has pop-up scoops instead of fixed ones. When retracted, the scoops don’t interfere with a plane’s protective wheel wells. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

Teen designs device that could almost double the life of airplane tires]]> Phillipe Lothaller, a 17-year-old senior from Cape Town, South Africa, has invented a device that could save airlines big money by extending the life of tires. The metal device at left is an early mock-up of the design. A newer version (seen in white at center) has pop-up scoops instead of fixed ones. When retracted, the scoops don’t interfere with a plane’s protective wheel wells. Credit: Patrick Thornton, SSP

Teen designs device that could almost double the life of airplane tires]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/teen-designs-device-that-could-almost-double-the-life-of-airplane-tires/feed/ 0 Light dancing on glass http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/new-type-of-material-lets-light-travel-across-its-surface-without-interruption/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/new-type-of-material-lets-light-travel-across-its-surface-without-interruption/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 16:33:28 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17065 This image, taken with a powerful microscope, shows tiny, individual crystals of bismuth telluride. A new structure made from this material lets light travel easily and without interruption along its surface. Credit: A13ean/Wikipedia

New type of material lets light travel across its surface without interruption]]> This image, taken with a powerful microscope, shows tiny, individual crystals of bismuth telluride. A new structure made from this material lets light travel easily and without interruption along its surface. Credit: A13ean/Wikipedia

New type of material lets light travel across its surface without interruption]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/new-type-of-material-lets-light-travel-across-its-surface-without-interruption/feed/ 0 Blending in http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/engineers-take-a-lesson-from-natures-masters-of-disguise/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/engineers-take-a-lesson-from-natures-masters-of-disguise/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 18:03:06 +0000 Eric Niiler http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16958 Can you spot the cuttlefish? A common European cuttlefish camouflages itself on the seafloor. Credit: Justine Allen

Engineers take a lesson from nature’s masters of disguise]]> Can you spot the cuttlefish? A common European cuttlefish camouflages itself on the seafloor. Credit: Justine Allen

Engineers take a lesson from nature’s masters of disguise]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/engineers-take-a-lesson-from-natures-masters-of-disguise/feed/ 0 ‘Print’ almost anything http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/3-d-printers-allow-people-to-build-almost-anything-they-can-imagine-from-toys-to-food-buildings-to-body-parts/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/3-d-printers-allow-people-to-build-almost-anything-they-can-imagine-from-toys-to-food-buildings-to-body-parts/#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:00:38 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16757 Caption: For Valentine’s Day this year, a Japanese company used a 3-D printer to produce chocolate copies of people’s faces. Credit: FabCafe/Think 3D/K’s Design Lab

3-D printers allow people to build almost anything they can imagine — from toys to food, buildings to body parts]]> Caption: For Valentine’s Day this year, a Japanese company used a 3-D printer to produce chocolate copies of people’s faces. Credit: FabCafe/Think 3D/K’s Design Lab

3-D printers allow people to build almost anything they can imagine — from toys to food, buildings to body parts]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/3-d-printers-allow-people-to-build-almost-anything-they-can-imagine-from-toys-to-food-buildings-to-body-parts/feed/ 0 A switch for a living computer http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:38:51 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16600 Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA]]> Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/scientists-build-a-transistor-from-dna/feed/ 0 Sound cloak http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-device-hides-objects-from-sonar/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-device-hides-objects-from-sonar/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:20:35 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16452 Caption: This strange-looking cage can hide an object inside it from being detected by sound waves. Credit: L. Sanchis et al

New device hides objects from sonar ]]> Caption: This strange-looking cage can hide an object inside it from being detected by sound waves. Credit: L. Sanchis et al

New device hides objects from sonar ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/new-device-hides-objects-from-sonar/feed/ 0 Building a better battery http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/building-a-better-battery/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/building-a-better-battery/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:00:43 +0000 Sid Perkins http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16354 Researchers designed a way to make better batteries using supersmall sulfur particles coated with titanium dioxide. Credit: Seh et al., Nature Communications (2013)

Researchers develop a way to make batteries that hold more charge and don’t weaken with age]]> Researchers designed a way to make better batteries using supersmall sulfur particles coated with titanium dioxide. Credit: Seh et al., Nature Communications (2013)

Researchers develop a way to make batteries that hold more charge and don’t weaken with age]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/building-a-better-battery/feed/ 0