Create a reusable shopping bag!

The museum has been giving away Reusable Bags, as our member giveaways, for a few years now...which everyone loves! I just found a contest though Kroger to design your very own bag. If your bag gets the most votes, then it becomes the design for Kroger's reusable bag and you win $1000.00 dollar Kroger card! Whoop Whoop, that is music to anyones ear now-a-days!

Here is my design, vote for it! If you create a bag, let me know and I will vote for yours! Good luck and let mother earth serve as your artistic inspiration!

-Kristen!

Citizen Science: Wish upon a Star....

If you have any great wishes to make, tonight and tomorrow night are going to be the two best nights to view the Perseids Meteor Shower .

Each year in August stargazers get a chance to view meteors from the comet Swift-Tuttle that create 'shooting star' effects in earth's atmosphere.

A great article on Nasa's website about the meteor shower can be found here as well as the best times and locations in the sky to view it.

The meteor shower can be seen from July 17th 2009 to August 24th 2009, but peaks on August 12th.

Some superstitions say that wishing upon the first star you see will grant that wish, so make the first one a good one!

Happy Stargazing,
~Kristen

Citizen Science: Cheers to the Bald Eagle!

As many of you know, the Bald Eagle is our national symbol. It stands for freedom, strength and power. The eagle, as well we several other species of birds, suffered an unfortunate decline with the use of an insecticide named DDT. DDT was first used in WWII to stop the spread of malaria and to kill mosquitoes. As DDT was killing the mosquitoes it was also damaging the environment.

In 1962 Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was published. This book drew lots of attention to the rise of DDT and decline of bird populations. Silent Spring was one of the main reasons for the environmental movement, which gave rise to the Endangered Species Act of 1973. DDT was banned on a world wide level in 1972, just 10 years after Rachel Carson's book was released.

The main effect of DDT on bald eagles was a thinner egg shell. This caused the egg's to break under the weight of the parent eagles, causing a rapid decline in the species. The eagle has come a long way since 1962 (and before) and is now removed from the endangered species list. The bird will be continue to be monitored for the next 5 years, to ensure that the species is on the rise!

Citizen Science: Butterfly Bash- Dare Cafe!

This year was our 10th Anniversary of the Magic Wings Butterfly House, so we celebrated it with Butterfly Bash this year!  There were many new exhibitors and some veteran ones too!  If you remember from my last BFB post, I told you about Dare Cafe!  We talked about Entomophagy, different types of insects to try, the nutritional value and we got it all on video!  

Brad (he is in charge of our Nanoscale Science programs and research at MLS!!) and I made this awesome video of Dare Cafe!  It highlights some unforgettable moments from the program and shows off many of our members and visitors loving bugs! It will make you want to come to our bash NEXT year and experience this!

A big thanks to everyone who participated in Dare Cafe, to Brad for the help with this video and to Nancy and Uli for making the bash possible!  The amount of hard work that goes into these events is mind blowing, it really makes me appreciate my fellow life and sciencers! 

Here are pictures taken by a member.  Her whole family really dug into this program and raised the bar for everyone (young and old) to give it a try! Thanks Maya!! 

Did you make it on the video?  If so, tell us how it turned out!  We are very proud of our productions here and we love feedback! 

Citizen Science: The BASH of the year....

Come celebrate our 10th Anniversary of the Magic Wings Butterfly House at Butterfly Bash!  We are going to have a great time because there is so much to do!  

I am going to be hosting a one hour program on Entomophagy called Dare Cafe.  I will be cooking insects and talking a bit about the history and culture of Entomophagy.  We will be giving away stickers and asking people to join our honorary "I ATE A BUG CLUB!"  This is very exciting because there aren't very many of us who enjoy munching on meal worms....so when someone wants to join us we get very excited!  I will also have my video camera out there, so if you want to show off your  best bug eating expression - bring it on!  

The collection of shots and clips I get will go up on our website, so get ready to be famous:)  I will be under the big tent next to the Butterfly House.  There will also be crafts and an EPA speaker under the tent with me!  The Dare Cafe is from 12-1...so come hungry!!!

See you there!!!

Citizen Science: Have a Slice of Pi!

Greetings friends!

If you read the subject line then I am sure you are conjuring up some ideas of Boston Creme, Lemon Meringue or Strawberry Rhubarb...

Well, it's not that kind of Pi. Tomorrow, March, 14th, marks two momentous occasion in math and science culture: The birthday of Albert Einstein and Pi Day!

Pi Day is traditionally celebrated by Math enthusiasts and educators alike each year on March 14th. 3.14 or Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to the diameter. It began as a Museum-based celebration at the Exploratorium in San Francisco in 1988, and has become a day to celebrate math.

"Pi says to e: Get real!
e says to Pi: Get rational!"

If you would like some math resources - we have lots of great activities, math kits and posters that you can check out! Let us know if we can make your pi day any sweeter!

Stay tuned and stay curious,

-Nancy

Citizen Science: YoS!

I know you have waited a few weeks for this, so here it is- February's topic for the 2009 Year of Science is....Evolution.  Now, the word "evolution" is pretty scary to many people and institutions.  Many people, for many reasons, choose not to use this word-they might use a word like adaptation or progression.

So, whatever one chooses to acknowledge it as, it is what it is...a small change, in an organism,  over time that eventually becomes part of the makeup of that organism.  There are many ways in which we can teach this topic; we can have an open engaged discussion about it, we can do activities, we can visit museum and places that might have exhibits about evolution or you can encourage the students to do a book report or project on their idea of evolution, but whatever you do...make sure it is age appropriate.  There is nothing worse than to be stuck in a "over your head" science topic, it makes the whole experience tough.

There is one scientist that goes hand in hand with the study of evolution, and that's Charles Darwin.  There are great resources out there, you just have to find the best one that fits your style of teaching or learning!  Next month's YoS topic is: Physics and Technology! 

Ask your questions about evolution to biologist PZ Myers over at Science Buzz. 

Citizen Science: Darwin Day!

The 12th of February is Charles Darwin's200th birthday! I am not going to give you a history lesson on Darwin, instead I am going to tell you about February 12, 2009. This year on the bicentennial of his birthday, a ship (a replication of The Beagle) will set sail on a journey to repeat Darwin's expedition. The scientists will also be conducting two on-going original research projects over the five year voyage; Metagenomics and DNA barcoding. There will also be several smaller research projects.

The ship will be furnished with new laboratory equipment, up to date technology, functional galleys, living quarters for all and much more. There are many ways to get involved with this project! You can track their status, make a suggestion for one of those research projects, make a donation, buy a supportive shirt or just spread the word!

This will help you if you want to get involved in a local Darwin Day Celebration!

Check it out, the Beagle has a blog!

Citizen Science: What to do with all those batteries?

So, how many items do we all have in our homes that are battery operated. I stopped counting at 25 (of course I think most of my daughter's toys consume batteries to make some noise ). Batteries are everywhere, and are of many different types. The other day while replacing a few I started wondering how to properly dispose of these things and came to a few realizations... Not all batteries are created equal!!

Most of the batteries that we purchase are alkaline batteries and unfortunately there aren't many recycling options for these. Fortunately legislation was passed to rid these disposable batteries of mercury and other harmful materials which previously was leaching out of landfills. The trouble is billions of the batteries are purchased by Americans every year and there are being used once and then discarded.

What can I do (or should I do) you may ask. Well think about using a rechargeable battery when possible. Yes, they do cost more money upfront but, you get many more uses out of them so the payback period is short. It would cost a ridiculous amount to operate my digital camera for instance if I kept putting disposable batteries in it. Additionally the main types of rechargeable batteries can be recycled at many easily accessible locations. So really it can be a win-win decision to buy rechargeable batteries for many of your devices.

We use A LOT of batteries in our DPS science kits too, Elecrticity and Magnetism uses 60 batteries per kit!  That adds up pretty fast when you are sending out 14-20 kits every rotation! 

As for how batteries work, here is a link to some great information. And, for those that are really curious and want to do some hands on experiments with making a battery or electrical energy source out of household items, the SERC has a Science in a Suitcase kit that will allow you to do just that!  

Citizen Science: Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day!  Today has me wondering...(thought cloud)... When did Groundhog Day come around and why the groundhog?  

We will start with the second part of my thought...why the groundhog?  Well - groundhogs, also known as woodchucks and marmots, are naturally shy animals.  So, the weather lore is that their so shy that IF they see their shadow it will frighten them and they will retreat to their burrow to hide.   

This is a picture of our woodchuck Wendy!  You can come visit her anytime in Carolina Wildlife! 

This is a great time to stop and talk about why the groundhog is 'hiding' in the first place! 

Groundhogs are among the large amount of mammals that hibernate during the winter months, and they are usually starting to come out of their hibernation around the week of February 2nd. So, if they see their shadow they will retreat to their burrow and continue their hibernation for another 6 weeks until spring.  There are plenty of parent/teacher crafts or other activities that can be done with children to help make the day fun! 

And to answer the first part of my question: When did Groundhog Day first come into play?  The earliest American reference came in 1841, when a store keeper recorded the day in his diary.  

"Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

And the tradition was born!  Does your family have any traditions + activities that you would like to share?  Leave them in the comment section for everyone to read!

  

Citizen Science: 2009 Year of Science (YoS)

YAY! YoS, finally a whole year dedicated to learning, teaching, communicating and discovering more about science!  I am very excited about 2009:)

To many teachers and parents science can be a little bit over whelming and understandably so...but if you break it down to the fundamentals, it is pretty easy to develop a child's curiosity and desire to investigate and learn more about science.  

The scienctists behind YoS have set out to make science easy and fun to communicate to one another. They have broken science down into 12 topics, one per month, then into grade groups, giving examples of activites, images, teacher resources and assesment tools...these folks have really covered their bases!  

January's topic is : Process and Nature of Science; Communicating Science.  The title sounds a bit long and once again over whelming....but use this flow chart to help you discuss science with your kids.  Start by asking them what they want to learn about (science related), read them stories about that topic and about the scientists involved.  Ask them questions to get their wheels spining, try to re-create the experiment or do an activity that goes along with their topic.  

You can rent a Science in a Suitcase kit that includes activities and materials already prepped and gathered, our Schoolyard Science kit  would be GREAT for understanding the nature of science & communicating science!!  If you would like to set up an appointment to come in and see the resource center, email me at kristenw@ncmls.org.  

I will be back to talk about Febuary's topic:  Evolution.  If you have any Evolution activities that you would like to share, please do so! 

Citizen Science: 2009 Year of the Gorilla (YoG)

Welcome 2009!  We in the science community have long been waiting your arrival.  If you didn't know, 2009 is going to be a big year for science; it is Year of the Gorilla and the Year of Science!

But first, YoG!  There is a huge push to protect our last remaining gorillas, their habitat and to secure a place for their future in our future.  There are many who advocated for this cause including; Jane Goodall, World Assocation of Zoos and Aquariums, the Convention on Migratory Species and many others.

There are many ways in which you can become involved in this global project!  First is to educate yourself about the species, become knowledgable about what challenges are facing gorillas, read The Gorilla Agreement, donate to the fund or purchase a cute stuffed gorilla!   

And for you educators, here is a great information page including links and questions for your students!  And if you are feeling extra inventive, you could even make a gorilla Jeporady game!

I will be talking more about YoG, as well as The Year of Science 2009 in the coming weeks!  So, keep checking back for more information...and if you have anything that you would like to add or discuss- feel free to leave a comment or email me!  

 

Citizen Science: A Break through in the break down of plastic bags!

We, as consumers, use A LOT of plastic bags! They were invented specifically for the convenience of a busy shopper and as the amount of things we purchase grows...so does the amount of plastic bags in the environment. I found this statistic on another blog called "The Rage Diaries."

"According to the Food Marketing Institute, the average American makes 2.1 grocery shopping trips weekly, and picks up $28 worth of food each time -- six to ten bags' worth, depending on how they pack. That's twelve to twenty plastic bags weekly, per person. According to Retail Traffic, there's an estimated 20,000 visits per week per grocery store, on national average.
20,000 * 12 = 24,000 plastic bags used weekly per average grocery store in the U.S. There are about 34,000 grocery stores in the U.S. 24,000 * 34,000 = 816,000,000 bags used weekly nationwide."

Thats a really scary number; and thats exactly why Daniel Burd picked this topic for his science fair project! Daniel is a 16 year old who conducted this experiment as a science fair project, and ended up with a revolutionary solution to the plastic bag plague that has laid waste to ecosystems around the world. Burd isolated two strains of bacteria (Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas) that work together to consume polyethelene plastic! Daniel discovered that this bacteria combination broke down a plastic bag 43% in 6 weeks.

Daniel, and many others, feel that this could be the answer that we are looking for. It is efficient, cheap and could be used on an industrial scale! “All you need is a fermenter . . . your growth medium, your microbes and your plastic bags,” says the top prize winner of the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Good work Daniel! It just shows that great science fair projects can pave a path for the future!

Citizen Science: Recycling Symbols...broken down!

As we are quickly approaching the holiday season I find myself thinking about the amount of trash and recyclables that we are going accumulate- everything from the containers that our food is coming in all the way to the wrapping paper from opening gifts...and the list goes on.  I hate having to guess if something can actually be recycled or not...and what if I pitch it and it actually could have been recycled!?! Then what?

It has me thinking about what the recycling symbols actually stand for?  I have been searching for the correct explanation of the plastic protocol, and I have finally found a great explanation!!  This site does a wonderful job of explaining what each symbol stands for and what types of products it represents!

Here is another great site about recycling.  It has lots of options and ideas about recycling, reuseing, upcycling and where to discard the item if you truely have no use for it!  

And here is a nice way to recycle your old wine corks! 

Citizen Science: CFLS...The Return!

Hi everyone, Nancy here.

Kristen submitted a great post about the Lamp Corporation's green fundraising initiative utilizing sales of CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights).

CFLs are efficient, save money and help reduce air and water pollution.

Many of us are starting to replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. We have even started using them in the "Earth Moon, Sun" and 5th Grade "Weather" Science Kits we refurbish for Durham Public Schools! However, because these bulbs contain a small amount of mercury embedded in the glass tubing, it is important to make sure they are disposed of properly and safely.

Here are some sites that were recommended as part of a continued effort to educate Museum staff and volunteers as well as our members and folks in the community about sustainability.

This is a link to a list of 4 places in the area where you can recycle/dispose your light bulbs.

Home Depot announced that they were a nationwide recycling center for CFL bulbs sometime last month.


If you know of any other local sites that accept CFLs for safe disposal, please share them with us.

Stay tuned and stay curious,
-Nancy

Citizen Science: Daily Tips for Going Green- the cool way :o)

Hello Readers!

My name is Megan, and I'm the newest member here of the SERC team. For my blogging debut, I really wanted to find some sites for people new to going green. I myself am somewhat new to this lifestyle, and am always looking for ways to improve my way of life and the environment around me. On the flip-side of that, many sites that are great resources for living a greener lifestyle can be a bit intimidating for newcomers.

One great website that I came across to check out is www.idealbite.com

"A Sassier Shade of Green" is their motto, and it fits completely.

I wanted a site that gave people the opportunity to sign up for daily green living tips, and there are plenty. If you are hardcore about the 'living green' idea, then sites such as Treehugger.com , inhabitat.com , the Planet Green Channel are all great.

For newbies though, I thought that a site that was a little less overwhelming would be a great start. That is where Ideal Bite comes in, and I so far I love it.

Their top 10 Tips for going green include getting rid of junk mail, the a/c versus windows down issue, and Phantom Loads (you'll just have to click to find out about this one!).

Each new tip has a Bang for the Bite fact that shows how much impact can be done with the tip.

A Cocktail Fact is also included, which are neat tidbits that can be used as ice breakers to to start a discussion about the green living tip of the day.

Their concept of making green living a trendy idea definitely will appeal to many people who are a little afraid of taking the larger leaps into green living. They even include a blog section, as well as a 'share your own tip' section so that new ideas are always being contributed.

Go check out Ideal Bite and share with all of your friends, especially the ones a little afraid of Going Green. :o)

Citizen Science: "One Simple Change For A Brighter Future"

The company 'Lamp Corporation' is promoting a new energy efficient green fundraiser campaign titled "ONE SIMPLE CHANGE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE." The fundraiser contains a 4 pack of 13 watt CFL light bulbs compared to your traditional 60 watt light bulbs. This fundraiser is for any school or charity that wants to do something good for itself, the community and the environment.

Check it out! And remember October 3rd is National Change a Light Day!

Citizen Science: TechShop is coming!

Hi everyone, Nancy here.

At the Museum, there is never a shortage of tinkering going on. Whether it be someone on the facilities staff trying to safely extract a broken bulb from a light fixture or the exhibits technicians working on the propulsion rocket exhibit or our staff mechanic maintaining our train engine, there are always opportunities to creatively solve problems and create new things.

Growing up, both my dad and older brother were both into working on cars and motorcycles. These days as a hobby, my brother still designs and builds engines for IHRA class dragsters. When dad wasn't doing automotive restoration, he indulged in other hobbies like building and repairing shortwave radios and telegraphs and woodworking. My mom was very patient and tolerant of all of the random things that entered our home and the things that never left...We had a spare room and a shop in our basement so there was plenty of space to work.

DIY and hobbies serve a lot of benefits for people. They can reduce stress, aid in problem-solving and memory retention and some projects can even save you money. Sometimes, ideas and materials can get so big that there isn't always space to work on them where you live. Enter a very cool concept called TechShop.

TechShop is a membership-based workshop that gives you and other creative people access to a wide variety of tools and equipment, expert training and classes on how to use them and introduces you to a wide community of people who like to think big and make cool things.

Check out the TechShop community website to learn more.

Stay tuned and stay curious,
-Nancy

Citizen Science: Light Up The Night

Hi everyone, Nancy here.

As the nights have been getting cooler, my family and I have been spending more time sitting outside together on our porch and I have noticed that we haven't seen as many fireflies or "lightning bugs" as my son calls them. We went out last night and took part in our usual ritual of catch and release but didn't end up finding very many. My son was perplexed as to why there weren't very many. My husband thought it had something to do with the temperature.

Megan (also of SERC fame) found a post about this initiative that the Boston Museum of Science is doing to track fireflies and learn more about why they seem to be disappearing. There is some great information on this site to help you get involved in this project. It is a great family science opportunity. Check it out!

Stay tuned and stay curious,
-Nancy