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!

  

Cool Tools: Guess What I got!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, Nancy here.

We've been busy getting science kits together for the third quarter rotation for Durham Public Schools. Third quarter is often an exciting time for the students to do their hands on science as many schools are preparing for their Spring Science Fairs and the kits provide a lot of inspiration for topics for experiments. The SERC is always here to help. We have lots of curriculum ideas and equipment that is available for loan to help families save money when preparing these projects. Hit us up on the Museum's website and let us know how we can help.

Now, on to less serious business...

I got a puppy!!! My family and I are already proud pet parents of a rescued cat and dog but there is always room for more. We opened our home to an adorable puggle in December. Now, it would have been helpful as a museum professional who regularly researches and handles animals to learn a little more about the breed other than "ain't it cute". When we met her "parents" and her human caregivers, we saw how demure and well-behaved she was. When we said goodbyes to her humans, the last thing her "paw-paw" said to me was, "Y'all enjoy her now. She's cute but she's a mess." Huh?

The first night was glorious. She was so sweet and cuddly. She went to bed in her crate without issue and slept the whole night through and stayed dry! The next day, she was a little bit more curious about the house and was showing a more playful side. Bedtime came again and it took her a while to settle down but she slept again through the night. The next morning, I was awoken to an ear-shattering howl that matched pitch and volume of out lovely red wolves on campus. The honeymoon was over. Now girlfriend has made herself to home and helped herself to many of my shoes. Research ahead of time would have alerted me to the fact that these dogs are playful (understatement) and biters and chewers.

She loves toys but had a particular affinity for a homemade one. Here's where your cool tool comes in: there are lots of great posts on our Department Blog about Enrichment and this is an activity that Kristen and another staff member put together for our animal event two years ago. Best of all, it works!!!

Dog Toy (tested by my dogs)
-Take a clean long tube style athletic sock and stretch it out a few times. (My son is constantly losing mates to his socks so we have a ready supply to keep making these at home.)
-Stuff a handful of unwashed sheep's wool into the bottom of the sock. (This ingredient is a little unique but the SERC has plenty from the last shearing in our farmyard so give us a call) The scent is pungent and very interesting to the dogs.
-Next, take an old tennis ball and stuff that into the sock as well. This provides something for them to sink their teeth into.
-Finally, tie the end of the sock off into a knot just above the tennis ball, leaving enough slack for you to hold on! They love playing tug of war with one of us or each other and they never seem to get bored. (unless it's time to eat) This has saved the rest of my shoes from oblivion.

Try this out! Let us know how your pups like it! We have lots of other enrichment ideas and crafts for other pets too.

Stay tuned and stay curious and enjoy your pets,
-Nancy

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!

Cool Tools: Julmarknad!

Hi everyone, Nancy here.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of representing the Museum at the annual North Carolina Scandinavian Christmas Fair or "Julmarknad" which means Christmas Fair in Sweden. One of our beloved staff members here is very actively involved in the event through SWEA, the Swedish Women's Educational Association. Each December 13, many people celebrate the feast day of Saint Lucia in homes throughout Sweden and other Nordic countries. Known as the festival of light, Lucia Day marks the return of daylight and longer days to Scandinavians and officially ushers in the Christmas season.

I spent the day talking with folks about the night sky and creating "constellation cans" with them. We explored star maps and guides and used them as inspiration to design the cans so we could "see the stars" inside. This is a great activity to do at home with your budding astronomer:

You can use an empty oatmeal box (save the lid), some black construction paper, a pushpin, scissors, transparent tape and some star stickers to decorate the box. First, wrap the outside of the box with black paper and tape down. Trim any excess paper. Use the star stickers (we like the small metallic ones teachers usually use as reward stickers;you can find them at most office supply stores) Next, remove the lid of the box. Place another sheet of black paper over the opening of the box and lay flat. You won't need a full sheet, just enough to cover the opening with about an inch and a half leeway all the way around. Next, take the lid and push down over the paper until the lid locks in place. Now you are ready for your "constellations". Take the pushpin and poke holes through the lid/black paper. You can recreate a constellation like the Big Dipper or Orion or just create your own. When you're finished, turn the box over, take your scissors (adults should do this part to help keep kids safe) and use one blade to saw out the entire bottom of the oatmeal box.

Your constellation can is ready! Just hold up, aim the lid towards a light source above you, look through the bottom and you will see the stars!

Here are some good resources on the night sky: Google Sky, NASA and Astronomy for Beginners

The SERC also has a lot of great resources that you can check out on star gazing.

Stay tuned and stay curious,


-Nancy