It can be really important to separate out chemicals for all kinds …
It can be really important to separate out chemicals for all kinds of reasons. Today we’re going over three different processes engineers use to achieve that separation: distillation, which separates substances based on their different boiling points; liquid-liquid extraction, which uses differences in solubility to transfer a contaminant into a solvent; and reverse osmosis, which filters molecules from a solvent by pressurizing it through a semipermeable barrier.
Did you know we can actually make diamonds in a lab? It's …
Did you know we can actually make diamonds in a lab? It's true! We can! In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina shows us how materials scientists have done just that and why it's so important.
So, we know what materials are, but can we make new materials? …
So, we know what materials are, but can we make new materials? Or improve the materials we already have? In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina shows us how Material Scientists are working on these two things today.
In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina uses what she knows …
In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina uses what she knows about properties of objects to solve the mystery of what she tripped over last night.
Like Egypt, Sumer, and Mesoamerica, ancient China represents a hydraulic civilization—one that …
Like Egypt, Sumer, and Mesoamerica, ancient China represents a hydraulic civilization—one that maintained its population by diverting rivers to aid in irrigation—and one that developed writing thousands of years ago. Today, we’re going to focus on the time of the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, a time of great technical innovation. But, before we get to the Song, let’s take a tour through the ages and explore key elements of Chinese scientific culture.
The religion of Islam significantly influenced knowledge-making in the greater Mediterranean and …
The religion of Islam significantly influenced knowledge-making in the greater Mediterranean and western Asian world. Islamicate scholars—meaning people influenced by Islamic civilization, regardless of their religious views—gave us terms such as “algebra,” “azimuth,” “algorithm,” “alcohol,” “alkali,” and “alembic.” We’ll dive into Islamic medicine and philosophers such as the great Persian polymath Ibn Sina in future episodes. For now, let’s explore the beginnings of Islamicate natural philosophy.
Today we’ll explore more about two of the three main types of …
Today we’ll explore more about two of the three main types of materials that we use as engineers: metals and ceramics. We’ll discuss properties of metals, alloys, ceramics, clay, cement, and glass-ceramic materials. We’ll also look at the applications of our materials with microelectromechanical systems and accelerometers.
It's all about the SUPER TINY in this episode of Crash Course: …
It's all about the SUPER TINY in this episode of Crash Course: History of Science. In it, Hank Green talks about germ theory, John Snow (the other one), pasteurization, and why following our senses isn't always the worst idea.
Just how small are nanomaterials? And what can we do with stuff …
Just how small are nanomaterials? And what can we do with stuff that small? Today we’ll discuss some special properties of nanomaterials, how some can change at different sizes, and the difference between engineered nanomaterials and ones that occur naturally. We’ll also talk about some of the future research that’s needed on the use of nanomaterials.
Scientists in the nineteenth century discovered a lot about life and matter. …
Scientists in the nineteenth century discovered a lot about life and matter. But exactly what kind of stuff is the human brain? That one was—and is—tricky.
The brain sciences—with experiments and therapies tied to biological theories of the body—emerged in the nineteenth century and came into their own in the early twentieth.
Although it’s hard to replace the physical feeling of being inside the …
Although it’s hard to replace the physical feeling of being inside the Canadian Museum of History, one virtual exhibit gives you the chance see a standout ceiling mural even closer than you can in person. The circular painting, “Morning Star,” by Alex Janvier, decorates the ceiling of the dome of the Haida Gwaii Salon within the museum, towering above a bright white staircase. Online, you can zoom in on the mural and spin it to see the four quadrants in high detail. A click of the plus sign in the corner causes a series of links to pop up over the mural itself, with photos and videos attached that explain the significance of each part of the artwork. Other exhibits listed in the museum’s “Online Exhibitions” section include a dedicated website explaining Inuit prints from Cape Dorset in Nunavut (with videos, interviews, pictures and interactive puzzle games to recreate prints yourself), and a clickable playhouse that has different “rooms” that lead viewers to different children’s toys from Canada’s past.
Students used critical thinking, collaborative and creativity skills to create a mouse …
Students used critical thinking, collaborative and creativity skills to create a mouse trap car. Students used a variety of household and constructed materials to build a vehicle powered by a mousetrap and levers. This activity could also be used for middle level science and PAA.
Build your own system of heavenly bodies and watch the gravitational ballet. …
Build your own system of heavenly bodies and watch the gravitational ballet. With this orbit simulator, you can set initial positions, velocities, and masses of 2, 3, or 4 bodies, and then see them orbit each other.
The purpose of NASA's Earth Observatory is to provide a freely accessible …
The purpose of NASA's Earth Observatory is to provide a freely accessible publication on the Internet where the public can obtain new satellite imagery and scientific information about our home planet. The focus is on Earth's climate and environmental change. The site is divided into six main sections: Data and Images, Features, News, Reference, Missions, and Experiments. The Data and Images, Features, and Reference sections are each subdivided into sections for Atmosphere, Oceans, Land, Life on Earth, and Heat and Energy. The missions section explains all of the current NASA missions, and the Experiments section contains activities related to the topics covered in the other sections. Information provided in these pages includes text, photographs, animations, maps, and datasets. The site also includes a glossary, "ask a scientist" feature, and links to current news stories.
As part of NASA's Earth Observatory, visitors to the Escape from the …
As part of NASA's Earth Observatory, visitors to the Escape from the Amazon Web site are invited to "Accompany NASA scientists as they explore our world and unravel the mysteries of climate and environmental change." The Escape from the Amazon feature focuses on the buildup of carbon dioxide and its effect on global climate change, and the role that forests play in reversing this trend. A really neat feature of this site is a glossary function that can be turned on or off. When on, it highlights technical terms. Clicking on any highlighted term will bring up a very descriptive and straightforward definition. Also included as the second part of the feature is an introduction to the large-scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia. This feature highlights the enormity and significance of the Amazon River Valley and its effect on global climate. This Web site is a great outreach and educational tool offered by NASA and should be interesting to lay readers, scientists, and teachers. Several great graphics help to illustrate the information provided.
This fun, interactive website was designed by NASA's earth observatory to introduce …
This fun, interactive website was designed by NASA's earth observatory to introduce students to the Earth's Biomes. A biome, as defined by the site, is "a community of plants and animals living together in a certain kind of climate." This website provides links to seven different biomes that students can learn about including coniferous forests, grasslands, and tundras. Each separate biome page contains a brief general description as well as basic information about characteristics such as Temperature, Vegetation, and Location. The biome pages also link to a Vocabulary page, a handy Metric Converter, and a Teacher Resource section that includes Goals, Outcomes, National Standards, and Extension Ideas. This website also offers interactive biome graphing and planting activities.
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