Sound Science
Sound is all around us. Everything we hear in our day-to-day lives has a distinctive sound, from the jingling of keys to the tapping of footsteps in a hallway. Sound is created when objects vibrate. These vibrations cause the air around them to vibrate, sending sound waves in various directions. Some objects tend to vibrate at a specific rate. This is known as their resonant frequency. In this activity, students will explore the vibrating nature of sound and how it travels from molecule to molecule.
Mushroom Prints
In this lesson, students will be amateur mycologists–collecting and analyzing various mushrooms. Through observation and discussion, students will gain knowledge of the basic anatomy of mushrooms, their life cycle, and their method of reproduction through spores. Students will learn to create spore prints of mushrooms and label and preserve their spore prints, just like a mycologist. Students also will learn that by comparing spore prints, they can identify different mushroom species.
Snowflake Safari
Next snowstorm, grab a magnifying glass and try snowflake hunting.
Ocean Priorities
Ira talks with Peter Seligmann, chairman of Conservation International, and with Philippe Cousteau Jr. about the connections between ocean policy, the environment, and the economy.
Jane Goodall On The Future Of Evolutionary Science
In this segment, Ira talks with primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall about her work in studying chimpanzees, preserving habitats, and what lies ahead for the field of evolutionary science.
Water Balloons in Space
About ten years ago, two scientists had a little extra time on board NASA’s low gravity aircraft and came up with the idea of popping water balloons.
Sputnik Anniversary
Fifty years ago, a little beeping ball stunned the world. Join Ira Flatow in this hour of Science Friday for a look back at Sputnik and its effect on the way we look at the world.
Take Science Friday’s Climate Change Survey
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