Tag: science

An Astronaut’s Dream – Animated Interview with Helen Sharman

The first in a series of videos that explores the impact of space exploration on humanity, The Royal Institution presents The Dreams of an Astronaut, an animated interview with Dr. Helen Sharman, a chemist and the first British astronaut. She was selected for the job on live television in November, 1989.What do astronauts dream of? How do they feel while they…… Continue reading An Astronaut’s Dream – Animated Interview with Helen Sharman

Why do Autumn Leaves Cause Train Delays?

Why do ‘leaves on the line’ cause train delays, especially in autumn? The serious danger comes from a series of physics challenges: Leaves are sucked onto the tracks by the fast moving trains. The train wheels crush them into a slimy black pulp, releasing leaf oils that lessen friction. Mixed with rain, this super thin…… Continue reading Why do Autumn Leaves Cause Train Delays?

Oregon’s Lost Lake

Every spring in Oregon’s Willamette National Forest, Lost Lake begins to drain down naturally occurring lava tubes. A six foot wide lava tube hole was featured in this 2015 video from The Bulletin, which notes, “The water is most likely seeping into the subsurface below and refilling the massive aquifer that feeds springs on both sides of the Cascades.” MentalFloss explains a bit more:Lava tubes…… Continue reading Oregon’s Lost Lake

Pygmy Sloths – Cal Academy

These are pygmy sloths and they’re only found in one place in the world: a Caribbean island called Escudo de Veraguas. Academy research fellow Bryson Voirin introduces this critically endangered species, and explains how he’s studying them in their natural habitat, despite their elusive nature. From CalAcademy: Science Today – Pygmy Sloths.

Theodore Gray’s Periodic Table Table

Wolfram Research co-founder and author Theo Gray has made the most amazing Periodic Table table for his collection of elements! And he’s collected so many in a variety of forms over the years… liquids, solids, bottles of gases, crystals, and cheeky substitutions. What a great, hands-on way to experience what could otherwise just be a bunch of memorized letters and numbers.Related reading:…… Continue reading Theodore Gray’s Periodic Table Table

DIY Egg Geode

A pretty spectacular science experiment: how to make an Incredible Egg Geode. Your egg geode is formed through a process called sedimentation. The heated alum solution contains suspended particles of alum powder and as the solution cools, these particles of alum begin settling. When the alum particles settle towards the bottom of the beaker or glass, they…… Continue reading DIY Egg Geode

Alfred Russel Wallace’s Personal Cabinet – NSF

To know where modern biological science began, take a look at the incredible and extremely well-preserved collection within Alfred Russel Wallace’s personal cabinet, as showcased in this video by the National Science Foundation:Discovered by a Washington, D.C., lawyer in search of antique furniture, this is truly a Cabinet of Wonders, for inside is the 1700-specimen personal collection…… Continue reading Alfred Russel Wallace’s Personal Cabinet – NSF

Kew Gardens / LonelyLeap Collaboration Botany Videos

Most people know Kew Gardens as home of the world’s largest living plant collection but are not aware that it is also the location of an internationally important botanical research and educational institution. Going beyond the gardens as we know them, Lonelyleap produced two films for 2012’s Tropical Extravaganza Festival which showcase the behind the scenes work of Kew’s scientists whilst also exploring two of the festival’s themes, Earth and Air.

Foxes Use Earth’s Magnetic Field to Hunt Mice – Jaroslav Cerveny

With its exceptional hearing, the red fox can detect when a small animal is scurrying around up to 3 feet under the snow, and their high jump to surprise and catch that animal — called “mousing” — is pretty spectacular. But even more spectacular is what we can’t see: the possible influence of magnetic alignment.Jaroslav Červený and a…… Continue reading Foxes Use Earth’s Magnetic Field to Hunt Mice – Jaroslav Cerveny

Dolphins Communicated with Ecolocation

At the Kolmården Wild Animal Park, dolphins like young Luna can now aim their echolocation beam at shapes on an underwater screen to indicate their choices and answer questions. The project is called ELVIS (The Echo Location Visualization and Interface System) and it’s currently being used to help the dolphins choose the types of fish they want to eat. Research Director…… Continue reading Dolphins Communicated with Ecolocation