Monday, November 21, 2011
Biology: Sensational Skin
Friday, November 18, 2011
Physics: What color is it really?
When we physically combine red, blue, and yellow paints in different proportions we can create an enormous range of colors. Similarly the human brain will combine colors that your eyes see when those 2 colors are seen in rapid succession, as in the case of the spinning color wheels or when they are placed very close together, as revealed by a microscopic examination of pictures from a magazine. What is especially cool about the magazine pictures is that no matter what color you "see," when examined under the microscope you realize that the image is made up of just 3 colors: magenta, cyan, and yellow (aka red, blue, and yellow). By producing images that include different ratios of the primary colors, you can get just about any color.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Biology: Testing for organic compounds
We used chemical and physical tests to find out whether the 6 foods in question (water, chicken soup, sucrose (table sugar and water), egg, margarine, and bread crumbs solution) contain proteins, fats, or carbohydrates (starches or glucose).
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Biology: Carbon
This week we talked about carbon and how its atomic structure gives it so much versatility in forming chemical bonds with other elements. Using the latest in electron microscopy we were able to produce this incredible image of an actual ethane molecule.
Next time we meet we'll investigate the major carbon-containing macromolecules that make up all living things.
Next time we meet we'll investigate the major carbon-containing macromolecules that make up all living things.
General Science: The Right Stuff
This week the kids were charged with designing a spacesuit that could withstand the intensely high temperatures one might find on Venus. Lacking the funding to actually travel to Venus and not wanting to violate the Helsinki Declaration,* we used ice-pops instead of people and hot water instead of Venus. The kids made spacesuits using one of three available materials: tin foil, wax paper, and bubble wrap. Once outfitted with their spacesuits, each ice pop was submerged in a pot of boiling water for one minute. For comparison we also had a control ice pop, meaning an ice pop with no space suit. After a minute the kids opened up each ice-pop and measured how much of it had melted by pouring the liquid into a graduated cylinder. Of the 3 materials, bubble wrap was the best insulator.
*ethical principles for research on human subjects
*ethical principles for research on human subjects
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