A third of reef-building corals around the world are threatened with extinction, according to the first-ever comprehensive global assessment to determine their conservation status. Corals produce reefs in shallow tropical and sub-tropical seas and have been shown to be highly sensitive to changes in their environment. The study findings were published July 11, 2008 by […]

This week’s blog focuses on Earth Day, April 22. There is no news article accompanying today’s blog. Instead, we provide you with an assortment of resources related to Earth Day. Do you know how Earth Day started? You can find the answer to that question and more in The History of Earth Day by Gaylord […]

Many middle school curricula include attention to ancient American people and their cultures. This blog entry may be helpful in making connections to the nature of science and scientific enterprises as part of an integrated approach in studying the Anasazi or ancient Peublos. The story titled “Vanished: A Pueblo Mystery,” published in the New York […]

Talk of a looming recession and sky-high oil prices don’t seem to worry many Texans. Instead, they’re cashing in on the benefits of an alternative energy source, wind, literally.
Many Texans are happily trading defunct oil rigs for wind turbine installations on their land. One Texan is being paid $500 a month for each turbine he […]

Is your unit on climate and weather approaching? Here’s some current research you can use to enrich students’ understanding of weather. It can help you make real-world connections from the textbook and classroom to the research scientists working to understand the science of hurricanes.
The news comes from ScienceDaily. The article, Increased Hurricane Activity Linked to […]

The irony of Greenland’s name has intrigued many of us, but according to a January 8, 2008, New York Times story, In Greenland, Ice and Instability, the irony may be short-lived. A series of unusually warm springs has increased the ice melt, and contributed to a cascade of related events. The melting ice is darker […]

With the popularity of science-fiction movies like Jurassic Park that simplify the effects of DNA and genes and ignore environmental factors, teachers may find it challenging to convey to students the important role of the environment on gene activities, and vice versa.
For example, individuals may possess a gene combination that could predispose them to certain […]

“A total of 16 large fires are burning 1,010,720 acres throughout the country. The majority of the fire activity remains in the West.” This statement was part of the daily report on the National Interagency Fire Center home page on September 14. Does the number of acres seem shockingly high to you? Can you fathom […]