Is an ape a monkey? And what about a lemur? Although often called monkeys, apes and lemurs are not monkeys. Apes are larger and more intelligent than monkeys, with arms longer than their legs. Most monkeys have tails, but apes …[Continue]
Richard Feynman
Although American physicist Richard Feynman won the Nobel prize in 1965, it was his books of anecdotes (“ Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” and “What Do You Care What Other People Think?“) and his appointment to the presidential Challenger disaster …[Continue]
Mars Exploration
On January 3 2004, NASA landed Spirit, a six-wheeled robot, on Mars. Its identical twin, Opportunity, followed on January 24. The unmanned rovers, each weighing about 384 pounds, are robotic geologists. Their mission is to look for evidence of water. …[Continue]
The Flu
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a viral infection marked by fever, headaches, muscle aches and a cough. This year’s flu season has hit the ground running, with many more cases reported much earlier in the season (which runs …[Continue]
Snow 2003
Snow (in just the right amounts, at just the right time) is loved by all. But what exactly is the fluffy cold stuff, and how is made? Today’s winter tour examines the subject of snow through the eyes of scientists, …[Continue]
Stargazing
Interested in astronomy? Backyard stargazing is a simple first step. Experts advise us to learn the sky with the naked eye before investing in a pair of binoculars (and don’t even think about a telescope yet!) More great advice can …[Continue]
Thomas Alva Edison
With a lifetime dedicated to invention, Thomas A. Edison earned 1,093 U.S. patents, more than any other single inventor. His impressive achievements include the invention of electric lighting, the phonograph, and motion pictures. Edison was not only a successful inventor, …[Continue]
Hurricanes
The official Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season starts on June 1, ends on November 30, and averages seven named storms. Once a tropical storm exceeds wind speeds of thirty-nine miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) …[Continue]
Animal Cams
Live cameras connected to the Web can be either incredibly fascinating or amazingly dull. Bypassing the absurd (such as The Peeling Paint Webcam), I’ve assembled a collection of animal cams that includes a virtual zoo, wild English badgers and a …[Continue]
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are bustling underwater communities inhabited by thousands of species of animals and plants. Often mistaken for rocks or plants, coral is actually the limestone skeleton of a tiny spineless animal called a coral polyp. Coral reefs are mostly …[Continue]
