Author Archive
Microbe Finds Arsenic Tasty; Redefines Life
Posted by: Avi in New Discoveries on December 17th, 2010
NASA scientists have discovered an amazing new life-form that redefines what we consider to be the basic building blocks of life.
A microbe found at the bottom of Mono Lake in California seems able to live in a solution of arsenic which is poisonous to most other life. Phosphorus, which used to be considered one of the essential building blocks of life, is replaced by arsenic in this organism.
Dr. Sasselov, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and director of an institute on the origins of life there said, “I would like to know, when designing experiments and instruments to look for life [on other planets], whether I should be looking for same stuff as here on Earth, or whether there are other options. Are we going to look for same molecules we love and know here, or broaden our search?”
Seems like we have aliens right here on earth!!!
This Week in Science Podcast – TWISmas Giveaway!
Posted by: Avi in Evolvems News on December 9th, 2009
The folks over at This Week in Science are having a great Evolvems™ giveaway contest to celebrate TWISmas… wait what?!?!
Well, I guess TWISmas is their crazy way of celebrating the holidays with science twist. To win an Evolvems™ toy, just write and submit a holiday story or song that somehow includes the theory of evolution.
Email submissions to – kirsten@thisweekinscience.com with TWISmas as the Subject.
TWISmas Evolvems™ Giveaway DetailsHappy Thanksgiving! Celebrate by eating a Dinosaur!
We love Thanksgiving! The stuffing, green beans and pumpkin pie… mmmmm. But the traditional main course is of course… dinosaur.
“What!?!?” you say! Well watch this video from Nat Geo that describes how the turkey on your dinner table evolved from theropod dinosaurs.
Happy 150th “On the Origin of Species”!
Posted by: Avi in Explore and Play on November 24th, 2009
Celebrate this historic anniversary of one of the most important books of all time by reading select passages of “On the Origin of Species” on the New York Times online.
They Might Be Giants cover Paleontology and Evolution
One of my favorite bands of all time, They Might Be Giants, has just come out with a new album dedicated to covering science called Here comes Science. It is a great album and the first rock album that I have ever heard of that required fact checking.
The album features two songs for those who love dinosaurs and are into evolution:
- “I am a Paleontologist”
- “My Brother the Ape”
I say this is a must buy for kids and adults who love Science and fun music.
Below is the video for “I am a Paleontologist.” Enjoy!
NSTA Book – Virus and the Whale: Exploring Evolution in Creatures Small and Large
Posted by: Avi in Parents and Educators on July 24th, 2009
Virus and the Whale
The National Science Teacher Association has published a book called Virus and the Whale: Exploring Evolution in Creatures Small and Large. It is an activity book about Evolution for grades 5-8. This book could be a great resource for teachers and parents to help their kids explore the science of evolution. It can be purchased from the NSTA website in book or electronic form here.
Below is the official description of the book:
With this lively book of activities as their guide, students can follow seven scientists into their labs and out to the field to discover how evolution works. Meanwhile, you’ll benefit from the practical help the book provides with the twin challenges of evolution: what to teach and how to teach it.
For students, Virus and the Whale brings to light some of today’s most exciting and up-to-date research through the stories of scientists who study evolution. Each featured research project highlights an important aspect of evolutionary biology, from the “arms race” between viruses and their human hosts to the long-term evolutionary changes that can turn a land mammal into a whale. The activities lead students to investigate evolution as they try out the kinds of creative thinking skills real scientists use to make new discoveries.
For teachers, three preliminary chapters explain how to use the scientists’ stories as a logical framework for teaching evolutionary concepts. These chapters provide accurate natural history background; offer additional information on the evolution of each of the seven organisms investigated in the book; and introduce common ways in which children and adults think and learn about evolution. Each activity lists learning outcomes tied to the National Science Education Standards and includes assessment questions and materials lists.
Virus and the Whale combines a dynamic narrative with easy-to-use activities, clear illustrations, and a welcome dose of humor.
The evolution of whales at the “Explore Evolution” Exhibit
Evolutionary Biologist, Richard Dawkins, gives us a quick explanation of whale evolution at the Explore Evolution exhibit at the University of Nebraska State Museum.
Blast from my Past – Denver the Last Dinosaur
Over at the Smithsonian Dinosaur Tracking Blog, writer Brian Switek, totally blew my mind by reminding me of a cartoon I watched when I was a kid.
Denver the Last Dinosaur was pretty bad and pretty 80′s, but I definitely remember watching episodes of this. I can’t say this show is responsible in any way for my current love of science but it is still fun to look back.
Here is a Brian’s blog post…
Sneak Peek at Molecules to the Max
At Evolvems we love teaching kids about evolution and paleontology, but there are others out there who are creating cool content to teach kids about all sorts of cool science.
I had the pleasure this Memorial Day weekend of seeing a special premier veiwing of the new kids IMAX science movie called Molecularium: Molecules to the Max at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I was invited by Kurt Przybilla who is a toy inventor and writer on the film, and who I met at the Toy Fair in February.
It was a crazy ride into the heart of matter, zooming in and out to show us common objects and their inner atomic and molecular structures as only computer animation (and some cute characters) can show us. I saw this in regular 2D on a small movie screen, but can’t wait to see it in its full glory as an IMAX 3D production.
Stuff for kids about Paleontology at AMNH’s Ology
As I was poking aroung the American Museum of Natural History‘s website looking to plan a trip to visit Ida and the new Extreme Mammals exhibit, I found this site for kids with all sorts of games and activities featuring many of the “Ologys” covered in the museum.
Go to the Paleontology section of the Ology website and have fun!
