Sea Turtles and Light Pollution

One of our AWESOME SCIENTIST in the YELLOW GROUP found an article about SEA TURTLES and light pollution.  According to National Geographic the bright lights from street lights, parking lots, and buildings can disorientate the female sea turtles and they will not lay their eggs.  If the female sea turtles  lays eggs and they hatch, the baby turtles have a hard time finding the ocean because of all the artificial light.  Light pollution is decreasing the sea turtle population!  We must save the turtles!  The Sea Turtle Protection Agency has a plan!  According to the article " A program to darken the coastline of Sarasota County in central Florida, an area with the highest turtle nest density on the Gulf of Mexico, has substantially brightened the prospects for the sea turtle population -- without sacrificing the safety or security of human residents." (National Geographic)  So now at night, they turn off the lights near the beaches!
Question: Could we design an experiment to see if it is helping?  What would we measure?  How could we measure it?  What is your hypothesis? Leave me a comment and remember to only use your initials and color group.

 

 

Dailygreen

Click on the link below to watch a video and learn more about sea turtles at National Geographic
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/leatherback-sea-turtle/

Check out the sky tonight! 1/30/12

YOU CAN SEE JUPITER TONIGHT!
According to Earthsky.org we can view the planet Jupiter TONIGHT.    Step 1: find the moon.  Step 2: look below the moon.  You will find a bright looking star... its really Jupiter!  You can also see Venus if you look near the horizon.  Why can we see the the planets?  Think about how the Earth moves.  Leave me a comment and remember to only type your color group and initials. 

Check out this picture of the Earth at night! - Bonus question for Test 2/1/12

Have you ever heard of light pollution?  Light pollution occurs when people produce a lot of artificial light.  Artificial light is produced when someone turns on a light in their home, street lights at night, and store lights.  Light pollution effects all of us!  Some people may have a hard time falling asleep in a city with many artificial light sources.  Have you every tried to look at the stars in a city with a lot of lights?  It is hard to see them.  I live out in the country and I can see the lights in town.   Some nights the lights from town are so bright I can only see a few stars.  I want to see all of them!

The picture above was taken from space.  It shows how much artificial light we produce during the night. Can you find the big cities?
BONUS QUESTION:    Nocturnal animals are active at night. They hunt and gather food using senses that are adapted to night time.  How do you think light pollution affects nocturnal animals?

Bonus Question 1/27/12 What does a bee see in a flower?

Check out this flower.  We see the flower as yellow because we only see visible light.  Mr. BEE sees the same flower as white with a red center because MR. BEE sees ULTRAVIOLET light.  Seeing ultraviolet light is an adaptation that helps MR. BEE and other insects survive.  How does this adaptation (seeing ultraviolet light) help MR. BEE survive?  Let me know your hypothesis.  Leave me a comment (do not write your name - write your color group and initials only.)  OR  write it on paper and turn in. 

What is black and white and lives in Antarctica? Penguins!

Check out this penguin!

 This blond, albino-like penguin was spotted at the edge of the South Shetland Islands by tourists and naturalist David Stephens.
Why do you think penguins are black and white?  Do you think this blonde one will survive?  Send me a comment and tell me what you think.  (Only use your color group and initials)  Go to lhttp://news.discovery.com/animals/blond-albino-penguin-120113.html to find out more.

BONUS QUESTION FOR 1/13/12

Energy

In class we are learning about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas but, scientist have discovered a 4th state of matter called PLASMA.  Below are pictures of plasma.  Pick the object you think is the most awesome!  You can send me a comment telling me the one you think is the most awesome or you can write it on a small piece of paper and turn in on Friday for 5 extra points on your quiz!

Lightening

Fluorescent lights

The Universe

DID YOU SEE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION GO ACROSS THE SKY??

Did you wave at the astronauts on the International Space Station?  I DID!!
Their mission started in November 2011 and they will return to Earth in late March 2012.

The astronauts are conducting several experiments...Earth and Life Science Experiments!!  Can plants grow in microgravity (very little gravity)?  How as the Earth changed in 2011?  Can spiders build webs in microgravity?
Question::::  HOW CAN  ASTRONAUTS LIVE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WITHOUT FRESH WATER??  WHAT IS YOUR HYPOTHESIS?  LET ME KNOW YOUR ANSWER IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW!
Just think, maybe one day I will wave at you as you pass by on the International Space Station!
 
 

DID YOU SEE THE METEOR SHOWER!!

According to Houston 2 News, you can view an awesome meteor shower tonight!!  Look in the Northeastern sky around 1:30 AM.  You may be able to see 60 meteors an hour!!
The meteor shower occurs every January but, most years we can not see it.  WHY CAN WE SEE THE METEOR SHOWER THIS YEAR?  Let me know your HYPOTHESIS in the comment section.  Everyone who leaves a comment will receive a raffle ticket :-)
(Click on the link below for more details.)
http://www.click2houston.com/news/Houstonians-get-chance-to-see-meteor-shower/-/1735978/7634156/-/q4k4bdz/-/index.html

TO THE MOON!!!

Did you hear the awesome news about the moon?  NASA sent two probes that are now in position just above the moon.  The probes are mapping the moon surface and gravity.  Why is the moon's gravity only 1/6th of Earth's?  Scientist are looking for the answer!  What is your hypothesis?

                                     (Photo credit: CBC.ca. com)
The probes will start sending back data in early March.  Will they find alien footprints?  If an alien left a footprint on the moon would it still be there?  Think about what you learned in class about erosion and weathering on the moon.  Hint:  remember the moon does not have an atmosphere! (Send me a comment about what YOU think the probes will find)