Friday, April 27, 2012

The Great American Domino Effect Engineering Challenge


The Great American Domino Effect Engineering Challenge is on, at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington DC (Walter E. Washington Convention Center).  Visit SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT’s booth (1231) to participate.  


Thursday, April 26, 2012

Renewable Sources Energy for Farmers in Developing Countries

Farmers in rural areas often do not access to power via power grid, or large-scale energy sources.  These farmers usually gain power from burning wood or charcoal, contributing to pollution, and deforestation.  Nourishing the Planet is an organization that seeks to bring renewable resources to rural areas to promote sustainability, diversity, ecosystem health, and productivity.  Nourishing the Planet has worked to introduce five sources of energy to help meet the demands of poor farmers, allowing them to improve the quality of their work. 

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a nonprofit organization that installs solar energy light systems in rural areas as well as a drip-irrigation system powered by photovoltaics allowing farmers to grow crops throughout the dry season.  Solar Household Energy (SHE) provides solar cookers called HotPots to help households cook without using wood burning ovens. 

More information about renewable energy sources, and their many uses in these rural areas can be found at the source below. 

Source:

Interested in teaching your students more about energy? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episodes Energy – Understanding Hydroelectric Power, Energy – Transforming Renewable Resources Part I & II.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   
Interested in speaking to students about energy? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Asteroid Mining


Space exploration has taken a new twist yet again.  Start-up company Planetary Resources announced it is preparing to send unmanned spacecraft to earth-orbiting asteroids for mining.   According to Planetary Resources, 1,500 asteroids are “energetically as easy to reach as the moon.”  Planetary Resources claims asteroid mining would aid in the retrieval of valuable materials to bring to earth, such as platinum. 

Planetary Resources is seeking government support to complement the financial backing already provided by investors.  Planetary Resources hopes to send its space craft “Arkyd” into a low-Earth orbit, targeting mineable asteroids, in a few years’ time.    

Source:

Interested in teaching your students more about space science? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Space Science – Everyday Astronauts.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about space science? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

USA Science & Engineering Festival

USA Science & Engineering Festival
Come visit SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT this weekend (April 27-29) at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington DC.  The festival will take place in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT will be presenting The Great American Domino Effect Engineering Challenge, at booth 1231.  Individuals or teams will have 10 minutes to build the biggest, best domino structure, and test their pattern by knocking it over. 

The 2nd annual USA Science & Engineering Festival is a free event, aimed at cultivating an interest in the sciences for students of all ages and backgrounds.   This is the nation’s biggest celebration of science and engineering.  The festival will help provide inspiration for undecided students about their career path in the sciences. 

Visit the website below to learn more about the 2nd annual USA Science & Engineering Festival.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Eagle Web-Cam

The Alcoa Davenport community in Iowa has installed a camera to observe a pair of bald eagles, and their nest. The nest measures seven feet, and sits on a 400 acre facility in a tree near the Mississippi River.  The two eagles, Liberty and Justice, became parents to an eaglet (Freedom) in April 2011. 
The eagle cam was recently updated with improved video streaming. To date, more than five million viewers worldwide have visited the eagle cam to observe the eagle family developing within this unique ecosystem.  Eagle hatchlings typically appear in late March or early April.
Meet the Alcoa Eaglets: 

Friday, April 6, 2012

White Nose Syndrome in Alabama


Authorities have confirmed the presence of white nose syndrome in Alabama. The Russell Cave complex has confirmed the presence of white nose syndrome in its bats. The Russell Cave complex is home to the largest hibernating population of the endangered Large Gray bat.

White nose syndrome has now been confirmed in 17 states, and four Canadian provinces. The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that up to 6.7 million bats have died from white nose syndrome since it was first discovered in the US Northeast in 2006.  Every year insectivorous bats save the US agricultural industry at least $3 billion; approximately $74 per acre for the average farmer. 

Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/bats-white-nose-syndrome_n_1350306.html
Interested in teaching your students more about ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about ecology? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Bay Bridge Safety Inspection

A panel study has revealed that the new Bay Bridge is safe in response to concerns about the bridge's construction.  The panel was asked to provide an independent opinion about the bay bridge's safety in light of discussions that a CalTrans inspector submitted fake quality control data.

The Toll Bridge Seismic Safety Peer Reviewed Panel released a report finding no evidence of faulty data on tests checking the structural integrity of concrete in the new Bay Bridge foundation.  The panelists also found that the bridge contractor ran a second type of test and found no signs of trouble.

This study reveals the importance of ensuring that bridges undergo extreme inspection procedures to protect the drivers and pedestrians that cross the bridge on a daily basis.  This review saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, and also ensured the safety of all who use the bridge.

Source:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20260493/panel-finds-new-bay-bridge-is-safe-although
 Interested in teaching your students more about engineering? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Engineering – Bridges by Design.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.  

Interested in speaking to students about engineering? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com