Musical Odyssey in Space

Space tourism has caught the eye of many people throughout the world.  But the most interesting yet would be entertainers.  The sources with a popular music label have indicated that Jay-Z and Beyoncé may be the first artists to film a music video in space. 

As passengers of Virgin Galactic, the artists would be traveling 70,000 feet into Earth’s atmosphere.  The ticket costs over one million dollars, but the video resulting from it would be revolutionary.  The trip would be strictly business, as the flight only offers six minutes of weightlessness. 

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

Source:

http://popcrush.com/beyonce-jay-z-music-video-space/

Celebrating Science – USA Science & Engineering Festival

If you will be in the Washington DC area the weekend of April 28 and 29^th, stop by the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  The 2^nd annual USA Science and 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 students who are undecided about their career path in the sciences.  As an event sponsor, SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT will be participating in the festival.  Visit the website below to learn more about the 2^nd annual USA Science & Engineering Festival.

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/  

Animated Video Highlights Science Fairs

Land O’ Lakes High School IB graduate, Kevin Temmer has applied his passion for animation to the world of science.  As part of his IB program’s Creativity Action Service requirement, Temmer’s video helps kids understand the process of making a science project for a science fair. 

The video can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5XU0HKFLA

The video has been featured in an article on NASA’s “For Educators” blog.  Temmer’s 15 minute video is hailed as creatively explaining the process of a science fair project.  Websites such as National Geographic Kids, the National Science Foundation Knowledge Network, and AOL Kids have featured Temmer’s video. 

Source:

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/science-fair-is-a-winner.html

Promising Potential in CO2-Grabbing Polymer

Researchers have found a solution for CO² in the air.  Raising levels of CO² is to blame for climate change.  Researchers at the University of Southern California have found a method for producing a cheap plastic capable of drawing CO² out of the air.  USC researcher, George Olah suggests then combining the absorbed CO², combining it with hydrogen molecules stripped from water, and generating methanol to serve as a harvested fuel. 

Researchers found, after placing the absorbent plastic in a humid environment, each gram of the material absorbed an average of 1.72 nanomoles of  CO²; this is 1.44 nanomoles above competitive materials.  The polymer would be best put to use in mass concentrations, in the form of artificial trees on farms. 

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

Source:

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/01/new-co2-sucker-could-help-clear-.html?ref=em&elq=2ace7d1ec0a14a60a3f73b36d9398392

El Puente Baluarte Bridge

With an anticipated completion date anticipated in 2012, El Puente Baluarte Bridge (the Baluarte River Bridge) stands at a towering 1,321ft; so high, the Eiffel Tower could easily fit underneath it.  El Puente Baluarte will relieve drivers of a lengthy drive through the jagged peaks of the Sierra Madre Mountains.  The bridge spans a deep ravine through the mountain chain, and sits on the border between two states in Mexico: Sinaloa and Durango.

The excitement behind El Puente Baluarte Bridge is that it is the greatest bridge and tunnel highway project to ever take place in North America.  It will be a part of the Durango-Mazatlán highway.  The bridge will provide a safer, more direct route through the mountainous chain, and is expected to promote trade and tourism.

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

Source:

http://highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Baluarte_Bridge