White Nose Syndrome in Smoky Mountain National Park

Biologists in the great Smoky Mountains National Park have confirmed bat deaths due to White Nose Syndrome.  The bats found where a tricolored bat and a little brown bat.  Throughout the WNS epidemic, the little brown bat has suffered the most deaths. 

Though biologists were expecting to find WNS, the discovery makes for a very sad atmosphere at the park.  Biologists hope to control deaths through continuous monitoring of populations throughout the area caves and forests.

Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/smokies-biologist-confirms-finding-bats-with-white-nose-syndrome-in-a-park-cave/2012/03/20/gIQAuFMoPS_story.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

Mississippi Bat Working Group Conservation

The Mississippi Bat Working Group is seeking volunteers to build bat homes in Oxford, MS.  The MBWG consists of professionals interested in biology, conservation, ecology, and bat management. The MBWG's objective is to conserve declining bat populations, which are now being wiped out as a result of White Nose Syndrome.

MBWG is also seeking volunteers to help construct a database to register all bat houses.  The goal of MBWG is to have more than one bat house per county, throughout the state. Mississippi has 82 counties.

Source:

http://www.necn.com/03/22/12/Bat-fans-seek-volunteers-to-construct-ba/landing_scitech.html?&apID=188de0c575fa41e68feba4710d6f3125

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

Alarming Study Reveals Environmental Concerns Declining

A 40 year study has found a decline in youths interested in environmental conservation. This study has concluded that younger Americans are less civic minded than those of generations past.

The results of the study contra indicate widespread belief that younger generations are more environmentally conscious.  When surveyed, young voters often cite the environment as a top concern. According to researchers, 1/3 of baby boomers, when surveyed decades ago, listed the environment as a top concern. Comparatively only 25% of millennial's listed the environment as a top concern. 

Furthermore 15% of millennials said they made no effort to help the environment. This is compared to 8% of Gen Xers, and 5% of young baby boomers who were surveyed.

Source:

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-03-15/news/31198596_1_millennials-baby-boomers-young-adults

Interested in teaching your students more about the environment? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Environment – Science for a Healthy Planet.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

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

New Circuit Board Measures Force

A new circuit board is expected to soon be released that is designed for OEMs to quickly drop into a prototype or to easily design into a product to obtain force measurements.  The circuit board is designed to make the force sensor integration quicker and easier.

The new circuit board can detect and measure a relative change in force, or applied load, identify force thresholds and suggests appropriate action, detect contact.  The new circuit board is expected to start selling at $150.

Source:

http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/03/19/new-circuit-board-tekscan-makes-force-sensor-integration-easier-oems

Interested in teaching your students more about electronics? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Electronics – The Science of Circuit Boards.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

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

White Nose Syndrome Found in Ohio

Naturalists are warning that bats in Northeast Ohio maybe wiped out within three years time. The disease known as white nose syndrome has spread to parts of Ohio. Currently 7,000,000 bats throughout the US, particularly in the Northeast, have died of white nose syndrome.

The announcement was made after biologists discovered the presence of white nose syndrome in bats hibernating in caves in the West Woods area of Russell and Newbury Ohio.  Currently there is no cure for white nose syndrome, and the mortality rate is hundred percent.

Source:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/deadly_white-nose_syndrome_fou_1.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

Renewable Energy

Over the coming years renewable energy is expected to become quite popular throughout the world.  However, across-the-board, many are facing the problem of harvesting renewable energy sources.  Experts have outlined five elements to harvesting, and determining the necessary amount of renewable energy sources to meet future demands. 

Nations primarily need to outline a method of generating renewable power that is in syncope with the natural resources available.  For example, an area that does not have much wind should not aim to generate a wind farm and expect a high output of renewable energy.  More information on this can be found at the link below, as well as more methods for generating renewable energy to meet the demands of future generations.

Source:

http://theenergycollective.com/michaelweinhold/79863/piece-still-under-construction

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