March 31, 2005

Bulwer’s Pheasant: Love At The Zoo

When it’s mating season in the bird area of the Bronx Zoo, love is in the air. In fact, you can even hear it being played over the loudspeakers.

March 30, 2005

Dwarf Minke Whales-Star Wars Sound

For fifty years, these underwater sounds were a unsolved mystery.

March 29, 2005

Diatoms Nanotechnology-Shell Game

Diatoms are among the world’s oldest and most ubiquitous creatures, and they may soon be an important part of one of the newest branches of science and technology.

March 28, 2005

Diatoms Nanotechnology – Redefining “Man-made”

Nanoparticles are so tiny that the atoms inside them obey the laws of quantum mechanics and not the laws of the physical observable world.

March 25, 2005

Phagwah: Meaning

The most joyful festival of the Indo-Caribbean culture is in early spring. Phagwah is a celebration of the rebirth of nature and the spirit of young love.

March 24, 2005

Diatoms Nanotechnology-Think Small

Nanomaterials possess superior strength, are lighter weight, and have more resistance to wear and tear than conventional materials.

March 23, 2005

Astrobiology: Europa

One of Jupiter’s moons may have a liquid ocean, and NASA hopes to send “hydrobots” there to explore for life.

March 22, 2005

Astrobiology – UV Rays

The sun’s ultraviolet radiation can be harmful, but it’s been an important force in the evolution of life on Earth.

March 21, 2005

Noruz

The first day of spring marks the start of an ancient holiday.

March 18, 2005

Astrobiology: Microbe Siesta

At a NASA lab in California, scientists are exploring outer space by looking through microscopes.

March 17, 2005

Noruz: Triumph of Tradition

Although the government of Iran tried to suppress it, the venerable holiday of Noruz continues to be one of that nation’s most popular celebrations.

March 16, 2005

Noruz: Customs

Noruz means “new day” and it’s celebrated with new clothes, gift-giving and bonfires.

March 15, 2005

Astrobiology – Moving to Mars

If human beings ever live on Mars, the first colonists on the Red Planet will likely be farmers.

March 14, 2005

Astrobiology – Genesis

The first life forms to arrive on Earth may have “hitchhiked” here on a meteor from Mars.

March 11, 2005

Phagwah: Parade

In Queens, a festival takes place at the time of the full moon every March. Participants celebrate with “call and response” style singing, and the playing of indigenous drums and cymbals.

March 10, 2005

Phagwah: Powder

In an Indo-Caribbean community an ancient festival of spring is celebrated with colored baby powder.

March 9, 2005

Insects and Plant Diversity-Applications

Predatory insects actually help maintain the diversity of the rainforest.

March 8, 2005

Insects and Plant Diversity-Defense Strategies

Different plants have developed different strategies for defending themselves against insects, and those strategies are based on the kind of soil the plant grows in.

March 7, 2005

Insects and Plant Diversity-Soil

The reason why different plants thrive in different types of soil is a riddle that scientists have only recently been able to unravel.

March 4, 2005

Tully Ice Harvest: History

These days, if you want ice, you just go to the freezer and get it. But some folks remember when ice was delivered door to door in huge blocks.

March 3, 2005

Tully Ice Harvest : Cutting

At an annual festival in upstate New York, they cut blocks of ice out of a frozen lake and pack them in sawdust. In the summer, they’ll use the ice to make homemade ice cream.

March 2, 2005

Tully Ice Harvest: Prepare

Every year at this time, folks in Tully, New York, harvest ice out of a frozen lake the old-fashioned way, with horsepower and antique tools.

March 1, 2005

Melting Polar Ice Cap: Future

The North Pole is melting, and scientists tell us it will effect everything from polar bears to international politics.