Month: September 2009
Pulse of the Planet Daily Audio
Mites and Bees
An epidemic of mite infestations is threatening North American bee colonies.
September 29, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Novel Robots
Robots can be so, well, robotic. But bio-inspired engineering is pointing the way to a new and nimble breed of robots.
September 28, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Pogo Stick
If you’ve bounced on a pogo stick, you’re already well on your way to understanding how animals run.
September 25, 2009Dragonflies – Migration
It’s a rare event, but a grand sight to behold – thousands upon thousands of dragonflies.
September 24, 2009Dragonflies – Myths and Truths
Can nature’s flying insect carnivores bite people?
September 23, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Wasps
Without so much as a diet, wasp waists are incredibly thin; and their structure is inspiring engineers to create a new kind of packaging.
September 22, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Reading Slug Slime
In the slug world, much can be gleaned from the trail of slime a slug leaves behind.
September 21, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Hippo Sweat
If you want to protect yourself from the sun, insects, and disease, just slather on some hippo sweat!
September 18, 2009Elephant Seismic Detection – Hearing
An elephant listens with… its toenails?!
September 17, 2009Elephant Seismic Detection – Underground
If you feel the ground shake, perhaps you’d better do as the elephants do: listen DOWN.
September 16, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Giraffes
A petroleum alternative: Giraffe Mucus!! Aided by mucus, giraffes routinely swallow sharp thorns without hurting themselves.
September 15, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Collecting Mucus
Everything you ever wanted to know about how to collect giraffe drool and hippopotamus sweat, but were afraid to ask.
September 14, 2009KSC Biomimicry – Magical Mucus
Mucus plays many roles. In fact, without it, we wouldn’t be here.
September 11, 2009Biological Invaders – Ecology
Humans are largely responsible for the demise of the biological immunity of ecosystems.
September 10, 2009Biological Invaders – Biocontrol
The ravage of biological aliens challenge our abilities to control them effectively.
September 9, 2009Biological Invaders – Aussie Invasions
Australia has played host to unwanted visitors since the 19th century.
September 8, 2009KSC Claire Filtration
Kids’ Science Challenge winner Claire Dworsky learns about the importance of filtering water before testing it.
September 7, 2009KSC Claire – Reagents
Our Kids’ Science Challenge water winner learns how to test for nutrient contaminants in water.
September 4, 2009Bugs in the Water – Living Barometer
Populations shifts of different organisms within the same stream bed can indicate changes in water quality.
September 3, 2009Bugs in the Water – Water Quality
Bugs and organisms offer an indication of environmental changes in the aquatic habitat.
September 2, 2009Biological Invaders – Salvinia
Moving a species to a foreign environment may ultimately require importing another species to control the first.
September 1, 2009Science Diaries: Okefenokee – Living Landscape
Cycles of growth and wildfires keep Okefenokee swamp in an eternal state of flux.