Quickie Questions - Humans and the Things They Do - Other Things They Do

Date Answered	Questioner (age, location)	Question	Answer
October 9, 2008	shruti (age 15, india)	why is the flow of electric current opposite to the flow of electrons	This is an old discussion with many sides. If an electric current is invariably made of negatively-charged particles (electrons), the your statment is true, but this is not always the case! There are instances when electric currents can really be a flow of positive particles. See this page for a good discussion of this topic.
October 9, 2008	candice (age 18, new zealand)	is there anything currently happening to prevent the artic ice melting and disrupting the ocean conveyor belt??	Yes, actions are being taken to prevent the effects of the climate changes. International agreements to reduce the use of greenhouse gases are in effect, the development of new techniques to reduce the amount of dangerous gases from autos and industry are already showing results (for example, catalytic converters, hybrid cars, etc.), the use of solar and wind energy is spreading, etc. But what I think is the major accomplishment is that humanity has come to realize that we cannot keep abusing of our home planet as until now.
October 8, 2008	cya (age 13, india)	is it true that a black hole can be formed by a 27 kilometre long machine if the the protons are being crashed at the speed of light?	There is no any true in that. This experiment, knwon as article offers a nice review of the topic.
October 6, 2008	Frank (age 30, The State of Indiana)	Dear Sir or Madam, Is there any treatment or process which an organic material, such as wood or other plant fibers, can undergo which would render it comparable in strength and hardness to rival Bronze or Iron Age tools which does not involve a modern process, such as the application of sophisticated resins? I know this seems like a strange question, but it's for a book I'm writing. Finding a "yes" answer to this question would really be a boon, but my own research hasn't yielded any results. The problem is I don't know enough about physics or chemistry to figure it out on my own.	During the Bronze Age techniques for smelting copper and tin from naturally-occurring outcroppings of copper and tin ores were developed, which allowed the creation of a bronze alloy by melting those metals together, and casting them into bronze artifacts. I (personally) don't believe there is a simple method to obtain similar results with organic materials.
October 3, 2008	Hasmin (age 10, Philippines)	who introduce the system of classifying or grouping living things?	Linnaeus developed a Binomial Nomenclature (two name system) in which each organism has a genus (first) and species (second) names.
September 30, 2008	andrea (age 17, pittsburgh)	what time in history did mythology start	There is no particular time for the begining of mythology. Different cultures described what they saw under their own terms, frequenly relating the shapes they saw on the sky with their particular gods.
September 30, 2008	alaina (age 15, North Carolina, U.S)	In what order does the nitrogen cycle go in?	Nitrogen is a part of living things like plants and animals. Nitrogen is also a part of non-living things like the air above and the dirt below. Nitrogen does not stay in one place. It moves slowly between living things, dead things, the air, soil and water. These movements are called the nitrogen cycle. More information on our web page The Nitrogen Cycle.
September 29, 2008	cya (age 13, india)	sir, can you please tell how many marks do we have to bring to be an astronaut? and what should be our I.Q? and how many hours do we have to study?	This is a real example of NASA requirements: NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas Announcement for Mission Specialist and Pilot Astronaut Candidates ============================================= Astronaut Candidate Program ====================== Basic Qualification Requirements -------------------------------------------- Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements prior to submitting an application. Mission Specialist Astonaut Candidate: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Degree must be followed by at least three years of related progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for part or all of the experience requirement(master's degree= 1 year, doctoral degree= 3 years). Quality of academic preparation is important. 2. Ability to pass a NASA class II space physical, which is similar to a civilian or military class II flight physical and includes the following specific standards: Distant visual acuity: 20/150 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye. Blood Pressure: 140/90 measured in sitting position. 3. Height between 58.5 and 76 inches. Pilot Astronaut Candidate: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited instuition in engineering, biologicaal science, physical science, or mathematics. Degree must be followed by at least three years of related progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable. Quality of academic preparation is important. 2. At least 1000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight test experience highly desirable. 3. Ability to pass a NASA class I space physical which is similar to a civilian or military class I flight physical and includes the following specific standards: Distant visual acuity: 20/50 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye. Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in sitting position. 4. Height between 64 and 76 inches. Citizenship Requirements Applicants for the Astronaut Candidate Program must be citizens of the United States. Note on Academic Requirements Applicants for the Astronaut Candidate Program must meet the basic education requirements for NASA engineering and scientific positions -- specifically: successful completion of standard professional curriculum in an accredited colloege or university leading to at least a bachelor's degree with major study in an appropraite field of engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the sciences, are not considered qualifying: -Degrees in technology(Engineering Technology, Aviation Technology, Medical Technology, etc.) -Degrees in Psycology(except for Clinical Psycology, Physiological Psycology, or Experimental Psycology which are qualifying) -Degrees in Nursing -Degrees in Social Sciences(Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology, etc.) -Degrees in Aviation, Aviation Management, or similar fields.
September 26, 2008	Sean (age 13, California)	How do I create a continuous electric arc? I was thinking something along the lines of running an electric current through a controlled stream of a highly conductive gas.	This method is one of the most commonly used today. See, for example, this article.
September 25, 2008	kali (age 11, goergia)	are minerals compound or mixture	Minerals can be found in both forms. A compound is when the materials are chemically bonded (for example, salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine), while mixture is when the materials are intermingled but still keep their individual properties (granite is an example).
September 18, 2008	PATRICIA (age 40, CALIFORNIA)	IS THE ECLIPSE DANGER FOR HUMANS	No, eclipses, from the earth point of view, are just the partial or total apparent darkening of the sun when the moon comes between the sun and the Earth (solar eclipse), or the darkening of the moon when the Earth is placed between the Sun and the moon. The only related danger is to look directly to the Sun during eclipses without eyes protection.
September 17, 2008	Sarah (age 9, Victoria)	How do scientists discover their discoveries?	After a lot of work and using the scientifc method.
September 17, 2008	cya (age 13, india)	if bubble gum sticks on our face why dosen't it sticks on our teeth?	There are two main factors that differentiate one from the other, teeth are covered by a very polished, non-porous material and are always wet, the skin don't.
September 17, 2008	cya (age 13, india)	sir,what is the normal iq of a normal person? sir Einstine's and sir newton's iq was more than a normal person?	The average IQ of the population as a whole is, by definition, 100. IQs range from 0 to above 200, and among children, to above 250. However, about 50% of the population have IQs between 89 and 111, and about 80% of the population have IQs ranging between 80 and 120, with 10% lying below 80, and 10% falling above 120. Adapted from What Does "IQ" Stand For, and What Does It Mean?.
September 16, 2008	Molly (age 25, West Virginia)	Can astronauts see asteroids, meteors or comets when they are on space missions?	Although I haven't read about a specific case, I would expect astronauts to see them with more clarity because the lack of atmosphere at those heights.
September 16, 2008	Devon (age 15, Ohio)	A Scientist, examining a set of data, finds a single break in an otherwise strong trend or pattern in the data. Would the single break invalidate the trend or pattern? Why?	No,a data point outside the main trend (known as an outlayer) could be due to many factors, like normal variability of the system, natural or artificial noise, etc. This is a extremely comun finding when working with "real" data. The use of error bars takes care of the variability.
September 15, 2008	darryl (age 14, Illinois)	Is the lake Geneva WI lake a crater?	The second paragraph on this link describes the origin of the lake, and the rest that of the city of the same name.
September 15, 2008	darryl (age 14, Illinois)	Is the lake Geneva WI lake a crater?	The second paragraph on this link describes the origin of the lake, and the city of the same name.
September 12, 2008	Min (age 11, Myanmar)	What is mean Dwarfs?	These are the meanings of dwarf from wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn: - a person who is markedly small - gnome: a legendary creature resembling a tiny old man; lives in the depths of the earth and guards buried treasure - shadow: make appear small by comparison; "This year's debt dwarfs that of last year" - a plant or animal that is atypically small - check the growth of; "the lack of sunlight dwarfed these pines" Currently is also used to identify the smallest (dwarf) planets in our solar system.
September 8, 2008	Bears class (age 5, United Kingdom)	How do rockets land?	Rockets are not designed to land. Once all the combustible in them is used, they are released from the space ship and burn during re-entry in the atmosphere.
September 8, 2008	Bears class (age 5, United Kingdom)	How do rockets land?	Rockets are not designed to land. Once they are released from the ship, they burn during re-entry in to the atmosphere.
September 4, 2008	priyanka (age 15, NEPAL/kathmandu)	What we have to know at first to become a scientist	There are as many answers to your questions as scientists are, but I am sure we all agree in several common things -a love for learning, a big pasion for discovery, curiosity, math, and literal skills are basic factors over which a scientific carrer could be built.
September 1, 2008	Amir (age 25, Pakistan)	When a helicopter is placed on earth, its motion alongwith earth can be understood but when the helicopter is above earth (in air) why not it is displaced simply because of earth's rotation? Which force binds helicopter to move alongwith earth when it is in air? (because gravity can only force it to come down not to move alongwith earth.)	The controlled motion of helicopters is a complex topic beyond the reach of this section. Let's only say that the combined, controlled motion of both rotors, including the pitch angle, is what keeps the helicopter in the right direction.
August 24, 2008	Julia (age 13, Australia)	How does Climate change relate to social justice and equity?	You can find the answer to your question on Climate change, vulnerability and social justice, a paper published by Harvard scientists.
August 20, 2008	Roy (age 60, North Carolina, USA)	Is the oil that we are using up so quickly a form of insulation from the Earths molten core,	Most of the oil is quite close to the surface, and I don't think it is enough, or well-distributed to be thought as a form of insulation.
August 20, 2008	kav (age 15, trinidad)	why is a flat tyre not considered to have zero atmospheres when flat?	A flat tire still has air in the interior, only that it is not enough to use the tire as intended.
August 19, 2008	brenda (age 10, nc)	What is the most likely reason cars are designed with smooth surfaces	I would say to minimize air friction.
July 2, 2008	Darius (age 11, Baltimore)	What is the hardness of the mineral cobalt (not cobaltite) on Mohs hardness scale?	Cobalt has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
July 2, 2008	Keejhontai (age 12, u.s)	were does the word metamorphic come from?	The word metamorphic has Greek origins. Meta means change, and morphic means structure.
July 2, 2008	emma (age 73, Michigan USA)	What is an electrical surge that surge plugs protect against.	An electrical surge is the short-lived, intense peak of electrical current that can reach our homes due to short-circuits, atmospheric electric discharges, etc. They could be quite damaging for common household appliances.
July 2, 2008	Janice (age 47, San Antonio, Texas, USA)	My nephew wants to know: If you throw a boomerang on the moon, will it come back to you? Or, just keep going straight?	Bommerangs motion involves aerodynamic laws. It needs air to fly. See this website for more information.
June 30, 2008	Timothy (age 9, Texas, US)	How the moon is able to follow you when you are in a car ride?	The average distance from Earth to moon is about 384 401 km. A normal car trip (for example, the distance between San Francisco and New York is 4125.91 km) is too short to be considered a change of position against the moon.
June 30, 2008	Yu (age 9, Singapore)	How many planets are there in the whole Universe?	It is impossible to say. We don't have enough observational power to reach all corners of the universe.
June 30, 2008	Yu Ci (age 9, Singapore)	How many planets are there in the whole Universe?	It is impossible to say. We don't have enough observational power to reach all corners of the universe.
June 27, 2008	Haley (age 11, Massachusetts/USA)	A person who studies and collects rocks for fun	A person who studies and collects rocks for fun is called a Rockhound. People that study rocks professionally are called Geologists.
June 25, 2008	Saffron (age , )		Due to the lack of breathable atmosphere it would be impossible without building an enclosed city or after a terra-forming process (the modification of the environment of a planet to make it more Earth-like and habitable by humans. Definition adapted from drernestmaurer.com/glossary.htm).
June 20, 2008	Mark (age , )		It is commonly used to identify approximate values.
June 20, 2008	Mark (age , )		It is commonly used to mark approximate values.
June 19, 2008	ROSE (age 13, NEW YORK)	WHAT PROCESS DOES OUR EYES GO THROUGH IN ORDER FOR US TO SEE?	This is a very complex topic, but in essence, our brain receives (and processes!) the retinal stimuli. The process in more details is as follows: the lens of the eye focuses light on the photoreceptive cells of the retina, which detect the photons of light and respond by producing neural impulses. These signals are processed by different parts of the brain. Adapted from (and more information) here.
June 18, 2008	Savannah (age 11, virginia)	How would you create a teaching poster on eart's atmosphere?	I would include the different layers, their height, composition and temperature profile, and the natural and artificial events in each one. We have several web pages on this topic, for example visit The Earth's Atmosphere and the links therein.
June 18, 2008	Savannah (age 11, virginia)	How would you create a teaching poster on eart's atmosphere?	I would include the different layers, their height, composition and temperature profile, and the natural and artificial events in each one.
June 17, 2008	omar (age 26, pakistan)	Some books describe that Earth s rotation time is 23 hours, 56minutes 4 seconds.So why our day is of 24 hours and where these remaining 3 min and 56 seconds go?	All this topic is related with the fact that natural processes (like seasons and astronomical events) do not repeat at an exact number of full days. So calendars have to be adjusted every certain number of years to account for this difference. This is the reason foe Leap Years, when we add an extra day to the calendar.
June 16, 2008	esraa (age 14, cairo, egypt)	how can I design a simple telescope to watch stars from my home ? PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION I love stars very much	In this page there are simple and clear instructions for telescope designs.
June 16, 2008	esraa (age 14, cairo, egypt)	how can I design a simple telescope to watch stars from my home ? PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION I love stars very much	In page there are simple and clear instructions for telescope designs.
May 16, 2008	Chinika (age 23, Trinidad)	Did Albert Einstein work on the atom?	Einstein did not work (at least in any significant way) on the atom. Although Einstein did promote the research toward the atomic bomb, he did just a minimal amount of related work. He was more a scientists with very novel ideas.
April 28, 2008	Larry (age 43, Missouri/USA)	If I start a trip up the Prime Meridian at 6AM and my brother travels up the 180* meridian starting at 6PM, and we both reach the geographic north pole exactly 12 hrs later, who will have the correct time on his watch, 6PM or 6AM?	The difference between the length of the night and the length of the day gets bigger the further away you get from the equator in the direction of a pole. A summer's day (a winter's night) at the poles lasts 24 hours without any night (without any day). Thus, the time difference between the watches is not important.
April 22, 2008	Ben (age 13, Missouri/USA)	What advice did Bohr give to the United States government after the first atomic bomb test in 1945?	After the first use of an atomic bomb at the end of the II World War, Bohr and other scientists played an important role in the preservation of the peace, and in the struggle against proliferation of nuclear weapons. However, before the end of the war Bohr saw favorable aspects in the spread of nuclear weapons as it would put an end to war-"completely changing all future conditions of warfare" and making it impossible to win.
April 10, 2008	Katharine (age 12, CA, USA)	I'm doing a project on cone cells. I was wondering if you could give me some information on them like: its functions any specialized structures how it is different from other types of cells why it is shaped the way it is what size the cell is how long it lives where it is found any other interesting facts about it I need to write an essay with at least 4 paragraphs and 5 sentences in each paragraph. I also need a picture of it with all its organelles because i need to make a model. Any suggestions on model items I can use? I can use anything as long as it is not perishable.	The cone cell is a type of light-sensitive nerve cell found in the retinas of most vertebrates. Cones are concerned with the discrimination of color and of fine detail. In humans, they contains three types of of photosensitive pigment, compared to just one in rod cells. They also have a much faster response to light than do rods, so that they can perceive more rapid changes in stimuli. Adapted (and more information, including a diagram) from The Internet Ecyclopedia of Science.
April 9, 2008	(age , )		There are new techniques, or old ones adapted to the current conditions, that use heat from underground. For example, geothermal heat pumps use natural thermal energy stored just below the earth's surface to provide space heating during the winter and cooling in the summer.
April 2, 2008	Adriana (age 11, new mexico)	on your list of ecosystems Mountains is not mentioned, why? my teacher says it is one of the ecosystems.	There are different definitions (and listings) for "ecosystem". Examples of ecosystem include: aquatic ecosystem, chaparral, coral reef, desert, human ecosystem, large marine ecosystem, marine ecosystem, rainforest, savanna, subsurface, lithoautotrophic, microbial ecosystem, taiga, tundra, urban ecosystem, etc.
April 1, 2008	mackenzie (age 10, kentucky)	what is one fact about evolution?	One of the strongest facts about evolution is the long Fossil Record collected by scientists that document changes in past life on Earth.
March 31, 2008	Anthony (age 29, North Carolina)	Something has been puzzling me. It is my understanding that without the electron, there can simply be no emission spectrum because there would be nothing to excite. It seems then to me that viewing protons or nuetrons would be an imposibility. Is this corect?. Also, I was wondering if anyone has ever tried to excite such particles in order to test that there is no emmision. One last question, can there be a star, i guess an ionized star that has no electrons and is therefore possibly invinsible to detection by meens of light? Thank you for any assistance with any one of these questions.	The problem with this hypothetical question is that without the electron the atoms would be always in an altered state, which would be against our understanding of the universe. The continuous interchange of particles is part of the dynamic of the universe.
March 25, 2008	jocelyn (age 16, Malacca,Malaysia)	and when they return to EIf a group of astronomy traveling in universe several years,and when they return to Earth,will they also bring back other bateria that are dangeous to human kinds?	NASA, and other space agencies in the world, have implemented strict rules for astronauts returning to earth, and the samples from other planets or moons they could bring back. See this article foe a little piece of history on this topic.
March 21, 2008	Rosalind (age 38, Maryland/USA)	Why is it that models of the solar system show the sun to be the size of the planets when the sun is the largest mass in the solar system by far! Why don't models accurate show the planets as marbles or basketballs to the sun? Am I corrrect?	You are right in all accounts. A representation with a realistic proportion of our solar system will be almost impossible to do in a normal media (paper or screen), there won't be room enough to represent all the planets!
March 21, 2008	Gerence (age 66, UK)	How much Heat Energy is released from the Oxidation of (O1)Carbon and (2)Hydrogen?	The oxidation of carbon to CO2 releases a significant amount of energy (heat). For example, if a gram molecule of glucose is simulated under aerobic conditions, up to 674 kilogram calories (kcal) of heat may be released. Adapted from http://www.urbangardencenter.com
March 20, 2008	Tim (age 16, Australia)	Can you insert a tiny projector inside a thin cylinder and activate 3D holographic images to be projected in mid-air; is technology up to this?	For a discussion on the possibilities of holographic projections, visit here.
March 20, 2008	Tim (age 16, Australia)	Can you insert a tiny projector inside a thin cylinder and activate 3D holographic images to be projected in mid-air; is technology up to this?	For a discussion on the possibilities of holographic projections, visit here.
March 18, 2008	Kurt (age 15, North Carolina, US)	light bouncing back from an object to its source is what?	Not sure I understood your question, but, in general, it is called reflection when the light "bounces" back from an object.
March 17, 2008	Lindsey (age 12, Indiana)	What are the general traits for each of the four rock types?	Geologists classify rocks in three groups, according to the maian processes that formed them. Sedimentary rocks are formed via weathering and transport of existing rocks, and then deposition, cementation, and compaction into a sedimentary rock. Igneous rocks are formed by cooling and crystallization of molten rock. Metamorphic rocks are formed when heat or pressure are applied to other rocks. More information on rocks and rock cycle in our web page What is the Rock Cycle?.
March 17, 2008	Brittany (age 9 1/2, Atkison)	what is luster?	Luster, in general, can be define as the appearance of the reflection of light from a surface.
March 14, 2008	desiree (age 11, memphis tn)	who was the twevle gods of greek mythologe	These twelve gods are called the Olympians. they are Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, and Hephaestus.
March 5, 2008	rebecca (age 11, england)	what causes shadows in the first place	Shadows are merely caused by the interposition of an opaque object in the path of light rays.
February 25, 2008	Alice (age 15, India)	I WANT TO BECOME AN ASTRONOMER SIR.AND MY FIGURE ISN'T GOOD.BUT I WANT TO BECOME IT.I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WHICH I WANT TO DISCOVER.AND IS IT TRUE THAT WHEN ANY ONE GOES THROUGH TIME MACHINE HE WILL GO TO AN ENTIRELY NEW UNIVERSE ?	No "time machine" has been ever created!
February 25, 2008	Emma (age 24, England)	I always wondered if the universe is expanding (as it is said to be) then what is it expanding in to. Our strongest telescopes can only see as far back in to the universe as the radiation guessed to be left over rubbish from the big bang. I looked through the questions already asked and found this question: The universe is everything that exists. So, if the universe does expand forever, what will it expand into? The answer was: What the universe expands into depends on whether it is infinite or not. If it is infinite, it is not expanding into anything, since it has no edge. If it is finite, this means that space is curved back on itself like a balloon. This would mean that space had no edge, only a smooth surface. In this case, the universe could not be expanding into anything like space-like. As galaxies get farther away, space stretches, but nothing is displaced. My point is that nothing cannot exist, nothing is impossible, there much be something. If it bends back on itself in an oval like shape there must be something behind this oval. I strongly disbelieve that there is nothing. If it is expanding there has to be room for it to expand in to otherwise it would not expand. Take a balloon inside a box. Blow the balloon and when it gets too big for the box it will not expand anymore, there is no room for it. If there is nothing stopping the expansion what is it expanding in to. If it is bending back on itself what is outside of this shape. Could that be a parrallel universe?	The answer to your question escapes the scope of this section. For a good dicussion of this topic, visit here.
February 13, 2008	tikeyah (age 15, illions)	how does the concentration of salt water affects how well it freezes	For higher concentration of salt, the freezing point of water will be greater. See this webpage for a detailed explanation.
February 13, 2008	tikeyah (age 15, illions)	how does the concentration of salt water affects how well it freezes	For higher concentration of salt, the freezing point of water will be greater.
February 12, 2008	Debbie (age 48, Michigan)	I found a interesting rock in Grand Traverse Bay that looks like a foot print is embedded in it, the foot print looks somewhat human, is about 11-12 inches long, it gets really wide at the toe end 5-6 inches. Where can I take this rock to have it check out by someone reliable? Thanks, Deb	The University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology (UMMA) is a good and nearby location for you.
February 11, 2008	Ian (age 17, Ontario)	What is anything divided by zero. If it is not possible then what are some of the educated guesses out there?	Division by zero is an operation for which there is not an answer, it is undefined.
February 11, 2008	Emily (age 9, P.A)	What is the meaning of a sediment?	Sediment is any particulate matter that is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water.
February 8, 2008	Radha (age 13, India)	I have heard that our earth is about to finish in coming 65 years. is it true?	There is not any factual basis for such a claim.
February 7, 2008	William (age 12, Illinois)	Why do soda pop go flat?	Because the carbon dioxide, which keeps the soda carbonated, escapes when the bottle or can is open.
February 7, 2008	harris (age 11, florida)	why does a soda bubble when you shake it	The carbon dioxide gas, which keeps the soda carbonated, is usually collected at the top of the liquid, in the space between the cap and the surface of the soda. When the bottle is open, the pressure inside the bottle change and the gas suffers a sudden expansion, escaping with a hiss from the bottle. When the bottle is shaken, the gas is mixed with the liquid, and if the bottle is opened immediately, the gas expands and forces, during this process, the liquid out of the bottle.
February 6, 2008	Anne (age 26, UK)	What kind of enzyme is used in washing powders and how does it work to get your washing clean, in terms of the active site and substrate? What are the adavantages and disadvantges of using a biological washing powder rather than a non-bio alternative?? What links do biological washing powders have to dermatitis?	Your questions escape the reach of this section, but you will find a good deal of information on this topic here.
January 31, 2008	norman (age 12, ontario)	my question is did you guys find out if there life on titain one of saterns moonsbecause i hered of that prob u sent there? and if u guys need some one to go to mars in 2030 call me!	So far, the efforts to find extraterrestrial life have not been successful.
January 30, 2008	Sylvia (age 10, Alaska)	what is cleavage fracture	Please, visit this page.
December 27, 2007	Gabie (age 15, Colorado)	Why does America belive in climate models and how does it help our kind?	A climate model uses hundreds of mathematical equations to describe processes that happen on our planet, processes like wind, ocean currents, and plant growth. Math is also used to describe how Earth processes are related to each other. For instance, how wind patterns affect the transport of storms from one area to another, how ocean currents affect the amount of heat in the atmosphere, and how plant growth affects the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. All these things, described with all this math, help scientists understand how Earth's climate works and how climate is changing. More information in our web page How Climate Models Work.
December 27, 2007	Elena (age 23, USA,Colorado)	Why does the scale show our mass in pounds if,in fact,it does measure our weight,which should be in newtons?	You are right. I believe it is only a matter of convenience or what we are use to.
December 26, 2007	Carla (age 25, Florida)	How many satellites are in space? How many are active and inactive? How far are they from earth? How do you put them in space?	An exact answer to your question is hard to come with. It is accepted that more than 2200 tons of manmade junk are in the environment near the earth. The main "space polluters" are Rusian and USA, as well as the main users of active satellites (close to 4 thousands in each case).
December 26, 2007	jamyra	how does plasma produce pictures	A detailed answer to your question here.
December 26, 2007	mohammed (age 50, uk england)	what is the difference between the baby moon and the sightings of the moon?	The definition of babymoon is: Babymoon, a planned period of calm spent together by a just-born baby and its parents; occasionally, time spent by parents without their baby; (hence) a vacation or holiday taken by a pregnant woman and her partner. This is not related to our Moon in any way.
December 21, 2007	Shailee (age 11, Ontario, Canada)	How can I communicate with a scientist, an astronaut or an astronomer?	There are many space scientist working in universities all around the globe. For example, there is an Institute for Space Studies in the University of Toronto, Ontario (where you live).
December 21, 2007	corbie (age 18, canada)	is it true that all minerals can form crystals	Minerals grow in specific shapes, and usually crystallize into one of six crystal systems: Isometric -- Example: pyrite. Tetragonal -- Example: zircon. Hexagonal -- Example: beryl. Orthorhombic -- Example: topaz. Monoclinic -- Example: gypsum. Triclinic -- Example: feldspar.
December 21, 2007	Carri (age 16, KY, USA)	Can You See Lighting With The Human Eye?	Yes, the electric discharge of lighting is visible.
December 19, 2007	michael (age 11, texas)	What is the definition of physical and chemial change	Chemical Change: A rearrangement of the atomic array of matter which results in a change of physical properties. Physical Change: A change in matter which does not alter the chemical properties of the matter.
December 18, 2007	rix (age 14, phillipines)	how do satellites stay at their orbits?	The determination of satellite's orbits involves very complex calculations. If the satellite is supossed to stay in orbit around earth, then it would need a particular speed, but if the stellite will leave our planet, then it would need a different, and higher speed (these are called escape speed). To keep a satellite in orbit, gravity and the momentum of the satellite have to be balanced.
December 18, 2007	robernae (age 12, ky usa)	in order to watch tv does there have to be a sattellite in space	Almost everywhere there are local stations broadcasting, some of them even in high resolution, and you only need a normal antenna to receive their signal.
December 17, 2007	kelsey (age 12, PA)	What is geology?	Geology is the science and study of the solid matter of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history and the processes that shape it.
October 16, 2007	alicia (age 11, ga)	where can i find the roman god "fortuna" at?	This page will give information on this topic.
October 15, 2007	mary (age 12, england)	what is the connection between the size of a planet & it's density	Density is defines as mass divided by volumen. If the mass of an object is kept constant, the density of the object will decrease when the object increases its size (volume).
September 24, 2007	renee		The exploration of space has been based on the technological and scientific advances of humanity. The development of the powerful engines, the advances in radio communication, radar technologies, optical technologies for telescopes, understanding of the laws of the movement, the application of Physics, Math, etc. are only few examples of the use of science and technology in the exploration of space.
September 24, 2007	karina		Criteria are a set of standards by which something or someone can be judged so as to enable a decision to be made as to the identity or classification of any subject. Extracted from UNDP.
September 24, 2007	RANGARAJAN (age 44,INDIA)	If the other side of ocean can also be an ocean,then how come gravitational pull work on both the oceans which are diametrically opposite and still holds the water towards earth?	Gravity is a common force first studied by Newton. He expressed his Law of Universal Gravitation as "Each particle of matter attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them." The mathematical formula for the force of gravity is: Fg = (G * m1 * m2) / (r2) where G is the gravitational constant (a very small value (6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2 = 0.000 000 000 066 7 N m2 kg-2 )), m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects, and r is the distance between the two masses. The gravity force calculated by this expression acts between the centers of masses of the bodies, so it is not important where the oceans are, everything on our planet is under the action of the gravitational force that it exerts.
September 24, 2007	RANGARAJAN (age 44, INDIA)	if our earth is like a ball,we live on the top surface of the ball.If an aeroplane flys continously in eastern direction,then how it reaches the western side as there is no change in the flying direction of the plane	North, South, East and West are defined as a function of the observe position. So, there is no a way to "reach" them, they move with you.
September 18, 2007	Michele		This story is not true. It is a myth that has been floating around the Internet for a few years. Mars will never look any larger than a bright star to the naked eye. The next close approach between Earth and Mars will be in mid-December of 2007; the planets will pass within about 88 million km (55 million miles) of each other. In August 2003 the two planets were closer together than they had been for a very long time. See the following pages for more: Headline Universe, Mars Orbit. We try to highlight at least some of the major ongoing astronomical events; but unfortunately do not have enough staff to cover all of them. (Thanks to Randy).
September 18, 2007	abdul (age 19, india)	can electricity is supplied without a wire	Yes, and a good example are RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags, used for the purpose of identification using radiowaves. An interesting application is described here.
September 12, 2007	aadya (age 11, India)	in school, we put a portable music system on the floor, where some water had spilt and then plugged it into an electrical socket to play it. it played for a short while and suddenly there was smoke coming out of the music system and it blew up! the mini-circuit-breaker was still 'on' but the other appliances like fans etc also went off. what happened here? could you please explain??	Just in few words, electricity and water is always a dangerous mix!!! Water has a low lectrical resistance, and the electricity always follows the lower resistance path.
August 17, 2007	Nishi (age 13, United Arab Emirates)	what is Kyoto Protocol	From December 1 through 11, 1997, more than 160 nations met in Kyoto, Japan, to negotiate binding limitations on greenhouse gases for the developed nations, pursuant to the objectives of the Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992. The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol, in which the developed nations agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, relative to the levels emitted in 1990. The United States agreed to reduce emissions from 1990 levels by 7 percent during the period 2008 to 2012. The full text of the protocol in several languages can be found in this link.
August 15, 2007	Dylan (age 10, auckland)	how many km is a light year	A light year is the distance that the light (or any electromagnetic signal) covers in the vacuum in one terrestrial year. 1 light year equals 9.4605284 × 1012 kilometers, this is 9 460 528 400 000 kilometers.
August 14, 2007	NAINA (age 11, LUCKNOW)	WHAT IS PERIMETER AND AREA?	Perimeter is the measure of the distance around the outside of a shape.area is the amount of space in a flat surface measured in square units.
August 14, 2007	NAINA (age 11, LUCKNOW)	WHAT IS STONE AGE	The Stone Age is part of the history of the world that comprises the first extensive use of (rudimentary) technology in human evolution. The Stone Age is usually divided into three separate periods--Paleolithic Period, Mesolithic Period, and Neolithic Period--based on the degree of sophistication in the fashioning and use of tools.
July 26, 2007	sam (age 10, birmingham)	what was the name of the first clock ever made	Devices to keep track of the time have been used by humans since immemorial times. From sundials and sand clocks (a.k.a. hourglass) to atomic clocks, humans have always kept track of time.
July 25, 2007	srividhya (age 19, india)	Who was one who found out science?	The origins of science are not clearly established. While empiricism has been described since Antiquity (Aristotle), and the scientific method has been employed since the Middle Ages (Ibn al-Haytham), the modern scientific method was not fully developed until the Scientific Revolution, during the 16th and early 17th centuries. More on this topic here.
July 25, 2007	Bertus (age 11, South Africa)	Wat exactly are CTCs?	Your question is really open. Here are many meanings for CTC. Now, if you were asking about CFCs, more related to our web site, they are chlorofluorocarbons, a family of chemical compounds that have negative effects on the environment such as ozone depletion.
July 23, 2007	Ndeche (age 17, Nigeria)	how do i construct a small frequency fm radio station	Your question escapes our content, but I can direct you to web sites that offer the information you are looking for. If you want to build a FM receiver, please go to this page. If you want to construct a small transmiter, visit this
July 23, 2007	avaan (age 46, india)	why are carbon-dioxide emissions higher in winter?	Weather is a very important factor, although not the only one, in the emissions of carbon dioxide. During winter, there is an increase in the consumption of heating fuels, and, of course, in the emissions of energy-related carbon dioxide.
July 23, 2007	avaan (age 46, india)	why are carbon-dioxide emissions higher in winter?	Weather is a very important factor, although not the only one, in the amount carbon dioxide emissions. During winter, there is an increase in the consumption of heating fuels, and, of course, in the emissions of energy-related carbon dioxide.
July 23, 2007	Millard Paul (age 8, New York)	What happened to Uranos when cascrated by Cronus?	Neptune was the name that ancient Romans gave to the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon. He was the brother of Jupiter (Zeus) and of Pluto (Hades). After the defeat of their father Saturn (Cronos), the three brothers divided the world in three parts to be ruled by one of the three brothers. Jupiter took the sky, Neptune the sea and Pluto the underworld.
July 23, 2007	Adolfo (age 24, Texas/US)	the mayan calender claims there will be an astronaumical occurance in the year 2012, what could it be if it marks the end of their era?	This article should answer your question. Let me quote the last three paragraphs: "But scholars doubt the ancient Maya extrapolated great meaning from anticipating the alignment — if they were even aware of what the configuration would be. Astronomers generally agree that "it would be impossible the Maya themselves would have known that," says Susan Milbrath, a Maya archaeoastronomer and a curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History. What's more, she says, "we have no record or knowledge that they would think the world would come to an end at that point." University of Florida anthropologist Susan Gillespie says the 2012 phenomenon comes "from media and from other people making use of the Maya past to fulfill agendas that are really their own."
July 21, 2007	elisa (age 10, California)	why is neptune called like that.	In the Roman mythology, Neptune was the name that ancient Romans gave to the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon. He was the brother of Jupiter (Zeus) and of Pluto (Hades). After the defeat of their father Saturn (Cronos), the three brothers divided the world in three parts to be ruled by one of the three brothers. Jupiter took the sky, Neptune the sea and Pluto the underworld.
July 20, 2007	Gwendolyn (age 35, New York, USA)	What is the molarity of salts in sea water?	A detail answer to your question appears here.
July 19, 2007	siddharth (age 13, uttar pradesh,india)	how can a space shuttle come back to earth from moon without additional fuel as the engines are dropped off during the journey?	Actually, they Space Shuttle engines are not used for lift up. The power at this time is provided by external fuel rockets that propel the shuttles to their escape velocity. The on-board engines are use for maneuvers in space, including the orientation, acceleration (and braking!) when returning to Earth.
July 18, 2007	Stefan (age 26, Romania)	Is it possible to design a metal based alloy that would wistand the ionosphere transition ? What are the caracteristics of such an alloy melting temp/ electrical conductivity , electrical resistance,? Wich is the maximum temperature that would be applyed upon an object rizing verticaly towards space and what are the requirements for such an object to achieve reentry in one piece thx	Without getting in to the details of your question, the answer is yes. All shutles and rockets go through the ionosphere without major damage.
July 18, 2007	LaTashia (age 35, GA)	Where can I find a useful URL guided discovery activity on Earth and Space and the Processes of Life?	You have come to the right place to find answers. Our website covers many topics related to Earth, Space and Life, including hands-on activities that teachers and parents can use. See, for example, the list of activities in our web page Space Weather Hands-on Activities for Classroom & Home.
July 18, 2007	jessica (age 13, michigan)	what did the ancient roman people believe causes volcanic eruptions?	The word 'volcano' comes from the little island of Vulcano in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. Centuries ago, the people living in this area believed that Vulcano was the chimney of the forge of Vulcan - the blacksmith of the Roman gods. They thought that the hot lava fragments and clouds of dust erupting form Vulcano came from Vulcan's forge as he beat out thunderbolts for Jupiter, king of the gods, and weapons for Mars, the god of war. In Roman mythology, Vulcan, the god of fire, was said to have made tools and weapons for the other gods in his workshop at Olympus. Throughout history, volcanoes have frequently been identified with Vulcan and other mythological figures. Extracted from Volcanoes and Mythology.
July 10, 2007	Mikhail (age 8, Australia)	what was Posiden and Medusa's child called?	Upon her death, the seeds of the union of Poseidon & Medusa germinated into the young colt named Pegasus and the giant named Chrysoar. More information on this topic here.
July 9, 2007	kritii (age 11, india)	what are man made satellites? what are natural satellites?	Natural satellites are bodies that orbit the planets, like the moons. Man-made satellites are artificial object created for us to explore the solar system. They are not natural objects.
July 9, 2007	Jorden (age 8, Ca.)	Why are planets named after Roman gods?	In Roman mythology: Mercury was the messenger-god of Jupiter, and was the god of games, of business, and of story telling. Venus was the goddess of love and beauty. To her perfect figure and pure features she added an innocent manner. Mars was identified with the Roman god of wars. He always acted like a strong warrior and a strong desire for violence. Jupiter was the king of heaven and Earth and of all the Olympian gods. He was also known as the god of justice. In Greek mythology, Cronus was the son of Uranus and Gaea. The Romans adopted Cronus as the god Saturn. Uranus stands for the starry sky in the evening. In the creation myth of the Greeks, Uranus suddenly came out of the Earth (shown as the goddess Gaea). Gaea herself suddenly came into being out of Chaos, which came before all things. Neptune was the name that ancient Romans gave to the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon.
July 5, 2007	Tom (age 14, United states)	how long does it take an rocket to travel the whole solar system	To calculate the time we need to know the velocity of the rocket, if it is constant or not, and if the rocket is traveling in a straigh path.
June 28, 2007	shaun (age 8, texes)	what is a meater	The formal and official definition of meter is: The meter is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second. Visit NIST for more information.
June 28, 2007	liz (age 10, ca)	how do scientist know what the structure of the earth's interrior is	There are several methods to study the interior of our planet. For example, seismic waves offered the first glimpse in to our planet's core. Here, in the section Exploring the Earth's Core, you can find an interesting and clear description of how the earth's core was discovered.
June 28, 2007	liz (age 10, ca)	how do scientist know what the structure of the earth's interrior is	There are several methods to study the interior of our planet. Seismic waves offered the first glimpse in to our planet structure. here, in the section Exploring the Earth's Core, you can find an interesting and clear description of how the earth's core was discovered.
June 28, 2007	grace (age 14, england)	how do you measure the diameter of the earth?	The diameter of our planet was measured by Eratosthenes in 230 B.C. Follow this activity from the University of Texas, to obtain the diameter of our planet by yourself (and a friend).
June 28, 2007	Stephen (age 15, Oregon United States)	The process to find the age of a rock using relative dating is?	Looks like you answered yourself: Relative dating tells scientists if a rock layer is "older" or "younger" than another. This would also mean that fossils found in the deepest layer of rocks in an area would represent the oldest forms of life in that particular rock formation. In reading earth history, these layers would be "read" from bottom to top or oldest to most recent. If certain fossils are typically found only in a particular rock unit and are found in many places worldwide, they may be useful as index or guide fossils in determining the age of undated strata.
May 23, 2007	brooke (age 11, )	how do you know the planets are in space	Planets, due to their different behavior on the sky, are easily spotted by the unaided human eye. Many modern techniques are available now to study the planets in details, from space missions to spectra analysis, we now know their density and composition, size, distance from the Sun, etc. For a good amount of information about the planets, visit our web page Our Solar System.
May 21, 2007	jackson (age 40, birmingham)	Is the law of attraction the same as the law of gravity if so do gravity and attraction mean the same thing i.e. Newton's Law of Gravity/Attraction?	Actually no, Newton's Law of Gravity is a universal law, based on scientific observations and method. The law of attraction refers to people experiencing the corresponding manifestations of their predominant thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. Hardly a scientific conclusion.
May 21, 2007	jackson (age 40, birmingham)	Is the law of attraction the same as the law of gravity if so do gravity and attraction mean the same thing i.e. Newton's Law of Gravity/Attraction?	Actually no. Newton's Law of Gravity is a universal law, based on scientific observations and method. The law of atraction referes to people experiencing the corresponding manifestations of their predominant thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. Hardly a scientific conclusion.
May 10, 2007	Jerky (age 53, Indonesia)	What is Science	Science is the term that refers to: 1. the scientific method – a process for evaluating empirical knowledge 2. the organized body of knowledge gained by this process.
May 10, 2007	abu (age 12, Canada)	What is the difference between emitted and reflected light?	Emitted light, like the one coming from the Sun, is produced by the body, while reflected light is produced by a different body, and just bounced by the body being observed.
May 10, 2007	jarod (age 12, ohio)	What should you do during a thunderstorm?	Adapted from the FEMA website: If you cannot find a shelter, get in to the "lightning safety position," squat down near the ground with your heels touching and put your hands over your ears. Do not go under a tree for shelter because if you do the lightning could hit the tree and travel under the ground or "splash" from the tree and hit you.
May 10, 2007	Christopher (age 11, NY )	What shapes do crystals form into?	The shapes of mineral crystals are cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, hexagonal, monoclinic, and triclinic. To see these shapes, visit our web page Crystal Shapes.
May 5, 2007	lalalala (age 17, PN, USA)	What is the theme of the myth about Persephone and how she was kidnapped by Hades?	Persephone was the Greek goddess of the Underworld and the wife of Hades. Romans identified Persephone with Proserpina. Hades fell in love with her at her first sight. He decided at once to carry her off to his kingdom. Demeter was the mother of Persephone. She wandered the world in search of her daughter. When she learned her daughter's fate, she pleaded with Zeus to obtain the release of Persephone. Unfortunately, Persephone had eaten some seeds of a fruit during her stay in the lower world, and this stopped her from leaving forever. After much crying and sadness, Persephone was allowed to spend half of each year on Earth with her mother, and the other half in the underworld. She became an allegory of death and rebirth of seasons. From our web page Persephone.
May 5, 2007	lalalala (age 17, PN, USA)	What is the theme of the myth about Persephone and how she was kidnapped by Hades?	Persephone was the Greek goddess of the Underworld and the wife of Hades. Romans identified Persephone with Proserpina. Hades fell in love with her at her first sight. He decided at once to carry her off to his kingdom. Demeter was the mother of Persephone. She wandered the world in search of her daughter. When she learned her daughter's fate, she pleaded with Zeus to obtain the release of Persephone. Unfortunately, Persephone had eaten some seeds of a fruit during her stay in the lower world, and this stopped her from leaving forever. After much crying and sadness, Persephone was allowed to spend half of each year on Earth with her mother, and the other half in the underworld. She became an allegory of death and rebirth of seasons. from our web page Persephone.
April 19, 2007	Nichole		Spectrometers are used in spectroscopic analysis to identify materials. Spectroscopes are used often in astronomy and some branches of chemistry. This NASA-activity will help you to build a basic spectroscope, and in doing so, to understand the principles of refraction.
April 19, 2007	Nichole		Spectrometers are used in spectroscopic analysis to identify materials. Spectroscopes are used often in astronomy and some branches of chemistry. This will help you to build a basic spectroscope, and in doing so, to understand the principles of refraction.
April 4, 2007	Diana (age 17, Guam)	How do humans affect our local ecosystem?	Humans affect the ecosystems in many ways. From the abuse of resources, to the pollution generated, there has not been until recently a clear conscience of the damage inflicted to our planet. The use of fossil combustibles is one of the most clear (and critical) examples of the ways in which we affect the environment.
March 31, 2007	Shelby (age 14, south dakota)	Who was ulysses? I know that he was a roman hero and that the sun was named after him but who is he?	The legendary Greek hero, Odysseus was the king of Ithaca, a small island in the Ionian sea, where he lived with his wife Penelope. He was known to Romans as Ulysses. After fighting the war against the city of Troy with the Greeks, he started his journey home. His sailing journey was obstructed by the sea god Poseidon. During his journey he had many incredible adventures, but his renowned intelligence helped him to survive the numerous difficulties, although his crew wasn't so lucky. More information in our web page Ulysses.
March 30, 2007	stacie (age 11, california)	how long have people studied constellations?	Constellations are formed of bright stars which appear close to each other on the sky, but are really far apart in space. The shapes you see all depend on your point of view. Many societies saw patterns among the stars with gods and goddesses or stories from their culture.
March 30, 2007	David (age 38, NewZealand)	Is it possible to make a continum with an electric motor driving a generator	No, there will be always some energy lost from Joule effect, dissipation, impedance mismatch, etc.
March 30, 2007	David (age 51, Arkansas USA)	If one was to put a microphone in space and recorded it what kind of sounds if any would it pick up??	There are many sounds in space, for a small collection of actual sounds visit the web page Select Sounds of Space.
March 30, 2007	David (age 51, Arkansas USA)	If one was to put a microphone in space and recorded it what kind of sounds if any would it pick up??	There many sounds in space, for a small collection of actual sounds, visit Select Sounds of Space.
March 30, 2007	sangini (age 13, india)	what is the capacity of a human brain?	I don't believe there is an accurate estimate of the human brain capacity, but an interesting discussion on this topic can be found at the web page How Many Bytes in Human Memory? .
March 28, 2007	Maria (age 5, New York)	What does a Kestral bird look like?	You will find the information requested here.
February 25, 2007	Bethany (age 13, PA/ United States of America)	What were the twelve difficult tasks Hercules had to do when Hera casted the spell on him?	Hercules' twelve tasks are know as: Labor 1: The Nemean Lion Labor 2: The Lernean Hydra Labor 3: The Hind of Ceryneia Labor 4: The Erymanthean Boar Labor 5: The Augean Stables Labor 6: The Stymphalian Birds Labor 7: The Cretan Bull Labor 8: The Horses of Diomedes Labor 9: The Belt of Hippolyte Labor 10: Geryon's Cattle Labor 11: The Apples of the Hesperides Labor 12: Cerberus For a good description of them, visit The Labors of Hercules.
February 13, 2007	Chrissy (age 12, NH)	About how many blood cells are there in an average persons body?	An average adult person body has about 1 to 1-1/2 gallons (4-6 liters) of blood.
February 13, 2007	Mary ( Canada)	Where did the gigantic stones at Carnac, France, originate?	The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of alignments, dolmens, tumuluses and single menhirs. The more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones were hewn from local rock and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany, and are the largest such collection in the world. Extracted from The Carnac Stones.
February 6, 2007	melissa (age 15, Fl)	Tell me all about me Greek God Persephonein to do a report on he Iam in 9th grade....thanks for your time, Melissa Hunley	Persephone was the Greek goddess of the Underworld and the wife of Hades. Romans identified Persephone with Proserpina. Hades fell in love with her at her first sight. He decided at once to carry her off to his kingdom. More information about this myth can be found at our web page Persephone.
January 14, 2007	Joy (age 11, Philippines)	What is mythology?	Mythology is the study of myths: stories of a particular culture that it believes to be true and that feature a specific religious or belief system. For more information visit the web page Mythology.
January 3, 2007	Poonkodi (age 22, Tamil Nadu/India)	How the myths are related to science fiction and modern science?	To answer your question would require more space that the allowed, but you can find lots of related information in our web page Mythology.
January 3, 2007	Vanamali (age 18, India)	What is meant by Fourier Series? What is its importance?	The Fourier series is a useful mathematical tool for analyzing periodic functions by decomposing it into a weighted sum of sinusoidal component functions (called normal Fourier modes).
December 27, 2006	bob (age 34, florida)	what does metamorphose mean	Depending on the context metamorphosis can have different meanings: - the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals - transfiguration: a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances; "the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting".
December 27, 2006	SHEA (age 12, SOUTH CAROLINA)	WHAT DOES THE WORD MESO- MEAN?	Meso is a Greek prefix meaning middle or mid. Is used with Latin, latinized, or Greek words to indicate the middle (often second) part of a structure.
December 9, 2006	matt (age 25, california)	what is paleoclimatology	Paleoclimatology is the study of climate change taken on the scale of the entire history of the Earth.
December 6, 2006	Rita (age 19, Chia)	What are the features of the Roman myths?	This is an extensive topic to be discussed in a short answer. We have developed several web pages about this topic. They can be accessed at this page.
November 20, 2006	David (age 11, Jamaica)	What is a Acid Rain	Cloud or rain droplets containing pollutants, particularly sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, products of burning coal and other fuels and from certain industrial processes.
October 19, 2006	siedah (age 9, dominica)	what are the names of the early civilizations	Early civilizations were extended all over the planet. Just a few of the best known are: Europe / Middle East: Vikings, Celts, Phoenicians, Balkans, Minoans, Myceneans, Troy, Byzantine, Aegean, Etruria, Spartan, Macedonia, Constantinople Africa: Nile Valley, Egypt, Kush, Ethiopia Asia: Akkadians, Mesopotamia, Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persian Empire, Maccabees, Parthians, Phoenicians, Ottoman Empire, Aryan, Gupta, Khmer, Huns, Mongol, Chinese Dynasties Australia & Oceania: Maori, Polynesia, Australian Aborigines America: Anasazi, Mayan, Olmec, Aztec, Toltec, Incas, Moche, Ancient Americans
December 14, 2000	LC (age 13, New York, USA)	I am obliged to do a science fair project in less than one week and it is to be on reactions in earth science. I am very baffled as to what to do.	This page might just help!
November 21, 2000	A.S. (age 13, Oregon, USA) Jonathan (age 9, Virginia, USA)	In what state did the Chumash live?	The Chumash lived in California.
October 9, 2000	Scott (age 23, Florida, USA)	Why does a circle have 360 degrees?	To the Egyptians we owe the invention of the 24 hour day and the 365 day year. But, it is to the Babylonians that we owe the designation that a circle has 360 degrees. The Babylonian number system was based on sixty. In fact, you could safely say that it was their favorite number! The smallest unit of length was the finger. A cubit was 30 fingers, the cord was 120 cubits or 3,600 fingers. And a league (about 7 miles) was 180 cords. The smallest unit of weight was the grain. A shekel was 180 grains and a talent was 3,600 shekels. The calendar was 360 days and the circle had 360 degrees. All measurements dependent on the number sixty...and so it was decided about 4,000 years ago when the Babylonians were a thriving civilization that the circle would have 360 degrees in it!
November 4, 1999	Patrick (age 8, Wisconsin, USA)	Has a hat with a portable fan to cool you down(placed in front of you), walkman to listen to music, soda cup holders with long straws so you could drink it(on the side of the top), and a flashlight on top to see in the dark all combined into one hat ever been invented?	Not as far as I know! And I did a search of U.S. patents, and nothing like that came up. So, invent away!
May 19, 1999	Kat (age 15, Australia)	Can you please give me 2-3 examples of how we use Pythagoras' Theorem in every day life?	Well, if you wanted to know the height of a building, so a plane doesn't hit it, you would use the Pythagorus'theorem. You can step back from the building like 50 ft. If you approximate the angle between the top of the building and where you are standing, you can calculate the height of the building! A simpler example would be during a basketball game. You know that the hoop is ten feet tall, and you know you are standing 10 feet from the base of the basket. You can use the theorem to find the distance between the basket and you!
May 18, 1999	Clint (age 31, Ohio, USA)	How do filmakers shoot weightless scenes? Like Apollo 13 or Armageddon.	For Apollo 13 filmakers used the vomit comet, a NASA turbojet that simulates weightlessness for brief periods through a series of arc manuevers; Armageddon made use of NASA's neutral buoyancy tank; and both m ovies relied heavily on special effects, often created using computers.
May 18, 1999	Alyssa (age 14, USA)	What is the difference between Astronomy and astrology?	Astronomy is the science (study) of stars and other objects outside of Earth's atmosphere. Astrology, on the other hand, is the belief that the movements and patterns of stars and planets effect or control peopl es' lives. See our mythology section to learn about cultural connections between astronomy and astrology.
May 11, 1999	Patrick (USA)	There is a sculpture of Perseus looking at the head of Medusa. Is this a joke((ie: the sculptor carved out of stone a man turned to stone by looking at the gorgon?) I thought it was funny, but I'm wondering if I'm the only one who noticed this. I would ap preciate any response. Thanks!	There is no way to know for sure, but the sculptor may have had humor on his mind when creating this piece. According to the story, Perseus looked at Medusa's reflection in his shield and killed her while she was sleeping. At the time, Perseus hid the head in a kibisis, which is a type of wallet.Pegasus was born from Medusa's body. Even after her death, the head of Medusa still turned anyone to stone that looked at it. The scu lptor was either being funny or showing how powerful Perseus was because he could overpower this famous villain.
May 10, 1999	Mete (age 20, Ankara,Turkey)	Why does the zero longitude pass through Greenwich? whats the special about it?	In 1884 delegates from 25 nations met in Washington D.C. to create a uniform starting line for time. Greenwich, England was chosen as zero degrees longitude because it was home to the world's primary telescope and observatory. Zero degrees longitude i s commonly known as the Prime Meridian.
May 6, 1999	Aaron (age 19, Colorado, USA)	What is the smallest political division in the world?(in area)	The smallest country in the world is Tuvalu, a group of 9 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of all the islands is 10 square miles. Not very big at all!
February 4, 1999	Justin (age 10, Ohio, USA)	When I was 9 I signed a thing that said my name would be sent to Mars. Is that true?	Probably! 932,816 names were sent to Mars on January 3, 1999.
March 30, 1999	Teresa (age 11, New York, USA)	I want to know about Leonardo DaVinci. Period of time he lived,country and what made him famous in history.	Here is our page about Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance Man.
November 25, 1998	Robert (age 17, Wisconsin, USA)	How do I find my longitude and lattitude?	The easiest way to find out is to look at an atlas. Find where you live, then look for the nearest north and south (up and down) line to get longitude and the nearest east to west (side-to-side) line to get latitude. Although you may not live right on a line, you can estimate your latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude may also be included on a map of your city.
July 11, 1998	Cheryl (Age 11, California, USA)	I was wondering when was the first year of B.C. Do you think the ending of time will happen the same year as the beginning year of B.C. only in A.D.?	I see your reasoning. It certainly would be nice and neat, symmetrical even! Unfortunately, no one really knows the exact beginning year of B.C.! Some scientists would say it started over 2 million years ago when the first Homo habilis is dated to (the first undisputeable human). However, many religious groups would disagree. For instance, the Christian religion suggests that B.C. (when the first humans were created) started around the year 4000 B.C. This is a hot topic you're asking about Chery l!
June 26, 1998	Laura (Age 15, United Kingdom)	In what order do the scientific headings go? e.g. Hypothesis, Method, etc. . .?	It sounds like you're probably talking about the headings for a scientific paper. In that case, the order is: 1) Abstract - a brief summary of the entire paper, 2) Introduction - background information about the scientific problem and statement of the hypothesis, 3) Methods - a description of how the research and experiments were done, 4) Results - presentation of the actual data in the form of observations, measurments, numbers and statistics, 5) Discussion - in this section of the paper, the scientist must address the relationship between his or her hypothesis and the outcome of the experiment. Was the hypothesis supported? Why or why not? 6) Conclusion - a very brief summary of the conclusions that can be drawn as a result of the research and proposal of new hypotheses that can be tested in the future.
June 26, 1998	Breona (Age 13, California, USA)	How do humans benefit from mosquitoes?	I'll bet the last time you were bitten by one you probably thought they were good for nothing! Well, from a human's perspective, you're just about right. Mosquitoes can spoil an otherwise pleasant summer evening by their persistant harassment of us in an effort to suck our blood. And in some parts of the world, mosquitoes can be dangerous because they can carry deadly diseases, like malaria. But did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? Male mosquitoes sip nectar from flowers and are completely uninterested in your bare skin. In fact, some species of plants, including an endangered orchid, depend on mosquitoes for their pollination. Mosquitoes are also important to some animal species as food. Frogs, lizards, birds and bats are all quite fond of mosquitoes for snacking. In fact, a single little brown bat can catch and eat 600 mosquitoes an hour! My advice: if you don't like mosquitoes, make friends with a bat!!
June 22, 1998	Laura (Age 15, England)	On a scientific report, what kind of graph(s) are mainly used?	I've mainly used scatter-plots in the scientific reports that I've written. This is where you plot points of two sets of related data. Then you can fit a function to that plot (a line, a parabola, etc.) depending on what fits best. Scatter plots lea d to easy statistical and error analysis. I have seen other graphs used though - bar graphs, pie charts, etc.
April 7, 1998	Maggie (age 23, Norway)	Is it possible for us humans to make any use of black matter?	So far, the existance of dark matter is only a theory. We would have to prove its existence before making any use of it!
March 3, 1998	Jackson County Middle School Science Class(Kentucky, USA)	Can two skydivers hear each other talking when they are traveling to earth?	During the actual dive, when the divers are in freefall, (parachute unopened) the wind is much too loud for them to talk to each other. After the chutes have been opened, speed of falling is much less, so the wind is less, and the divers are able to converse.
February 19, 1998	Timothy (age 6, England)	Why are Maps of the earth drawn with north at the top?	The people who first started drawing maps were the ancient Greeks. Because they lived in the northern hemisphere, the north star made a convenient reference point. Everyone could find it, and once it was found, you could figure out what direction yo u needed to go. So, since the north star was the first thing you needed to find, North was placed at the top of the map.
February 13, 1998	Tarryn (age 12, Western Australia)	Is the month of February named after a mythical goddess and if so what was her name?	The English word" February" is of Sabine origin and signifies "purification." The Sabines were an ancient people who lived in the Apennines northeast of Rome, Italy. They were subjugated about 290 B.C. by the Romans, who absorbed some of their customs. The Romans used to hold on the 15th of this month a festival named Februalia. During this festival, they made sacrifices and offerings to the dead to purify the city. February was said to be sacred to the god Februus, who was probably the personification of these rites. In later days, Februus was identified with the Latin god of the kingdom of the dead, Pluto.
January 20, 1998	Eric (age 32, Virginia, USA)	What is the geometric relationship between the Great Pyramids in Egypt and our universe?	Apparently, some of the pyramids were laid out in a manner corresponding to constellations such as Orion's belt. Others seem to match stars important to particular Pharaohs or dynasties.
November 26, 1997	Sarah (age 12, Colorado, USA)	Have you ever received any messages from or about other people or things on other planets? Do you think we are alone, is there any proof?	None of us here at Windows to the Universe has ever received any messages from anyone from another planet! But to learn more about the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe, check out question #2 under "Alive and Living" and the corresponding link to our page about the Martian meteorite, ALH 84001.
November 26, 1997	Christopher (age 9, New Jersey, USA)	Are there any other body senses other than the senses of touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing?	Nope--you've got them all. Some people may talk about a "sixth sense" which refers to a sense of "intuition" or "E.S.P." (extra-sensory perception), but this has not been scientifically proven. The known senses have specialized areas in the brain which receive information from nerves throughout the body which allow us to experience each type of "sensation". Until we find an area in the brain for psychic ability, we'll stick to having only 5 senses.

Last modified February 20, 2008 by Eduardo Araujo-Pradere.
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