Scientific Literacy with Ms. Ghazarian 2013-14: March 2014

Friday, March 21, 2014

Earthquake-Triggered Lightning?

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/earthquake-triggered-lightning

People typically associate lightning with storm clouds, as shown here. But in some rare instances, earthquakes appear to generate the same electrical discharge. The big difference: That lightning can occur despite a clear sky, one free of any clouds.

JCPJR/iStockphoto

Edheads - Virtual Hip Replacement Surgery

http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/

*Disclaimer: Graphic Surgery Photos*

http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/

Testing the Five-Second Rule

http://www.timeforkids.com/news/testing-five-second-rule/152426

An Ashton University study found that food dropped on a carpet is less likely to contain germs than food dropped on laminate and tiled surfaces.

GETTY IMAGES

Human Nose Can Detect a Trillion Smells

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/03/human-nose-can-detect-trillion-smells?rss=1

Zach Veilleux/The Rockefeller University

One in a trillion.

The vials of smells that volunteers sniffed in the new study were only a tiny sampling of all the possible smells that humans can distinguish.

Photos of Beautifully Arranged Microscopic Algae Put Science In Perspective

Brought to you by Davis

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/07/arranged-diatoms_n_4740730.html?utm_hp_ref=art-meets-science

Photograph of diatoms arranged on a microscope slide by W.M. Grant.
California Academy of Sciences Geology Arranged Diatoms on Microscope Slides in the California Academy of Sciences Diatom Collection

Naimor: The Solution for Oil Spills

Brought to you by Morgan

http://www.naimor.com/

NAIMOR: 3D Nanostructure Material for Oil Spill Remediation

http://www.naimor.com/

Pocket Diagnosis: App Turns Any Smartphone into a Portable Medical Diagnostic Device

Brought to you by Ben Z.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140319103612.htm

By quickly getting medical data from the field to doctors or centralized laboratories, it may help slow or limit the spread of pandemics, the authors note.

Credit: Image courtesy of University of Cambridge

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Study Links BP Oil Spill to Dolphin Deaths

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/18/bp-oil-spill-dolphin-deaths-gulf-of-mexico

A dolphin is seen swimming through an oil sheen from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off East Grand Terre Island, where the Gulf of Mexico meets Barataria Bay, on the Louisiana coast, July 31, 2010.

Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Nearly 200 New Species of Parasitic Wasps Discovered in Costa Rica

Brought to you by Hudson

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140304-parasitoid-wasp-costa-rica-new-species-conservation-diversity-science/

This image shows one of the new species Apanteles albanjimenezi, named after the parataxonomist Alban Jiménez in recognition of his diligent efforts for the ACG Programa de Educacion Biológica

Credit: José Fernández-Triana; CC-BY 4.0