Homely Scientist

I just heard this on CBC radio and then found it on Forever Geek, that the definition of a planet has now been updated/changed to:
A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.
So, according to Scientific American:
By these criteria, the sun has 12 planets: the nine conventional ones plus Charon, Xena, and the largest asteroid, Ceres (which has been there before …read more

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Yesterday Lorraine and I took my kids to Brooks Point here on Pender. Beyond the beauty of being close to the ocean, getting the kids out of the house, and me away from this darned computer, the fun was watching the kids exploring with awed wonder at the marine life in the scores of tide pools.  Okay not just the kids, but me too.
This is what introducing science to your kids is really all about.  The joy and thrill of exploring, wondering, and asking.  Learning where you are likely to find a sea star or anemone.  Watching little fish (sculpins …read more

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This is too cool. I found on Download Squad a Yahoo Widget called Wiglet that is a little Jell-O mold that wiggles whenever the USGS records an earthquake anywhere in the world.  I have a nice red Jell-O right now and have been watching some seismic activity in Mexico.
What does this show?  Well that there are earthquakes going on pretty much all the time.  Didn’t know that, huh?  I think this is a cool way to show, maybe even during a classroom presentation, about how active the earth really is.  Imagine it projected behind you as you talk and it …read more

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Via Pure Pedantry and CNN … James Van Allen, the man who discovered the Van Allen radiation belts that surround the Earth and many other advances in space exploration passed away at the age of 91.
It’s sad when the greats pass away … hopefully he’ll get a good send off next Shuttle launch.
Tags: James Van Allen, Van Allen Belts

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No, not the furry kind, the chemical kind.  Give up?  6,022 x 1023.  That’s Avagadro’s Number (a number which still inspires fear and anxiety in me … where’s my paper bag).  It quantifies how many atoms are in a mole (when mass equals molecular weight).  Yesterday Lorenzo Romano Amedeo Carlo Avogadro would have been 230 years old (1776).  Yeah it’s geeky, but for all of us who have suffered through Chem class … that number was pretty important.
Via A Blog Around The Clock.
Tags: Avagadro’s Number

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Well it’s another theme day here on the old SciHealth channel.  Today’s theme is Summer.  Hmm, odd that because summer is winding down.  Well, kinda.  Regardless I saw on Lifehacker last week a little post about drying herbs.  Why dry herbs?  Well first you should be growing herbs, no not that herb.  In case you haven’t noticed (and boy I have lately) dried and fresh herbs at the store can be ungodly expensive.  Heck in some places safron is kept behind the counter (it is the most expensive herb by weight you can buy).  Growing herbs is very easy (generally).  …read more

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We spend a lot of time in our homes trying to wipe out bacteria and other wee beasties, but you know you can enslave them for your own ends! (voo haa haa haa)
From Ethics and Science talks about making kefir (which is like yogurt),  I thought hey, not kefir is pretty exotic for most folks but how about just plain old yogurt and sourdough bread!  Both are super, super easy to make.
Yogurt is very easy.  The steps are pretty much, boil milk (whole is best), pour into clean (super duper clean) jars, put in some active culture yogurt, cover, and …read more

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Okay you parents can do them too.  Fellow b5-er Jason had this post on science experiments to try (thanks Cory!).  From the Independent had a great list of experiments, but now they are behind the walled garden.  Sigh.  Well looks like I’m going to be on the hunt for these.

Salt and marble mystery
Soda fountain
The ‘egg in the bottle’ trick
Floating fizzy drinks
Clouds in a bottle
Gravity in action
Make your own lava lamp
Orange life jackets
Invisible ink
Quicksand science

Okay … some of these I know and will write up (invisible ink … lemon juice works great).  Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to Google I …read more

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