Science & Nature

A spool gun is a hand-held, metal inert gas (MIG) welding device that feeds a soft aluminum wire from a small, 4-inch-wide spool. MIG welding with aluminum, however, is strikingly different than...

Making equations that are linear and exponential in variables, or unknowns, can be demonstrated in the down-to-earth terms of how a bank account grows with interest. Linear equations can be...

The conversion of linear feet into square feet can only take place once you have two linear measurements of two dimensions of the area you are trying to measure. More specifically, you will need a...

The bald eagle was chosen as the national bird due to its majestic beauty. It is a symbol of freedom. Once on the brink of extinction, the bald eagle has survived and continues to be protected.

You can quickly calculate the electrical usage of the motors in your house. Whether the motor is in a refrigerator or a freezer, or in your garage turning the pulley and belt to run a compressor,...

Understanding basic water quality analysis involves knowing what the water being tested is used for. Surface waters in the United States which may be used for different forms of recreation,...

Parents often choose a hamster for their child's first pet. Hamsters are small, cute and entertaining, but some breeds make better pets than others.

Bromothymol blue solution is used as an indicator to determine the rough pH of a substance. It is prepared from a powder, household items and common laboratory chemicals that can be obtained...

Many people enjoy watching the numerous species of birds that frequent their yards in the warm spring months. Some individuals put up bird houses to draw in beautiful native species like the...

Tent poles are commonly constructed from fiberglass, which is a strong, durable material. Although fiberglass is a strong material, it can break or fracture. There are replacement poles that you...

Weather maps (or charts) give you a picture of the weather over a geographical area at a single point in time. Creating a weather map gives you the data to forecast the weather as a whole or a...

The Hocking Hills area of south-central Ohio contains a diverse range of wildlife, including several species of snakes. Many reptile enthusiasts and nature lovers enjoy seeking out snakes (a...

Gatherings leaves from the yard or nature walks is a nice way to bring a bit of nature home. Leaves can be saved to use for crafts and home décor if they are preserved correctly. Pressing...

Macaws are colorful New World parrots that inhabit a range spanning from Mexico to South America. Macaws are often sold for pets, and illegal trapping and trading of the birds has led to several...

An inexpensive green laser pointer is limited in its intensity, so the distance that the laser light can project is less than that of an expensive laser pointer. Modifying an inexpensive green...

Lapland longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus ) are small songbirds of the bunting family, and derive their name from their elongated hind claw. Lapland longspurs flock together in large groups, some of...

The now-extinct elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus), or vorompatra, was the largest bird that ever lived, measuring 10 feet in height and weighing half a ton. The elephant bird has several living...

A siphon moves liquid from a higher container to a lower container. This doesn't sound impressive, except that it gets around a height barrier that prevents the liquid from traveling to the lower...

Water pressure is reckoned in pascals or kilopascals (Kpa), pounds per square inch or bars. Pascals are the international standard (SI) unit of measurement for water pressure. Pounds per square...

When identifying shrubs, a good look at the leaf, flower and overall shape of the plant will help in identifying the family and species of your specimen. However, if the flowers are not present,...

Bar is a unit of pressure that equals to 100,000 Pascal (Pa.) Pascal is a unit of pressure adopted by the International System of Units (SI). The conversion of pressure to the volume (in liters)...

Fluid statics is the most basic form of fluid analysis, and manometry is one method of static fluid analysis. A manometer is a device that measures static fluid pressure. The three primary...

Generally, wildlife avoids conflict. Conflict takes energy. When food resources are limited, it's a gamble. Factoring into this is the animal's perception of danger, whether it be to themselves or...

Bats stay in dark and enclosed areas that can protect them from predators and bad weather. They can be found in caves, but with the increase of homes being built they turn to chimneys, attics and...

A pond is an example of an aquatic freshwater ecosystem. Ponds are home to variety of floating and rooted aquatic plants. These plant species can be found living on the pond's surface, below water...

There are many different species of Colobus, which is a group of Old World monkeys. All variations of Colobus monkeys are native to the forests of Africa. They are well-adapted for arboreal life...

Polyglutamic acid is technically a polymer of a polymer. It is made up of a polymerized form of amino acid found in most proteins, which is then combined with an ionized form of glutamate, another...

The little black ant, or Monomorium minimum, is native to the United States and widely distributed throughout the country. As the name implies, this ant is very small, and either dark brown, black...

Composting with worms, or vermicomposting, converts food waste to worm manure. Its benefits to home gardeners include its simplicity, low cost and ability to compost indoors year round. For...

What do grasshoppers eat? It might be easier to ask what they don't eat. Although grasshoppers are classified as herbivores (plant eaters), they are not that choosy about which plants are in their...

Plant respiration is the opposite of photosynthesis, which is a biological process performed by green plants that creates oxygen and releases it into the air. During respiration, plants absorb...

Pressure in the column of a fluid such as water is generated due to the gravity force. Calculation of that pressure has numerous applications, for example in meteorology or in the design of water...

General science safety rules help layout guidelines for behavior that helps protect laboratory participants from injuries. Safety rules can be found posted in the laboratory or study location, as...

Rolling and diving down the rapids, whitewater rafts have to be sturdy, strong and able to take immense punishment. The materials that make up these crafts are diverse and fascinating in how they...

The American birch is a common tree found naturally in the northern part of the Eastern woodland forest of the United States and Canada. Its range extends westward throughout Alaska, Canada and...

Are you looking for the perfect declaration of love? A way to show devotion to your firstborn child or your favorite NASCAR driver? Sometimes it's hard to find the perfect gift that screams...

Carolus Linnaeus (Carol Linne) Latinized his own name in an effort to make it conform to his new system of naming organisms and classifying all life on earth. Scientific naming had many...

Finding a tarot reading online is not as easy as you think. Here are some tips to finding a tarot reader that you will hopefully be happy with.

While the giant sea kelp prefers colder waters, such as those off the Pacific Northwest, tropical oceans harbor their own collection of plants. Tropical oceans also provide a marine highway for...

Ponds and other small, stagnant bodies of water require just the right balance of plant and animal life to thrive. They are miniature ecosystems, containing a whole food chain of organisms from...

A 5 mW green laser is commonly found in inexpensive laser pointers. The beam is very weak, but it is easily seen because the human eye is sensitive to green light. Modifying a 5 mW green laser...

The mountain en of the 1800s would not have trapped many animals if their leg-hold traps hadn't been tuned properly. That's just as important today. You will catch a lot more animals if your traps...

If you have a problem with pests, like roaches or mice, you may not need an exterminator. Spend a day thoroughly inspecting your house for cracks and holes that rodents might be using to penetrate...

Coral reefs brim with beautiful colors and shapes and are home to some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. However, many are in danger of being destroyed by human activity.

In recent years, hand-held lasers have become a nuisance to some, especially when some people use them to harass cats. Although we often think of laser pointers as a toy, they do have some...

Latitude and longitude are lines of measurement that, when used together in a grid pattern, can be used to find a geographical position on Earth or on other planets. They are very useful in...

Mealworms are frequently used as a high-protein food item for pets such as reptiles, small mammals, and birds. Mealworms can also be a valuable education tool for teachers who wish to explain the...

A toy called a "Newton's scooter" is propelled by the principle behind Newton's third law of motion. The principle is that, for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means...

Rotating garden sprinklers are excellent demonstrations of Newton's third law of motion, the law of interaction. The law states that, for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. To...

Old or damaged soft plastic fishing lures can be melted down and poured into worm molds to create brand new lures. You can melt the worms in a microwave until they have reached a liquid state and...