Science & Nature

Dividing the process of respiration into two categories, internal and external respiration, can help clarify some of the complexities of this biologically important process. Together, the...

Known formally as the "bald eagle," this majestic bird of prey does not have what many would consider a "happy" childhood. Fraught with peril, the bald eagle's development process ensures that...

Chlorophyll, the main photosynthetic pigment in green plants, does more than give plants their green color; it also absorbs light, which allows plants to convert solar energy into chemical energy...

Flowering plants, or angiosperms, appeared rather suddenly in the geologic record about 130 million years ago, during the mid-Cretaceous period. Flowers gave angiosperms an advantage over other...

Hachure marks are defined as multiple crossing lines that create a shaded definition on either maps or drawings. In topography, they are used to define surface relief. They are also known as "tick...

The abbreviation pH represents a logarithmic scale that refers to the solution acidity. Neutral media has pH 7. Acidic solutions are signified with pH below 7, while basic solutions have pH above...

The material we call steel is in fact an alloy, a mixture of different metals. The element iron (symbol Fe) makes up a large percentage of all steels, generally composing more than 75 percent of...

The public once viewed the non-stick skillet coating known as Teflon as a godsend to the modern kitchen. It bears the chemical name polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Teflon surfaces are remarkably...

Hang a birdhouse in your yard to attract wild birds. The birds not only make a yard look pretty but pollinate flowers in the yard. Use rope rather than wire or fishing line to hang the birdhouse....

Tanzanite is a gemstone that is only found in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Many different shades of tanzanite include brown, iridescent blue, violet, gray and green. Tanzanite can be a good...

Hydro-electric power plants not only provide clean energy, they also conserve water and provide lakes for fishing, recreation and water sports. There are five major parts to a hydro-electric...

Gold is a precious, conductive, and pliable metal that retains a stable value better than many commodities. Its chemical properties make it useful for the manufacture of computers parts,...

Mange is typically associated with dogs and cats. However, the mischievous squirrels frolicking in the yard contract the itchy illness. When Notoedres Douglasi mites infest a squirrel, it creates...

The chemical formula for glucose, C6H12O6, describes the composition of this sugar molecule; its structure and function require a more complex overview. Glucose, among other sugars, plays a vital...

The method of extrusion is one of the main processes in regards to the manufacturing of plastic. Extrusion refers to the process of forming a piece of plastic through the use of certain shaping...

The duodenum is the upper portion of the small intestines in mammals. The duodenum is the section of the intestines that connects to the stomach and pancreas. It's the location where digestion...

A pie diagram is a graph used to visually explain fractions. Each pie piece is a section that represents a piece of a whole number. The pie diagram is used in business, science, government and...

Not all plants produce flowers or grow from seeds. Some members of the plant kingdom reproduce by the production and dispersal of spores. This dispersal is usually aided by the wind or by water.

Diodes are active electronic components that allow electrical current to flow when sufficient voltage is present. Because of this characteristic, diodes can be used as a switch and relay mechanism.

Life on Earth, including plant life, evolved in the oceans. Eventually, plants worked their way onto land, at first hugging the shoreline. Plants require water for food production and...

Combination chemical reactions, also called synthesis reactions, join two or more reactants into a product. The general equation is: A + B ---> AB.

An easy way to remember the skeletal system is to imagine you are building a house. The skeletal system is composed of three parts: the bones, the muscles and the connective tissues. Compare the...

Blood clotting is the process in which liquid blood turns into gel. Blood clotting is also called coagulation. Blood clots form naturally when the body is subject to injury or trauma, such as a...

Whether newly purchased or stored on a reel, monofilament line is almost always stored in a curled position. The line tends to remain curled even after it is removed from its packaging or from the...

Respiration is a process of gas exchange and energy conversion. It is the act by which we take in oxygen, expel carbon dioxide and convert food energy into chemical energy in our cells. We breathe...

Spores and seeds are both methods of plant reproduction. Spores are produced by plants that produce asexually, seeds by those that use methods of sexual reproduction. Both are meant to scatter...

Spanish moss is a nonpoisonous plant of the southern United States that grows on trees and is what botanists call an epiphytic plant. It depends on another plant for support but does not absorb...

Unlike a flashlight, the beam of a laser is highly concentrated. When pointed at a surface in clean air, all that can be seen of the laser is a small dot on the surface. However, if the air has...

Carpenter bees are large bees closely resembling bumblebees except that they possess a shiny abdomen. Named for their ability to construct a nest in wood, the carpenter bee does not have a long...

Scientists and biology students use agar, a substance extracted from red-purple algae, to grow bacteria cultures in petri dishes. Sugar galactose, a substance prevalent in red-purple algae cell...

Diamonds are available in a variety of shades, from colorless to deep blues or blacks. The brown-hued, or chocolate diamond, is gaining popularity in jewelry settings today.

Tree climbing is an activity many children do in their backyards. For some people, however, tree climbing is a hobby that carries on into adulthood. Climbing trees can be great fun if proper...

There is often much confusion over the terms "watch" and "warning" when it comes to weather. The difference between the two, no matter what type of weather they describe, is in the potential of...

Need an experiment to demonstrate how Newton's Third Law of Motion works? This rubber-band car project is a great way to show how for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

During winter periods, high winds, rain, ice and snow make it difficult for many birds to forage for food. Putting out some wild bird seed during a cold weather season is greatly appreciated by...

Care for plants and animals in their natural environment is the goal of environmental managers. Management of resources is a balancing act of leveraging the needs of the plants and animals in...

Plants use photosynthesis as a means to make their own food. By converting water and carbon dioxide into sugars and starches, plants not only take care of their own needs, but nourish countless...

A trip to the beach would not be complete without the thrill of finding a special shell or two to take home. Savvy shell seekers may check the local tide charts so their walk along the waters edge...

A vein is a blood vessel that carries carbon dioxide-rich blood away from the tissues in the body and toward the heart. The heart then pumps it into blood vessels in the lungs, which exchange...

Sonication is a ubiquitously used method of shearing open cells in molecular, cellular, microbiology and other laboratories. Sonication is useful as it does not alter the chemical composition of...

Building simple circuits on a breadboard is a time-honored way to learn electronics. Breadboard, also called protoboard, is a sturdy plastic panel perforated with rows of holes. On some parts of...

Lemongrass is a perennial grass plant that grows in tropical regions of Asia. The most commonly used type of lemongrass is from India. The oil from lemongrass is extracted from fresh or dried...

All cultivated species of flowers have originated from wildflowers. Once a plant has been domesticated, it may be bought and planted all over the world. Some plants when introduced to a different...

Sea urchins are mostly round invertebrate creatures, cold-blooded and having no backbone, that live on the floor of the oceans and seas around the world. There are around 700 separate species of...

The flower is the part of a plant that is responsible for reproduction. Some flowers are called perfect flowers and contain both female and male organs, while others are incomplete flowers and...

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, or H.R. 980, is federal legislation that designates 24 million acres of land in the Northern Rockies as wilderness, protecting it from development.

Gold is a rare metal commonly used in jewelry, currency and electronics. Its shiny yellow color made it popular throughout history for representing wealth. This popularity has also led to using...

Hydrogen and sulfur are elements. The chemical formula for sulfur is S, which is the same as its symbol. Hydrogen's symbol is H; however, it forms a diatomic molecule in pure form so its chemical...

Grasslands in their various forms once covered more than 42 percent of the Earth's surface. In North America early European settlers referred to these grasslands as "prairies," the French word for...

Vermiculture, or the method of turning organic kitchen waste into crumbly, nutrient dense compost, is also a great way to raise worms for fishing. Not only do you have free, soil-enhancing compost...