Shared Science Blog

Tis the Season! This December, we're bursting with holiday cheer and all things STEM-tastic! As a festive treat, we’re unwrapping a bundle of holiday science just for you! This December's Winter Solstice! As the temperatures drop, we feel it's important to discuss the state of our planet! The winter solstice, which marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, will take place on Saturday, December 21, 2024. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this December solstice signifies the longest nights and the shortest days of the year. Link to Article: When is the Winter Solstice and what happens? | Space The Science Behind Rudolph's Red Nose! We’re all familiar with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but did you know there's a scientific explanation behind reindeers who appear to have red noses? Some reindeer really do have them due to a concentration of blood vessels located just beneath the surface of their skin. Link to Article:  The Scientific Reason W...

We like to show our gratitude and thankfulness in November. In appreciation of our amazing STEM ed supporters and students, we're offering the following STEM stories to gobble up! A Turkey's Wattle Makes Some Interesting Color Changes There is so much to be grateful for, particularly as we consider our accomplishments so far this year and anticipate the holidays ahead. While turkey may be a staple of many Thanksgiving meals, the animal has some distinct features we can also appreciate, like how its wattle changes color to reflect its emotions.  When a male turkey is excited, his head will turn blue, and when he's under stress, it will become bright red. These color changes can occur multiple times throughout the day, reflecting his varying levels of stress and relaxation. Link to Article:  https://www.lensc.org/8-wild- facts-about-wild-turkeys/ Chemistry Happens With Pumpkin Pie Pies are a favorite at Thanksgiving! Many pumpkin pie recipes for the holiday feature cloves and...

October is here, and we're all set for some spine-chilling STEM facts and stories!  Spine tingling? Spine chilling?  The human spinal cord contains spinal nerves that work with your brain to form your central nervous system. It's like a highway of signals to and from your brain. Along this highway, there are  over 69 million neurons .  Link to Article:  https://spineina.com/ Howl to the double moons?  A second so-called “moon” has recently taken up residence in our orbit. The school bus-sized asteroid will be orbiting Earth until Nov. 25. At least five times further from Earth than our true moon at its closest approach, the asteroid is much too tiny to be seen with the naked eye or without the help of research-grade telescopes. Even calling the object a “mini-moon” is a bit of a stretch, says  Thomas Statler , the lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA Headquarters.  Link to article:  https://www. nationalgeographic.co...

Welcome back to school month! We're ready to get kids excited about science during STEM Lab and After School Enrichment for the 2024-25 school year!  September's Harvest Moon On September 17, 7:34p Long Beach Time, we'll experience a harvest moon. What makes it a harvest moon and not just a regular full moon? It's the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox. While this full moon may appear slightly bigger and brighter than usual, spotting this variance isn't always obvious.  Link to Article: https://www.space.com/ harvest-moon-supermoon- partial-lunar-eclipse- september-2024 An Awesome Color Change in Nature Amidst our local palm trees and pine trees, look for the dogwood and maple trees beginning their transformations of leaf color. During autumn, due to shifts in daylight length and temperatures, leaves halt their food production process. As chlorophyll diminishes, the green fades away, revealing vibrant yellow and orange hues that contribute to the beauty of fa...

  As August heats things heat up, there's still time to "harvest" fun STEM facts! Keep reading to find out more! The Perseid Meteor Shower Check out the Perseid Meteor shower – its name originates from Greek mythology and sons of Perseus. Peaking August 11–13, the Perseids are forecasted to yield about 100 meteors per hour, establishing it as a reliable annual meteor event. Plus, this year we anticipate less bright moonlight to interfere with visibility. Link to Article: https://www.space.com/perseid-meteor-shower-2024-peak Coming Together for STEM-Aviation Day Every year on August 19th, pilots, flight attendants, aircraft mechanics, and other aviation industry professionals come together to commemorate National Aviation Day. Initiated by former President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, this day celebrates the progress and innovations in aviation. Link to Article: https://www.sheffield.com/articles/national-aviation-day-august-19th Harvesting STEM Activity August is a mont...

  In July, we commemorate a variety of occasions! While we observe the 4th of July, Pride Month, and Disability Month, let's not forget the numerous STEM discoveries worth celebrating and exploring! The Remarkable Landing on the Moon! July is a month filled with important events. Let's reflect on a remarkable astronomy STEM occurrence that happened on July 20, 1969! It marks the day Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on the moon. Subsequently, at 02:56 UTC on July 21, Armstrong made history as the first person to set foot on the Moon's surface.       Link to Article:  July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind - NASA A Special Message from our NASA Astronauts!                                                                     ...