Shared Science Blog

  February is the month of love, let's keep our hearts pumping with some STEM-ulating fun facts plus a hands-on activity. Also 2009-2024, we're celebrating our 15th anniversary! and look forward to providing STEM ed and resources to kids throughout the LB community. Don't hesitate to reach out to us to bring our programs to your school or neighborhood too. Read on!   Fun Facts About Your Heart Did you know that your heart beats more than 100,000 times a day? It's true! Plus, your heart is roughly the size of your fist and is guarded by your ribs and breastbone. Link To Article: 24 Fun Facts About the Heart (healthline.com) The Effects of the "Love Hormone" Oxytocin, widely known as the "love hormone", plays a significant role in increasing feelings of trust, empathy, and attachment between individuals. Its effects are particularly strong in promoting social bonding behavior among loved ones. Link To Article: Oxytocin: The love hormone - Harvard Healt...

December is a time for joy, celebration, and gifts! As our gift to you, we've compiled some fascinating STEM facts. Read on to discover what's happening this winter in the world of STEM! December's Winter Solstice! The hibernal solstice, also known as the winter solstice, happens when either of Earth's poles is tilted the furthest away from the Sun. This year's winter solstice occurred on Thursday, December 21. In the Northern Hemisphere, this day signifies the shortest day and the longest night of the year! Link to Article:  Winter solstice 2023 is here, bringing the longest night of the year | Space The Awesome Speed of a Snowflake! The average snowflake travels at a speed of slightly over 4.8 kilometers per hour, which is approximately the same speed as an adult walking! How Insects Stay Warm! As humans, we tend to rely on coats and jackets to keep warm during the winter months. However, insects have their own unique methods for surviving the cold. In fact, some ...

  Let's welcome the new year, 2024! It's our 15 th  Anniversary as a STEM ed nonprofit and we have all the plans in place to connect students to new hands-on STEM activities and possibilities. Great things and fun facts come in "24", so here are a few that hold interesting significance. Let's Go 24! The Significance of 24 in the Human Body Not only is the number 24 relevant to the current year, it also plays a crucial role in the body's anatomy! Specifically, the rib cage serves as a protective shield for vital organs like the heart and lungs. This structure is composed of 24 ribs that can be categorized into three types: True Ribs, False Ribs, and Floating Ribs. Link To Article: Rib cage (alberta.ca) How the Purity of Gold Lies in 24 Gold is one of the 'noble' metals; it resists oxidation and maintains its shine.  ‘Caratage’ is the measurement of purity of gold a lloyed with other metals. 24 carat is pure gold, with no other metals mixed in. Link to A...

  It's our November post! Check out the Full Beaver Moon, National STEM Day, and a fun Thanksgiving activity that keeps on giving even after the thanks have been given. Keep reading for more! November's Full Beaver Moon The Full Beaver Moon illuminated the night sky on November 27th, 2023 – marking the second to  last full moon of the year. This particular full moon earned its name from the beavers who construct their winter dams during this season.  As we celebrate and honor Native American Heritage Month, we'd like to take a moment to recognize the roots of the name "Beaver Moon" for the November full moon. It stems from various Native American tribes and  serves as a reminder of their rich cultural history. Link to Full Article:  The Full Beaver Moon shines tonight, the next-to-last full moon of 2023 | Space National STEM Day On November 8th we celebrated National STEM Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the significance of Science, Technology, Engineering, a...

As we embark upon this new season, we have some thrilling news to share with you. From the unusual October heat to a stunning solar eclipse that resembled a ring of fire, and an intriguing science experiment to celebrate the month, we've got it all. Keep reading to discover more! Earth's Warmest October  The Earth has experienced its hottest October ever recorded, putting 2023 on track to be the hottest year on record. The difference compared to 2015 and 2019 is only 1.5 degrees hotter but is considered to be a significant margin due to its overall impact. Link to  Article :  Earth's Warmest October On Record Continues Journey To Its Hottest Year | Weather Underground (wunderground.com) This Month's Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse! On October 14th, 2023, a nearly complete annular solar eclipse was viewable across North, Central, and South America. Lucky viewers in nine states were treated to an incredible "ring of fire" when the moon covered everything but the sun...

  As the new season of autumn arrives, it is a time for reflection and new beginnings. In the field of STEM, September has been an eventful month. We have observed the last supermoon of 2023 and the vivid autumn foliage as the leaves transform colors. To add to the excitement, we have included an awesome seasonal STEM activity for your kids to enjoy. Keep reading to learn more! The Last Supermoon of 2023 On Friday, September 29th, the Harvest Moon will illuminate the sky, accompanied by Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in our solar system, as well as Mercury, the smallest. Don't miss this celestial event! September's Spectacular Autumn Leaves! Prepare yourself to witness the stunning autumn foliage as the leaves change color!  During autumn, as the nights grow longer, chlorophyll production in leaves decreases and eventually halts. This interesting process reveals the vibrant colors of the leaves! A Fun Seasonal STEM Activity! Sun prints are a great activity for stu...

Hello from Shared Science! As we get ready for Long Beach Gives, the biggest online fundraiser in Long Beach ( September 21st), we have some exciting science news to share with you!  This August has been packed with extraordinary events. Not only did we experience the first hurricane to hit SoCal in 84 years, but we also got to witness the Super Blue Moon, which won't happen again until 2037. Keep reading for more information + a back-to-school STEM activity for your kid! The Last Super Blue Moon of The Decade ! On Wednesday (August 30th) spectators were able to see one of the most prominent and luminous moons of the year – the Super Blue  Moon. Contrary to what you might assume, the term "Blue Moon" doesn't describe the color of the moon. Instead, it refers to two situations: either two full moons appearing in a single calendar month (as is the case now), or the third full moon in a season that contains four full moons. Another Super Blue Moon won't appear  again...