Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
Why Can T You Put Metal in a Microwave Aaron Slepkov
In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer was standing near a RADAR device that produced high-intensity microwaves and noticed that his candy bar had melted. He then exposed popcorn kernels to the magnetron device, and sure enough, they popped. Soon after, the first microwave oven became available, using the very same technology. So, how does it work? Aaron Slepkov explores the science of microwave ovens.
Should You Trust Unanimous Decisions Derek Abbott
Imagine a police lineup where ten witnesses are asked to identify a bank robber they glimpsed fleeing the scene. If six of them pick the same person, there’s a good chance that’s the culprit. And if all ten do, you might think the case is rock solid. But sometimes, the closer you start to get to total agreement, the less reliable the result becomes. Derek Abbott explains the paradox of unanimity.
Is There Any Truth to the King Arthur Legends Alan Lupack
King Arthur has risen again and again in our collective imagination, along with his retinue of knights, Guinevere, the Round Table, Camelot, and of course Excalibur. But where do these stories come from, and is there any truth to them? Alan Lupack traces the evolution of King Arthur.
Cloudy Climate Change How Clouds Affect Earth s Temperature Jasper Kirkby
As the Earth’s surface temperature gradually rises, it has become vital for us to predict the rate of this increase with as much precision as possible. In order to do that, scientists need to understand more about aerosols and clouds. Jasper Kirkby details an experiment at CERN that aims to do just that.
Run Sail or Hide How to Survive the Destruction of Pompeii Gary Devore
It’s a bustling day in Pompeii. After a quick visit to the market, Fabia spots her brothers, Lucius and Marcus, crossing the Forum. The siblings begin discussing Lucius’ wedding — but a deafening boom interrupts them. They watch Vesuvius spew smoke, ash, and rock — and realize they’ve been living in the shadow of a volcano. Gary Devore follows the siblings as they attempt to survive the disaster.
The Loathsome Lethal Mosquito Rose Eveleth
Everyone hates mosquitos. Besides the annoying buzzing and biting, mosquito-borne diseases like malaria kill over a million people each year (plus horses, dogs and cats). And over the past 100 million years, they've gotten good at their job -- sucking up to three times their weight in blood, totally undetected. So shouldn't we just get rid of them? Rose Eveleth shares why scientists aren't sure.
Why Do Hospitals Have Particle Accelerators Pedro Brugarolas
Is there a way to detect diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s before they advance too far? Doctors are using injected radioactive drugs that circulate through the body and act as a beacon for PET scanners. These diagnostic tools can detect the spread of diseases before they can be spotted with other types of imaging. So how exactly does this work, and is it safe? Pedro Brugarolas investigates.
Can You Solve the Multiverse Rescue Mission Riddle Daniel Finkel
It was a normal Tuesday at the superconductor, until a bug in the system caused your team to be trapped in 11 separate dimensions. Fortunately, there’s a half-finished experimental teleportation robot that may be able to get you all home... if you can figure out how to work it. Can you work out the robot’s design quirks and get your team back home safely? Dan Finkel shows how.
Spells Threats and Dragons the Secret Messages of Viking Runestones Jesse Byock
With their navigational skills and advanced longships, the Vikings sustained their seafaring for over 300 years. But for all their might, they left few monuments. Instead, fragments of stone, bark and bone found in the sites of ancient settlements provide the keys to their culture. Many of these objects are inscribed with Old Norse written in runic letters. Jesse Byock explores the ancient language.
How to spot a misleading graph - Lea Gaslowitz
Visual literacy for data interpretation.
The Good and the Beautiful Motion and Simple Machines
The full-color course book guides the parent through each lesson in the Motion and Simple Machines science course. Hands-on activities, access to captivating videos, video, vocabulary words, beautiful illustrations and images, along with engaging information is found throughout the course. Once you gather any simple le
How the Choices You Make Can Affect Your Genes Carlos Guerrero Bosagna
Here’s a conundrum: Identical twins originate from the same DNA ... so how can they turn out so different — even in traits that have a significant genetic component? Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna explains that while nature versus nurture has a lot to do with it, a deeper, related answer can be found within something called epigenetics.
Why Do You Need to Get a Flu Shot Every Year Melvin Sanicas
All year long, researchers at hospitals around the world collect samples from flu patients and send them to top virology experts with one goal: to design the vaccine for the next flu season. But why do we need a new one every year? Vaccines for diseases like mumps and rubella offer a lifetime of protection with two shots early in life; what’s so special about the flu? Melvin Sanicas explains.