Earth and Space Sciences
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Life
Analyzing a top article
Students will read and summarize one of the Top 10 stories of 2017, as reported by Science News.
- Chemistry
Making carbon connections
These discussion prompts cover the basics of radioactive decay and carbon-14 dating, as well as concepts related to climate change.
- Plants
Uniting past and present
Students will search the Science News archive for stories related to frozen mosses, radioactive carbon-14 dating and global warming.
- Plants
Mosses exposed and analyzed
Students will answer questions about how scientists measure the age of newly thawed mosses in the Arctic, and the implications of those scientists' findings.
- Physics
The pressure to be a star
To better understand the life cycle of stars, students will estimate the conditions involved in stars and element formation.
- Space
Star light, star bright
These discussion prompts cover the principles of spectroscopy, stellar evolution and fusion reactions.
- Space
Crash from the past
Students will search the Science News archive for other stories on neutron star collisions and gravitational waves.
- Physics
Spotting a neutron star collision
Students will answer questions related to the Science News article "Neutron star crash seen for the first time."
- Plants
Behold the power of light
These discussion prompts cover chloropasts, chlorophyll, photosynthesis and related reactions, and solar cells.
- Plants
Peering back at plants
Students will search the Science News archive for stories about photosynthesis and plant roots.
- Plants
The molecular lives of plants
These questions focus on articles about two of the 2017 SN 10: Scientists to Watch. The scientists are studying how plant roots seek water and developing artificial photosynthesis.
- Space
Science News as research inspiration
Students will discuss the scientific details that are left out of short news reports and explore how these brief reports can lead to ideas for original research.
