NewsHour Extra: Science Archive

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Body and Brain

How Are Vaccines Produced?
Students learn about the immune system, as well as the process and development of creating and distributing vaccines.

2009 H1N1 Flu: The Next Pandemic?
Students learn about the H1N1 virus, discuss methods used to fight disease, and create projects to demonstrate what they have learned.

Tracing Genetic Ancestry Using DNA Microarrays
Students use acquired knowledge and pen-and-paper lab to demonstrate understanding of DNA microarrays and concepts of genetic mutation and ancestry tracking.

The Debate Over Intelligent Design:
Students come to understand the current nationwide debate over the teaching of intelligent design alongside evolution in public schools.

From the Lab to the Dinner Table
Discuss with your students the global debate over genetically modified foods, identify foods that contain genetically modified organisms and examine the benefits and potential risks of those foods.

Stem Cell Policy
Students get a background on Stem Cell technology and learn to write an effective opinion essay.

Human Cloning
This lesson uses multiple activities, which engage students in learning about current genetic research and the ethical implications of this research. Matches Science as Inquiry and Science in Personal and Social Perspectives standards.

AIDS Today
Students make connections between the spread of HIV and AIDS around the world and risks in their own communities.

Earth and Environment

Alternative Fuels and Choosing a Car
In this activity students examine alternative fuels and using critical thinking skills choose the right car in a buying and selling simulation.

How Much Energy Does Your School Use?
In this lab-based lesson students audit their school to determine how "green" it is.

Are the World's Weather and Climate Changing?:
Students use prior knowledge to answer questions on a weather quiz then conduct research in how and why weather patterns and the global climate may be changing.

The Gulf Coast Region
Students study the history, topography, economics, and demographics of the Gulf Coast Region/New Orleans, then use their knowledge of current events to participate in a class discussion about the facts surrounding Hurricane Katrina.

Mercury in the Environment:
Through hands-on activities, help your students understand the new EPA regulations on mercury emissions, identify a major human-related source of mercury in the environment and summarize the dangers of mercury in humans.

The Science of Tsunamis
After learning the fundamentals of the physics of waves propagated through water, students will seek to understand the nature and causes of tsunamis.

You Don't Need a Seismograph to Study Earthquakes
Students simulate p waves & s waves, the three types of lithospheric boundaries and investigate plate tectonics around the world.

Hazardous Chemicals in Your Neighborhood
Students examine the dangers of hazardous chemicals and their effects on human health and look at various cases of pollution in the environment.

Space

Categorizing Celestial Objects
Students use scientific data to develop their own planetary definitions, participate in a class vote, and examine the scientist's role as a decision-maker for the public.

NASA's Return to Flight: Testing Insulating Materials
Students understand the basic components of the space shuttle, understand the use of liquid fuel stored on the shuttle's external tank and discuss the safety improvements that have been made to the shuttle since the Columbia disaster.

Stellar Fingerprints: The Spectra of the Stars
In this lesson, based on images sent home by the Hubble Telescope, students learn about and apply quantum theory in identifying the composition of stars.

Rovers on Mars
In this lesson, students learn about the latest Mars rovers - Spirit and Opportunity - and investigate the nature of communications with the Rovers including the use of Mars Orbiters as relay stations.

Planets in Proportion
Students use math concepts to look at the distance and relative size of Mars and other planets with respect to Earth and the Sun.

Technology

Exploring Alternative Energy Sources
Students do research to determine the types of energy currently used in the U.S., study the economic effects of rising energy costs on average households, and come up with ideas for alternative energy sources.

Hybrid Automobiles
Students understand the basic principles of gasoline engines as propulsion for vehicles, cite reasons why alternatives for gasoline are being considered, understand the basic principles of hybrid vehicles and discuss their pros and cons.

How Small Am I?: The Science of Nanotechnology
Imagine the smallest thing that you can see and then imagine that we can make things that are 1/1000 that size. Guide your students through the science of nanotechnology.

What is a Dirty Bomb?
Student will learn what identifies a bomb as a "dirty" bomb. Identify threats and responses specific to "dirty" bombs.

Body and Brain

Chemical Used in Household Plastics Sparks Concerns
The chemical bisphenol A, known as BPA and used to make many common plastic products used in U.S. homes, is sparking concerns over possible health effects.

FAA Reconsiders Pilot Retirement Age
Current law requires American pilots to retire once they turn 60, but the federal government is considering changing the age to 65.

Music Provides Window into Brain Function
Studying how the brain processes music allows researchers to better understand how the human brain evolved, and how different parts of the brain communicate with each other.

Earth and Environment

Pittsburgh Museum Reinvents Dinosaur Exhibit
The Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh has renovated its dinosaur exhibit to be more scientifically accurate.

Biologists Struggle to Save the Spotted Owl
The animal has been on the Endangered Species List for the past 17 years, but is not recovering as hoped.

Ethanol Benefits Farmers, Sparks Environmental Concerns
The high cost of oil and a national push toward alternative fuels has jump-started ethanol production and caused corn prices to skyrocket.

Space

NASA Develops Plans for Moon-Mars Mission
NASA has unveiled plans to return humans to the moon as a first step toward building an outpost there and eventually traveling to Mars.

Scientists, Students Study Space Storms
High school students in Alaska are helping NASA scientists collect data for a mission that aims to learn more about the causes of the aurora borealis, or northern lights.

Astronomers Debate Pluto's Planetary Status
Members of the International Astronomical Union voted to reclassify Pluto as a "dwarf planet." But some astronomers are unhappy with the demotion.

Technology

GPS-based System May Improve Air Travel
The Federal Aviation Administration has unveiled a new air traffic control system that incorporates the Global Positioning System to more accurately track airplanes in flight.

Engineers Lend Technical Aid to Developing Countries
Members of the non-profit group Engineers Without Borders are using their technical skills to bring clean water and other engineering projects to developing countries.

Fierce Competition Adds Verve to Growing Smart Phone Market
Companies are competing to bring powerful cell phones with Web and multimedia capabilities - dubbed "smart phones" - to the market.

Body and Brain

Scientists Discover Oldest Human Ancestor, New Link in Evolutionary Chain
Anthropologists have found a skeleton of a human-like creature that lived more than a million years before "Lucy," opening a window into the early evolutionary period when humans diverged from a common ancestor with chimpanzees.
October 6, 2009

HIV Vaccine Trial Shows Positive Gains Via Negative Results
Results released this week from an HIV vaccine trial in the Southeastern Asian country of Thailand suggest for the first time that a vaccine to prevent HIV infection may be possible.
September 25, 2009

President Obama Lifts Controversial Restrictions on Stem Cell Research
In a reversal of a Bush administration policy, President Barack Obama signed an executive order this week lifting restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, and called for government to renew its commitment to scientific inquiry.
March 10, 2009

Swine Flu Sweeps Across Globe, Raising Fears of Flu Pandemic
A new strain of the swine flu, a disease in pigs that sometimes infects humans, has killed more than 150 people in Mexico and has spread to Europe, Asia and the United States.
April 28, 2009

200 Years Later, Darwin’s Theories Still Inspire Science, Economics and Politics
On the 200th birthday of the famous and often controversial biologist Charles Darwin, his ground-breaking work on the origins of the human race still reverberates in the worlds of science, economics, politics and religion.
Februrary 13, 2009

Genomes Offer Murky Clues to Personality, Physical Traits
Advances in genome sequencing are making it possible for people to learn about personality traits, such as thrill-seeking, physical attributes, such as "fast-twitch muscles" or hair loss, and diseases inherited from your biological parents.
January 29, 2009

DNA Discovery May Bring Long-extinct Wooly Mammoth Back to Life
Scientists have mapped out most of the genetic code of the wooly mammoth, marking the first time an extinct animal’s DNA has been decoded and raising the possibility that the creature could be cloned and return to life.
December 9, 2008

New 'Fun Biology' Video Game Lets Players Tinker with Evolution
The video game Spore allows players to create a tiny organism and help it evolve into an entire civilization, transforming the concept of evolution to a playable adventure in an online virtual universe.
October 7, 2008

Cloned Meat: It's What's for Dinner?
Cloning is usually the stuff of science fiction or Hollywood cinema, but if some in the food industry have their way, cloned animals could be the stuff you eat for dinner.
August 19, 2008

Schools Fighting Deadly "Superbug"
Schools in the northeastern U.S. are using Lysol and better hygiene to combat outbreaks of a bacteria known as the MRSA "superbug." October 22, 2007

Doping Scandal Tests Cycling's Mettle
Performance-enhancing drug scandals at this year's Tour de France bike race raise questions about cycling's integrity and the sport's future. August 1, 2007

Owners, Vets Question Pet Food Safety
As the list of recalled dog and cat food continues to grow, pet owners and veterinarians are questioning the lack of manufacturer regulation. April 9, 2007

Dogs Give Researchers Clues on Cancer
Researchers are finding that purebred dogs may help provide answers about the genetic basis of cancer -- in dogs and humans. April 4, 2007

The Mystery of the "Gyroball" Pitch
New Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka claims he can throw the fabled "gyroball," an elusive new pitch developed in computer simulations. 12.20.06

Biologist Wins Nobel Prize for DNA Work
American Roger Kornberg won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work explaining how cells use genetic information to make proteins. 10.09.06

Animal Rights Activists Target Research
Some scientists say animal rights activists who use extreme tactics stand in the way of scientific progress. 10.04.06

Vaccine for Girls Prevents Cervical Cancer
A new vaccine approved for girls aged 11 to 26 can prevent a sexually transmitted disease that sometimes causes cervical cancer. 07.03.06

Judge Rules Against 'Intelligent Design'
"Intelligent design" cannot be taught in public schools, ruled a federal judge who called the theory "a mere re-labeling of creationism." 12.21.05

Bird Flu Spreads from Asia to Eastern Europe
Health officials fear a deadly strain of bird flu that has infected humans in Asia could spread to the rest of the world, infecting millions. 10.12.05

Parents Fight 'Intelligent Design' in School
A group of Pennsylvania parents are suing to stop their school district from teaching intelligent design, which challenges the theory of evolution. 09.28.05

Stem Cell Research Bill Sparks Debate
Proponents of a new bill funding stem cell research say that it could help cure diseases, but President Bush says it destroys innocent life. 05.27.05

Is Terri Schiavo 'Starving' to Death?
Doctors and pro-life advocates debate whether the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube amounts to a cruel death by "starvation." 03.28.05

Students Debate Gender Gap in Science
Comments made by the president of Harvard University sparked heated debate over biological differences between males and females. 01.24.05

Earth and Environment

Pollution Cap and Trade System is Major Feature of Energy Bill
One of the Obama administration’s biggest legislative priorities is a comprehensive energy bill, known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, or ACES. July 22, 2009

Polar Bear Listed as Threatened Species
Polar bears are now on the threatened species list after the Bush administration ruled Wednesday that their habitat near the Arctic Circle is deteriorating due to global warming. May 14, 2008

Beetle Infestation May Impact Climate Change
A pine beetle infestation ravaging a Canadian forest may have an impact on the earth's ability to process carbon dioxide and exacerbate climate change, a new study shows. April 28, 2008

Dozens of Pharmaceuticals Detected in Drinking Water
Low concentrations of a range of drugs, including antibiotics, birth control and anti-convulsants, are present in the drinking water supplies of 24 major cities. March 12, 2008

California Recycles Water 'Toilet to Tap'
In response to Southern California’s dwindling water supply, several California cities are trying out new water reclamation projects that turn wastewater into drinking water. February 11, 2008

Race to Secure Arctic Riches Heats Up
Countries are racing to claim areas of the Arctic seabed, which could become more accessible as global warming melts the polar ice. 09.10.07

States Seek Stricter Car Emissions Standards
Following a Supreme Court decision that called carbon dioxide a "pollutant," California is leading the charge for stricter car emissions standards. 05.29.07

Daylight-saving Time Lasts Longer This Year
Most of the United States begins daylight-saving time three weeks earlier this year -- Congress' attempt to save energy and money. 03.09.07

Global Warming Report Blames Humans
The world's top climate scientists said last week that human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, has caused the Earth's temperature to rise. 02.05.07

Green Buildings Take Root in Cities, Schools
"Green" buildings -- environmentally friendly and energy efficient -- may be the next new trend in school renovation. 12.26.06

Earth Day Intensifies Global Warming Debate
Different themes chosen for this year's Earth Day by the U.S. government and international organizers highlight the global warming debate. 04.19.06

Fossil Discovery Could Be Missing Link
Scientists have discovered the fossils of a 375-million-year-old fish that may be the "missing link" between fish and walking land animals. 04.10.06

Tornado Season Starts With Deadly Force
Violent weather, including hail as big as softballs, caused flooding in Indiana, grass fires in Texas and deadly tornadoes across five states. 02.15.06

New England Survives Red Tide Scare
Shellfishing resumed in seven New England coastal communities following the worst red tide toxic algae bloom in decades. 07.01.05

Can this Light Bulb Save the Environment?
A new light being developed for use in American homes could save billions of dollars in wasted electricity and help protect the environment. 06.13.05

Senate OKs Oil Drilling in Alaskan Refuge
With gas prices continuing to rise, oil industry advocates and environmentalists battle over the right to drill for oil in the Alaskan wildlife refuge. 03.23.05

Mercury Spills Raise School Safety Concerns
Recent spills of toxic chemicals like mercury in schools from Washington, D.C. to Wisconsin raise concerns about student safety. 03.16.05

Global Warming Fears Lead to Ratification of Kyoto Protocol
In the world's first major attempt to control climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, a pact that sets country-by-country limits on greenhouse gas emissions, will become law on Wednesday. 02.14.05

Space

NASA Probes a Step Toward Moon Base
The National Aeronautic and Space Administration launched a pair of lunar probes June 18 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., as the first part of a plan to build a base on the surface of the moon by 2020.
June 23, 2009

U.S. Military Intentions in Outer Space are Focus of U.N. Debate
Outer space is emerging as the newest frontier in the quest for a technical military advantage, sparking a war of words between the United States and Russia. February 13, 2008

Sputnik Launched 50 Years of Space Race
When the Soviet Union launched a basketball-sized satellite into space October 4, 1957, it shocked the world and set off a space race. 10.03.07

Number of Planets Likely to Increase to 12
The solar system may gain three planetary members as an international gathering of astronomers debate how to define planets. 08.21.06

Comet Probe Seeks Clues to Solar System
NASA's Deep Impact probe hit a comet this month, giving scientists information about space objects and the origins of our solar system. 07.11.05

NASA Prepares for New Shuttle Launch
NASA prepares to launch Space Shuttle Discovery-- the first manned mission since the Columbia disaster. 04.18.05

Technology

New FCC Rules Aim to Keep Internet Free and Open
The government agency in charge of communication, the Federal Communications Commission, will push for "net neutrality" rules banning service discrimination from cable and Internet companies in an attempt to "be a smart cop on the beat preserving a free and open Internet." 09.22. 2009

Old Phones, Computers Harm Environment
Discarded computers, televisions and cell phones are flooding developing countries, exposing people and the environment to harmful toxins. February 26, 2007

GPS Technology Helps Parents Track Teens
Parents are signing up for services to track their children in cars and on cell phones, sparking a debate over the lines between privacy and safety. 02.19.07

'Very Light Jet' Makes U.S. Debut
A new class of very light jets -- resembling minivans with wings -- will soon take flight, perhaps changing the way Americans travel. 08.07.06

School of the Future Inspires Philly Students
A $63 million experimental high school is using state-of-the art technologies to train tomorrow's scientists and mathematicians. 01.27.06

Iran's Nuclear Program A Concern To U.S. And Europe
Talks between representatives of the European E3 and Iran over that country's desire to develop enriched uranium, a material used for nuclear power and potentially nuclear weapons, have stalled. 01.26.05


	Small Changes Can Help Curb Climate Change Arielle Arielle describes some of the ways climate change is already affecting the United States and her home state, and suggests some ways for students to improve their carbon footprints. Students Spread Awareness of Climate Change Dmitry, Kate, Sveta and Nidhi A group of high school students were selected from 13 countries across the globe to act as International Climate Champions and get other students involved in stopping climate change. Digital Dissection is a Promising Alternative Heather Heather writes about the ecological consequences of dissecting frogs and other animals in the classroom. Digital dissection computer programs could replace the traditional version, she argues. The Illusion of a Clean Future with Ethanol Will Ethanol produced from corn is hailed by some as a fix-all fuel. Will writes that ethanol doesn't live up to the hype. Is Convenience Worth the Cost to the Environment? Yoko A student from Japan launches a campaign to raise awareness about the effects of disposable chopsticks on the environment.

Editor's Note

		Shaky Economy
		Financial Crisis in Dubai
		News Wrap
		Holiday Shopping
		Hard Knocks
		Shields and Brooks
		Austin City Limits

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