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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Time for the New Year

Hello World!
Can you believe the year is nearly over? Where did the time go? What is time anyway and how will you celebrate? Here are some cool facts about time- taken from http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/time2.htm
Do you know the Egyptians are believed to have started recording time? They have the oldest device known to humans and it still works! We move to Roman times for more time history, have you ever wondered what AM and PM stand for? "These abbreviations stand for ante meridiem, before midday, and post meridiem, after midday.... A day is defined as 86,400 seconds, and a second is officially defined as 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a cesium-133 atom in an atomic clock." Science is historical as well as fun! Want to learn more? Here is a link to the international association for the study of time http://www.studyoftime.org, journals meeting and more await you. Until next time, Happy New Year! 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Night before Christmas NASA style

Hello World!
Here is a fun take on the classic poem that I found on http://www.physlink.com/fun/nasachristmas.cfm 
Have a STEM filled holiday!

Twas The Night Before Christmas, NASA-style
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the stars
Not a creature was stirring, not even on Mars.
The space boots were hung by the airlock with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The robots were nestled all snug on their tires,
As visions of upgrades danced through their wires;
Mom put on her headset while I counted prime numbers,
We had settled our brains for a long winter's slumber,
When out on the dome there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my sack to see what was the matter.
Away to the porthole I flew like a flash,
And tore open the air filter with a great clash.
The moons on the crest of a new volcano,
Gave an alien luster to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a small UFO, and eight rocket reindeer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than light, his rockets they came,
And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Saturn! now, Sputnik! now, Titan and Atlas!
On, Redstone! on, Delta! Apollo, Polaris!
To the top of the dome! to the top of the wall!
Now blast away! blast away! blast away all!"
As meteors blaze through the heavens up high,
When they meet with the atmosphere and burn in the sky,
So up to the dome-top the rockets they flew,
With a ship full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, I felt on the ceiling
The heat of the thrusters and landing tiles peeling.
As I covered my head, and was turning around,
Through the airlock old Santa Claus came with a bound.
He was dressed all in plastics, from his feet to his head,
And his clothes were all covered in dust that was red;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a scientist opening his pack.
His visor- how it twinkled! his filter how scary!
His gloves were from Earth, the logos quite merry!
His space boots, how costly! they played songs and glowed!
The frost on his suit was as cold as Pluto;
The stump of his air tube held tight in his teeth,
And oxygen swirled round his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a nod of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the space boots; then turned with a jerk,
And spreading his fingers just like Dr. Spock,
He quietly exited out the airlock.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like a high flying missile.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Copyright: Gail Koske Phillips and Patrick Koske-McBride

:)

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Well Heeled International STEM

Hello World,
This season you may be stepping out to STEM events in style but what will you wear? Have you ever wondered where your clothes come from? Or how? Or what heels do to your feet? How about these lovely shoes? 



I have a thing for functional art and design, but just how functional are these?


Here are a few articles to learn more about the physics of wearing high heels.

Basic Intro
http://t.healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/women/your-body-on-…-high-heels

A more STEM based article
https://illumin.usc.edu/printer/81/walking-in-high-heels-the-physics-behind-the-physique/
 
Here is a cool blog from "the science babe" with more information on STEM and fashion from a cool woman in STEM http://www.thesciencebabe.com

And just where did the shoes I found so cute come from? Were they made ethically? If you have you ever wondered where your t-shirt came from, I recommend you read this fantastic book by a great woman in economics. 


It describes the process- start-from Texas cotton-to finish- the freecycled markets in several countries on the African continent. You will truly see how STEM, fashion, and international relations all come together.  As far as why we might choose fashion over function or vice versa- that is another post.

Whatever your style, Have a fashionably international STEM day!
:)



Kennedy Space Center

Hello World!
I had the recent fun of going to Kennedy a Space Center. It is so incredible to think about space, style, diversity, and all the STEM involved. It is inspiring to know that women are pioneering the way! Here are some exhibits from the day that educated or inspired me, maybe you will be inspired too! 








Have a far out STEM day!
:)

STEM Bling

Hello World!
Here is a cool necklace, molecular structures! This structure is oxytocin, the bonding chemical. 
If you want to learn more about oxytocin, check out this link http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/oxytocin

If you want to learn more about a cool science of jewelry exhibit check this out, 
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Bruce-Museum-explores-the-science-of-jewelry-in-1456619.php
 
If you want to learn about diamonds, check out http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/chemistry/diamond.html

Have fun checking out STEM bling!
:)

Monday, December 9, 2013

Hour of Code

Hello World!
Have you ever wondered why I always start with that greeting? No? I will tell you anyway :> "hello world" is usually the first line a person learns to code. It was the first line I remember, in several computer languages. It is a neat thing to tell your computer what to say or do (in its native language) and then watch it happen! Today we have games, apps, programs, robots, and more waiting for You! Want to learn more or get FREE coding tutorials? Check out http://csedweek.org
Happy Coding!
:)