Month: January 2015

Think About It Thursday: Does Wind Make It’s Own Sound?

Image Source: Pixabay.com

Wind actually doesn’t make any sounds until it  passes through or comes into contact with an object! 

On a windy day, a multitude of sounds can be heard outside. One of the most prominent sounds you’ll hear is like whistling, some will sound  like small objects falling / rolling and some sound is like objects rubbing into each other. There are three main contributions to the sound. Each of these is discussed below:

1. Friction- occurs when objects rub over each other. When the air speed increases, the friction over objects increases also. The process of friction can release sound especially as wind speed becomes very high. The friction between air and objects can produce whistling sounds and swooshing sounds.

2. Falling / rolling objects- At higher wind speeds objects are more inclined to fall off of trees and buildings. These objects falling to the ground and rolling along the ground will create sound.

3. Object rubbing- When the wind increases, objects hit up against each other more. This is especially true for vegetation. Higher wind blows trees stems and leaves around more causing them to bump into each other and to create sound. [1]

[1] Meteorologist Jeff Haby – How Does Wind Create Sound – http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/283/

Asteroid 2004 BL86 Coming Close to Earth!

Get excited sky watchers! There is an asteroid that will be flying by very close to Earth tonight, January 26, 2015! Asteroid 2004 BL86 will come about 745,000 miles from Earth. That is equivalent to about 3 times as far away as the moon is from Earth. This event will not pose any threat to hitting our planet but it will give researchers a chance to observe a major asteroid up close! According to NASA, “Asteroid 2004 BL86 is big — about a third of a mile (a half-kilometer) in size. It will be the closest known asteroid this large to pass near Earth until 2027, when an asteroid called 1999 AN10 flies by.” The best chance at viewing this astronomical event will be from 8pm EST Monday until 1am EST on Tuesday, but it will not be observable by the naked eye. A telescope or binoculars may just do the trick however. OR if you don’t own any of that equipment, no worries! You can watch the event from the comfort of your own computer screen.

Here is the link to the 2004 BL86 asteroid event: http://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2014/12/06/potentially-hazardous-asteroid-357439-2004-bl86-close-encounter-online-event-26-jan-2015/

Caroline’s Greek Goddess Science Birthday Party!

Over the weekend High Touch High Tech-Western North Carolina’s Asteroid Amber, attended a fabulous birthday party extravaganza at the Biltmore Park Clubhouse for Caroline’s 7th birthday party. This birthday girl had a Greek Goddess themed birthday but happens to LOVE science. So we threw her the best science Goddess birthday EVER! Check out the awesome pictures below.

The girls got to erupt a volcano just like Mt. Vesuvius, they had a hair-raising good time when they used our Van der graaf machine, they had fun while making Siren’s Smile Putty and Apollo’s Scepters!

Caroline we hope you and your friends had a fantastic birthday party!

On The Map Monday: Cenotes in Mexico

The cenote (pronounced seh-NO-tay) is a large sinkhole resulting from a collapse of limestone bedrock exposing groundwater below. They are commonly found in the Yucatan area of Mexico. To the Mayan’s the cenote is known as “sacred well”, a source of water when the season was dry. Cenote’s are common geological formations in areas with low latitudes, including islands and coastlines. The water in a cenote is usually very clear as it comes from rain water which is filtered very slowly through the ground and contains very little dirt/earth particles. The water can be so clear that you can see little fish swimming around below! This water in a cenote can carve out intricate caves out of the limestone bedrock as well.

Here’s a list of a few famous cenote’s in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico:

(Most of these you can go visit and actually swim in!)

1. Cenote Yokdzonot, near Chichén Itzá

2. Cenote Dos Ojos, near Tulum

3. Cenote Samulá, near Valladolid and Chichén Itzá

4. Cenote Ponderosa, near Playa Del Carmen

5. Grutas de Loltún, near Chichén Itzá and Tulúm

Think About It Thursday: What is BPA really?

Image Source: Pixabay.com

BPA or Bisphenol A is a synthetic compound that is commonly found in the manufacturing of  plastics and epoxy resins used to coat the inside of metal food cans. The BPA in the plastic is what makes it clear and tough. Research started to show that BPA was seeping into our foods and beverages causing possible health effects on the brain and other organs of fetuses and infants.  That’s when the big movement of BPA free water bottles and food containers started to become popular.

If you’re concerned about BPA, you can take these steps to reduce your exposure:

  • Seek out BPA-free products. More and more BPA-free products have come to market. Look for products labeled as BPA-free. If a product isn’t labeled, keep in mind that some, but not all, plastics marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.
  • Cut back on cans. Reduce your use of canned foods since most cans are lined with BPA-containing resin.
  • Avoid heat. Microwaving polycarbonate plastics or putting them in the dishwasher may break down the plastic over time allowing the BPA to leach into foods.
  • Use alternatives. Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm064437.htm

On the Map Monday: Loch Ness

Loch Ness is a large, freshwater lake located in the Scottish Highlands and reaches about 23 miles in length.  The visibility of the water is exceptionally low due to the high peat content in the lake.  As you may know, Loch Ness is best known for its alleged sightings of the Loch Ness monster. There has been no scientific evidence found to determine that the monster is real. It was said by an Italian geologist that the sightings of the Loch Ness monster coincided with seismic activity from the Great Glen fault that runs along Loch Ness. What are your thoughts on the Loch Ness monster? Real or Fake!?

Image Source: Pixabay.com

DELTA Initiative

The Corporate Office has been working on an initiative to help everyone associated with your High Touch High Tech programming office remember our brand values.

The purpose of the DELTA initiative is to strengthen the HTHT brand and remind everyone associated with HTHT that for which we stand. The DELTA initiative will serve to reinforce the High Touch High Tech – Science Made Fun mission across the globe.

The DELTA (∆) symbol in science represents change or difference. This is why it was chosen to represent our brand. As trends in education change, so does HTHT! In our ongoing effort to meet customer demands, HTHT develops new programs and introduces new experiences that are flexible and easily adaptable in numerous environments with various populations. HTHT programs make a difference!

Think About it Thursday: Why Does Your Voice Sound Different When Recorded?

 

Image Source: Pixabay.com

Have you ever had someone video tape you and then went to watch said video and wondered is that  ACTUALLY  how my voice sounds? I think we have all had that same thought and hoped that it wasn’t true! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is exactly how your voice sounds to other people. Here’s why!

While you are speaking, there are vibrations in your skull that are set off by your vocal cords. These vibrations travel to your ear drums and send them vibrating. The virbations as they travel to your eardrums spread out inside your skull and  tend to lower in pitch. This lowering in pitch gives you a false sense of bass, which makes you think that your voice is actually deeper than it really is. When you listen to the recording of your voice sounds a lot higher in pitch. And usually the higher tone makes many people cringe! But don’t worry, it happens to everyone!

Check out this video by  Head Squeeze for more info on this topic!

On the Map Monday: Introducing Moundville, Alabama!

On today’s new “On the Map Monday” we are going to look at Moundville, Alabama! Now I’m sure you may have never heard of Moundville, AL but I promise you, it is a very special place and an important piece to the archaeological timeline of the United States.

The Moundville site was occupied from around A.D. 1000 until A.D. 1450. It was said to have been a large settlement on the Black Warrior River in central Alabama. According to the  Moundville Archeological Park’s website, “the site was enclosed with a large wooden palisade. Within the enclosure, surrounding a central plaza, were twenty-six earthen mounds, the larger ones apparently supporting noble’s residences alternating

with small ones that supported buildings used for mortuary and other purposes.”  Moundville got its name from the earthen mounds that were built on this 300 acre site. The largest mounds are Mound A which sits in the most central position of the plaza, and Mound B (just north of Mound A) is the most steep, estimated at 58 feet tall. The mounds were most used to show nobility among the town’s people. Moundville was a place for large trading of maize, copper, mica, and marine shells. Then it became a center of religious and political beliefs, which eventually led to its decline somewhere around the 1500’s.

Moundville was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and the University of Alabama Museums administers 185 acres of the park.

For more detailed information on this amazing archaeological park please visit the Moundville Archaeological Park’s website: http://moundville.ua.edu/

Fun Fact Friday: Honey

Image Source: Pixabay.com

Did you know that honey is the one food item that does not spoil? It could essentially last for decades and still be edible!

Here’s the incredible science behind the long lasting honey! Honey can be categorized as hygroscopic, or have the ability to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment. This ability let’s honey be able to dehydrate bacteria easily.  Honey also has a low pH value, making it usually to acidic and hostile for most microbes and bacteria to live. All this leaves the honey with the ability to not spoil over time. Although it can darken and crystallize. But when that happens it can just be reheated but boiling the jar in a pot of water.