Pumpkin Science on National Pumpkin Day!

pumpkin-1004950_1920 — Image Source: Pixabay.com

It’s that time of year again where the leaves are changing colors, little graveyards are popping up in neighborhoods and millions of pumpkins are going through a metamorphosis to become jack-o’-lanterns. It’s Halloween time!

There are some interesting facts and science about the pumpkin. In history, it was said that the jack-o-lantern was to fend of any evil spirits. Of course, there is no science of any kind to back up evil spirits being chased away by jack-o’-lanterns. BUT, scientists have found that pumpkins have a lot of science associated with them.

Here are some examples:

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Pollution Plucker

Scientists have found that pumpkins are incredibly good at taking pollution out of soil! When the scientists planted pumpkins on test areas polluted by dioxin, the large pumpkin plants pulled up the dioxin and deposited it into the plant. Leaving less of the pollutant in the soil and ultimately making the soil pollutant free!

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Pumpkin Antimicrobial

Scientists from the American Chemical Society found that a substance in pumpkin skin fights off disease-causing microbes that try to harm and rot the pumpkin. Without that protective skin, the pumpkin would surely rot long before it was time to carve it. Later, scientists took out proteins from the pumpkin skins, and found that the proteins stopped not only infections in pumpkins but also some common human infections!

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Pumpkin Genetics

Growing the biggest pumpkin has become a popular sport among some farmers — it takes some science for the farmer to grow that monster pumpkin! They use genetics in order to grow bigger pumpkins. They do this by collecting the seeds from giant pumpkins each year and controlling how the flowers are pollinated. Winning pumpkins have weighed in at more than 2,000 pounds!

Check out the world’s heaviest pumpkin here: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/worlds-heaviest-pumpkin-tips-scales-2-096-pounds-n213846

For some fun at home pumpkin science experiments to try with your kids,

please visit our Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/hthtworldwide/fall-fun-science/

This Color Night Light Is Best For Sleep – The Color Will Surprise You!

If you have to sleep with a night light on you might think that blue and white lights might create a calming sensation and help you sleep best. However, a new study involving hamsters suggests that blue light had worst effects on mood, followed closely by white light. So what is the best color for night lights? The answer will surprise you!

RED!

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The hamsters exposed to red light at night had significantly less evidence of depressive-like symptoms and changes in the brain linked to depression, compared to those that experienced blue or white light. However, total darkness at bedtime is still best for sleep.

So why is the color red a better light for at night?

Specialized photosensitive cells called ipRGC’s are located in the retina of our eyes. These cells are able to detect any light and send messages to a part of the brain that helps regulate the body’s circadian clock. This is the body’s master clock that helps determine when people feel sleepy and awake. These ipRGC cells are most sensitive to blue wavelengths of light and least sensitive to red wavelengths.

In nearly every measure of this study, the hamsters exposed to blue light were the worst off, followed by those exposed to white light. While total darkness was best, red light was not nearly as bad as the other wavelengths studied.

In Conclusion

So if you need a night light in the bathroom or bedroom, it may be better to have one that gives off red light rather than white light! Why not give it a try at home and experiment on how the change in color makes you feel! Also, make sure to download an app on your wireless devices to emit red light a few hours before bedtime. A few examples of apps you can download are Twilight (android), Flux (iOS, Mac).

Check Out this Informative Video:

Sources:

http://www.science20.com/news_articles/one_color_night_light_best_sleep_color_will_surprise_you-117929

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/12/nightlight-color-better-sleep_n_6142098.html

Hurricane Science – Explaining Storms to Children!

hurricane-lili-1060388_1280 — Image Source: Pixabay.com

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a huge tropical storm! It can be hundreds of miles across and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph. For instance, at peak intensity Hurricane Matthew was a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph.

What makes a hurricane special is that it rotates around the “eye” of the storm, which is the calmest part. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. You need three things for a hurricane to form: warm water, cooler air, and wind.

Typically, hurricanes form over warm ocean waters of at least 80°F. That combined with the cooler atmosphere (the air) of early Fall sets things up for a hurricane. Add into that, wind that’s blowing in the same direction and at the same speed, forcing air upward from the ocean surface. The winds flow outward above the storm allowing the air below to rise. Hurricanes typically form between 5 to 15 degrees latitude north and south of the equator. The Coriolis Force gives hurricanes that special spin you see! Atlantic hurricanes typically occur between June and November. Hurricane Matthew is the first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Felix in 2007.

How are Hurricanes Classified?

Hurricanes are classified into five categories, based on their wind speeds and potential to cause damage.

Category 1: Winds 75-95 mph with minimal damage

Category 2: Winds 96-110 mph with moderate damage

Category 3: Winds 111-130 mph with extensive damage

Category 4: Winds 131-155 mph with extreme damage

Category 5: Winds 155+ mph with catastrophic damage

Sometimes a hurricane will start with a high classification of Category 5 but then drop once it hits land. For instance, Hurricane Matthew started off as a Category 5 but was considered Category 4 once it made landfall in Florida. Once a hurricane hits land it loses strength i.e. decreases in category because of cool temperatures, a lack of moisture, and/or friction. Moisture is what fuels a hurricane!

What are some Famous Hurricanes?

1992 – Hurricane Andrew – Category 5

1999- Hurricane Floyd – Category 2

2005- Hurricane Katrina – Category 5

2012- Hurricane Sandy – Category 3

2016- Hurricane Matthew – Category 5/4

Check out this cool video! Make a hurricane in a bowl at home with your children!

Sources:

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-matthew-by-the-numbers

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-hurricane.htm

Rare Meteorological Phenomenon Seen Above Hurricane Matthew!

Rare sprites were seen above Hurricane Matthew’s thunderstorms over the weekend!

Hurricane Matthew is a storm that was heading for the Caribbean this past weekend and it started producing some unique sights. Red bursts of light were photographed from Puerto Rico early Saturday morning, October 1, 2016! Hurricane Matthew had just undergone a rapid intensification. These bursts of energy or electrical discharges in the upper levels of the atmosphere are known to the science community as Sprites.

What Are Sprites?

Sprites occur above thunderstorms from the positive discharge of cloud to ground lightning. Sprites are usually weak bursts of energy that are released directly over an active thunderstorm cloud with cloud-to-ground lightning below.

Sprites are generally colored red, but can appear blue similar to the color of some lightning strikes closer to the cloud. Some sprites can reach 55 miles into the atmosphere.

Sprites are usually very quick, lasting only a few milliseconds and are hard to capture in photography.

For that fact alone, sprites are fairly rare sights.

Check out this video below to learn more about these rare meteorological phenomenons!!

https://youtu.be/NrRwhipURDw