Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Life's Big Questions: Are We Alone?

This video segment adapted from NOVA features a variety of scientific perspectives on the age old question, "Are we alone in the universe?" Animations make vivid the improbability that we could intercept a radio wave signaling extra...

Build a simple wind tunnel to help formulate and answer questions about how wind influences animals and plants, and then use it to explore why geese fly in formation and to examine why certain plants do not break in strong winds.

Investigate the science behind global warming with these classroom activities. Compare light and dark objects to see how they respond to light absorption and heat generation, and describe the albedo values of various materials.

Explore the human body's need for a normal cycle of dark and light and apply this to an understanding of biological clocks in other animals. Test the effect of light on the development of mealworm larvae into adults.

Investigate the scientific principles of biospheres, and observe the effects of biological processes on closed systems.

Explore scientific research that says continued brain activity may delay or slow the loss of memory function. Investigate and practice different techniques to increase recall.

Explore the science of sound and the human ear, and explain how this applies to the operation of cochlear implants for the deaf. Observe how structures can be "tuned" to respond to different frequencies.

Investigate how geneticists use selective breeding to capitalize on hybrid vigor by using colored chips to represent traits in succeeding generations. Use Explain why farmers must buy new hybrid seed each year.

This article, published by Scientific American (July 9, 2002), highlights a new study which questions the wisdom of harvesting only the largest fish. This "selective extraction" may be causing wild fish to shrink over time.

Explore some of the hard questions and issues related to scientific research and project funding. Role-play a mock Congressional hearing to discuss the wisdom of a new scientific venture with no perceivable practical use to mankind.