Science Wednesdays: Australia’s First 4 Billion Years

Australia’s First 4 Billion Years

Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of its origins than Australia. NOVA’s miniseries takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today. With high-energy host and geologist Richard Smith, meet titanic dinosaurs and giant kangaroos, sea monsters and prehistoric crustaceans, disappearing mountains and deadly asteroids.

Question Your World: Could We Ever Control Our Biological Clocks?

Biological Clock

Every living creature on Earth is designed, more or less, by four basic nucleic acids. These acids combined in various sequences and strands form our DNA, which dictates everything about us from our daily physiology to our biological rhythms, commonly referred to as our biological clocks. This clock controls when we’re active, when we eat, how we age, and so on.

Science Wednesdays: What Plants Talk About

Nature What Plants Talk

Hard core science is effortlessly integrated with a light-hearted look at how plants behave, revealing a world where plants are as busy, responsive and complex as we are. From the stunning heights of the Great Basin Desert to the lush coastal rainforests of west coast Canada, scientist J.C. Cahill takes us on a journey into the “secret world of plants,” revealing an astonishing landscape where plants eavesdrop on each other, talk to their allies, call in insect mercenaries and nurture their young.

Raising the Roof at the Science Museum of Virginia

Raising the Dome

Susan and Rick Mudd and their children Paige, David and Sam recently raised the roof at the Science Museum of Virginia. Literally. They raised AND collapsed the roof of a wooden dome while they learned all about buildings - inside and out. “Raise the Roof” is more than an exhibit. It’s an immersion in how buildings work and is at the Science Museum of Virginia now until April 28th. You still have time to go and try your hand at all of the great activities that help you explore the physics of architecture.

Techsters Engages Girls in STEM

Sophia Fehrmann, 7th grade Middle Scholar

On Saturday March 23, 2013, Techsters was held at the VCU School of Engineering. The event was sponsored by RichTech Women in Technology. It was an opportunity for girls, grades 6-8, to learn about robotics and a small remote control device called Sphero, the world’s first robotic ball. This event was part of a STEM initiative to attract middle school girls to technology. All of the volunteers were women who worked in various areas of technology. I am a middle school student and I attended the event. I enjoyed this experience for many reasons.

Question Your World: Can We Make Housing More Eco-friendly?

wooden skyscrapper

There are currently over seven billion humans on this planet. As this population grows we’ll need more and more homes for all these people. With limited resources and a constant watch over our impact on the environment, a big question gets brought up frequently about the future of residential construction…can we make housing more eco-friendly? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia.

Science Pub RVA: To Drink or Not to Drink

Dr. Danielle Dick

What is addiction? Why do some people become dependent on alcohol and drugs and others not? Is it truly something that is “in our genes?” And if addiction is genetic, what should we do about it? Dr. Danielle Dick, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Human and Molecular Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University will orient an audience of curious citizens at this month’s Science Pub RVA on Tuesday, April 2nd.

Science Wednesdays: Meteor Strike

Meteor Strike

A blinding flash of light streaked across the Russian sky, followed by a shuddering blast strong enough to damage buildings and send more than 1,000 people to the hospital. On the morning of February 15, 2013, a 7,000-ton asteroid crashed into the Earth’s atmosphere.

University of Richmond Symposium to Impact Design of Outdoor Spaces and Education

Photo: Ginny Sullivan/Wendy Banning

Because of society’s emphasis on new technology, daily outdoor play for many children has become a part of the past. Most children spend only 1% of their time outdoors. Our children's access and opportunities to play in natural spaces has severely decreased over the past decade. Studies have proven that the more time children are “plugged in” their health and social skills begin to suffer. It is now time for us as a community to work together with our schools to take action. The University of Richmond is addressing this “Nature Deficit” by convening a Sustainability and Nature Symposium on Wednesday, April 17th and offering a Summer Institute for Educators in July. 

Question Your World: What's a Cloaked Nanoparticle?

Everyone’s familiar with the old fable about the wolf in sheep’s clothing. In this story a wolf dresses up like a sheep and sneaks past the farmer to go straight to his fluffy targets. Well, a similar story is currently unfolding in the medical field and it could have a huge impact on cancer patients. Check out the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia.