posted by Paula Johanson Have you wanted to learn how to use robots for school or work? Emily Kazanowski is a student at University of British Columbia in their School of Architecture. This fall, she's taking a Robotics workshop. There's she's learning how to use a Kuka robot. This robot is a sort of mechanical arm that moves on more than one axis of motion -- 8 in all! This kind of arm has more…

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Instructions from Margriet RuursYou -- yes, you, right there -- can turn two solids into one liquid. It's not magic. It's science.How can you turn a solid substance into a liquid without adding any liquid? Here’s a fun trick to try at home. All you need is a spoonful of sugar and some fresh yeast. You can buy fresh yeast at any bakery.Instructions:Fresh yeast. Image by Hellahulla, fromWikimedia CommonsIn a small bowl put a small…

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By Claire EamerThe wolf pup cleaned, preserved, and ready for display.Yukon Government photo.More than 50,000 years ago, when most of Canada was buried under kilometres-thick ice sheets, a wolf pup was born in one of the few places untouched by the ice -- a dry, grassy plain that extended across most of what is now the Yukon. No more than eight weeks later, the little wolf died, probably buried in a landslip and smothered while…

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by L. E. CarmichaelForget January, for me, September is the start of the new year - the year of learning new things! September is also Read a New Book Month, and we at Sci/Why are here to help you with that task. Discover a new favourite with our freshly-updated-for-2018 Science Book List. Here are some hot-off-the-presses choices for you and your favourite junior scientist. Captions link direct to Amazon.Bus to the BadlandsCatsErupt!Do Frogs Drink Hot…

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By Adrienne Montgomerie The buzzing starts faintly, then grows. Around and around your head, there is buzzing. Then two buzzing things, then you are surrounded by dozens of flying yellow bodies that… go on their way. Because the meat they’re looking to feed on is not you.You might think of a sting when you think of bees, and you most definitely think of honey. But I bet you picture their fuzzy little legs heavy with…

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By Simon Shapiro What do these things have in common: milk and butter? Of course they're delicious dairy foods. How about milk, butter and balsamic vinaigrette? Still delicious foods, but no longer dairy. What if we add Polysporin to the list (or hand lotion or hair conditioner)? No longer foods and probably not delicious, though — full disclosure — I've never tasted Polysporin. But what they do have in common is that they're all emulsions.An…

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Post by Helaine BeckerI had the great pleasure of working with illustrator Dow Phumiruk on Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13, which "launched" earlier this summer.Dow's artwork, in my opinion, is stunning, and really brought the book to the next level. I was curious as to how she blended her knowledge of math and science with her artwork to create such effective illustrations. So I asked her.Here is the result of that interview:H:…

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by Jan ThornhillYes, that's right. I might be a criminal. I might have inadvertently broken a law. Not only that, but, as it turns out, I might also have been breaking this law continuously for 20 years. Here's my story: Twenty years ago, someone offered me an antique bird's egg collection she'd got at a local auction some time earlier and no longer had reason to keep. Having heard about the "museum-in-a-bag" I drag around with me…

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By Adrienne Montgomerie Well, it depends on where you live. There are certain areas on the planet where you might want to set up sensors. Most of those are out in the Pacific Ocean. If your house is in North America, I’m going to say you’re basically volcano free. Unless you’re on the west coast. And only a handful of volcanoes have been active in North America in the last 150 years. Here’s why.How do…

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By Adrienne Montgomerie Open the fridge on a sweltering hot day and that blessed blast of cold air can make you want to stand there all day.“Close the fridge door!” your parent says.Ugh. No relief. So how can you cool off? Fans, air conditioners, and a shower can all help, but which one is best?Some people say fans actually add more heat to a room. The important part about a fan is that it moves…

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