LIVE Storytime with SUE feat. WHO-HD Channel 13 meteorologist Amber Alexander
It's Storytime with SUE! This week's guest readers are WHO-HD Channel 13 Meteorologist Amber Alexander and SCI vice president of science learning Renee Shull-Harmon.
Our featured books are:
- "Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist" by Linda Skeers and read with permission of Sourcebooks Explore.
- "Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp" by Carol Diggory Shields read with permission of Candlewick Press.
LIVE Storytime with SUE feat. Miss Mary from the Des Moines Public Library
Take a trip through your imagination for today’s Storytime with SUE! Miss Mary from the Des Moines Public Library reads "That's What Dinosaurs Do" by Jory Johns and "We Are the Dinosaurs" by Laurie Berkner. (Read with permission of HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, respectively.)
Safety at SCI
Since the beginning of this pandemic, our decisions have been rooted in science, and the safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff has been our top priority.
At this time, we remain open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays as we continue providing a safe way for individuals and families to experience science learning together!
Here's what you can expect on your visit to SCI:
• REQUIRED FACE COVERINGS - Face coverings are required for all visitors ages 2 and up. If you don't have a face mask, one will be provided.
• HEALTH SCREENINGS - All visitors will have their temperature checked and answer health-related questions prior to entering the building.
• REDUCED CAPACITIES - Attendance is limited to 25% of our capacity in two 3-hour timeslots to ensure space for distancing. Advance tickets are required.
• ENHANCED CLEANING PROTOCOLS - Staff and volunteers are continually cleaning exhibits and public spaces, and between timeslots, the building is cleared for deep cleaning.
• RESTRICTED ACCESS TO HIGH-TOUCH EXHIBITS - We have adapted many of our exhibit experiences to reduce the spread of germs, but two of our most high-touch exhibits (When Things Get Moving and Smal Discoveries) remain closed at this time.
Learn more at www.sciowa.org/reopening
OSIRIS-REx is making history at asteroid Bennu today
BIG NEWS in space today: NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission will land on asteroid Bennu to collect rock and dust samples to return to Earth. It's the first time this maneuver has ever been attempted by NASA!
The spacecraft will attempt its "touch-and-go" at 5:12 pm CDT, and mission coverage starts at 4:00 pm at www.nasa.gov/nasalive
Check out this video from NASA for an in-depth mission overview!
SUE can't wait to eat... er, meet you!
A familiar visitor is coming back to Des Moines...
"SUE: The T. rex Experience" will open at SCI on Saturday, September 5 - the first stop on its North American tour!
Step into the world of SUE to uncover the mysteries about the life of this fearsome fossil.
SUE can't wait to eat, er... meet you.
We haven’t seen them at SCI for a few months, but the meteorologists at WHO 13 News are still working hard to keep us safe and informed!
Today, we checked in with Meteorologist Megan Salois to learn more about yesterday’s severe weather, including a new word for many of us: “derecho.”
Welcome back to the Science Center of Iowa (Summer 2020)
Rediscover the Science Center of Iowa! Hear from our president and CEO, Curt Simmons, about how COVID-19 has affected our operations and how we've adapted and innovated to re-welcome visitors to SCI.
Learn more at www.sciowa.org/reopening
We can't wait to see you at SCI!
What's Up: August 2020
It's going to be a great month for stargazing! ⭐
Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars will all be close to the moon throughout the month. The annual Persied meteor shower also takes place this month, peaking on August 12.
Get all the details in this video from NASA!
Behind the Scenes: Supporting Educators Statewide
You're likely familiar with SCI’s exhibits, planetarium and live science programs, but did you know that SCI offers teacher professional development for educators across the state?
Join Jolie, our director of innovative STEM teaching, to learn more about our Pint Size Science program, which has been selected as a Scale-Up program by the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council for the past six years!
#CountdownToMars: NASA's Perseverance Rover Mission Overview
As of right now, the Mars 2020 mission is "GO" for launch tomorrow, July 30! #CountdownToMars
If conditions stay favorable, the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter will launch to the Red Planet at 6:50 am CDT. We'll continue to share updates!
Tune in here tomorrow morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB3JbIIbPU
Video: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Rooted in Science: The Effectiveness of Face Masks
From the beginning, our reopening plan has been rooted in science. Part of this plan includes the requirement of face coverings for all visitors ages 5 and up - and here's why!
This video visualizes a study from the journal Physics of Fluids entitled "Visualizing the Effectiveness of Face Masks in Obstructing Respiratory Jets." In the study, researchers at the Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science show how effective face coverings are at containing respiratory droplets. These droplets can carry COVID-19 and are a primary source for cross-infection between individuals.
By using lasers and a synthetic fog solution, they simulated coughing and sneezing, and we’re able to see how the droplets can be prevented from becoming airborne.
While well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of fabric and off-the-shelf cone-style masks proved to be the most effective at decreasing respiratory droplets from circulating, all of the coverings tested reduced the speed and range of the respiratory jets. (Without a mask, droplets traveled more than 8 feet; with a bandana, they traveled 3 feet, 7 inches; with a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled 1 foot, 3 inches; with the stitched quilting cotton mask, they traveled 2.5 inches; and with the cone-style mask, droplets traveled about 8 inches.)
This study illustrates why face coverings can prevent you from spreading germs and help protect you and your family from the germs of others!
[Note that this study tested masks that are readily available to the general public, which do not draw away from the supply of medical-grade masks and respirators for healthcare workers.]
Learn more at https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/efficacy-facemasks-coronavirus.php - or read the full text of the study at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018
Details on what to expect during your SCI visit can be found at www.sciowa.org/reopening
Virtual Circuitry with Tinkercad (Tutorial)
If you've been to our Makers Studio exhibit, you might be able to imagine the station where you can experiment with making circuits that light up lightbulbs and make other objects move. Since our Makers Studio is currently closed and that hands-on experience is unavailable, this video brings circuitry to you... virtually!
You'll just need a computer with internet access and a Tinkercad account. Then, watch this video, and Dan will walk you through everything you need to know.
This challenge can be done independently by kids in grades 3 and up and with assistance for younger learners.
There are so many ways to use your creativity and experiment with this activity. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
Unboxing in the Innovation Lab
Everyone loves getting new toys! Join Jolie in our Innovation Lab for a special unboxing video of two new 3D printers and learn about all of their cool features that will be used to engage and inspire students, educators and visitors.
What's Up: July 2020 Skywatching Tips from NASA
What's Up for July?
Jupiter and Saturn are bright and visible near the moon, well placed for viewing between 10pm-2am - and Mars rises in the East just before midnight.
Get all the details in this video from NASA!
Behind-the-Scenes: Iowa's Underwater Past
Did you know that Iowa was once underwater? Join Dan in our “What On Earth?” exhibit as we go behind-the-scenes to learn about a fossil in our collection from the Devonian Period 400 million years ago.
(Sorry about the momentary camera mix-up! It gets corrected before the 1:00 mark!)
What gives fireworks their colors?
"Oooh, potassium chloride!"
This Fourth of July weekend, you're likely to "ooh" and "ahh" at some spectacular firework displays. Join Bridgett to explore what gives fireworks their colors!
Behind-the-Scenes: Bees at SCI
We recently installed a new set of functioning bee hives in our What On Earth? exhibit!
Go "bee"-hind the scenes with Abigail, the 2019 Central Iowa Beekeepers Honey Queen and SCI's volunteer beekeeper, to learn about the process of setting up an urban bee hive.
What's Outside Your Window (and Below the Surface of the Pond?)
Have you ever gone fishing in a pond?
We typically see what we pull OUT of the water, but today, we'll take a look at what's happening BELOW the surface of a pond in our director of innovative STEM teaching's backyard.
View more virtual resources and at-home activities at www.sciowa.org/athome
What's Up: June 2020
Did anyone catch the crystal clear skies last night? Did you wonder what you were looking at?
Check out this NASA video to learn about the upcoming Summer Solstice as well as the planets and constellations visible in (almost) summer sky.
Video courtesy of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
How does a flag pole work?
Have you ever watched the raising of a flag? That easy-looking task uses multiple simple machines! Join exhibit coordinator Bridgett to explore the science of this symbolic system - and learn some history of the flag of Des Moines.
Science of Thunder and Lightning
Do you love or hate spring thunderstorms? ⚡ Either way, knowledge is power! Here's the science behind all that thunder and lightning.
(Special thanks to our friends at WHO 13 News for the cool graphics!)
What's Outside Your Window - Globe Observer, Clouds
Do you love clouds as much as we do?
Turn your sky-gazing into real science! Download NASA's Globe Observer app and become a citizen scientist by recording clouds in your backyard or neighborhood.
Join Patrick to learn more about clouds and how to use the Globe Observer app!
Laser-Cut 3D Dino Puzzle + At-Home Challenge
It's National Dinosaur Day! Join Jolie to take a look inside our Innovation Lab as we use a cool piece of maker techology, the Glowforge, to laser cut a dinosaur puzzle.
Can you make your own dinosaur model at home using things found in your recycling bin? Gather a variety of items like plastic lids, empty milk jugs, cardboard, straws, paper towel tubes and plastic bottles. You might also need scissors, tape and glue.
Investigate different dinosaurs and their unique features. Ask questions and think about how their body structures helped them to adapt to their environment:
• Some dinosaurs walked on two feet while others walked on four. How did this affect their overall body shape?
• Some dinosaurs had large heads with lots of teeth while others had much smaller heads. Did this relate to the type of food they ate?
• Some dinosaurs had large protrusions like horns, shields or plates. Were these for protection or did they have some other purpose?
Design a dino in your head or on paper. Select items from the materials you gathered to assemble a model of your dinosaur. Give your dinosaur a name, and write up a description for it like you might see in a museum!
Give a Whoop: Make a Paper Crane
It's Whooping Crane Day, so today, we're folding paper cranes to bring awareness to this endangered species!
The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America - coming in at approximately five feet tall. Its population reached a low in 1941 - with only 16 documented birds - due to deterioration and loss of wetland habitat. Whooping crane populations are increasing, and though it's rare to see them in Iowa today*, they have historically migrated through our state and will hopefully return someday, thanks to conservation efforts.
You can help by being a voice for these birds! Fold a paper crane and share your creations by tagging your photos with #IGiveAWhoop and #GoBeyondwithSCI
Find the directions for making your own paper crane at https://www.savingcranes.org/education/origami-cranes/
(*A crane you may be more familiar with in Iowa is the sandhill crane! This species faces similar problems of deterioration and loss of wetland habitat, so conservation efforts support them, too!)
It’s National Paper Airplane Day! Join Bridgett for a behind-the-scenes look at our paper rocket launcher in the When Things Get Moving exhibit – then experiment with making some paper projectiles at home.
(If you enjoy folding paper airplanes, you’ll want to tune in on Thursday to learn how to make an origami crane as we celebrate Whooping Crane Day!)
Make a Red Poppy Pin for Memorial Day!
This Memorial Day, we're honoring our military personnel who have lost their lives by learning how to make a red poppy pin!
You'll need: red tissue paper, scissors, masking tape, glue, scrap cardboard, a black permanent marker and a safety pin.
And learn more about how the red poppy became a symbol of Memorial Day here: https://bit.ly/2XqNVrj
Turtle "Speed"-Eating Contest
SCI's resident box turtles Lily, Peaches, Charlene and Herman aren't known for being especially speedy... but in this video, we'll learn about what box turtles eat and see who can snarf down their snacks the quickest!
Tomorrow is World Turtle Day! 🐢 Share your favorite pics of SCI's resident reptiles in the comments below or post them on Instagram and Twitter and tag @sciowa, and we'll share some of our favorites!
🐢🐢🐢
Endangered Turtles at Big Sand Mound
We continue our turtle highlights as we get ready to celebrate World Turtle Day on Saturday!
The Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve is located south of Muscatine, Iowa, along the Mississippi River. It's home to a unique, diverse ecosystem of plants and animals and has among the highest concentrations of endangered species in the state, including the yellow mud turtle and ornate box turtle.
Big Sand Mound is the only place in Iowa yellow mud turtles are found. In this clip from our friends at Iowa PBS, Josh Otten, scientist and researcher, and Don Becker, conservation technologist, explain the processes used to track, monitor. and protect these very special turtles.
Turtles in Space? Locating Keya, the Turtle Constellation
This "What's Up Wednesday," we're celebrating the upcoming World Turtle Day by highlighting a lesser-known constellation, Keya!
The constellation was named by the Lakota Oyate, a Native American tribe. In the Lakota language, the word for turtle is "keya," and the animal has cultural significance because its number of scales - 13 large scales on its back and 28 small scales around its shell - align with the Lakota calendar of 13 months, each with 28 days. Learn more: https://bitly.com/
To locate Keya, (1) find the Big Dipper, (2) use the Big Dipper to find the North Star, (3) extend that same line to Keya, passing Cassiopeia along the way. If you can identify four semi-bright stars in a square shape near the horizon, you've found Keya.
At this location and time of year (May in Iowa), Keya is only visible from around 2am to sunrise, so unless you're an earlybird, you may want to just use this video to imagine what the constellation would look like in the night sky!
World Turtle Day is on Saturday, but we’re celebrating all week long! Join exhibit coordinator Bridgett as Snippy, our resident snapping turtle, gets a snack - and learn about some of the other ways we’re celebrating this week!