"Creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status."
- Sir Ken Robinson, TED Conference, 2006
As nerd conventions go, TED is pretty much the cream of the crop. And we mean that as the highest of compliments.
What began in the early 1980s as an annual conference to bring together experts in the fields of technology, entertainment, and design, has now blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon that provides both financing and platforms to the brightest minds from just about any field you can imagine. (Learn more about TED&n …
When The Galahad Legacy hit bookstores this year, some people assumed (wrongly) that this was the end of their beloved Galahad series. But it's not. There are more Galahad stories forthcoming.
In fact, we want YOU to write them.
Announcing the first-ever Galahad Fan Fiction Contest, open to all eligible students in grades 6 through 12. The concept is simple: write an original short story involving the characters from Galahad. It could be a continuation of the series that picks up where Legacy left off, or it could be the personal backstory of one of your favorite characters... or i …
Our friends over at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers took part in the Galahad Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour last month.
Now, blogger extraordinaire GMR follows that up with this interview with series author Dom Testa -- mainly to talk about The Big Brain Club. But she's throwing in a pretty cool prize: the chance to win a copy of the first three books in the Galahad series (each of which won an EVVY Award as Best Young Adult Book) as well as a copy of The Mindbender Book Volume 1.
The contest deadline is May 20, so don't wait. Head on over, read the full interview, and reg …
Welcome back... This week we look at the largest crocodile in history, the first glimpse of light from an alien super-earth, and the chemical that makes some people procrastinate more than others. But first: do you smell that, or is it just me?
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Perhaps none of our senses is as tied to old memories as our sense of smell. What gives?
A lot of it has to do with geography. Not the kind of geography you learned about in middle school, but the geography of the brain. You see, the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system. And that part of the brain happens …
The students of Horizon Middle School in Aurora, Colorado, are the latest recipients of programmatic support and technology donations from The Big Brain Club.
This Spring, 67 students at Horizon became the latest collection of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to have their work professionally published. The resulting book, The Big Brain Club at Horizon Middle School, was published and donated back to the school by The Big Brain Club. 100% of sales from the book benefit Horizon's library.
The Big Brain Club also donated a classroom set of iPod Touch devices for use by the Horizon teaching staf …
For many parents and educators, School Library Journal is THE place to go for the latest low-down on YA or middle grade books. We often use it as a resource for Dom's school visits, and sometimes reference various articles or news items for use by The Big Brain Club.
So you can imagine how excited we were when SLJ approached us last month about interviewing Dom.
The resulting Q&A can be found right here. In it, Dom talks about the end of the Galahad series, what inspired him to start it in the first place, and what his military upbringing had to do with his love of bo …
One year ago today I went bowling and connected with the universe. That’s right, I found enlightenment wearing rented shoes, one of those light-bulb moments that’s tossed our way from time to time. Usually we’re so distracted that we miss it altogether, but last year I was tuned in.
I’m not a regular bowler. I maybe get out once a year, just to have some fun with friends. I’m certainly no pro. Count on me to grab a pitted 15-pound ball off the rack and probably wind up with a score in the 120-140 range, which is not bad, I think.
But one year ago I channeled …
Welcome back to more News for Nerds! This week we'll look at brilliant toddlers, big moons, expensive rocks, and the correlation between your handshake and your longevity. But first: sometimes I start a dialogue with myself because I'm the only one who can relate.
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We all talk to ourselves, right? Research has shown that most people talk to themselves at least every few days, and sometimes on an hourly basis. But while that might carry with it the implications of a crazy person, it's actually a very helpful habit.
Scientists have known for years that children pr …
How influential are you? How much do your words or your actions - or a combination of both - cause a reaction in someone else? And just who do you have to be in order to truly influence another human being into altering their attitude or behavior? Somebody important? Somebody famous?
In order to successfully arrive at what I promise will be a delightful and compelling analogy - I know that’s a big promise - let’s consider the Earth and our nearest star, the Sun. Most of us know that our planet orbits this giant fireball, and feels that star’s mighty tug. The sun is massive …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds! This week we'll help you learn to draw, we'll give you another reason to eat your vegetables, and we'll blast off for new worlds with some very rich people. But first: with summer fast approaching, a public service announcement.
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Anyone who's eaten their ice cream too fast knows about the perils of brain freeze. But up until recently, no one really understood what caused it.
Enter a cardiovascular electronics researcher named Jorge Serrador.
Dr. Serrador and his team conducted studies that show the cause of dreaded …
I nominate Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day as one of the top five dumbest ideas in the country, right after a Kardashian reality show but just before biggie-sizing.
We have an entire nation screaming for improved academic performance, and then we happily pull our children out of school to let them play with a stapler all day in a busy office.
In order to “bond.”
As I write this, we’re in the midst of the 20th anniversary of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. (It used to be just for daughters, but I guess we weren’t satisfied with having only femal …
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then our new Flickr page is very nearly priceless.
That's right. The Big Brain Club now has its very own home on Flickr, the photo-sharing social network site. You can go there to see pictures of our in-school programs, our published student-authors, and various other BBC-related activities. You can even download photos or logos for your own use!
We could talk all day about the impact that our programs have on middle school students all across the country... but actually seeing the photos will help you see their stories in a very real, very powerful wa …
For about a year I'd been scheduled to speak at the Texas Library Association conference, which this year took place in Houston. I'd been told that it was a great event, and my publisher of the Galahad series, Kathleen Doherty at Tor/Macmillan, said "Dom, just wait!"
Kathleen was right; by the time I left Houston on Thursday afternoon, I was convinced that this is one of the very best literacy conferences in the country. Sure, it's huge, with tons to see and do, and yet it struck me as one of the more intimate "large" conferences that I've ever attended. Great on …
As the Galahad Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour has been winding down, Dom was asked to submit a guest post for our friends over at TeachingBooks.net. You can check out the complete entry right here.
It's a short post, but it covers some fertile ground: the highs and lows that come along with a career in writing, the peculiar challenges of wrapping up a six-book series, and the give-and-take of resolving mysteries for faithful readers.
And as a bonus, the good folks at TeachingBooks.net even include an audio clip of Dom talking about the origin of his three names -- and why those names are both a bl …
Hello fans of the Galahad book series! Dom will be in Texas for the Texas Library Association conference, and while there he'll be signing copies of the award-winning book series.
If you're in the Lone Star state - or, if you have friends or family members who NEED to pick up The Comet's Curse and the other books in the series - here's the schedule:
Houston:
Saturday, April 14, 11am (get there by 10:45)
Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet
Austin:
Friday, April 20, 7pm (get there by 6:45)
Barnes and Noble, 10000 Research Drive
San Antonio:
Saturday, April 21, 2pm (get the …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week we discuss everything from potholes in Cleveland to underwear in deep space, with a brief stop to watch some wonderfully nerdy video. But first: wake me up before you go-go.
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For people with a love/hate relationship with technology -- or for people with a real aversion to mornings -- I've got just the thing for you.
How about an alarm clock that has no snooze button, can only be shut off by punching the day's date into a keypad, and which locks in the alarm as wake-up time approaches? Oh, and it costs $350.
Thi …
Four Oregon teenagers have potentially solved a decades-old problem for NASA. And they've earned a nice chunk of cash in the process.
A team of students from West Salem High School submitted their design for the 'Infinity Suit' -- essentially astronaut underwear that can absorb heat without changing temperatures -- to the Spirit of Innovation Challenge, a contest hosted by the Conrad Foundation.
After being named one of 15 finalists, the team's design was hailed as one of four winners. The foursome scored a trip to San Francisco and $5,000 in cash.
As for the details of the 'Infinity S …
The original title for this article was “Not My Child!” But that sounded too much like a Lifetime Channel movie, so I opted for the more clinical-sounding description.
In an upcoming book about academic peer pressure, I’ve written about this particular element and how it affects parents. Notice I said ‘parents,’ not the students.
Problems with academic peer pressure rarely seem to strike children in the third or fourth grade. Even as late as fifth and sixth grade, many kids are still happy about school and the idea of reading. This is precisely why my …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we look at the hidden benefits of fruit, we go back in time to play with fire, and we get a better understanding of how we got hooked into the Facebook universe. But first: watch out, he's a biter.
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The Tyrannosaurus Rex is probably the most famous (and most infamous) dinosaur in our popular culture.
But over the past few years, some of the T Rex's accepted traits have been called in to question. For instance, there is some speculation that the 40 foot-long dinosaur was not able to run, but instead would just 'plod along …
Denver is very lucky to have a history of terrific independent book stores. That includes The Bookies, which has an interesting history of its own. Sue Lubeck originally sold books out of her basement, which then spilled over into the rest of her house. Eventually she opened her store, and then moved to the current location just off Colorado Blvd and Mississippi.
(You might have seen an interview with me in The Denver Post in February; the photo for that story was snapped inside The Bookies.)
Well, thirty five years after opening her doors, Sue is still a favorite for teachers a …
As the style of our popular writing changes with the times, so too does our method of delivering that writing to fans. Especially for the generations of young people coming of age in the 21st century.
The rise in popularity of non-traditional publishing avenues, such as eBooks and independent publishing, has been swift and controversial. Some fight it, some embrace it, but there's no denying its impact. Try and count the number of eReaders, such as Kindles or iPads, that you see in a given week.
An article by Elissa Gootman in the New York Times shows just how differently teenagers and adole …
Let’s see how long it takes you to realize my point from just a few snapshots of anecdotal evidence:
A teacher at an elementary school invited me to speak to her students. I looked at the school’s web site and saw that, between administration and faculty, there were forty-two people employed there.
Three were men.
I was asked to speak at a teen literature conference, where the focus was on getting kids interested in reading. The conference committee was made up of sixteen people.
None of whom was male.
I did an informal scan of the hundreds of faces filling the audit …
Welcome back to more News for Nerds. This week we study the link between avalanches and ice cream, we learn about the trouble with redheads, and we go where no man has gone before. But first: one of these days, Alice...
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Ever heard of the Giant Impact Hypothesis?
For many years it has been the prevailing theory about where our moon came from.
The theory goes like this: early in its existence, Earth collided with another, Mars-sized planet, called Theia. The resulting smash-up led to a disc of magma orbiting our planet that would later coalesce into the moon we know …
Ron Garan has a cool job -- he's an astronaut. He spent last summer at the International Space Station as part of Expedition 27/28. While there, he conducted experiments and participated in the very last spacewalk of NASA's shuttle program.
Since coming back to Earth in September, Garan has been busy with, among other things, social media. He lit up Twitter with a series of fantastic space TwitPics, and now he's joined the popular Reddit community.
For the uninitiated, Reddit is a social media site that acts as an open forum for people to discuss pretty much everything you can imagine. Garan …
Filmmaker James Cameron is the man behind the two highest-grossing films of all time.
But no matter how you feel about Titanic or Avatar, Cameron's latest adventure epic might be his most inspiring work to date.
Cameron took to the seas this week for a visit to the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep -- which is actually the deepest known point on Earth. Tucked inside a custom-designed sub called The Deepsea Challenger, the director spent about three hours conducting the first manned scientific exploration of Challenger Deep.
It won't be the last.
Technical glitches prevented Cameron from col …
Welcome back to News for Nerds. This week we uncover a new animal in an unlikely place, we pile one male stereotype on top of another, and we tell you what cool toy NASA has just unveiled. But first: "Boys, are you buzzing?"
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In a further sign that our phones are taking over our lives, Nokia has filed a patent that would connect your cell phone... with your tattoo?
Oh yes, that's right. Using something known as 'haptic feedback', users would be alerted to incoming calls, email, and text messages through a "perceivable impulse" comin …
Welcome back to News for Nerds. This week we get dressed up, put on a fancy robo-glove, and bond with honeybees. But first: don't be afraid to look up every once in a while.
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If you've gazed up at the night sky this week, you may have seen some unusual lights gazing back at you. What gives?
As it turns out, there are five planets visible in the night sky during the month of March... though not at the same time.
Throughout early March, Mercury has been visible in the northern hemisphere. The entire world has a great view of Mars at its brightest moment this year. Venus and Jup …
We live in an age where promotional hype outshines almost everything else. It has trickled down from national television programs to just about every creative outlet in the country. And, with the explosion - and undeniable power - of social media, it’s now easier than ever to hype a message to thousands - sometimes even millions - with a click or two.
But an important ingredient is often left out of the cake that eager artists are trying to bake: Good content.
This was briefly touched on in a post that I read on Bob Mayer’s blog, Write It Forward. On March 6, 2012, Bob was sh …
Today we bring you a very cool opportunity to get involved in some fun scientific shenanigans. It comes to us courtesy of the great Alan Alda.
Now, depending on what generation you belong to, you probably associate the name Alan Alda with one of the following:
veteran character actor and star of more than 50 films;
Captain Hawkeye Pierce from TV's M*A*S*H;
the host of Scientific American Frontiers;
that guy... who was in that thing?
Lucky for you, all of those answers are correct. And even luckier for you -- for all of us, really -- Alan Alda has a serious, li …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we look into the future of wireless communication, we identify a new suspect in the sinking of the Titanic, and we explain why some people might not like your name. But first: we're off and running.
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A four-legged robot developed by a company called Boston Dynamics is now in the record books. It is officially the fastest-running robot in history.
The Cheetah -- whose design was, in fact, inspired by an actual cheetah -- hopped on a treadmill last week and ran at a pace of 18 miles per hour. That bested the decades-old re …
This week marks the launch of the Scavenger Hunt Book Tour for the final book in the award-winning Galahad series. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to learn more about Galahad, and to discover dozens of awesome new websites!
Every day between now and April 11, an excerpt from The Galahad Legacy will be featured by a different book blogger. Don’t miss a single stop because when one blog runs a passage from the book, you will then be directed to a completely different blog where you’ll find the next passage in order. Each day brings a new excerpt, and each excerpt fills in a li …
As an advocate for increased emphasis on academics, there are some groups that try to drag me into their “Sports get too much attention” message. While I might agree with the basic tenet of their argument, there are three reasons why I won’t get caught up in that fight.
First - and many don’t want to hear this - it’s a losing battle. You may rail and vent all you like about our nation’s obsession with sports, but it’s not going away. And while I agree it’s often over the top, I’m still a sports fan myself, even a baseball season ticket h …
Welcome back! This week we get to the bottom of Leap Day, we eat astronaut food for longer than anyone should have to, and we learn some fun new facts about dogs. But first: is this the quiet before the storm?
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I've covered solar storms in previous editions of News for Nerds, so hopefully you're familiar with the concept. But this week we learned that there's a 12 percent chance that the Earth will experience an enormous megaflare from the sun in the next decade.
Solar storms of this magnitude are extremely rare. The last one, known as the Carrington Event, happ …
Well, THIS is certainly a good idea.
Google has launched its first-ever science fair, and it's open to "anyone and everyone between 13 and 18." Your project can consist of just about anything, and signing up is easy.
Google is quick to point out that not all geniuses are straight-A students, so don't be intimidated. If you've got a good idea, you should pursue it. The deadline for entry is April 1, and all submissions will be judged by a panel of teachers and college professors. By the end of May, 90 regional finalists will be announced, and from that pool, 15 global finalists …
Fresh off the release of The Galahad Legacy last week, series author Dom Testa will be at the Barnes & Noble in Lone Tree, Colo., near the Park Meadows mall, on Saturday, February 25.
The fun starts at 11:00. Dom will be hanging out, signing books, talking with fans, taking pictures, exchanging recipes, and who knows what else. Come and check out The Galahad Legacy, or the previous books in the series -- or even The Mindbender Book!
We'll see you there!
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You might also like:
The Galahad Series is Over. Are You Sad?
Triana's Journal: Put it in Wr …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we get a whiff of test tube hamburgers, take an elevator ride into space, and get rid of that random guy who ruined what could have been your perfect profile picture. But first: those aren't the droids you're looking for.
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In case you were born last Tuesday or have been in a coma since 1977, you're probably familiar with a little indie movie franchise known as Star Wars. The original Star Wars film centered around the construction (and, spoiler alert, eventual destruction) of a one-stop headquarters/conference r …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds! This week we'll look at why Adele's music makes us cry, how to tell if someone's lying to you online, and what your heartbeat has to do with your Twitter password. But first: we're gonna need a bigger boat.
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Piranhas are fierce, destructive creatures. Native to South America, they use teeth as sharp as kitchen knives to eat just about everything they come into contact with.
Everything, that is, except the mysterious fish called the arapaima. The arapaima is a pretty unusual animal to begin with -- a relic of evolutio …
With this week's release of the final book in the Galahad series, The Denver Post's Claire Martin sat down with Dom to disucss the end of a saga, traveling the world, his work with middle school students... and a variety of so-called 'chick questions'.
You can read the full article right here.
Thanks to Claire and the Post for the Galahad love. And special thanks to our friends at The Bookies for the photo op, as well.
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About the Galahad Series
Galahad on Facebook
@HeyDomTesta on Twitter
In a recent interview I was asked how I felt about closing the book on a series that has spanned almost eight years and six volumes. “Are you sad?” the writer asked, referring to the final installment of the Galahad series.
It’s an interesting question, and it’s one that I want to address this weekend when we host the official book launch party for The Galahad Legacy at The Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch, CO.
We seem to have an issue in our society with the concept of “goodbye.” It’s pervasive, really, and it spans so many different themes. We …
Welcome back...
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You know about extreme sports. They've become part of the mainstream these days, with entire TV shows dedicated to showcasing the skills (and courage) of base jumpers and X gamers. But Felix Baumgartner would like you all to know that when it comes to extreme sports, he's not messing around anymore.
Baumgartner, an Austrian adrenaline junkie, is planning to set the record this summer for highest skydive when he takes a high-altitude helium balloon 120,000 feet in the air, and then, like any sane person would do, jumps off and plummets back to Earth.
…
Our friend Steve Spangler is an absolute rock star in the worlds of science and education. His events draw teachers from all over the world, and his appearances on Denver's 9News (weekly) and the Ellen DeGeneres Show (a dozen and counting) are the kind of viral videos that you actually feel good about watching while you're supposed to be doing something else.
Best of all, Steve is the master of sharing a cool experience and then teaching the science behind it.
Today we stumbled across some video from one of his recent visits to 9News. In it, he shows meteorologist Becky Ditchfield how to pus …
If you're not familiar with the non-profit organization 826 yet, that's okay. You're about to be. And you'll be happy about it.
Founded by the author, screenwriter, publisher, and all-around creative genius Dave Eggers, 826 is an organization that supports eight writing and tutoring centers across the country. Those centers offer programs for young writers, aged 6-18, giving them opportunities to improve their skills and explore new facets of their creativity.
The programs at 826 centers include tutoring, field trips, in-school projects, student publishing, and workshops. Last year they serv …
Welcome back to more News for Nerds! This week we settle the debate about going to bed angry, we see why dinosaurs got a leg up on the competition, and we find you the perfect parking space outside your favorite store. But first: can you guess what the lead story is about?
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It's looking more and more like we will one day be fully capable of reading someone's thoughts.
Researchers at the University of California Berkeley have demonstrated a method of reconstructing words based solely on the brainwaves of patients thinking about those words. Pretty cool, but …
Imagine that you’re no longer living in the 21st century, but instead struggling to survive in the past. I mean WAY in the past. You’re part of a group of twelve early humans, 15,000 years ago. There are eight adults and four children. You have no permanent home, because you move with the herds of animals upon which you survive. Your days are hard, and your nights are frightening; you’re not only a hunter, but sometimes the hunted. One person must be awake at all times to warn the others of dangerous predators nearby.
Every day seems just like every other, and yet you stil …
(I’ve spoken at middle schools and high schools for almost twenty years, so when people ask me what I talk about with students, it’s tough to narrow it down to just one topic. I talk about many things.
However, there’s one thread that comes up pretty often. It’s about choices. For students who have a hard time imagining WHY their education is so important, I like to use the concept of choices, or options. Everyone can relate to that.
I encourage you to share this with any middle school or high school students in your world. Read it with them, in fact.)
Suppos …
Are you afraid of spiders? Are you fascinated by them? Do you really know very much about them?
Our friends over at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science host a series of short videos on a wide variety of topics, with most running about two to three minutes in length. The program is called Science Bites, and it covers everything from earthquakes to tastebuds to, yup, you guessed it, spiders.
The videos are fun and informative, and they'll be interesting to curious people of all ages. Here's a taste:
Science Bites: The Truth About Spiders from DMNS on Vimeo.
What do you think? …
There truly are no age restrictions when it comes to innovation.
A pair of 17 year-old Canadian boys built a homemade spacecraft for a plastic Lego astronaut, and then successfully shot him 15 miles into the stratosphere. They even managed to return the Lego man back to Earth unharmed.
Matthew Ho and Asad Muhammad crafted a Styrofoam spacecraft and attached it to a weather balloon they ordered online. They then fitted a box with four cameras and a GPS tracking system, armed the brave Lego man with a nylon parachute, and filled the balloon with helium purchased at a party supply store. T …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds! This week we'll share the benefits of double-dating, explain why your dog dictates your buying habits, and give you some insight into the tricky mindgames drug companies like to play. But first: look, up in the sky!
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A solar storm got underway this week, and despite fears that its effects might disrupt our everyday lives, so far the biggest symptom we've seen is a spectacular light show in the form of aurora borealis.
Solar storms involve electromagnetic bursts from the sun, which make their way to Earth with alterna …
We came across a neat blog post from Natalie Wolchover on MSNBC.com today, and it's a good bet that you might find it useful, entertaining, and possibly both. We're a public service, folks.
It seems that a survey of 2,000 parents in the United Kingdom identified the five questions that kids most commonly ask their parents. Those questions are:
Why is the moon sometimes out during the day?
Why is the sky blue?
Will we ever discover aliens?
How much does the Earth weigh?
How do airplanes stay up?
Can't we do something to stop Nickelback from making any more music …
How much time is too much time for students to be expected to sit in class? How much time is not enough? And how do you find the sweet spot -- that Goldilocks zone where it's not too much, not too little, but just right?
Teachers, parents, politicians and school administrators have been wrestling with that issue for many years, and as a result there are many different approaches in play all across our national landscape.
But there's a high-profile experiment going on right now in Chicago, and you can bet that its outcome will help shape not only local school policy, but also the fe …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we've got a pop star horse fly, a very expensive pet rock, and a huge argument over a tiny fraction of time. But first: what do you get when you cross a tiger and Komodo dragon?
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Paleontologists working in Brazil have found an unusual fossil -- a mammal-like monster that was stalking around, terrorizing smaller animals more than 260 million years ago, before even the dinosaurs.
The animal, called Pampaphoneus biccai, is considered a cross between "a tiger and a Komodo dragon, if you can imagine that," says lead …
We were only allowed to bring a limited number of personal items aboard the ship when we left Earth, and I know it was a tough decision for many of my ship mates when it came time to select. For me, the decision was easy: I had to bring these notebooks.
Some people need to talk out their problems and issues. I'm one of those people who prefers to journal; there's something about putting my thoughts and emotions on paper that helps me process all of the things that are fighting for attention in my mind.
I talked with Dr. Armistead about it before we launched, and she …
In late November, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory launched Curiosity, a next-generation rover that is traveling all the way to Mars on a mission to learn if that neighboring planet is, or ever was, a habitable planet.
Curiosity will start by traversing tens of millions of miles across our solar system, which is no small task in itself. Once there, it will roam around the red planet, studying and collecting rocks and soil in order to detect the chemical building blocks of life. It's an important step in what is hoped to lead to long-term colonization of Mars someday.
There are a s …
Welcome back to a slightly abbreviated version of News for Nerds! This week we sniff out canine intelligence and make you feel guilty about not paying enough attention to your mom. But first: Way to reinforce the stereotype, fellas.
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Ladies, if you've ever been on the receiving end -- or on the giving end, for that matter -- of aggressive and unwanted advances from a guy, it turns out that evolution may be to blame after all.
Researchers at Williams College have found that men tend to wildly overestimate the amount of interest that a woman shows toward them, and …
(So much of what I write is aimed at parents and educators, but this article is different. I encourage you to share this with any middle school and high school students who are in your life.)
There are great lessons that nature teaches us, if we only pay attention. Sometimes they’re right before our eyes, but sometimes they’re light-years away from us...literally. Are we mature enough to learn from them?
This is the story of a star wanna-be, one that had all of the ingredients for being a star, but failed. It turns out that this true story could be more relevant to you …
People not only judge a book by its cover, they also judge each story within the first few lines they read. That's why your opening paragraph, whether you're writing a novel or a two-page short story, is so important. These are a few tips to stay on target.
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Many amateur writers make the same mistake over and over again: they try to tell the whole story within the first paragraph. Those first few lines, however, should have one purpose in mind, and that is to hook the reader.
Think of the last time somebody told you an interesting story. Maybe something funny had happened …
Before The Comet's Curse was a beloved favorite among young adult readers, it was a daydream project that started in one man's basement. Within a few short years, that first book in the Galahad series won an international grand prize from Writer's Digest -- and the rest, as they say, is history.
With competition season heating up this month, the good folks at WD asked Dom to reflect on his victory, and to talk about what that triumph meant for his writing career. His comments were featured in today's Writer's Digest e-newsletter, and you might be surprised to hear his unique perspective …
... and were wondering why you hadn't heard a response, please, let me explain.
The page here on our website that says Schedule an Appearance is supposed to generate an email every time someone submits an inquiry. For one reason or another, at some point in time, that stopped happening. We have no way of knowing how many of you tried unsuccessfully to reach us, and we have no way of retrieving those submissions. It's a bummer, I know.
But the good news is, it's fixed now. So we hope that you'll follow up with us, because I'd love to come visit your school, your business, your conference, or …
Welcome to the inaugural edition of News for Nerds for 2012! This week we'll dive into the fountain of youth, resurrect an extinct behemoth, and peer through the fog of 'pregnancy brain.' But first: happy new year. Let's talk about zombies.
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Did you ever stop to think about just how important honeybees are? The answer is hugely important. Honeybees pollinate many, many crops, and without their constant buzzing presence, plant life on Earth -- and therefore human life -- could be in real danger.
So you can imagine how worried scientists have been these past few years by so …
You may remember our friends over at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins. They were the first-ever in-school program partner of The Big Brain Club, and they've since gone on to win a state science Olympiad and a major national award from Intel.
Forever ambitious, Preston has put together a new program that stretches all the way across the world. Led by media specialist Tracey Winey, Preston students gather before school in the morning -- voluntarily -- to discuss books, culture and life via videoconference with kids from a school called Little Children of the Philippines. You can watch vide …
Part of the beauty of The Big Brain Club is that we're always on the lookout for tools and resources that will help writers young and old. Consider it a public service that we offer. And today we've got a good one.
Whether you're a closet writer that's still honing your craft, or an aspiring writer who hasn't yet gotten around to penning that masterpiece, or a student who just wants to get a little better at commanding the written word, you're in luck.
There's a website called 750words.com that aims to help you write three pages every single day. Here's how it works: Every month you get …
For those interested in stargazing, skywatching, planet-peeping... 2012 is going to be a good year for you.
Space.com contributor Joe Rao has laid out 12 of the most awe-inspiring celestial events to watch for in the coming year. Not all of them will be visible to everyone -- a few of these may require some travel for the diehard fan -- but most of them can be seen at one time or another by any U.S. resident with a clear view of the night sky.
Among the highlights from Rao's list:
March 13: The brilliant "double planet": The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupite …
It’s become trendy over the last few years to denigrate resolutions at the beginning of the year, mostly because we tend to glorify the rebel or the contrarian, and they tell us that a new year is a ridiculous time to make some hollow lifestyle change. The new thinking - the oh-so-evolved thinking - is that resolutions are trite, nothing more than worthless, empty self-challenges that can’t possibly succeed.
Well, I’m going to be contrarian to the contrarian way of thinking. I see no reason why January 1st - okay, maybe January 2nd - can’t be a time of self-examinati …
Braylon Edwards knows that he's been fortunate. His football abilities brought him to the University of Michigan, then on to the National Football League where he's had a long, if colorful, career.
But Edwards also knows that not every young person is so fortunate.
That's why, after signing a hefty rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2005, he pledged $10,000 to 100 local eighth-graders to help pay for college. But as with any good receiver, there was a catch: the students each had to maintain a 2.5 GPA and donate at least 15 hours of community service.
Of the 100 kids who wer …
End-of-the-year lists are popular, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps we feel the need to tie up a calendar year with some form of encapsulation. Or we like to open a new year by placing the preceding year in perspective.
Or perhaps our brains just enjoy lists.
I looked at 2011 from the perspective of a science nerd, a writer, and someone involved in education, and collected my own personal favorite moments. They’re here, in no particular order, for your perusal.
Science
While some magazines offer as many as 100 of their top choices, I’ve narrowed it down to three stor …
Here's a question for you: The average woman has nine pairs of shoes with this in common. What is it?
That's just one of the 100 puzzlers that have helped make The Mindbender Book Volume 1 the top paperback non-fiction bestseller in Colorado this week.
The Denver Post compiles their list of bestsellers based on sales figures from a wide range of local stores. Here's a partial list of Colorado locations that carry the book:
Tattered Cover Book Store (three locations)
Barnes & Noble (multiple locations, including the Park Meadows store at 8374 S. Willow Lane)
The Book …
Welcome back to this very special year-end edition of News for Nerds. This week we'll look at the top nerdy holiday gifts for that very brainy person in your life, we'll explore the remote region of Asia that has recently uncovered 200 new animal species, and we'll get to the bottom of all this talk about the so-called 'God Particle'. But first: a little love for the lefties.
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Being left-handed can be a blessing and a curse. New research has shown that left-handed people are at higher risk for certain mental health issues, including ADHD, dyslexia and schizophrenia. Separate st …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we'll take a look at what may be the world's biggest bug -- plus we'll get to the bottom of an unlikely relationship that involves an endangered species and a nuclear power plant, and a rare cosmic phenomenon that's coming to a town near you. But first: Is that you, Eos?
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The hunt for Earth-like planets is a long and expensive one. But with the discovery this week of a planet known as Kepler 22b, scientists say they're getting closer and closer to finding the elusive 'Goldilocks' planet -- so called because such a planet would be n …
It was Mark Twain's birthday recently. The late, great satirist would have been 176 years old on November 30. (And yet in this picture, he still doesn't look a day over 74.)
As a belated tip of the cap to one of the wisest and wittiest writers in our country's history, we thought we'd share this song from the terrific young Missouri band Ha Ha Tonka. It's called The Humorist, it's about Twain, it's very good, and it's embedded below.
As a bonus, we also bring you this interview with Ha Ha Tonka's Brian Roberts, from a blog called Songwriters on Process. It's a pretty fascinating look into …
After our Thanksgiving hiatus last week, welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we learn what Homer Simpson has in common with our prehistoric ancestors, we plumb the depths of an icy moon, and we scope out some seriously nerdy ink. But first: Remember what I'm about to tell you.
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If you've ever walked into a room only to forget why you were going there in the first place, fear not. It isn't just a 'senior moment.' The culprit is actually -- believe it or not -- the door you passed through on your way there.
A new study out of Notre Dame has shown that even college stu …
A column focused on the world of education, from bestselling author Tom Friedman (author of The World is Flat and Hot, Flat and Crowded), appeared in this weekend's New York Times, and it's been popping up like wildfire -- or trending, in the language of the moment -- across social media outlets ever since. Some people wholeheartedly agree with everything he has to say. Others believe he's grossly off-base.
You can read his column in its entirety right here, but the gist of it is pretty simple: Stop making teachers the whipping boy for the shortcomings of American students, he says. Our schoo …
Some of you know that I co-host a morning radio program in Denver called The Dom and Jane Show on Mix 100. Each fall around the Thanksgiving season we put together a two-day event to raise money and awareness for The Food Bank of The Rockies.
As we approached this year's event we heard many comments such as, "Oh, people are really cutting back on giving." Or, "Times are tough, you might not do as well this year."
When the dust settled at 6PM on Friday evening, the total amount of cash raised for The Food Bank topped the one million dollar mark for …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we take you to deep space, invade your personal space, and lighten the mood for a few blue souls. But first: cue the tractor beam!
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Scientists have been moving objects with light for about the last 20 years. Using so-called 'optical tweezers,' it's possible to grab hold of tiny objects like cells and pull them around in one direction or another. This works because a light beam exerts a tiny forward push when it hits something.
Light can also pull objects, using something called 'gradient force,' which uses the power of electric an …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we uncover a creepy predator with 66 legs, we take a closer look at the asteroid that buzzed the tower on Tuesday, and we start the movement to get chewing gum back in schools (but not stuck to the bottom of desks, because that's just gross). But first: ka-ching!
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Never mind Thanksgiving -- if the layout (and music choices) of malls and department stores is any indication, the holiday shopping season is already upon us. And with that shopping season comes the inevitable fate of millions of Americans: rampant overspen …
As the world's largest semiconductor chip maker and a Fortune 100 company, Intel knows a thing or two about the importance of scientific innovation. That's why each year, they honor a small number of U.S. schools demonstrating excellence in math and science education through innovative teaching and learning environments.
To be considered as an Intel School of Distinction, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks put forth by national mathematics and science content standards. This year, six schools were selected as Schools of Disctinction at a Washingto …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we delve into the science of goosebumps, the baddest man alive, and the long-lost sixth sense of our fishy ancestors. But first: paging Dr. Ponce de Leon!
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It's not the fountain of youth, but scientists at the Mayo Clinic have found a way to stop some of the hallmark signs of aging -- cataracts, wrinkles, and more -- in lab mice. Their study was published this week in the journal Nature, and it's been getting a lot of attention ever since.
The key to their discovery involves a well-known cellular function known as senesc …
Well, it's about that time again. The leaves have changed color, the weather's turned a corner... and we've once again arrived at the glorious time of year known as National Novel Writing Month!
A self-proclaimed "fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing," NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has that book inside of them -- but who's never gotten around to actually getting it down on paper. Beginning November 1 (or November 3, or November 7, or whenever), the goal is to crank out a 50,000 word rough draft by the end of the month.
If that sounds o …
There’s a popular movement to empower young people that is noble, yet dangerous. Countless programs have sprung up that offer to “teach young adults self-esteem.” They supply T-shirts with messages along the lines of “I’m worthy and valuable,” along with assorted books and videos that promise to grant this positive trait. But I ask you: How does one “teach” self-esteem to a child?
This is a subset of the Everyone Gets A Trophy mentality, where we won’t actually take the time to instill solid, positive work ethics in young people, but inste …
By now, you're probably aware that The Mindbender Book Volume 1 is available. You've seen the email, you've followed the Facebook posts, you've decked the Tweets.
But have you watched the video?
Fans in the Denver area will recognize some familiar faces (and voices). But even the uninitiated will get a laugh out of the delightfully silly, three-minute chuckle-fest that follows below. …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we take a closer look at the latest robot to one-up human competitors, we get to the bottom of why all computer voices are female, and we present further evidence for the case of Mind over Matter. But first: Monday is Halloween (and Sunday is the Halloween Hustle), so we might as well start there.
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Researchers at Cal State Los Angeles have been studying scary movies recently -- specifically, what it is about horror films that we find so appealing -- and the answers have a lot to do with human psychology.
Their research builds …
I love the book, obviously. I have a large, framed poster of the book cover hanging in my house.
I love the movie. I think Gregory Peck and Mary Badham (as Atticus and Scout) created on-screen magic as the wise, loving single-father and the precocious daughter.
But last night I watched the talented cast members of The Stage Theatre in Denver put on a remarkable presentation of To Kill A Mockingbird. They brought this classic story to life in a way that allows fans to see the story in a unique way. No, they didn't alter the storyline; no, they didn't change the characters; no, they …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we take a peek inside your brain, find the source of all life on Earth, and identify the best (and worst) possible day to start a diet. But first: you're getting sleeeepy....
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The British band Marconi Union has produced a song that scientists say is the most relaxing tune in the world. I might argue that Bread's entire catalogue puts me to sleep instantly, but maybe we're splitting hairs.
The song is called 'Weightless' (you can hear it here on YouTube), and sound therapists in England played it, along with music by Enya …
Halloween weekend is coming up. What have you got planned? I mean besides your Lady GaGa outfit and giant pillow case stuffed with candy?
Here in the Denver area, my friends at The Melting Pot of Littleton are hosting a 5k race and kids' fun run on Sunday morning, Oct 30th, to benefit the Tennyson Center for Children. Beyond the race itself, there will be a costume contest, trick or treating for the kids, and lots of other great entertainment for the whole family. In fact, I like the event so much I agreed to host it!
You can get all the information you need at the official Hallucinatio …
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people participate in the most popular radio contest in the world. It's not exactly trivia, and it's not really a logic puzzle, either. It's... the Mindbender!
For more than 18 years, Dom Testa has been sharing daily Mindbenders with Denver's highest-rated radio audience on Mix 100. As we've moved into the digital age, fans from all over the world now participate via streaming audio or online blog post. It's become an international -- and family-friendly -- phenomenon.
Now, for the first time ever, Dom has collected 100 of the best Mindbenders in book form …
Welcome back to more News for Nerds! This week we'll scour the seabed of the North Atlantic, ponder the proper use of world-class supercomputers, and tell you about the real-world development of some Star Wars technology. But first: let's peek inside the brain of an eternal optimist.
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Is the glass half full? Or half empty?
According to a new study from scientists at University College London, your answer to that question depends less on environmental factors like how you were raised and more on the frontal lobe of your brain.
The study involved 14 people of var …
Welcome back to more News for Nerds! This week we'll dive into the details of our accelerating universe, hunt down the mythical Yeti, and find out why makeup makes you look more competent. But first: how does having to pee affect your decision making?
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Depending on who you are, you may have been following one of several high-profile awards that were announced recently. Three American scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics this week for discovering that the universe is indeed expanding at an accelerating pace. It's a pretty big discovery; it means that the cosmos could ultima …
Hey, great news!
Our good friends at Food Bank of the Rockies have come up with a great promotion -- and it involves YOU eating a delicious turkey sandwich.
Here's the deal. The fine folks at The Spicy Pickle (with 13 Colorado locations) have agreed to donate $1 from every Bandido sandwich ordered between now and November 13 to Food Bank of the Rockies in support of our Dom and Jane Charity Marathon for Mix 100.
Every dollar donated to the Food Bank equals 4 meals for hungry Coloradoans, so by ordering just one delicious sandwich, you're helping to feed people in need.
And the Bandido IS …
Welcome back! In this week's News for Nerds, we'll dissect the importance of cyborg rats and consider the implications of solar superstorms on our cell phone calling plans. But first: that buzz you hear is coming all the way from Switzerland.
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The talk of the science world this week was the possible discovery of sub-atomic particles that might travel faster than the speed of light. If that's true -- and we're not 100% positive yet that it is -- then it would force us to reconsider much of what we think we know about the makeup of the universe, the strength of Albert Einstein's 1905 …
If you watch sporting events on television, you’re used to an onslaught of commercials that appear to fall into only three categories: Beer, trucks, and movies. Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I saw an ad during a ball game that featured anything else. But when a typical movie trailer screamed at me this past weekend, I had to shake my head in disgust as it begged me to watch another remake of The Thing.
It’s possible that the majority of people who scan this post don’t realize that the Kurt Russell movie of 1982 was itself a remake of a classic 50s sci-fi fl …
You've asked for it, you've waited patiently, and now the day is finally here: Cosmic Storm, the fifth book in the Galahad series, is today available worldwide!
Beginning with The Comet's Curse and running all the way through The Dark Zone, the first four books in the series have featured sabotage, mutiny, aliens, heartbreak, music, mystery, and all sorts of impossible challenges... and yet, Cosmic Storm is in many ways the most challenging book of them all. You may not believe what's in store for the crew of Galahad this time around.
And, as always, we'll be celebrating with a book l …
Welcome into another edition of News for Nerds! This week we alert you to falling objects, we exonerate an innocent asteroid, and we count all the little protozoa in the world. But first: an unexpected partnership is born.
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Online gaming gets a bad rap sometimes, but it definitely has its virtues. Take for instance the gamers who spent three weeks playing Foldit, an online protein-folding game, as a means of mapping out the structure of an enzyme that could be used in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
According to this article in the Los Angeles Times, unlocking the structure o …
Ever seen the Earth from 220 miles high? Well, you're about to.
Educator James Drake downloaded 600 pictures from an archive of NASA and International Space Station photos, and assembled them into one 60-second video using a special software. The resutls will blow your mind.
The video begins with sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and culminates with another sunrise clear on the other side of the planet. In between, we see the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest, Texas, Mexico, Central America, South America, cities, oceans, lightning storms, and the overall majestic beauty of Earth. It …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week we dig deep to find an ancient gladiator school, a new use for all those creepy sonogram photos, and a use for genetically modified fluorescent green cats. But first: another Super Earth candidate emerges.
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We are finding planets at such an astonishing rate these days that it's becoming difficult to keep up with all of them. Which is a shame, considering how mind-boggling it is in the first place.
Take for instance the announcement this week that 55 new planets have been found in the Milky Way galaxy. 55 new planets! …
We tend to think of a year -- or any unit of time -- as a tangible, concrete thing. But the truth is not so black and white.
If you stop and think about it, a year is really just a form of measurement. Years, days, hours, minutes... these are all just specific ways of measuring and identifying time. We describe our lives in increments of years in the same way that a carpenter might describe the length of a wood plank in centimeters. It's a universally agreed-upon form of measurement that allows us all to work within the same frame of reference.
The thing about time, however, is that it's pin …
After a short vacation hiatus, welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds! This week we'll look at creepy foods of the future, creepy lifeforms of the past, and a very bling-y new discovery in deep space. But first: the forecast calls for scattered showers with a slight chance of laser beams.
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It's been a strange year for weather. It was unseasonably hot out here in Colorado all summer, and then suddenly, Labor Day brings with it a 40-degree drop in temperatures. There have been droughts and fires in the south, and hurricanes in the northeast. If only there was a way to …
College football season gets underway this week, so what better time to focus our attention on the consensus best player in the country?
You might wonder why Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck would be of interest to The Big Brain Club. Then again, if you visit our site frequently you'll know that we like to highlight famous celebs who embody the notion that Smart is Cool. In the past we've looked at a world-famous musician, an Olympic figure skater, and two of the biggest movie stars in the world, among others.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please welcome Andrew Luck into the world of …
You'll be pleased to know that the fifth book in the Galahad series, Cosmic Storm, is now just a few short weeks from hitting bookstores everywhere!
The first four books in the series have featured sabotage, mutiny, aliens, heartbreak, music, mystery, and all sorts of impossible challenges... and yet, Cosmic Storm is in many ways the most challenging book of them all. You won't believe what fates await the crew of Galahad this time around.
As always, we'll be celebrating with a book launch party at Tattered Cover Book Store in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch. If you live in the area, p …
Salman Khan has always been good at math.
So when his niece needed tutoring, he was a likely candidate to lend a hand. In 2004 Khan began putting together short, simple videos to help illustrate his lessons and posting them to YouTube. There wasn't much flash to his presentation -- the videos consisted of little more than his voice imposed over a black backdrop with equations in his own handwriting. But out of that small kernel of an idea, the world of education has seen a major evolution take place in just a few short years.
Khan has been getting a ton of attention lately, and righfully so. …
Welcome into another week's worth of News for Nerds. This week we reveal the smartest insect in the world, we talk about the future of light bulbs, and we puzzle over the darkest planet ever discovered. But first: this is going to sting a little.
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Forget the little butterfly above your ankle or the 'I Love Mom' on your biceps -- the next hot trend in the world of tattoos might be inked-up nanosensors that track levels of sodium and glucose in your blood.
The technology comes from a research team at Northeastern University, which is developing the 'subdermal sensors' …
(In the Galahad series, Triana Martell keeps an intimate journal, a place for her to log her thoughts and observations. But as a bonus, on this site you'll find several journal entries that aren't within the pages of the books. And, more importantly, they're open for your comments and feedback. Her latest observation has to do with personal negotiations.)
I never really understood the specifics of my dad’s work - probably because when you’re young it’s all about YOUR world, and everyone else is just moving around in it. I do know that he was often involved in negotiation …
One of the hot new trends in creative writing during the past few years is called Flash Fiction. Ever heard of it?
Basically, Flash Fiction means 'writing a very, very short story with a strict word count.' In most cases, stories can be no longer than 500 or 1,000 words, which equals out to just a few pages. But in some cases I've even seen Flash Fiction contests where the entries could be no longer than 250 words -- that's just one page of writing for an entire short story!
About a year ago, I was working with my son, himself a talented writer with a strong command of language. The problem …
Welcome into another edition of News for Nerds. This week we'll talk about all the nasty stuff that lives inside your bellybutton, the good news about one of our closest cosmic neighbors, and why an ancient collision in deep space is a lot like taking a pie to the face. But first: our latest entry in the category of 'weird medical maladies.'
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Like many of you, I enjoy a good whodunnit mystery. Many of the best, from Agatha Christie novels to Alfred Hitchcock movies, center on the idea of the perfect crime. But what makes a perfect crime? Moreover, what makes a perfect …
If you're a Denver resident in the market for a terrific meal at a great price, you're in luck.
If you're also interested in benefiting a local charitable organization, even better!
Every weekend for the rest of the summer and all the way through Labor Day, The Melting Pot of Littleton is offering up the Wacky Weekend Meltdown. What is it? Well, it's a four-course gourmet dinner that includes their world-famous cheese, entree and dessert fondues, plus a salad of your choice, all for just $35 per person!
What's more, the offer comes with coupons to the Denver Zoo, Water World, and …
There are few people in the world of television with more creative influence, more of an 'it' factor, than Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. In addition to creating, producing and providing multiple voices for his flagship animated TV show, which has aired on the Fox network in fits and starts since 1999, he's also the force behind top-rated hits like American Dad and The Cleveland Show.
In 2008 he signed a deal with Fox worth a reported $100 million (making him the highest-paid TV writer in the world), and earlier this year it was announced that he would be granted a life-long wish t …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week, we'll find out why the snack drawer at work is hurting your brain, why Jupiter is the king of the Milky Way, and why the king of Jordan is such a big Star Trek fan. But first: what's old is new again.
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If you've ever been to a county fair or amusement park and had your caricature drawn, you know that the resulting image isn't always flattering. What! you say to yourself in horror. My nose isn't that big! Or, My eyes aren't really that far apart!
But as it turns out, caricature artists are on to something. …
What do you get when you put 100 science teachers from all over the country on a boat in the waters of southeast Alaska?
No, this isn't the set-up for a joke. It's the setting for Science at Sea, an incredible program run by our good friend (and mad scientist extraordinaire) Steve Spangler.
Steve is well-known nationally for his 11 appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and long-time Colorado residents will recognize him from his ongoing stint on 9News. But perhaps the most long-lasting impact Steve makes on education is through the work he does with teachers from all over the country -- a …
Welcome to this week's News for Nerds! This week we find out what video games have to do with high school physics, we get the lowdown on the future of space travel, and we deliver some bad news to Doc Brown and Marty McFly. But first: turn off the lights, the party's over.
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They say there are two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. Well, Robert Ettinger begs to differ. He's long believed that even if death isn't avoidable, it may only be a temporary state. Something reversible. Something that technological innovation can overcome.
And he died this week …
Like you, I enjoy a good book. But I have to say, the folks at San Jose State University make us love really BAD writing, too. These are the people who sponsor the annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, which seeks the worst possible opening sentence for an imaginary novel. Yes, you must be intentionally bad, and the results are consistently hilarious.
The prize is named for British novelist Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, who began one of his tales with the classic line, "It was a dark and stormy night..."
This year, the winner was Sue Fondrie, who penned this beauty:
" …
Among 10,000 students from 91 countries, girls from American schools finished in the Top 3 overall at Google's first-ever international science fair. A 17 year-old from Fort Worth won the grand prize, taking home $50,000 in college money for her research on ovarian cancer.
Not bad for a girl that's barely old enough to drive a car. …
After a one-week hiatus, welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we'll dive into the hidden benefit of contact allergies, the hidden perks of a dangerous playground, and the hidden side effects of over-Googling. But first: turn off the lights, the party's over.
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"Job well done, America."
Those were the words of NASA's Mission Control communicator Barry Wilmore after the shuttle Atlantis touched down shortly before dawn on Thursday morning, ending the space agency's 30-year shuttle program.
Beginning with the launch of the shuttle Columbia in the spring o …
The last book I purchased at a Borders store was Wendy Kopp’s A Chance To Make History. And now, sadly, I’ve learned that it will truly be the last book that I ever purchase at Borders.
It’s been interesting to hear and read comments regarding the chain’s demise after a forty-year run. I’m sure you’ve heard them, too: “It’s because of e-books,” or “It’s because nobody reads anymore.” And the most dismal: “It’s the end of books, period.”
Whoa, slow down. …
Over the course of your school career, there are bound to be multiple people -- teachers, librarians, counselors -- who help you along the way and make a difference in your life. It's also true, however, that most of us recall that one person who really had a profound impact on us, who changed us for the better, and whose presence stays with us long after we're finished with school.
For Galahad series author Dom Testa, that person was 10th grade English teacher Mrs. Sherilyn Hanks. And the story of her impact on his life, and of their reconnection more than three decades later, was recently f …
There aren't many video games more universally popular than Guitar Hero, and it's easy to see why. At some point in their life everyone dreams of being a rock star, right? So there's a natural appeal in living out that fantasy by rocking to your favorite songs, one virtual power chord at a time.
Well, one educator took that appeal a step further. Follow this link to watch a short video about the class project that University of Virginia professor Gavin Garner came up with -- a build-your-own-guitar adventure that includes lessons on mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
It's …
Prior to last weekend's final liftoff for the space shuttle Atlantis, photographer Scott Andrews led a three-man team that used 15 cameras to shoot more than 120,000 still images detailing the final preparation for launch.
The result is an incredible three-minute video that captures the painstaking efforts of NASA crews during the final four days of prep work before Atlantis set sail for space one last time.
Andrews, who works by day as a technical consultant for Canon, has been photographing launches and landings since the Apollo 15 mission in 1971. Even so, in order to get approval fr …
This week's News for Nerds covers the origins of barking dogs, the problem with having a wide face, and some science-y stuff about an asteroid the size of Arizona. But first: don't change that dial!
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For those of you that listen to the Dom and Jane Show each and every morning, please keep it up. You'll thank me later.
No, really. Keep listening. Researchers in England have just completed a study which shows that listening to the radio increases happiness and energy levels -- by a lot.
The study was based on interviews with more than 1,000 people, and it tracked …
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Phantom Tollbooth, a book that, in the words of one early critic, set about to “awaken the lazy mind.” In honor of its birthday I read it again, and found that it stirred some thoughts that I've been mulling for some time regarding the reputation of knowledge.
That's a funny way to put it, I know. But today it's not simply that education, or knowledge, is in peril; reading through the pages of Norton Juster's classic book for kids reinforced my suspicion that our 21st century attitude toward knowledge hovers somewhere between apathy and disdain. I have to believe that Juster had a foreboding of what was to come. …
We consider it a public service to redirect you to the fun stuff happening elsewhere on the interwebs. Sometimes it's fun videos, sometimes it's interactive slideshows, sometimes it's interesting stories about one topic or another. Whatever the case, we like to keep you up to date. We're looking out for you like that.
Today's cool redirect is from the cosmically awesome nerds over at Space.com: it's a post entirely dedicated to the greatest mysteries of Mars. …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week I've got some bad news about your favorite diet sodas, some good news about an asteroid that didn't kill us all, and some incredible news about the strangers who are living in a Brazilian rain forest. But first: a frog with fangs?
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The World Wildlife Federation has announced the discovery of more than 1,000 new species on the Melanesian island of New Guinea. Among them: a round-headed dolphin, a blind snake, and yes, a frog with fangs.
Not many people could find New Guinea on a map, but its rain f …
It's easy to write what other people expect, and to never surprise anyone. But the next time you sit down to compose a story (perhaps the leap year story assignment that I just posted), why not question yourself? Why not zag when everyone else is zigging? Here are a few thoughts on that...
One of the things that will often keep you interested in a book is a healthy dose of the unexpected. The best authors find ways to stand out, to keep their stories fresh, to mix things up a bit.
It doesn't have to be something outlandish. For instance, when a car is racing down the street, almost ever …
Here's a re-post of a popular writing assignment that I originally shared during our last leap year, in 2008. With our next leap year now just a few months away, I thought it would be fun to revisit it and see what else you could come up with.
But first, a little background information.
In order for our calendars to keep pace with the actual celestial time clock, it's necessary to shove in an extra day once every four years. People born on this day get to laugh about how they only have a birthday every four years, while other people celebrate with Leap Parties whether it's their birthday or not.
I started to think of a cool idea for a short story, and decided to give it to you for a little practice. …
We are a few months away from the fifth installment in the Galahad series, Cosmic Storm, and the sixth (and final) book in the series won't be in stores until early next year. But no matter -- there are still plenty of folks just now getting around to reading The Dark Zone. And hey, whaddayaknow, they all seem to like it.
At least that's the impression we get from the email we get from fans, the feedback we see on Facebook and Twitter, and from these new reviews from The Denver Post and the Maltby Intermediate School up in Michigan.
Anytime a reviewer calls your book "fast, smart and ad …
There is a pretty big asteroid headed our way, but we don't want to mislead you -- it won't hit the Earth. It will instead pass on by, coming within about 7,500 miles (32 times closer than the moon) but not making any sort of direct impact.
Nevertheless, the fact that we only had four days' warning is a tense reminder of just how vulnerable we are to the rocky debris of outer space. Even if this particular asteroid had been much larger, and on a collision course with, say, Pennsylvania, we still might not have known about it any sooner. …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week we learn about some very smart birds, some very competitive microorganisms, and some very smelly television. But first: don't make me pull this car over or I'll give you something to cry about!
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In what has to be the least-enjoyable research study that an unlucky participant can get roped into, researchers have found that among a wide array of annoying sounds -- including nails on a chalkboard, screeching sirens, and others -- the sound of a young child whining is the most annoying of all.
A team of psychologists fro …
You can always count on the good people at NOVA to bring you incredible new ways to pass the time, science nerd style. Sometimes it's a news story, sometimes it's a video segment. And sometimes, like today, it's with a fun interactive computer toy.
We invite you to check out their interactive model of the solar system. With a single click, you can tour the moon, explore your favorite planets (or even your least favorite planets, really), and whiz by distant stars. The program uses actual NASA calculations to ensure that every single celestial body is in the exact right place.
It's …
One of the most exciting things about The Big Brain Club is when you actually see the light bulb go off in a young person's head that says: Hey, I get it! I don't have to choose between being smart and being cool! I can totally do both!
There are a lot of paths that lead to that realization, but one of the most common is when a student realizes just how many of their favorite celebrities are also big brains. …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we dig deep into the neuroscience behind popular music, we get a glimpse of the future of air travel, and we get to the bottom of the age-old question about why men never seem to listen to their wives. But first: a story that has almost everything a science nerd could love.
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Scientists in Boston have merged light-emitting proteins from jellyfish with a human cell to create something we've never seen before: a living biological laser.
The science behind this neat little trick is a bit heavy, but in a nutshell, the team from Harvard …
The future of commercial airline travel may well include a see-through cabin and interactive gaming. According to Airbus, which is already the maker of the world's largest airliner, transparent planes will be a standard mode of transportation within 40 years. And while that's pretty exciting for most of us, it probably won't help your Aunt Jenny get over her fear of flying. …
You may have heard about the so-called 'armchair astronaut' who last week claimed to have found evidence of a human (or alien) base on Mars. His YouTube video went viral and the internet went abuzz. Of course it didn't take long for astronomers to point out that there was, in fact, no such structure on Mars; it was just a white pixelated streak on a photograph, the result of a cosmic ray in the image sensor of a camera.
Nevertheless, it got people's attention -- which is something that Mars seems to have a knack for. The Red Planet has a history of gaffes, hoaxes, and conspiracy theories that dates back to the 18th century. …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week we'll explore a real-life werewolf condition, spend 16 good minutes with a mysterious antimatter particle, and find one more reason not to spend all day on your cell phone. But first: let's get dirty.
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If you are the parent or older sibling of a young girl, it seems that one of the best things you can do for them is to send them out to play in the mud.
This according to researchers at Oregon State University, who have found that women tend to have higher rates of allergies, asthma, and other autoimmune diso …
It's not a new topic of conversation, but the debate over increasingly dark themes in young adult fiction has gotten much more heated in recent days. Are today's authors pushing the envelope past the point of reason? Or are critics of the genre just overly sensitive and out of touch?
The dustup started last Saturday, when contributor Meghan Cox Gurdon wrote this article for the Wall Street Journal. In it, she spells out the way that "incest and pederasty and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 t …
Galahad fans, we need your help. We're trying to learn more about what you like, about what you're reading, about how you respond to the books that you read -- not just the Galahad series, but others, too.
With that in mind, we've come up with this short survey. You can remain anonymous, and you can finish it in just a few minutes -- but your helpfulness will last much, much longer. …
U2 might be the most famous rock band in the world -- but they pulled off an unexpected trick at a concert last week that safely qualifies as out of this world.
In the midst of their record-breaking world tour this summer, Bono and the boys were playing a sold-out show in Seattle on Saturday. During a break in the action, Bono stopped to dedicate the next song to Rep. Giffords -- and was immediately followed by a taped message from Giffords' husband, the NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. …
This week's News for Nerds brings us lots and lots of cool stuff involving Egyptian pyramids, tiny robots going where humans can't, and an Australian twentysomething solving one very big cosmic problem. But first: pack up the family truckster and let's go camping!
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Summer is here, which means that camping season is well underway. If you're a fan of all the fancy outdoor equipment that the recreation superstores have to offer, just wait until you see the tent that some engineering students have come up with.
For starters, it's 1,900 square feet. It's radiation-proof. And i …
There's a common question that students have been asking about math classes since the beginning of time, and it goes something like this: When will I ever use any of this knowledge in real life?
We get it. As you sit in school learning about, say, geometry, it can be hard to see any application for subjects like math or science outside of the classroom. It can feel like the kind of thing that's only useful to help get you to graduation. Are we getting warmer here?
But the truth is that math is everywhere you look -- even in the world of extreme sports. …
Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week, a medical miracle, a pat on the back for Einstein, and a robot geologist takes a long nap on Mars. But first: you're getting sleeeeppppyyy...
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Get ready to bring some new technology to bed with you, and I'm not talking about the iPad2.
Two science-savvy college students have developed a shirt that can track your breathing patterns during sleep, thus allowing you to spot the ways that things like coffee, exercise and stress alter your slumber.
Here's how it works. Two small sensors (made from heat-pressed vinyl)&nb …
Your favorite YA author, radio juggernaut, and all-around science nerd will be signing books and talking with fans in South Metro Denver this Saturday, May 28, starting at 1:00 p.m.
The scene: Barnes and Noble in Lone Tree, a stone's throw from Park Meadows Mall. The address is 8374 S. Willow Street -- it's south of County Line Road. Ah, heck: here's a map if you need directions. …
This week's News for Nerds includes a Twitter-based investment strategy, a master gene that can wreak havoc on your metabolism, and a new wrinkle in a popular theory. But first: let's head up into orbit.
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The shuttle Endeavour finally hit the skies this week after weeks of delay, and so far the final mission for the accomplished shuttle is off to a good start. Much of the attention around Endeavour this week had to do with the attendance of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at liftoff (her husband, Mark Kelly, is an astronaut aboard the ship). You may recall that Giff …
Fresh off our excellent Dark Zone launch party at Butterfly Pavilion last weekend, the Galahad party train rolls on.
This Saturday, May 21, series author Dom Testa will be at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Highlands Ranch, Colo., to visit with fans, answer questions, sign books, take pictures, shake hands, kiss babies, and generally just hang out. …
Can you believe that there's such a thing as the 'Best Illusion of the Year' contest?
Well, luckily for all of us, there is. It takes place in Naples, Florida, and from that great convergence of visual researchers comes this list of the top 10 coolest optical illusions of the year, as reported by New Scientist Magazine. …
In their song “Child of Vision,” the band Supertramp rattled off a quick line that is simple in structure, but profound in its message.
You watch the television, because it tells you that you should.
Sometimes I have to laugh when I find myself, glassy-eyed, scrolling through an endless assortment of satellite TV channels, the guide spinning through line after line of options. Like most people, I’d been fooled into thinking that this continuous string of networks represented a bounty of choices for me. But, in reality, the choice began and ended when I hit POWER. …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds! This week, we'll look at why the moms of twins live longer, how an ant turns into a zombie, and what it takes to get a 100-pound human-powered helicopter off the ground. But first: let's take a trip down the holiday road.
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It's the middle of May, which means that we are right on the cusp of summer vacation season. For many families, summer vacations might mean visiting family or taking a road trip to Wally World. But for the really discerning traveler, how about booking an all-inclusive getaway to the moon? …
Attention Galahad fans in Colorado! We're now just days away from the official release party for the newest book in the Galahad series, The Dark Zone.
Join us at the world-famous Butterfly Pavilion this Sunday at 1:00 p.m.! Galahad series author Dom Testa will be there to talk about his books, his Big Brain Club, his work with schools and students -- and to answer all of your questions about anything and everything. We'll also have prizes and giveaways, including discount passes to Butterfly Pavilion. Plus, our good friends from Tattered Cover Book Store will be on hand with copies of all the Galahad books for your collection. …
One of the things that I constantly hear from students is that if they are perceived as 'nerds' in middle school or high school, they won't fit in with the so-called 'cool crowd,' and therefore they won't get to do all the fun stuff that the 'cool crowd' gets to do during their teenage years.
There are about a million reasons why that's just not true at all, and pretty much anybody who's ever lived through grades K-12 would tell you so. But that's not even the most important point that I want to make, so we'll just let that argument slide. If you want to believe that you have to dumb down in school in order to do fun things for a couple years with a bunch of temporary friends, fine. Whatever. It's not true, but we'll ignore that silliness for the time being. …
After a one-week hiatus, welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This time around, we plumb the depths of the universe for secrets, consult a calendar to check our medical condition, and gaze deeply into your beautiful eyes. But first: this one's for all the single ladies.
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Actually, let's start with a riddle: What's green, hides under rocks, and remembers everything you ever said in an argument?
The answer of course is a new species of all-female lizards. They were bred in a lab, and despite not having any male counterparts, they seem to reproduce just fine:&n …
Our friends at Preston Middle School, the first-ever in-school partner of The Big Brain Club, are at it again.
This time, they've been selected as a finalist in the 2011 Intel Schools of Distinction Awards (SODA) -- one of 18 schools in the entire country, and one of just six middle schools! Each school is nominated based on their ability to implement innovative math and science programs and for serving as models for other schools. …
Today is officially Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you).
I know, I know, it's silly. But if you think THAT'S silly, here's your chance to figure out your Star Wars name. …
The space shuttle Endeavour needs repairs that will take at least a week to complete, NASA announced over the weekend.
Endeavour was scheduled for launch last Friday, but trouble with malfunctioning heaters in three auxiliary power units, which keep the shuttle's power source from freezing in the cold depths of space, has forced an indefinite delay. No specific launch date has been set, but the soonest possible window begins on May 8. …
The answer to the question above: Lots. Yes, even during a brief time-out from radio the hits just keep comin'.
First and foremost, thanks to everyone who grabbed their copy of The Dark Zone. Remember, the official launch party (and it will be a blast) is coming up on Sunday, May 15th, at The Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, CO. All the details are right here.
Several people have heard me mention on the radio show that I'll be publishing a book of Mindbenders. It's true. …
Galahad fans, you have waited soooo patiently. And now the day is finally here.
The fourth book in the series, The Dark Zone, hits bookstores everywhere today... and I don't mind telling you, there's a bombshell waiting for you inside.
What lies on the far side of the treacherous Kuiper Belt? Will Bon's encounter with the Cassini have lingering effects? Is there new romance springing up in an unlikely place? What are those familiar-looking creatures that have suddenly appeared in the ship's path? And what exactly is a wormhole, anyway? …
After a long and storied career, the space shuttle Endeavour will head into orbit one last time this Friday.
During its final 14-day mission, Endeavour and her crew will tackle no fewer than 30 mission objectives -- among them, four scheduled spacewalks and the installation of a new Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) for the International Space Station, which will allow NASA to search for the elusive antimatter and dark matter that are thought to make up much of our universe.
The good people at Space.com have put together this five-minute video that covers the mission objectives in more detail. It also features some interesting commentary by a few of the 500+ scientists (from 16 countries) that are working on the project under Dr. Arthur Ting, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist leading the mission. …
Coming up in this week's edition of your favorite feature, News for Nerds: a brilliant teenage girl jumps into the deep end, the era of private spaceflight is well underway, and a mind-boggling variety of bonus humpback whale coverage. But first: let's fill 'er up!
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Ugh, gas prices. It's gotten to the point that I have to avert my eyes when I fill up at the pump. I just don't want to know what I'm spending on fuel anymore.
As a fan of all sorts of new technologies, I'm curious about what innovations in the automotive world might lead to more energy-efficient car …
Looks like Colorado's Preston Middle School, the first-ever in-school program partner of The Big Brain Club, had a big weekend.
A team of students from the Fort Collins STEM school (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), won the Colorado State Science Olympiad on Sunday. For their efforts, they now move on to the National Competition in Madison, Wisconson, which begins May 18. …
Our friends at Panera Bread -- and by the way, do yourself a favor and try the Frontega Chicken sandwich -- have launched a pretty cool campaign over at this new website. The program is called Panera's Top Teachers, and it allows students to create and upload a one-minute video (or 200-word essay) about why their teacher is the best in Colorado. Prizes for the best entries include food and gift cards from Panera, as well as high-end Tablet PCs for both student and teacher. …
Some of the most frequent questions I get have to do with:
a) tips for being a better writer; and
b) how to get published.
With that in mind, I sat down a few years ago and came up with this handy packet of information, which contains a ton of good information on both those topics. As with anything, we often just need to be pointed in the right direction and encouraged a little bit, and the world of writing and publishing is no different. …
This week's News for Nerds includes a mysterious explosion in a distant galaxy, a milestone anniversary that we share with the Russians, and a surprising insight into the medical files of ancient Egyptians. But first: umm... wait, give me a second, it was just on the tip of my tongue...
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Ah, senior moments. Who among us hasn't had the experience of walking into a room and forgetting why we'd come in there in the first place? Or if losing our train of thought in the middle of a conversation? …
So you know about gravity, right? And you've probably at least heard of electromagnetism and the nuclear dynamics that govern atomic movement? These are all forces of nature that affect everything about our lives, and of life on Earth in general.
Well, scientists at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have discovered a strange new particle that might just turn out to be in a class with those others mentioned above. But the emphasis is on the word might -- more testing remains to be done.
Still, this is incredibly exciting news. …
The fine folks at Colorado's Douglas County LIbraries will host Galahad series author and Big Brain Club founder Dom Testa at their Highlands Ranch location this Saturday, April 16. The event starts at 2:00 p.m. and is free to the public. Testa will talk with fans about the creation of the Galahad series, lessons learned from a life of writing, and the growing 'nerd revolution' at the heart of The Big Brain Club. …
This Tuesday, April 12, marks the 50th anniversary of man's first visit to outer space. In fact, many people don't realize that the first human to make it into orbit was not an American, but actually a Russian -- Yuri Gagarin, of the now-defunct Soviet Union. Try to imagine what sort of courage that must take: to be the first person to strap yourself to a rocket and be shot into space. The odds of returning safely couldn't be that high, and yet Gagarin went ahead with the mission anyway. …
This week's News for Nerds brings us a thrill-seeking billionaire with a new toy, a date with Martian history, and a possible solution to the art world's greatest mystery. But first: listen to your heartbeat. (But not the song. Please, not the song.)
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If you ever get tired of seeing the battery in your iPod run low, fear not. Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology are working on what they call a 'nanogenerator' that will allow devices like the iPod to be powered by a much more reliable form of energy -- your heartbeat. …
A new study near Mars' north pole finds evidence of icy fog and 'diamond dust', a form of precipitation that is similar to snow. This lends credibility to a long-held belief that the Red Planet has a water cycle similar to the one we enjoy here on Earth.
The evidence comes courtesy of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, which touched down in mid-2008 and relayed information back to Earth for about five months before becoming a victim of frigid weather conditions. This is the first time that fog has been directly observed on Mars. …
The following is a personal narrative that was originally published in The Big Brain Club at Preston Middle School, a collection of creative writing that was produced entirely by 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins, Colo. The book was published as part of a partnership between the school and The Big Brain Club, who also donated new technology equipment to the Preston media center. …
A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support The Big Brain Club at our special night with the Colorado Mammoth. Not only did you help the cause, but you were able to cheer the Mammoth on to a big win over the Edmonton Rush!
We even raffled off a commemorative Mammoth team jersey, signed by all of the players. Congrats to Jessica, who almost jumped out of her skin when we pulled her ticket out of the barrel! A hard-working college student, Jessica had earlier made a generous contribution to the foundation, and was delighted to leave the Pepsi Center with her prize.
You can still show …
This week's News for Nerds bring us an answer to a universal internet mystery, a disappointment for one major movie mogul, and our first close look at a suspiciously quiet neighbor. But first: let's go bananas.
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Maybe you've noticed, but gas prices are moving in the wrong direction. Sure, hybrid and electric car technologies are beginning to catch on, but no matter what powers your car or truck, the long-term goal for all transportation ought to be energy efficiency, right?
That's where the bananas come in. Scientists in Brazil have found a way to create a plastic -- usin …
The following is a short story that was originally published in The Big Brain Club at Preston Middle School, a collection of creative writing that was produced entirely by 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins, Colo. The book was published as part of a partnership between the school and The Big Brain Club, who also donated new technology equipment to the Preston media center. …
This week: Rooting out anxiety in the brain, the world's first full face transplant, and how sports make us smarter. But first: some robotic creepy-crawlies are coming soon to a classroom near you.
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Forget about dissecting frogs or piecing together owl pellets. A company called Backyard Brains is developing a tiny electric backpack that can connect with a cockroach's brain to allow the insect to be directed like a remote-control car. One of the practical applications is to teach high school students about neuroscience and human physiology.
The force behind this project is brai …
You may think that just because The Big Brain Club is making such a big impact in schools these days, we're all business, all the time. Not so.
This coming Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22 and 23, The Big Brain Club will be setting up shop at Cantina Laredo, a fantastic upscale Mexican food restaurant in suburban Denver. During those two evenings we'll be offering a gourmet four-course meal (along with specially-crafted Hornitos Tequila cocktails for those 21 and over), and we'll be sharing some stories and photos from our recent pilot program at Preston Middle School. …
In the new world of writing and publishing, the real pros not only write the book, they get out there and support it by speaking.
With that in mind, it's crucial that you develop a platform that delivers the gravity neccesary to get media attention and support. You want the media to come to YOU, with invitations for interviews, guest spots, blog posts, etc. That's what creating gravity is all about.
Join me this Thursday, March 24th, as I host a presentation that I'm calling "How To Turn Yourself Into A Black Hole." Ha ha, I guarantee you've never been to a presentation with THAT title before... …
Thanks to Chuck Sambuchino, who writes a terrific blog for writers and agents. He posted an article of mine that spotlights some of the things that authors must do to enhance their value for readers.
If you're interested in a writing career, it's good to know some of this stuff up front. …
This week: the lost city of Atlantis, a camera that will change who you are, and the lowdown on nerd dating hotspots. But first: aftershocks of a different variety.
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The biggest news story of the year so far has been the devastating earthquake that rocked Japan last week. And rightfully so.
But did you know that the earthquake actually did some cosmic damage as well? It shortened the length of a day by 1.8 microseconds and added more than six inches to the Earth's wobble.
As our friends at National Geographic point out, this doesn't mean that the quake knocked …
So last Friday night I was fortunate enough to give the keynote address at the excellent Northern Colorado Writers Conference in Fort Collins. We shared a few laughs, a few stories. We met new people. It was a good time.
The theme of the conference this year was Passport to Writing. So with that in mind, I talked with the audience about the various 'stamps' that writers need to collect on their 'writing passport' -- in other words, the things you need to check off your list before you can really call yourself a writer. …
Hello, Everyone!
I can't tell you how excited we are to offically launch the new DomTesta.com website! Within these pages you'll find all the information that previously existed on THREE different websites -- except that now it's all streamlined, easier to find and share, and much more interactive!
Please take a few minutes and check out the dedicated pages for The Big Brain Club, the Galahad series, and all my upcoming public events. You'll also notice that our fancy new blog has all of your favorite features (Triana's Journal, Writing Tips & Exercises, Celebrity Profiles) rol …
On tap this week: a freakish carnivorous plant, a surprisingly smart mammal, and a NASA-sponsored reunion. But first: please try not to make a Sherlock Holmes joke, okay?
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It's probably not a secret that I find Artificial Intelligence one of the most fascinating topics around. After all, I wrote a book series with a computer as one of the main characters, and I wrote this article on the subject last year.
But what happened on the TV show Jeopardy! this week still seems hard to believe.
A computer named Watson -- named after the founder of IBM -- battled quiz-show champion Brad Rut …
Welcome back! On tap in this week's News for Nerds: junk food hurts your brain, the Japanese space agency is looking out for you, and playing hard to get may actually work. But first: video games and car crashes.* * * * *One interesting side effect of the so-called 'gamer generation' has been that kids who are raised playing video games tend to have a well-developed sense of hand-eye coordination. Over the past decade or so, we've seen reports that detail how gamers make better doctors, better soldiers, and so on.But according to one new study, there's one thing that being a gamer doesn't help you with: driving.The problem, it seems, has nothing to do with skill or hand-eye coordination. In fact, when it comes to those factors, gamers excel. So then why are gamers such bad drivers? …
The ultra-cool 'Month in Space' feature from MSNBC was once a regular fixture on this site, but it's been a while since we've highlighted it. In celebration of a promising new year for Space and Science, and in recognition that they have some awfully cool photos from January, we figure it's time to revisit it.Among some of the great space photos featured this time around: a partial solar eclipse as seen from Hungary, an up-close panorama view of a Martian crater, the incredible site of Mount Everest as it appears from the International Space Station, and many more. What's your favorite, and wh …
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Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week: bomb-sniffing plants, the end of the internet, and some very suspicious drinking water. But first: big news for coffee drinkers.* * * * *Caffeine, mostly in the form of coffee, is the most widely-used stimulant in the world. But new research shows that it has very different effects on men and women.A study out of England's Bristol University shows that coffee improves women's brainpower during stressful situations -- something that weary-eyed carpool moms have known for years. But what makes this study so interesting is that the same is not true for men. In fact, it's quite the opposite.Coffee (or cappuccino or espresso, for that matter) impairs men's memories and considerably slows their decision-making process. I was going to tell you something else about this story, but now I can't seem to remember...Ah, yes. The details of the study. Sixty-four men and women were split into same-sex pairs and given a list of tasks to complete. Those tasks included things like puzzles and memory games, as well as more nuanced things like negotiating deals. Half of the pairs were given regular coffee, while the other half got decaf.The results? …
New data released this week indicates that NASA's Kepler mission has identified more than a thousand new planet candidates -- including five planets that are near Earth-size and orbit in their star's habitable zone.Kepler has also confirmed the existence of six planets that orbit a star not unlike our own. If you're keeping score at home, that's the 'largest group of transiting planets orbiting a single star yet discovered outside our solar system.'Big news, right? So how come no one seems to be talking about it much?One reason could be because the so-called 'candidate planets' require follow- …
This week's News for Nerds includes the lazy person's vending machine, the biggest prehistoric bug you've ever seen, and a very important anniversary. But first: wanna buy some land 20 light years away?* * * * *You may remember when I told you last fall about the so-called 'Goldilocks Planet' that astronomers found in a far-off solar system. According to those who discovered it, Gliese 581g orbits its star in a region that is not too cold, not too warm, but just right for possible habitation.Well, in the months since then, there's been a lot of debate about whether the planet even exists. But that didn't stop two entrepreneurial young men from claiming the planet for themselves and putting tracts of its real estate up for sale on eBay. You might wonder how they can get away with that, right?Easy. They cite a loophole in the UN's 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits countries -- but not private citizens -- from owning property in space. Based on that opening, the boys have issued a declaration of ownership to the UN and are now selling ten-acre plots of land for $20 a pop.In their defense, these guys seem to be chasing a good laugh more than a profit. Their eBay sales pitch reads like a spoof on a time-share condo brochure, noting things like, "[The planet] orbits its sun every 37 days, so your life expectancy automagically increases to roughly 749 years." …
Hard to believe, but this week marks the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies of the American space age.On January 28, 1986, a pressure seal failed aboard the space shuttle Challenger and within two minutes of liftoff, the shuttle broke apart and all seven astronauts on board were killed. NASA has designated this Thursday, January 27 as a national Day of Remembrance. Several ceremonies are taking place across the country to honor not only those who lost their lives aboard Challenger, but also the fallen heroes aboard Apollo 1 and Columbia.Our friends at Scientific American point out the eerie coincidence that all three of NASA's fatal space flights occurred right around the same time of year. Each accident happened between January 27 and February 3, though the actual time span -- beginning with Apollo 1 in 1967 and culminating with Columbia's fiery descent in 2003 -- spans more than three decades. …
Coming up in this week's News for Nerds: how to find life on Mars, why the Titanic may be gone in 20 years, and what it takes to teach a dog 1,000 vocabulary words. But first: release the Mammoth!* * * * *Chew on this run-on sentence for a minute: Japanese researchers are using fossilized Mammoth tissue held in a Russian lab to extract DNA, which will then be used to create an embryo before inserting it into a living elephant's uterus with the hopes of giving birth to an actual, live woolly Mammoth -- which, incidentally, is an animal that's been extinct since the last ice age.The whole thing sounds preposterous, right? Well, that may be. But it's also very real.Led by a group at Kyoto University in Japan, the project could lead to a real live Mammoth within five years. If you're getting a slight deja vu sensation, you're not alone. The plan is strikingly similar to the one outlined in the bestseller-turned-blockbuster Jurassic Park. There is, however, one major difference. …
Another week, another set of cool stories to satisfy your inner (or outer) nerd. On deck: fish who can count, trouble at the Tampa airport, and one more reason to support Hermey's dreams of becoming a dentist. But first: the lighter side of swine flu.* * * * *The H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 -- also known as 'swine flu' -- was a big scare, with as many as 60 million people taking sick and roughly 18,000 people dying worldwide. Still, it could have been much worse, and what's more, there might actually be some good to come from it.New research shows that those infected with H1N1 may now have supercharged immune systems capable of fighting off virtually every variation of the common flu virus, as well as some of the more exotic, dangerous strains.It seems that the specific peculiarities of the swine flu are what triggered this response from the immune system. You see, for those who contracted the virus and eventually survived, the body didn't initially know what to make of the unfamiliar invading virus. So it did what any nimble immune system should do: produce a wide variety of antibodies capable of fighting off a wide variety of disease. As a result, those who suffered through the long days of the H1N1 pandemic are now virtually flu-resistant. …
Our training at Galahad Command included hours and hours of lectures to help prepare us for the years we would be spending in isolation, cooped up on our long voyage to Eos. Psychologically speaking, it's a challenge to get anyone ready for a mission of this nature.There were many discussions about maintaining a healthy balance in our schedule. I heard the word '˜balance' so many times, but to this day I find myself fighting back against it. Who's to say what the proper balance is for any individual?I understand the concept, and I acknowledge that on a large scale it makes sense. No one should …
Here's an unusual way to look at your education, one you've probably never considered before. We'll start with a quick mind game. What if you picked up a cigarette, lit it, inhaled one puff...and immediately fell over dead?Here's another thought: What if you ate a giant cheeseburger with chili cheese fries, along with a large milkshake, followed by a fudge brownie drenched in ice cream and covered with chocolate sauce...and then immediately fell over dead?The point is, it doesn't work that way. The cigarette doesn't kill you today, it kills you tomorrow. A diet that's filled only with the menu I described doesn't kill you today, it kills you tomorrow. And because there are no immediate consequences, most people ignore what's happening. If I don't feel any bad effects today, why worry about it, right? That's why people smoke, and why people stuff themselves with foods that have negative long-term effects. If the first cigarette killed you, how many people would light up, right? …
Welcome back to another year of News for Nerds. Up first in 2011: good news for chocolate lovers, silly applications for serious science, and a 10-year-old Canadian star sleuth. But first, let's make some weird connections.* * * * *Technology has changed a lot about the worlds of health and medicine. Yes, new-fangled tests and treatments are an obvious result of our movement into the digital age. But an overlooked element of technology is the ability of researchers to analyze thousands, even millions, of seemingly unrelated studies to come up with new insights into how certain traits or behaviors might lead to future risk.And with that lengthy preamble, I give you the weirdest indicators of serious medical risks, as determined by our friends at Wired magazine.Among some of the really strange things that researchers have found: men with index fingers longer than ring fingers are less likely to develop prostate cancer; flossing reduces the risk of heart disease; having a good grip (i.e. a firm handshake) can translate to a longer lifespan; and the first-born children in large families are more likely to develop leukemia. …
A Canadian girl became the youngest person ever to discover a supernova when she spotted the dying star over the new year's weekend.Ten-year-old Kathryn Aurora Gray was working with her father -- who himself was once the youngest person to discover a supernova -- and another family friend when the trio discovered a magnitude 17 supernova in the constellation Camelopardalis, about 240 million light years away.David Lane, the Grays' family friend, had first collected the space images via telescope and shared them with Gray and her father, who began poring over them with the help of computer software. When the younger Gray noticed a difference in several of the frames, she alerted her father, who sought outside confirmation before reporting the finding to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. …
As we put another year in the books, now seems like the perfect time to reflect back on some of the high points of 2010. What follows is a highlight reel containing the best moments from the Galahad universe... including a few gems from The Big Brain Club and elsewhere. So without any further adieu, I give you the Galahad Year in Review for 2010. Keep coming back in 2011, won't you?* * * * *January- The year kicked off on a good note, with the longest solar eclipse visible from Earth until the year 3043.- We learned a bit about the history of UFOs... and about some unintended consequences.- Triana Martell defined maturity, with a little help from her dad.- Over at the Big Brain Club, this article about making good choices made its mark. …
There aren't many stars in the world bigger than Matt Damon. For that matter, there aren't many cooler people in the world, period. The face of smash-hit films like Saving Private Ryan, Invictus, and the Bourne and Ocean's series, Damon is more than just a movie star. He's also an active philanthropist, a big sports fan, and by all accounts, a heckuva nice guy.But there's one other thing that you need to know about Matt Damon: he's a big brain, and not ashamed of it. …
More than 2,000 years ago, the Greeks came up with a shockingly brilliant device that could accurately predict eclipses. It was called the Antikythera Mechanism, and it was way ahead of its time. Unfortunately, the technology was lost for two millennia before resurfacing in the early 20th century aboard a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean.Cool, right? But wait, because we haven't even gotten to the really cool part yet.Earlier this year, a team of engineers got together and recreated the device -- using Lego toys.It's truly an awesome accomplishment, and it's made more awesome by the two sh …
Come Monday night, something is going to happen for the first time since the 17th century -- and we're all lucky enough to be able to watch it happen, live.There's a full lunar eclipse later tonight (or early tomorrow, depending on where you are in the world). In and of itself that's a cool event, but not mind-blowing. Lunar eclipses happen, on average, every couple years. In fact, there are two next year.However, tonight also happens to be the winter solstice, which marks the shift from shorter days and lonnnggg nights to the increased sunshine we all crave, and a lunar eclipse hasn't occurre …
It's the last edition of News for Nerds for 2010, so I made it extra wonderful. On deck this week: a simple way to avoid overeating, a forgotten spacecraft with a ton of frequent flyer miles, and yes, that poster on the wall is watching you after all. But first: the importance of Swedish garbage!* * * * *What if all the trash we dump into landfills could be used to power our cities? That's what a town in Sweden wanted to know, and lo and behold, they came up with a pretty compelling answer.About a decade ago, Kristianstad, Sweden (population 80,000) built a huge plant on the outskirts of town that converts common waste -- stuff like potato peels, manure, wood chips and stale food -- into something called biogas, which is a form of methane. That biogas is then burned to generate heat and electricity and, in some cases, is even refined into fuel that can power cars.And now, ten years later, Kristianstad uses virtually no oil, natural gas or coal to heat their homes and office buildings, even during the famously frigid Swedish winters. All told they've cut their use of fossil fuels in half and reduced carbon emissions by one-quarter... and all in just 10 years. And while the startup costs were significant (reportedly $144 million), they've cut their annual costs to heat and power the city in half. …
Not everything about our 24-hour voyeur culture is admirable, but I gotta say, there's something pretty cool about watching the smart kids at NASA construct the next Mars Rover right before your very eyes.It's called Curiosity Cam, and it basically consists of bunny-suited technicians at the Jet Propulsion Lab in California building and testing the Mars Science Lab bit by bit. So far more than a million people have logged on to watch the activity... including the team here at Club Galahad.The video feed shuts down occasionally for short maintenance breaks, but odds are pretty good that you'll get to see some hot science action if you follow the link above.The Curiosity rover ships out to space late next year, and it's expected to arrive in Martian orbit by the summer of 2012. Science is cool. …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. This week: laser light that can lift objects, bioluminescent trees, and a wallet that might just save you money. But first: puzzles!* * * * *Longtime fans know by now that I'm a major puzzle-head. Word puzzles, math puzzles, you name it. I've even got a 24,000-piece jigsaw puzzle underway in my basement. (It takes up A LOT of space.)So you can imagine how glad I was to come across this story in the New York Times about new research that's providing insights into how puzzles are related to the creative process.As it turns out, people who are happy or amused are more likely to have the sort of sudden, creative insight required to solve a word puzzle. This means that there's more appeal to solving puzzles than the satisfaction that comes with finding an answer. The very idea of doing a puzzle flips a switch in the brain that triggers a playful, open state of mind that is associated with creative, inspired thought. …
I'm honest with you on the Big Brain Club site, and so let me say this up front: I don't do what I'm about to recommend?Sound strange? Well, it shouldn't, because what works for me might not work for you, and vice versa. But there are many writers who employ this little trick, and it might really help you a lot. Interested? Here's what I'm talking about... …
After a week off to digest all that Thanksgiving turkey, it's time to get back down to business with more News for Nerds. This week: a major breakthrough at the bottom of a California lake, picky eaters get a hall pass, and scientists at Caltech want to record your dreams. But first, there's more cool news coming from the moons of Saturn.* * * * *Regular followers of both Club Galahad and the Dom and Jane Show know all about my fascination with NASA's Cassini program, which is in the midst of a tour of Saturn's moons that has been nothing short of revelatory.Well, the Cassini probe is at it again. This time it's discovered an oxygen-rich atmosphere on Rhea, the second-largest of Saturn's moons. While not the first of its kind -- two of Jupiter's moons were found to have similar atmospheric composition in the 1990s -- this does go a long way toward proving that oxygen-rich atmospheres are not such a rare commodity in the Milky Way galaxy......and that has all kinds of implications. The most obvious is that life as we know it here on Earth thrives on the availability of oxygen, among other things (more on that later). So when it comes to extraterrestrial exploration, where there's oxygen, life might not be far behind. NASA is also excited about the many other chemistry-related possibilities that exist on a moon with such an interesting and unusual mix of oxygen-rich atmosphere. …
The Cassini Probe is at it again.NASA's nifty exploration satellite has found that Saturn's second-largest moon, Rhea, has a 'wispy atmosphere with lots of oxygen and carbon dioxide.' Although just recently announced, the discovery was made in March after two previous fly-bys (in 2005 and 2007) failed to confirm what many astronomers have long-suspected: that oxygen atmospheres are not uncommon in our galaxy.Rhea isn't the first moon in our cosmic neighborhood to be found to have this type of atmosphere, but the discovery is nonetheless important. After two of Jupiter's moons were found to have similar atmospheric makeup in the 1990s, scientists have wondered how widespread a phenomenon this might be. Uncovering an icy body like Rhea with an Oxygen-rich atmosphere hints that there may be many more than previously thought -- and many with complex chemistry, to boot. …
Somewhere in a box in my basement I've tucked away a single report card from my days in elementary school. It's the one, lonely testament to twelve years of public school, twelve years of sitting up straight, learning multiplication tables, and memorizing state capitals.I haven't seen it in years, but I think it registers mostly A's, one B (I never could master art class), and a comment about my improving penmanship. It clearly spelled out my strengths and weaknesses, and neither I nor my parents were foggy about my progress.Now, fast-forward to our more 'œenlightened'쳌 age. I had an interesti …
If it's Friday, it must be NewsForNerdsDay. This week: satellites to power your iPad, the smart side of deadly bacteria, and what your ears say about you. But first, let's talk about why international flights are making us dumber.* * * * *There's really not much about commercial air travel that's fun -- especially when it comes to long international flights. Long lines at airports, uncomfortable seats... and don't forget jet lag. Ugh, jet lag.Well, it turns out that there's more to jet lag than we previously realized. Specifically: it makes you stupid.A study from the University of California showed that hamsters suffering from extreme jet lag suffered deficits in memory and learning and had about half the normal rate of new neuron birth in the hippocampus region of the brain. …
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With more than six billion people on Earth and counting, energy -- specifically finding and producing enough of it at a reasonable cost to consumers and the environment -- will always be an important issue. How will we power our homes, our cars, our electronic gadgets 50 or 100 years from now?Solar power (that is, energy from the sun converted for use here on Earth) has long been considered a possible alternative. It is clean and it is renewable, which are two pretty important factors. As far back as the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the White House. (Ronald Reagan was not impressed; he tore them down after taking office in 1980.) But for all its benefits, solar power has never been particularly cheap or efficient to harness. …
Coming up in this week's News for Nerds: the world's most amazing toilet, electro-shocking long-division into your brain, and the secret to successful test-taking. But first: hypersonic flight comes to town.* * * * *There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just put it right out there: NASA is developing hypersonic jets that would allow you to fly from New York to Sydney in two-and-a-half hours -- nearly a 90% reduction from the current 21-hour flight time.Yes, really.Most of the speculation is that long-term, the project is aimed at building a reusable aircraft that can travel to Mars. But in the short term, this could change everything we know about global travel.These hypersonic jets would fly through the upper reaches of the Earth's atmosphere at five times the speed of sound. The Concorde aircraft, which became famous for its ultra-fast international flights until being retired in 2003, flew at Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound. …
Astronomers have found evidence of two massive gamma ray bubbles of high-radiation energy coming from the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The bubbles are emitting roughly the same amount of energy as 100,000 supernovae (which is a cool-sounding word for 'exploding stars'). Could this be the result of a supermassive black hole eruption?Some experts think so. It's also possible that these mysterious structures are the result of a surge in star formations several million years ago. Whatever the cause, the "sharp and well-defined" edges of the bubbles seem to indicate some sort of huge, fast relea …
This cool little tool needs very little introduction, except to say: get ready to have your mind blown.Cary and Michael Huang have created a very nifty interactive tool called The Scale of the Universe, which is exactly what it sounds like (and simultaneously so much more). By moving the slider one way or another, you can inspect something as small as Einstein's quantum foam, all the way up to the estimated size/age of the universe (roughly 14 billion light years across), with all kinds of practical insights and examples throughout.Have fun... and try not to spend too much time on it.
Come one, come all, and welcome to another edition of News for Nerds. I've got quite a grab bag of science-y goodness for you this week, including the safest way to pin a child to a ski lift, the building blocks of life in outer space, the next new thing for your cell phone, and close-up pix from a comet. But first, medical science experiences a long-awaited breakthrough...* * * * *Before long, you may have to look for a new excuse to call in sick to work. According to scientists at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, a cure for the common cold may not be far off.New research has shown that viral antibodies can enter a cell inhabited by an invading virus and fight that virus off by activating a natural protein already present in the body -- something that was previously believed impossible. For years, conventional wisdom stated that antibodies could only work outside the cell, either in the blood or other extracellular fluids.But with this new discovery, new classes of cold-fighting drugs might be on the market in the next five years. And that's none too soon, since viruses are still the top cause of death worldwide -- more deadly even than cancer -- because infected cells have long been considered a lost cause. …
During my writing workshops, I often talk about ways to spur your creative juices. One of those methods is to start at the end (see my previous writing tip, "Writing Backwards"). So, this month your assignment is to do just that. Here's the scoop... …
The Space Shuttle Discovery may or may not lift off on its final mission Thursday -- bad weather and some minor mechanical issues could delay launch for a few days -- but either way, we are approaching an historic final chapter in NASA's storied shuttle program.We've covered this story a bit before, and believe me, well have much more on it later. It's big news.But in the meantime, The USA Today has provided us with these incredibly cool interactive photos of the launch site. Each one is a panoramic view that's stitched together from multiple photos, so just drag your mouse across the page in …
I took a few minutes to clean up my room today. It's funny, because back home (on Earth) it would've taken me much longer. Here, with our sparse accommodations, we don't have much. There's just not a lot to pick up and put away.Thinking back, I remember what a shock it was when we first heard how much (actually, how little) we could bring aboard. We found out that there's not much storage space in outer space. And, like probably everyone else, I worried about how I'd part with all of my stuff.Now, here it is, almost a year later, and I can't even remember most of the things I left behind. Whic …
Come one, come all, and experience the glory that is another edition of News for Nerds. On tap this week: a very important jawbone turns up in China, your local college football team runs the country, and why newlyweds know more than old married couples. But first: water on the moon.* * * * *When NASA decided to crash a rocket into the moon last year, it was big news. When they found that there was water on the moon, that was also big news. And now, the news just continues to get bigger: there isn't just water on the moon, there's lots of it -- many times more than anyone expected. …
We told you last year about the exciting discovery that there is water on the moon, and about how NASA crashed a rocket into a lunar crater in order to get that information. Pretty cool, right?Well, the good news doesn't stop there. NASA announced this week that there's more water on the moon -- much more, in fact -- than anyone realized. From the hole blasted in the moon (roughly six feet wide by 70 feet deep), nearly 342 pounds of ice and water were released. What astronomers had hoped for was 1 percent of the mineral dust kicked up to be water; that number would make extracting it in the future economically viable. What they found instead was that the actual number is six percent. …
Welcome back to another star-studded edition of News for Nerds. On deck this week: colonizing Mars two doctors at a time, building a supercomputer with a 'spooky' physical force, getting our nerd on with the leader of the free world, and much more. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.* * * * *If you listen to enough pop music, you start to believe that love is painful. But according to neuroscientists at Stanford University, the opposite is true: being in love can make you impervious to pain.This all stems from research aimed at gauging how the brain interprets and responds to pain. In the study, eight women and seven men (all students) were shown photographs of their partners while simultaneously receiving mild doses of pain to the palms of their hands with a hot probe. At the same time, the students' brains were scanned via MRI, and after each dose, they were asked to rate the amount of pain they felt. …
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama played host to 11 award-winning science fair participants in the State Dining Room at the White House. Their projects ranged from a self-powered hydroelectric water purification device to a test which shows that gel -- not the foam that is so often used -- is most effective in safety helmets.It's no secret that President Obama is a strong believer in the importance of math and science. After spending an hour reviewing each of the 11 projects, he spoke to the students about the importance of the work that they are doing now... and in the future.He noted …
In this week's News for Nerds, you're in for quite a treat. Several in fact. We'll be discussing the car that drives itself, evaluating the Catch-22 of retiring early, paying special tribute to Violet Beauregarde, and more. Here goes...* * * * *I did a story a few weeks back on dinosaurs, and it got a strong response. Apparently, just as I'd hoped, dinosaurs never stop being cool. With that in mind, let's dig up some more dino-news! …
Earlier this week, Earth dodged a bullet. Well, to be more precise, we dodged an asteroid, which came within one-tenth the distance between us and the moon. It got a little bit of attention (and led to more than a few Bruce Willis jokes), but it didn't really pose a threat. According to NASA's calculations, it had zero probability of crashing into Earth, and even if it had, it wasn't big enough to make it through the atmosphere without burning up on entry.But the bigger question is: are we at risk of being struck by an asteroid, and if so, what can we do about it? After all, this latest fly-by wasn't spotted at all until just a few days before it zoomed past us. That's not much advance warning. …
It sounds like the set-up for a joke: what do you get when you cross a few dozen middle-school teachers with 2,000 ping pong balls and a zero-gravity plane ride?Well, there is no punchline because it actually happened in the skies above the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. As part of the Weightless Flights of Discovery program, 30 middle school teachers climbed aboard a specially modified Boeing 727 aircraft to take part in one very special science experiment.Believe it or not, these sorts of flights take place all the time. Once the plane reaches its cruising altitude (about 24,000 feet), it begins to fly in a parabolic motion. It climbs at a 45-degree angle to 34,000 feet, then levels off into a gentle arc for about 20 or 30 seconds. …
Welcome! It's time for one of our fastest-growing features, News for Nerds! In the news this week: teens and technology, smelly Kiwi birds, stressed-out suitors and more. Plus, a bonus video that will teach you everything you need to know about making a paper airplane. On with the show!* * * * *Go ahead and add 'death ray' to the list of wild features that can be found at Las Vegas hotels -- except that this particular feature is unintentional, and may wind up costing one hotel a big chunk of money.The Hotel Vdara on the Las Vegas strip has a beautiful concave design that is pleasing to the eye. Trouble is, that curvature also doubles as a reflector that collects (and then bounces) sun rays onto unsuspecting guests by the pool. It only happens at certain times of day, and only during certain times of year, but that isn't very comforting to the folks who've had plastic cups melted in their hands -- or worse, had the hair singed right off their heads! …
It's an annual tradition at The Big Brain Club...the October assignment always taps the scary side of your creativity. Read all about it... …
We each like to think that we keep an open mind, don't we? But we fool ourselves, because we're tricky, and we keep ourselves isolated in just enough ways that we're never in danger of having to embrace unfamiliar ideas.As funny as it may sound, the search for intelligent life in the universe is a good analogy. When we took those first tentative steps in this effort, we scanned the sky, listening for radio signals, which we would consider a sign of alien intelligence.But we handcuffed our efforts in two ways. One, we only looked at a portion of the sky, and two, we only listened in on a few ra …
Welcome back to another fine edition of News for Nerds. In the news this week: why women apologize more than men, how to know if your license plate is being selfish, finding the cure for the common cow burp, and more. Let's dive right in!* * * * *Some of you may be old enough to remember when there were no remote controls for televisions. In fact, in many households, the children were the remote controls -- as in, "Hey, son. Get up and put it on channel six." I know that I was certainly the designated channel-changer in my house.Well, just as the remote control brought about a TV-watching revolution of sorts, so too may the next generation of channel-surfing devices. Get ready for 3-D gesture recognition technology. …
Astronomers have discovered a planet just 20 light years from Earth that has the right size, composition and climate to support life as we know it. In other words, it's the 'Goldilocks' planet that many of you have heard me talk about before: it's not too hot, not too cold, but just right.For now they're calling it Gliese 581g. It's roughly three to four times more massive than Earth, and because of its relatively close orbital distance it moves swiftly around its sun -- one full circuit takes less than 37 days. Based on those factors, along with the brightness of its sun, the surface temperat …
In this week's all-new edition of News for Nerds: fighting off the 'freshman 15', finding an unlikely replacement for your dog's pooper-scooper, getting up close and personal with a giant ball of hot gas, and more. Let's go!* * * * *Who needs fancy medical equipment and invasive blood tests when you've got... a giant, dog-sized rat?That's right, giant rats. A program in Tanzania has found that training rats to sniff out tuberculosis in sputum samples has increased detection of the disease by 44 percent over the traditional test involving a human with a microscope. The nonprofit that funds the …
Welcome back to another edition of News for Nerds. Up this week: my ultimate dream vacation gets a little bit closer, why a manicure would be wasted on an astronaut, and plenty of tips for living a long, healthy life. Let's get right to it! …
We at Club Galahad enjoy photography. It truly is an art form, and those who do it well make us wonder why we can't get the same magic out of our fancy three-year-old digital camera, which seems better at collecting dust than capturing supernovae. (We'd probably settle for a picture of friends that doesn't catch someone mid-blink.)We also like astronomy, which is why this Space Photos feature on National Geographic's website is so cool. We've told you in the past about a similar feature at MSNBC.com, and both features continue to be worth your time. A spiral galaxy 61 million light years away, …
Welcome to another edition of News for Nerds. This week: crustaceans in your drinking water, dancing with a purpose, cut-rate happiness and much more. On to the news!* * * * *A study from a Nobel economics laureate at Princeton finds that money can buy happiness -- but only up to a point. And that point is apparently somewhere in the neighborhood of $75,000.The study (by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton) was based on a survey of 450,000 Americans, and it found that people's emotional well-being and life evaluation improved as their annual income increased. However, the study also found that th …
NASA's Phoenix lander broke down in 2008 while doing a bit of recon on the Martian surface, but it had five good months to catalog all kinds of good information about the red planet. Even now, two years later, scientists are still going through the data that Phoenix sent back, and cool tidbits continue to emerge.Researchers recently discovered that the carbon dioxide in Mars' atmosphere shows evidence of recently interacting with liquid water. That's right -- recently interacting.The Phoenix lander spent some of its time on Mars collecting information on carbon dioxide isotopes in the atmosphe …
In this week's News for Nerds, we tackle some pressing issues: finding the right parking spot, our mysterious benefactors in the Gulf of Mexico, the enduring fashion sense of Roman gladiators, and much more. And of course, we do it all in the name of science!* * * * *Let's get started this week with a very serious story: With the help of Google's supercomputers, mathematicians at Kent State University have determined that a Rubik's Cube is solvable from any position in just 20 moves.That's right, 20 moves. And what makes it even more incredible is that there are over 43 quintillion possible st …
NASA's Cassini orbiter has been circling Saturn for more than six years, all the while taking pictures and sending back important new information.The most recent images to come from Cassini are some of the best yet. They include especially detailed shots of the moons Enceladus, Tethis and Dione. You can see them right here.So what can we see in these pictures? Quite a lot. There are massive geysers (visible from 61,000 miles away), a 90-mile-wide crater, and animated image sequences that highlight some of the most jaw-dropping images that Cassini has captured.Be sure to pay close attention to …
Have you ever played the lottery even when you knew you couldn't win? Ever learn about exercise from an astronaut? Ever feel like the victim of some nefarious mind control?There's lots to talk about in this week's News for Nerds, so let's jump right in: …
We were all given two workpads for the trip to Eos, and it's pretty common to see crew members walking around with them. We use them every day for work, and sometimes for entertainment.When I hear stories about the early days of portable electronic devices I can understand why Dr. Zimmer and his team chose to limit their role in our lives. I've heard that people once became so completely addicted to their electronic devices that there was eventually a backlash.One of the things Dr. Zimmer stressed was that we not lose the intimacy of direct conversation. I remember him telling all of us at a c …
One of the ways we keep the content at BigBrainClub.com fresh and diverse is by inviting friends and colleagues in to write occasional guest columns. This time around, the guest in question is more than just a friend and colleague. He's the executive director of our parent organization, The Big Brain Foundation, and he's also my son: Dominic III.Dominic came to us last year with a successful background in business and non-profit management, but the column that follows has more to do with the topic of reading. More specifically, he's addressing the future of books in a culture that seems to value the written word less and less. His insights might surprise you. And as always, your feedback is certainly welcome. …
If you are excited at the prospect of finding extraterrestrial life in the universe, pay close attention. You're about to receive some good news from a reliable source.If, on the other hand, you're less-than-keen on meeting our interplanetary neighbors, well... you might want to look away.A senior astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute told a convention crowd recently, "I actually think the chances that we'll find ET are pretty good." He went on to say, "Young people in the audience, I think there's a really good chance that you're going to see this happen." …
I sat and thought long and hard about it, because I wanted to be sure.
I asked friends. I flew from city to city and wandered the streets. I phoned random people at odd hours of the day. I drew up a pie chart, and then a bar graph, and then a Venn diagram. And then, just to be sure, I Googled it.Turns out that my suspicions were confirmed after all: Smart really is the new cool. What a relief. …
Do you like your personality? I hope so, because the experts are now saying that it's set. In fact, they say it has been set since you were in first grade. Uh-oh. Also, if you want to improve your memory, the answer is: Take a hike.That, and more, in a Friday the 13th edition of News For Nerds. Here we go... …
Someday our own Milky Way galaxy will collide with the nearby Andromeda galaxy, extinguishing millions of stars and creating many millions more in their place. And even though that particular collision is a few billion years away, we have this lovely sneak preview to show us just what it might look like.The picture at left (and the others that you'll find by following this link) are the result of two enormous spiral galaxies that have been crashing into one another for more than 100 million years.NASA has been on top of this for some time, and now they've combined images from three of their po …
What makes guys more attractive; Venus, Mars, and Saturn, all in one place (sorta); and a hail of a big stone. All of that, and more, can be found lurking in this week's News For Nerds. So, c'mon, let's get our nerd on! …
It's back-to-school time. Pretty soon the leaves will be turning, the winds will deliver cooler air, and it will even smell different when you walk outside. Fall is almost here, and it's a good opportunity for you to practice writing about change. …
What exactly does that mean? Why would you intentionally turn off your editor? The truth is, it will make you a better writer. Sound crazy? Here's what it really means... …
There's drama aboard the International Space Station this week. NASA is dealing with what it calls a "serious malfunction" of the cooling system aboard the ISS, and teams of engineers are working around the clock to get it fixed.Astronauts have already made one space walk in an attempt to replace the pump, and another space walk is likely to take place soon. In the meantime, much of the space station's equipment is shut off to prevent overheating, but all six of the astronauts living on board are safe.However, this got us to thinking about just how incredible -- and big -- the ISS really is. This article is now several months old, but it outlines the outpost's size in real-world terms that are mindboggling. For instance, the ISS: …
Instead of monkey see, monkey do, it's now dog see, dog do. Also, black holes have a new role in the universe: they're magnifying glasses. And you've heard of the five-second rule when you drop food on the ground? Well, now scientists have weighed in on it.That, and more, in this week's edition of News For Nerds. Let's get our nerd on right now! …
Well, you don't see this everyday.A quasar more than 1 billion light years from Earth is providing unexpected help in the effort to identify distant galaxies. You see, the energy spewing from the black hole at the center of the quasar known as SDSS J0013+ 1523 is acting as a magnifying glass, making it easier to see the areas around (and beyond) it.The result is that another galaxy, much farther away but in juuusssttt the right position, has come into view for the first time, allowing scientists to get a good look at both galaxies at the same time.You can chalk this up as another victory for A …
Stars Wars comes to life, your brain is exposed for being hyperactive, and scientists discover the perfect handshake. Those are just a few of the stories in this week's edition of News For Nerds. Let's get our nerd on! …
We at The Big Brain Club have adopted a few catchphrases that seem to have caught on with many of you. Smart is Cool is one of them. Overcome the peer pressure to dumb down is another. Those are both good.But it's probably true that the most popular of all our catchphrases is Gettin' My Nerd On. People seem to like it, understand it and even live it. With that in mind, we've developed the very hip shirt you see in the picture at left. It has the periodic table in the background -- note the newest element, called Nerdium -- and the phrase Gettin' My Nerd On splashed across the front.Would you, …
If you've read The Web of Titan, you know that in the book, the crew of Galahad enjoy their first concert of the journey. And even if you haven't read the book yet, I guess you know about the concert now anyway. So there.But regardless of how you heard about it, we are excited to announce that the song 'A New Life', written and performed aboard Galahad by Lita Marques, is now available online! You can hear the song and watch the video here, on our ClubGalahad YouTube page. And, of course, it's completely free. Enjoy.
A new partnership between NASA and Microsoft Research's WorldWide Telescope has made available more than half a billion high-resolution images of the planet Mars. Also available: narrated guided tours of the Red Planet that cover topics such as extraterrestrial life and future potential human mission sites.Want to fly over a mountain or zoom past a crater? You can do that. Interested in examining volcanoes, caves and glacial deposits? No problem. Care to make a virtual landing on Martian soil? You can do that, too.Made possible through a new breed of public-private partnership that NASA hopes …
Out in the depths of space, a bubble of hot gas has been discovered which measures more than 1,000 light years across and has been growing for 200,000 years. And-oh-by-the-way... it's coming from a black hole.Pretty cool, eh?The black hole in question is a microquasar, which means that it emits jets of high-speed particles. Microquasars have been known to produce gas bubbles before, but never anything as big as this one, which is twice as big and ten times as powerful as any other known example.All of this is taking place about 12 million light years away from us, in a galaxy called NGC 7793. …
How much do you know about your home planet? How much do you really know? The fine folks over at LiveScience.com have a fun, easy way to find out: they've got a slideshow quiz that is guaranteed to up your Earth IQ.The best part about interactive quizzes like this is that you learn about things that you've often wondered about, but also about things you've never considered!For instance, here are a few of the questions you'll come across:
Where is the world's highest waterfall?
How far is it to the center of the Earth?
How many people worldwide are at risk from volcanoes?
Does all of …
I make mistakes. I do the best that I can, but I sometimes fail. Yet of all the lessons that Dr. Zimmer taught me during our training, one of the best was to quickly learn from those mistakes. As he quietly told me: 'œLearn the first time.'쳌I didn't understand right away what he meant, but it wasn't long before it began to make sense.It's human nature for us to claim innocence when we screw up, or to look for an excuse or - worse - a scapegoat. It's also a sign of immaturity. During the most difficult months of our schedule at Galahad Command I watched several strong candidates for the mission …
After a week off, it's time to get our nerd on again! This week we find out that our bodies are no longer being fooled by caffeine; we discover a flying car that could actually be in our driveways soon; and if you're looking for love, just turn on some music.We explore all of that, and more, in this week's News For Nerds. Read on... …
More than three hundred young faces stared down at me from the bleachers. I was on their turf, the echo chamber of a school gymnasium, finishing what had been an enthusiastic assembly on writing and creativity.I knew the question was coming before the seventh-grader posed it. It's always the first question at my school presentations. As soon as I hear the first word - 'œwhere...'쳌 - I can practically finish the sentence for them: 'œ...do you get your ideas?'쳌It's a question that has an almost magical quality in the mind of many middle school students, because it implies that there's some mist-covered, dream-like dimension to which writers venture in order to pluck shimmering, ripe thoughts from the mystical Idea Tree.And, to be fair, I think some writers encourage this fantasy. They enjoy the aura that surrounds 'œthe artist,'쳌 one step removed from wizardry and the awe that accompanies it. It somehow endows them with a minor celebrity status: He Who Is Able To Conjure Insight From The Fabled Tree of Ideas. …
Can the discovery of some highly unusual particles called geoneutrinos help us to better understand things like earthquakes and volcanoes?Could be. But first, let's back up just a bit and get our bearings straight. We'll start with neutrinos.Neutrinos are lightweight, electrically-neutral particles that are the result of nuclear reactions. They also pass through ordinary matter virtually undetected. In fact, it is estimated that more than 50 trillion solar neutrinos -- that is, neutrinos that come from the Sun -- pass through the human body every second.Well, after years of speculation, a new …
By now, nearly everyone is aware of Apple's latest techno-marvel, the iPad. It's been hailed as the next great gadget, and in just a few short months it's already become ubiquitous across the pop culture landscape. A popular sitcom even crafted an entire episode in which a central character goes to great lengths to get his hands on one.But beyond the 'cool' factor, what sorts of applications will the iPad -- and for that matter, any other technological innovation coming down the pike -- have on education? This article from OnlineColleges.net addressed that very issue, and we thought it was wor …
The picture you see at left was snapped last month by a quick-thinking astronaut aboard the International Space Station. It depicts a ribbon-shaped aurora as seen during a geomagnetic storm. The space station was sailing over the Southern Indian Ocean at the time.Aurorae are natural light displays that are most frequently seen from Earth at the polar regions. They are caused by photon emissions in the Earth's upper atmosphere -- in other words, ions from solar winds collide with atoms of nitrogen and oxygen and voila!, an aurora is born.The most famous example is the Aurora Borealis, which can …
Can you be contrarian about being contrarian? Does that somehow cancel everything out? Is it like multiplying two negative numbers and ending up with a positive number?For years our culture has embraced - perhaps revered is a better choice - those whose thinking went against conventional wisdom. We held in high esteem one who zigged while the rest of us were still practicing our zag. The popular vernacular for this contrarian even segregated them from the masses, placing them outside the normal boundaries that we-who-plod-obediently have confined ourselves within.Yes, they think OUTSIDE THE BOX.But wait a minute. Elevate the status of anything, especially the perceived reverence of the uber-cool contrarian, and you immediately invite everyone into the pool. From far and wide there is a rush to crowd into that VIP box, where one and all are glorified for coloring outside the lines, for bucking the trend, for - yes, let's say it again - thinking OUTSIDE THE BOX. …
When your phone is running out of juice, how'd you like to just plug it into your shoe? And, instead of ordering from a menu, what if you ordered from an iPad? And as much as you enjoy going to 3D movies at the theater, researchers now say it could be dangerous (they always spoil our fun!).All of these stories, and more, are inside this report. C'mon, let's get our nerd on! …
The return to Earth of the Japanese space probe Hayanusa might mean that we're closer to learning about the origins of our Universe.It also might mean that we're closer to defending ourselves against a rogue asteroid, Armageddon-style.Earlier this week, Hayanusa (which means 'Falcon') tore its way through the atmosphere before landing in the Australian outback, where it was quickly collected by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for testing. Hayanusa had been attached to the asteroid Itokawa since 2005. It is expected to have brought back dust samples unlike any that have ever be …
I get some curious looks when people find out that my educational foundation is not about collecting books for kids to read. After all, I'm an author of young adult books, and I frequently speak at schools and libraries. Seems natural that I'd be all about rounding up books for distribution.Book drives have their place, and if you participate, thank you. But my foundation, The Big Brain Club, is more about preparing the canvas. In this case, the canvas is the student.Correct me if I'm wrong, but today's young people aren't facing a shortage of books available to them. Classrooms generally have …
Think you could live in complete isolation for 520 days? What about the idea of aliens living among us; do you believe in that? And how comforting is it to know that your underwear might someday save your life? All of these questions are part of this week's edition of News For Nerds. Here we go, let's get our nerd on! …
A pretty big news story got lost in the shuffle last week, so in case you missed it, here goes:Amid all the attention being paid to the oil spill disaster elsewhere in Florida, a company called SpaceX launched a privately-owned rocket into orbit from Cape Canaveral on Friday. This is a major development that could pave the way for routine trips to space in only a matter of years.SpaceX is an interesting company, and one worth keeping your eye on. You may recall that earlier this year President Obama announced that a large portion of future space-related funding will go to private companies ins …
Most people only think about getting the words onto the paper, or the screen. They rarely think about getting themselves into a zone to make it happen. But guess what? You'll find it much easier to create when you find the right zone for you. Here's what I'm talking about... …
A long time ago I discovered a great little trick to help me practice creative writing. Instead of coming up with a new story idea myself, I would find an opening line, or opening paragraph from an existing story, and then re-write the story in a completely different way.You might say, "Hey, you're stealing someone's work." But this was never for anyone to see but me. It was my way of taking a suggestion and seeing how quickly I could get my brain into that gear and tell the tale. You're about to try it, too... …
What do we have this week? Let's see...how about a car that's powered by Coke and Mentos? Or how about new statistics that will maybe prevent you from being an afternoon snack for a shark? And wait: some people are proposing that they plug the leaking oil spill in the Gulf...with a nuclear blast. Yep, all of that - and more - in this week's News For Nerds!Read on... …
The office was buzzing, and the bandwidth on Facebook was especially taxed in our zip code, because of Bikini Boy. Every hallway greeting was punctuated with 'œDid you see him?'쳌, and there was an overdose of the already-crispy LOL abbreviation exchanged between '˜friends.' Twenty-five million people in America had stared vacuously at their television screen the night before as a young man paraded across the very-staged stage of American Idol, dressed in a bikini.I work with him. It was one of those rare instances where you're actually acquainted with a person who is instantly - albeit briefly - thrust into the American public's consciousness. They're a flashbulb celebrity, shining brightly in front of a large audience before immediately fading back into obscurity, to be replaced by the next morsel demanded by an audience starved for distraction. They're the empty calories of today's entertainment buffet.Two days later I turned on one of the 24-hour news channels while I prepared a quick lunch. The host breathlessly introduced the next interview subject, a man whose lust for attention had steered him to this lightning bolt of creativity: Ultimate Fighting for Jesus. …
An interesting line-up this week includes food that you breathe instead of eat, a tiny poisonous frog that can make your pain evaporate, and - perhaps the best news of all - a chocolate bar that prevents wrinkles! Excellent!All of that, and more, in this week's edition of News For Nerds! Read on... …
This post is sponsored by the number 30.That's because this link will take you to a blog post from a site called The Big Picture. And within that blog post are 30 of the coolest Saturn-related pictures we've ever seen. Craters, rings, moons, lakes, ice boulders, tiger stripes -- it's all there. And more.You may noticed that we've been focusing a lot of our attention on Saturn lately. There are a couple reasons for that. First and foremost, Saturn happens to be a very cool planet. If you don't already know about Saturn and its moons, now's a good time to dig a little deeper.But it's also true t …
The other day Channy said something that struck me as funny, but also very interesting. She said, 'œYou never really know somebody until you've seen them angry. That tells you everything.'쳌
I laughed, but then I thought about it later and realized that she might be on to something. When you first meet somebody you're usually on your best behavior. We all seem to put on a mask, don't we?
And yet when we lose our cool I think we say and do things naturally, without any thought to how it will sound or look. How much of that is real, how much of it is influenced by emotion, and does it really op …
How would you like a robot to officiate at your wedding? Can you predict a child's intelligence by (gasp) how much they lie?? How about replacing human tendons and ligaments from spider webs that are produced in goats (it's true). And what could have been the heartbreak story of the year for puzzle fanatics has a very nice ending. All of these stories - and more - as we get our nerd on this week! Read on... …
A Japanese space probe will soon be on its way to the planet sometimes called 'Earth's twin'... although not until the weather on Earth clears up a little.The Venus Climate Orbiter Atkasuki was scheduled to launch early Tuesday morning from Tanegashina Space Center in Japan, but the launch was scrubbed (in part) because of low clouds. That sort of delay is ironic when you consider that Venus is famous for its intense cloud cover, which is one of the things that the scientists involved hope to learn more about.Akatsuki will use five different cameras in order to study Venus' clouds, its atmosp …
The Space Shuttle Atlantis is in the midst of what will probably be its final mission. On Monday astronauts are installing a new antenna aboard the International Space Station. After that, they will continue delivering equipment and making two final spacewalks before returning home.With that in mind, we thought it would be fitting to take a look back at everything that Atlantis has accomplished in its amazing 25-year career. It's a long list, but here are some of the highlights:
Flew more than 115 million miles (that's the equivalent of going from New York to Los Angeles 41,000 times).
…
Here's a sampling of what you'll find this week as we get our nerd on: A car that gets 11,000 miles per gallon; Isaac Newton's apple tree defies gravity; and how much would it cost to build your own Iron Man suit? That, and more, in this week's edition of News For Nerds! …
Regular visitors to ClubGalahad.com know how fond we are of MSNBC's monthly photo slideshow called The Month in Space. New visitors will soon find out -- and may also soon find themselves with their mouths hanging open in awe.This month's slideshow features all kinds of good stuff: a violent solar flare, a strangely villainous moon, a misshapen galaxy, the birth of some very hot stars, and much more. In fact, the more we look at these photos, the more we feel like we need to buy a new camera. That 35mm we got for Christmas back in 2002 seemed pretty cool at the time, but when you compare it to …
A lot of interesting things to toss into the mix this week, including the secret to living to 100, how beautiful women can give a man a heart attack, and letting Darth Vader tell you where to go. It's all part of this week's News For Nerds, so c'mon! Let's get our nerd on!**********A scientific study, and a separate Roper survey, have zeroed in on the secret to living to a ripe old age. The bad news for people like me (and maybe you) is that there's now evidence that sleep is a big factor. Specifically, getting ten hours of sleep each night could be crucial. Uh-oh...The May issue of the journal Sleep (aptly named) tells us that people who reach the age of 100 are three times more likely to spend at least ten hours a day sleeping. According to the study, sleep not only re-charges the body, but it also kicks up your immune system. If there's a bright side, those ten hours might include daytime naps as well. Good luck, I say.The Roper survey took another approach, and I really like their results. After talking with people who made it to 100, it would appear that a key to long life includes staying in touch with pop culture and technology. That makes sense to me. In fact, almost ten percent of the centenarians say they send text messages or IM, and twelve percent are using iPods. Excellent!What do you suppose a 102-year-old woman would have on her iPod? Food for thought. …
No, it doesn't mean writing something outrageous, or trying to shock people. That's the cheap way out. I want you to be a rebel by avoiding the obvious. Here's what I mean... …
I know, I know, just the title of this month's writing exercise might make you say "forget it!" But listen, if you really want to become a writer, there are at least a few areas where you need to get your act together. Here's the scoop... …
This week we take a look at the first full face transplant, we wonder if our ancestors were monkeying around with Neanderthals, and the fact that video games might - might! - actually make you smarter. All of that, and more, as we get our nerd on this week in News For Nerds!Remember when Luke Skywalker got a whole new hand, and it looked as good as new? Well, doctors in Spain have done the same thing...only with a face!It took a full 24 hours in surgery, but a man just received a new nose, jaw, cheekbones, teeth, and skin. Critically injured in an unspecified accident, the Spaniard (whose identity has been kept secret) underwent psychiatric evaluation prior to the surgery to make sure he would be able to accept a completely new face.It's been five years since the accident, and the patient had already undergone nine different surgeries leading up to this. Now he'll remain hospitalized at least another eight weeks while he re-learns to eat, speak, and smile.The history of facial reconstruction is fascinating, and this latest development is being watched closely by hospitals around the world. If you'd like to read more, this will take you there. …
It was announced this week that scientists have found 'significant amounts' of water (in the form of ice) on an asteroid called 24 Themis, which is currently hurtling between Mars and Jupiter. The discovery -- which also includes tiny organic molecules not unlike those that may have started life on Earth -- has caused a great deal of excitement (and also some head-scratching) in the scientific community.For one thing, it may help explain where Earth got its water. It has long been accepted that when Earth formed several billion years ago, it was a totally dry, barren place. Sort of like Tucson …
I'm an only child, which means that I can't compare my personality to a brother or a sister. But I'm always amazed at how very different siblings can be. Because they have the same parents, and are raised in the same environment, we expect them to act pretty much the same. But that rarely happens.My uncle could not have been more different than Dad. They were only sixteen months apart in age, but while Dad was quiet and - in my opinion - extremely wise, Uncle T. was loud, impulsive, and, from what I've heard, was often in trouble. During one of our hiking trips I asked Dad about it.'œWired dif …
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Athletes are dumb, and they don't take their education seriously.Sound familiar? Is this something that you've heard others say? Is it something that maybe, just maybe, you've said (or at least thought) at some time yourself?Well, I'm sure that in some cases it's true. But it's definitely not true for Myron Rolle. …
The shuttle Discovery made it safely back to Earth Tuesday, but not before it streaked across much of the continental United States. Curious citizens in places like Montana, Colorado and Oklahoma got a rare glimpse at the returning shuttle after its 15-day mission to the International Space Station.NASA typically prefers to bring the shuttle back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida via a South Pacific route, but in this case, they wanted to give the astronauts as much time as possible aboard the ISS while still minimizing the amount of fatigue that the astronauts had to endure. The return had a …
Since President Obama announced last month that he would be making significant changes at NASA, opinions have been split over whether his approach is in our own best interest. Without many actual facts to go on, plenty of folks have lined up over the past few weeks to declare that the President's new strategy is either bold and brilliant or that it's dumb and doomed.Well, on Thursday we got our first look at what the President has in mind for the future of space exploration. Speaking from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mr. Obama laid out his vision to about 200 attendees and a curious throng …
Here at The Big Brain Club, one of the most common topics we address is how being smart and being cool are not mutually exclusive: you can be both. In fact, lots and lots of people are both. Like this Olympic athlete. And this astronaut. And now, joining the growing list of people who prove that being smart is cool, is a bona fide rock star.Ladies and gentlemen, meet Damian Kulash of the band OK Go. …
In our solar system, planets orbit the Sun in the same direction as the star's own rotation. Essentially, the Sun and the planets all spin in the same direction. Makes sense, right?Well, it turns out that this isn't always the case in other parts of the universe. Two of the nine new jumbo planets reported by European astronomers this week orbit in the opposite direction of their own star's rotation. In total, at least six of these 'backward' planets have been discovered in recent years, which leads to the question: what gives?No one is really sure just yet, but these discoveries call into ques …
On Sunday, NASA took the unusual step of celebrating a mission that was one of the space agency's highest-profile failures: Apollo 13.Forty years ago, an oxygen tank exploded on board Apollo 13 as astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert were on their way to the moon. For five days the world held its breath while the astronauts worked with mission control specialists in Houston to navigate their way back home under the most dangerous circumstances.If you aren't familiar with the story -- or for that matter, even if you are -- you should watch this recent Dateline NBC segment. You can …
Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station this week, and despite some technical glitches, so far the astronauts on board seem to be right on schedule.One astronaut in particular got our attention -- and not just because she's from the great state of Colorado (home to Big Brain Club headquarters). No, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger got our attention because she's a somewhat unlikely candidate to be an astronaut, and also because she's another shining example that being smart is cool (and that being smart leads to cool things, like working in a space station 200 miles above the earth). …
Remember, one of your primary obligations as a writer is to keep your reader from getting bored. You want them to turn the page! Here are a few thoughts on one way to accomplish that, and it's probably something you've never considered... …
For those of you reading this in the southern hemisphere, you'll have to forgive me; I know you're trudging through winter right now. For everyone else, it's heating up, and that's the subject of this month's exercise... …
The Big Brain Club is always on the lookout for new and interesting insights, and for that reason we occasionally post guest columns from esteemed writers or educators who bring a fresh voice to the conversation. What follows is another example of just that.Melissa Taylor is the Book Editor at Large for Colorado Parent Magazine, a freelance education writer whose work has appeared in a wide variety of print publications and online at sites like Bookmarkable and Imagination Soup, and, as if that weren't enough, a social media strategist and member of the Education Writers Association.Melissa wa …
Even if they never say it aloud, people secretly hope to leave their mark on the world. There's a desire somehow either to make a difference in another person's life, or to do something that stands out, like a beacon that states, "I was here."In a world of almost seven billion people, it seems like a tough order. That's why so many people make the mistake of doing something shallow which draws attention, confusing the idea of "attention-getting" with the substance of "making your mark." One is temporary and selfish, the other one solid and selfless.I recently spoke with a teacher who's been in the classroom for twenty-five years. She told me that there is nothing more satisfying than to hear from a former student who, years later, tells her that she is the reason they're successful today. What was difficult for them for the to see through through the haze of their hectic days as a student became quite clear years later when seen through the lens of perspective. …
Saturn is an interesting planet. It's big, for one thing -- second only to Jupiter within our solar system -- and it has that incredibly unique system of rings that distinguish it from its sister planets. But one of the most intriguing things about Saturn has little to do with the planet itself: its moons are attracting more and more attention in the astronomical community, and rightfully so.In total, Saturn has at least five dozen moons. Its largest moon, Titan, is actually bigger in size than the planet Mercury, and has its own atmosphere. The Cassini probe, launched by NASA in 1997 (in conj …
We at The Big Brain Club have never been shy about our mission, or about our conviction that being smart is cool. We talk about it at length (amongst ourselves and with others), we write articles and blog entries about it. We try as best we can to embody it.But there is a wholly different warm and fuzzy feeling that comes along with seeing similar sentiments echoed elsewhere in the media or in the pop culture universe. One recent example is this article by Daniel Roth, which first appeared in an issue of Wired Magazine late last year. Mr. Roth is an accomplished writer whose work has appeared in places like Conde Nast Portfolio and Forbes, but he's really struck a cord with The Big Brain Club staff by writing about education reform of a unique variety. …
Ever feel like there's just soooo much to learn about the worlds beyond our world, but you don't know where to begin? Thankfully, National Geographic knows how you feel. They've put together this very cool 3-minute video that is a short, but essential, look at each of the planets in our solar system. Watch it and then let us know: which is YOUR favorite planet, and why?Once you've finished with the video, this link will take you to the Games section of their website, where you can waste a little time hunting down aliens or protecting a space station. We particularly like the game Pluto's Secre …
The studies are in, and the word is out. Boys don't read as well, or as often, as girls. Boys aren't as passionate about reading, and their grades reflect that. Boys are far less likely to grow up to become reading adults, and book sales prove that. Boys are...Boys are lost.But, despite what some might claim, this is not a new phenomenon. It might be picking up steam, but the underlying problems have been around for a long time. It might now be trendy to spotlight the issue, but educators have grappled with the gender gap for years.It's time to help some of the boys find their way back to the book. In order to do that, it would help some parents - especially parents of young men - to understand three of the primary reasons for the gap. …
It's a common request that I hear from teachers: Can you speak to my students about what it takes to be a writer? I think what teachers are seeing, in a variety of forms, is a student's natural tendency to shrink away from any attempt to write. Students get frustrated by the daunting task of creating, looking upon it as something they can't do. They're intimidated, and educators know that the first step in creating a young writer is overcoming that fear.This will take you to an article that I've posted for young people. It's in the Extra! Extra! category on the student side of this web site. I …
Over the last few years I've come across many students, mostly in middle school, who allow fear to prevent them from following one - or more - of their dreams. In particular, at almost every school assembly I talk with young people who have a burning desire to write, and yet they're held back because of a mountain staring them down. It's the mountain of intimidation, the fear that it's too difficult and they're just not good enough. Sound like you? …
I try not to dwell too much on the 'œEarth calendar.'쳌 I'm aware of the date, but I suppose I prefer to disconnect from the natural associations that I would make back home.But it's difficult. I know that this week marks the first week of spring where I grew up, which means I would be breaking out my warm-weather clothes, planning another white-water rafting trip with my dad and friends, and hiking. All of that now lies a few billion miles behind me. When the seasons change aboard Galahad, nothing really changes.Or maybe...I believe that we have our own internal, personal seasons. As we grow a …
The countdown to Spring has begun. Here at Galahad Headquarters, we've had our sunshine interrupted by occasional snowfall this past week, so we are as ready as anyone for winter to fade away once March 21 rolls around.But wait -- did we say March 21? According to both astronomers and calendar manufacturers, the Spring season now begins a day earlier, on March 20. How can that be? And why?As it turns out, there are a few factors, but mostly it can be boiled down to planetary science. Click the link above for a full run-down, but it can be summed up like this:
Through a process called prece …
By now you've heard about the massive earthquake that rocked Chile last month. You've heard about the damage that was done to several major cities. You've heard about the billions of dollars that will be required to get those cities back to the way they were before the quake.But there are a couple of very interesting things that you may NOT yet know about that earthquake. Here's the first: the quake moved the entire city of Concepcion, home to more than 200,000 people, 10 feet to the west. That's right. An entire city moved 10 feet. Imagine if you woke up tomorrow morning and your bedroom was …
February was a busy month for big news stories -- the earthquake in Haiti, the Winter Olympics, and ongoing discussion of health care reform to name just a few -- so it's understandable that President Obama's decision to cancel NASA's planned return trip to the moon went largely unnoticed.That should change in the coming months, however. Over the weekend the White House announced plans for a space conference to be held in Florida on April 15. During that conference, the president will outline what are said to be "ambitious plans" for the future of U.S. space exploration, and it appears that th …
Here's the scene: you have a great story idea, and you've actually finished a chapter or two. Now, however, you find yourself stuck. What comes next? How do you get to the next step? Help!! Well, the answer might surprise you... …
One of the challenges of writing fiction is getting into the heads of your various characters. Sure, you might only have one or two points of view, but in order to make all of the characters seem real, it's often necessary to figure out what they're thinking and feeling. Here are some thoughts on that, and this month's assignment... …
It seems that I don't ever have enough 'œalone time'쳌 these days, so when I'm able to sit by myself I put it to good use. Although it's sometimes difficult, I find that sitting quietly and calming my busy mind, turning down the inner volume, is something I need to do. That's when I'm able to really think through anything that is disturbing me.
Lately, during my quiet moments, I have tried to embrace the concept of letting go. When I have worked through every possible solution, when I have done all that I can to fix what is wrong, sometimes I simply have to let it go. That's hard for me, I rea …
As the Olympic Winter Games wind to a close this week, one of the American athletes getting the most attention is 17-year old figure skater Rachael Flatt. She was the surprise winner of the 2010 U.S. National Championships, and even though she didn't medal in Vancouver, nobody doubts that she is one of the up-and-coming stars to watch out for in coming years. At just 17, she's now considered the 7th-best woman in her sport in the entire world.But believe it or not, that's not what makes Rachael so special. The more you learn about her, the more you realize that her athletic accomplishments are really just the tip of the iceberg. …
Well, look-y here... a special gift, and it's even a few days early.At the beginning of each month, we always look forward to this regular feature from MSNBC.com. It features the best pictures from (or of, or about) space to have popped up in the last 30 days. Without exception, it is always cool.Among the highlights from February: Spacewalking, a unique view of the recent snowstorms to hit the northeast, Martian chocolate and one very big cosmic potato.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!Galahad series author Dom Testa unveils a brand new series of articles exclusively at ClubGalahad.com!Beginning today, Dom will tackle a series of scientific subjects related to the Galahad series and bring them to life right before your eyes. Are you ready to get the real-life download on artificial intelligence, comets, anti-gravity, space farms, and much more?Follow this link to learn all about the science behind Galahad!
Two hundred twenty miles above the earth, astronauts have installed a 23-foot expansion aboard the International Space Station that comes with quite a bonus: a seven-window cupola that allows them to look down on the home planet from a unique vantage point.The expansion is called Tranquility -- named for the spot where Americans first landed on the moon in 1969. For now, it's just a nice amenity, but the plan is to eventually outfit Tranquility with all the bells and whistles (like, say, a toilet) that will allow it to be converted into living quarters."I don't think space station's ever going …
Well, Galahad fans... the wait is almost over!The second entry in the Galahad series, The Web of Titan, hits bookstores on June 29. You can find it at your local independent bookstore or you can pre-order it on popular sites like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.What is the mysterious metal pod orbiting one of Saturn's moons? How will Triana and the crew deal with a sweeping, unknown epidemic? And why are the systems aboard Galahad beginning to fail one by one? Find out for yourself on June 29!And don't forget that the new paperback edition of The Comet's Curse is available everywhere on March 2!2 …
During a break in our training at Galahad Command - those hectic days before we left Earth seem so long ago - several of us were sitting on a hillside outside our dorms. None of us wanted to say it aloud, but we were trying to absorb as much of the blue sky and fresh air as we could before...Gap was doing his usual good job of making us laugh. At one point he said something that none of us got right away. But about three seconds later it sank in, and we all busted up again. I don't remember what it was about now, but I do remember that Gap called it a '˜joke grenade.''œIt's a joke that you hav …
On Thursday morning NASA launched a new $850 million mission designed to help us learn more about the sun than has previously been possible. The Solar Dynamics Observatory will spend the next five years taking measurements of the sun, in some cases capturing images with 10 times better resolution than HD television.You can watch video of the launch here. And remember: these aren't CGI, Hollywood-style special effects. This is a real rocket, launched into space at 2,300 miles per hour. Amazing.One of the important outcomes that is expected to come from this mission is the ability to predict sol …
No groaning allowed! For some reason, whenever we talk about dialogue at my writing workshops, people moan about it. I think you're missing out on a vital part of your writing if you don't practice this important story element. Here are a few thoughts, as well as your monthly assignment... …
One of your goals as a writer should be to get the reader to keep turning the page. If they're so involved in your story that it's hard to put down, you've done your job. Here is a quick tip to help you make that happen... …
His name was Kevin, and he was a friend of a friend. I didn't see him that often, but often enough to learn an early lesson. Kevin taught me everything I needed to know about perfection.Not about being perfect; no, he taught me how to avoid the perfection trap. …
As February announces its presence this week, it's time once again to spend a few minutes flipping through MSNBC's photo gallery of the best space photos from last month. Regular visitors to the Club Galahad site know that we cannot get enough of these photos. They are always, always fantastic.Among the highlights this time around: Saturn's moons, the Flame Nebula, Martian sand, and a very unique look at the immediate aftermath following the recent earthquake in Haiti (as seen from space).Enjoy.
We at Club Galahad have seen our fair share of fun videos on YouTube. Unfortunately, we've probably seen MORE than our fair share of terrible videos, too. If only there was a link that we could click on that would take us to some sort of clearinghouse for cool videos, and maybe even teach us a thing or two in the process.Oh wait, there is. This link will take you to a blog post appropriately titled, "100 Coolest Science Experiments on YouTube." As writers, we appreciate the descriptive succinctness of the title. And as fans of science experiments, we appreciate having so many gathered together …
Wow, busy day in the world of space and science today. There's lots to cover, so let's dive right in:
Friday, January 29 will bring us the biggest and brightest full moon of the year, and this article explains WHY it's so much bigger and brighter than all the others. We also learn that the first full moon of the year is called the Wolf Moon, and that anyone with clear skies over their head tonight will be able to see it.
Speaking of the moon... according to several published reports, President Obama is expected to end NASA's plan to return to the moon. But that doesn't mean that he's bac …
Ever heard the one about the mysterious face that's been carved into the Martian surface? Or that the world's going to end in the year 2012? Or that more crimes occur during full moons than at any other time?The reality is that astronomy, just like every other subject that influences our lives, has more than its share of myths and urban legends out there. And once a few people start to believe a myth and pass it around, it becomes hard to know what's true and what isn't.It's a good thing for us that the fine folks at Astronomy magazine have taken the time to debunk some of these tall tales. He …
We're a nation that worships the shortcut. If you want to avoid rush-hour traffic, you're always going to be on the lookout for the time-saving shortcut. Computer keyboards contain several shortcuts that can eliminate steps in your project. And the study of mathematics is made easier for some people when they employ shortcuts in their calculations.But we're spoiled by the shortcut, too. …
We at Club Galahad have never been big UFO buffs. Some people devote their entire lives to the search for extraterrestrial life in the form of alien beings zipping around in flying saucers, and that's fine. Who knows... maybe, as they used to say on the hit TV show X-Files, the truth is out there. We probably wouldn't be shocked either way.What we can say for certain is that the phenomenon of UFO sightings, which dates back thousands of years, is at least interesting. In some cases, it's actually pretty educational. As this fun little slideshow from our friends at MSNBC shows us, UFO sightings …
The morning of Friday, January 15 brought with it a rare treat for millions in the Eastern hemisphere: an annular solar eclipse that lasted more than 11 minutes. It is the longest solar eclipse visible from Earth until the year 3043.Onlookers from Central Africa to China watched in amazement, many observing cultural traditions or superstitions that date back centuries, while those of us on the other side of the world have to settle for video clips like this one.A solar eclipse occurs when the moon travels directly between Earth and the Sun. Partial solar eclipses (when a sliver of the Sun is o …
It used to be true that calling someone a 'slug' was a real insult. But after a recent discovery regarding this magnificent creature, perhaps we all should start paying slugs just a bit more respect.After all, can YOU steal genes from algae that allow you to carry out photosynthesis?Neither can we, but you know who can? The green sea slugs known as Elysia chlorotica, which live in the coastal northeast. Scientists have known about them for years, but one very persistent biologist named Sidney Pierce spent the better part of 20 years studying the Elysia, and his hard work paid off late last yea …
What defines maturity?It's one of those things that doesn't have a simple answer. Today, when I heard a crew member accuse someone of being immature, it suddenly made me remember a talk I had with my dad during one of our hikes. I had probably been giving him some attitude or something, but instead of scolding me he shook his head. He told me that I might think I was acting quite superior at the time, but in reality I was doing the exact opposite. I was as far from mature as I could get.Over the next half-hour he opened my eyes to some things that I had never considered. I think this journal …
This month we're going to focus on a skill that the very best writers have learned to appreciate and use to their advantage. It's the fine of interviewing...or, another way to look at it would be the fine art of listening. Here's what it's all about... …
It seems that, as writers, we're too often in a hurry to get the story finished and move on to something else. The problem is that it's very rare - I'd say almost impossible - to put out your BEST work in just one rough draft. This is where true writers separate themselves from the rest... …
Greetings, Galahad fans. We want to be sure to get 2010 off on the right foot here at Club Galahad headquarters, so we're cramming two very cool stories into one Space & Science blog post. Let's dig in!The first story that got our attention this morning was this gem from Space.com about the rocky planet CoRoT-7b, which orbits a star roughly 480 light years away. CoRoT-7b (catchy name for a planet, right?) is Earth-like in the sense that it is rocky instead of gaseous, but as it turns out, the climate is not so hospitable. Astronomers speculate that temperatures on CoRoT-7b range from 4000 …
I love the way very profound concepts can often be expressed in very simple terms. We seem to automatically believe that in order for an idea to be life-changing it must be complex. But no.One of the best examples I've heard came during a discussion I had with a young man we'll call Derrick. He's in his 20s now, but he said that in his middle-teen years he used to hang out with his good friend, Jeffrey.Derrick and Jeffrey were typical teen boys. They enjoyed sports, video games, and hanging out with friends. Often they were driven to various activities by Jeffrey's mom. Derrick told me that every time they got to their destination, Jeffrey's mom would smile and say goodbye, but always added the same parting comment. She told them: 'œMake good choices.'쳌Then she would drive away. …
2009 has come and gone, and it was a banner year for all things related to space, science, Club Galahad and The Big Brain Club. As we roll ahead into 2010 -- new year, new decade, new opportunities -- we thought it would be appropriate to take a look back at the past 12 months and reflect on some of the highlights. What follows is a small sampling of the stories and events that kept us busy this year. As always, YOU played a crucial role in all of this because of your continued support of the Galahad book series, this website and its sister-sites, BigBrainClub.com and DomTesta.com. So thank you... and Happy New Year! …
We'll change her name to keep her anonymous, and call her Amanda. She's 14-years-old, enjoys sports, likes to read, and loves music. Amanda is a typical teenager in many ways, with several friends that she hangs out with, talking about school, about boys, and often about celebrities.What I found interesting, however, was the real Amanda that she disguises in order to fit in with the social circle. When I talked with her, away from her friends, I discovered that a lot of the music she listened to in front of those friends actually held no interest for her whatsoever. For that matter, she admitted that she claimed to like certain celebrities because - and these are her words - 'œa lot of kids at school like them.'쳌Wow. Amanda actually pretends to like some music and some celebrities only because a few of her friends do. A couple of these stars are 'œstupid,'쳌 she told me. So why, I asked, do you follow them? 'œThey're popular,'쳌 she said. …
I met Lita and Channy for breakfast this morning, and Lita said something that made me stop and think. When Channy asked her something personal, Lita said (with a smirk): "Do you really want to know what I think about that, or do you want me to sugar-coat it?"We're funny that way, aren't we? If Lita hadn't framed it like that, I'm sure Channy would have secretly wanted the gentle, sugar-coated answer. I think by nature we all hope to hear only what we want to hear.But when we have it positioned as "truth versus feelings," it seems to trigger the realistic portion of our mind; it's as if we tak …
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Every few years you'll find surveys where young people are asked a simple question: What do you want to be when you grow up? For years the answers revolved around occupations. Firefighter, doctor, astronaut, and teacher were some of the most popular responses. But something has happened lately, and now the top answers no longer involve a career. Now, according to a Pew Research Center study, when asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" the majority of young people said "rich and famous."Why this shift? I'm convinced it's a result of the combination of pop culture and the explosion of mass communications. Look at the hysteria involving so-called '˜reality tv,' with American Idol likely the driving force. Then there's YouTube and other assorted internet phenomena which distribute pictures and sound to a worldwide audience in seconds. …
We at Club Galahad have made linking to MSNBC's remarkable Month in Space feature a more-or-less regular practice since we stumbled across it this summer. With such a wide-ranging collection of photos both of and from space, it never disappoints. There is always something to make your mouth open slightly and your head tilt gently to one side in wonder.So you can imagine how excited we were to come across The Year in Space -- a collection of the best space photos from 2009. You can judge for yourself, but some of our favorites include the supermassive black hole, Saturn's moons, and the eruptio …
As the author of a young adult book series and as someone who devotes a lot of time to visiting with schools and students, I'm fortunate to be asked to pen guest articles for national publications from time to time. I almost never turn down the opportunity to do so, because it's such a great platform to talk about the importance of initiatives like The Big Brain Club, and to spread the word that smart is the new cool.On newsstands this month is an article I wrote for VOYA Magazine, which you probably recognize as a leading youth advocacy publication. You can follow this link to read the articl …
'Tis the season for all sorts of silly, fun, holiday-themed news stories. And this humble blog post is no different.If you haven't seen it yet, follow this link to check out the picture of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) that resides in the 30 Doradus Nebula. It's called R136.There's a lot to like about R136: it's the "most detailed view of the largest stellar nursery in our local galactic neighborhood;" this picture of it was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and spans about 100 light years; and, oh yeah, it looks very much like the image of a Christmas tree. See it?This star cluster is a …
(Sometimes I have musings that aren't directly connected to the work I do with students...but in the grand scheme of things they help. This article falls into that category, and hopefully might spark something within you as well.)I have a great friend of mine who is all about texture. Whether it's her clothes, her home, or the design of her workspace, she is drawn to the concept of texture. I'm often blind to subtle shades and layers, but I'll see her run her hand across something and murmur, 'œI like the texture.'쳌So lately I've become a budding student of texture. Rather than immediately dismissing something offhand, I'll step back and examine it for the nuances that otherwise would escape me. And, as I sat quietly the other evening in front of a fire, I realized that in order to fully enjoy life, it should have texture as well. …
There's been no shortage of big news in the world of space science these past few months: water on the moon, the successful completion of the Atlantis STS-129 mission, and the unveiling of the first commercial spacecraft among them.However, it looks like there are some potentially HUGE developments coming our way in the very new future. Scientists are in the process of discovering thousands of previously unknown planets, and it's expected that the number of Earth-link planets could easily be in the hundreds.The official announcements will begin to roll out next month, but based on the comments …
We're creeping up on the end of a calendar year. It seems people often use this time to do two things: reflect on choices they've made over the past year, and think about what they might do better.When I was twelve, I remember a New Year's resolution that my dad shared with me. He said: "In this next year I plan to aim higher." I must have given him a curious look, so he explained.He told me that it was something he learned from his own father. "Too many times we don't give ourselves enough credit," he said. "We set our sights low, thinking that anything else would be too difficult to reach. B …
In the kind of development that sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, a celebrity British billionaire on Monday unveiled a spaceship designed to take paying customers into space for the low, low price of $200,000. Roughly 300 people have already signed up, and flights are tentatively scheduled to begin in 2011.The link above will take you to the full story, and this link will take you to a slideshow.You may know the man behind all this -- his name is Richard Branson, and he's led quite the remarkable life. Branson owns a record label and an airline (among many other businesses) …
You know what's pretty cool? Science. And do you know why? Because science gives us stuff like this nugget, first reported by the Associated Press:"A group of European scientists say they have successfully connected a robotic hand to a man who had lost an arm, allowing him to feel sensations in the artificial hand and control it with his thoughts."That's right. An Italian man lost his left hand and forearm in a car accident, so doctors just gave him a new bionic arm, and he learned to control it with his mind as though it were a real, organic body part. They haven't released the man's name, b …
How many times have you read a story that really made you feel as if you were right there? It's easier to write a compelling story like that when you use all of your senses. Here's how... …
When creating a character, we're often putting them into fictional settings, too. This month, what would happen if you created a fictional character and placed them into YOUR world? Let's find out... …
We'll admit it. We've become addicted to MSNBC's Month in Space feature, where each month they post a slideshow of the coolest new space-related photographs. At first we thought it was pretty neat, then we went back a second time... and now it is required viewing, which is why we link to it from Club Galahad each and every month.Here's the link to the November slideshow. Among the highlights: freaky carbon dioxide patterns on Mars' surface; breathtaking Antarctic sea ice; the Leonid meteor as seen from South Africa; the colorful Crab Nebula (pictured at left); and of course, several cool shots …
Early Friday morning the space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the end of a successful 11-day mission to the International Space Station. The Atlantis STS-129 mission delivered more than 27,000 pounds of spare parts to the ISS in order to extend its lifespan.This article from Space.com highlights the eventful mission, which included "three spacewalks, the birth of a crew member's daughter back on Earth, a Thanksgiving celebration in space, and also returned the last station resident to arrive and depart the station by a U.S. s …
We told you last week about the food that the astronauts aboard the International Space Station would be enjoying on Thanksgiving -- but wait, there's more!Check out this video, where two American Astronauts share with us some of the actual dishes they're eating while in space. They also send out warm wishes to all of us for a healthy and happy Thanksgiving, which is nice considering they've got their hands full at the moment.And at least one American astronaut is feeling very thankful today-- Randy Bresnik's wife gave birth to a baby girl (named Abigail) this week, while he was busy at work o …
The crew members of Galahad come from many nations on Earth, so not everyone was raised with the tradition of Thanksgiving. But since we've chosen to follow the standard Earth calendar during our journey, some of us can't help but note the arrival of the American holiday. I spent some time last night thinking about the concept of giving thanks.I guess most of us automatically assume that we can only be grateful when things go well. We're all aboard this ship because of a series of tragic events, but even so it caused me to re-think the idea of giving thanks. It would be easy, I guess, to be cy …
Well Galahad fans, you've waited patiently, and the wait is about to pay off. The next two books in the Galahad series -- The Web of Titan and The Cassini Code, respectively -- will be on bookshelves in 2010. And as if that weren't enough, the first book in the series, The Comet's Curse, will make its Tor paperback debut.As of now we know only the month each book will be released and not the specific day, but more details figure to follow shortly, including information on book release parties and special appearances. We didn't want to hold out on you any longer, so here's the rundown:
Marc …
There have been quite a few foreign objects lighting up the night sky lately. Most recently, the Leonid meteor shower got a lot of attention on Tuesday night, and rightfully so. It was an awesome display.But this article from Space.com highlights how Leonid isn't the only heavenly body snagging headlines of late. We've also seen a couple of very near-misses from asteroids that would have packed quite a punch if they'd hit the Earth, including one on November 6 that nobody saw coming until about 15 hours before it blew past us.But have no fear -- NASA is spending upwards of $4 million per year …
The thought came to me yesterday as I sat in the auditorium, puzzling out a math problem. The same thought stuck with me throughout the rest of the day. At first it was slightly depressing, but now I see it almost as a gift. Essentially it comes down to this: there is so much that we don't know.It seems overly simple - and maybe it is - but yet I began to look at it from several different perspectives. First, as an individual, it can be a bit overwhelming to consider how little we truly know when compared to the infinite amount of information and knowledge that exists in the universe. During m …
Despite some concerns about potential weather delays, the space shuttle Atlantis left Florida's Kennedy Space Center this afternoon on its way to the International Space Station for an 11-day mission. The crew of six astronauts and the hundreds of staffers on the ground set a record for the fewest number of problems reported leading up to (and during) the launch sequence.As always, there's plenty to do over at NASA's website. You can see photos and video from today's launch, read about the mission, or even check out bios of each of the astronauts on board.Atlantis and its crew will be dropping …
Remember when we told you a few weeks back about NASA's plan to crash a rocket into a lunar crater in order to determine whether or not there was any water on the moon?Well, turns out the answer is a definitive YES.According to a NASA LCROSS project scientist: "Indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit, we found a significant amount."This is a big development for a couple of reasons. First, having substantial amounts of ice (and therefore water) on the moon could someday lead to a full-time lunar base, which some scientists have speculated could be the first step in vis …
Faithful readers of The Comet's Curse will remember that Galahad uses cutting-edge solar sails to begin its voyage away from our solar system on its way toward the Earth-like planet of Eos.But according to Canada's CBC News, a space advocacy group called The Planetary Society (co-founded by the great scientific writer and thinker Carl Sagan) is planning to launch a real-life spacecraft into orbit using solar sails as early as next year. The group's executive director says that in time, ships using solar sails could reach speeds of up to 100,000 miles per hour and could get out of the solar sys …
From time to time I come across articles and surveys that drive home the basic principles of The Big Brain Club. A new survey from the web site Classmates.com illustrates what our foundation is all about, and will make its way into every school presentation that I do over the next year.Part of that presentation already focuses on the fact that young people have a difficult time focusing on the future; teenagers are convinced that NOW is all that matters, so why worry about the future? It's one of the reasons that peer pressure to fit in is so powerful: kids are willing to sacrifice a future that they can't imagine for the sake of being popular right now.Then along comes this latest survey, which asked adults to name their biggest regret from high school. Drum roll, please, as we open the envelope and discover that the top two answers were (1) not thinking about their future, and (2) not studying harder and performing better in the classroom. …
Cool website alert: Here's a link to a short (but fun) Space Science quiz over at ScienceMaster.com. It's just a few questions, but they're challenging!The questions range from how to get from one planet to another, to math gems like this one: If you could travel in a space-ship at the speed of light away from the solar system, how long could you see the sun? 3 years, 30 years, or 300 years?See what we mean when we say fun but challenging? And when you're done with the quiz, bone up on some other science knowledge by checking out ScienceMaster's learning galleries. They've got information on a …
In the ongoing debate over alternative sources of energy (more oil! less oil! new oil!), there's one thing that just about everyone can agree on: that battery technology has not come all that far in the last few decades. Sure, we're now capable of making some very small batteries (to fit in things like your iPod or cell phone), but 15 years ago it was pretty much assumed that cars would be able to run fully on battery power by now. No such luck. We just haven't come up with the technology to allow batteries to take that next step.However, a young scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Tec …
We're going to play psychologist with you. You're on the couch, and we're going back in your life. This month's assignment is based on the best day you've ever had. Here's how it works... …
Writing backwards is something I recommend in my writing workshops. No, it doesn't mean literally writing backwards, where you would have to hold it up to a mirror in order to read it. Here's what it really means... …
Hard to believe that it's already that time again. Time for the 20 coolest images from space and science in the past month, as collected by MSNBC.The picture you see at right is of Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte (better known as the guy who founded Cirque du Soleil) after returning from a 12-day trip to the International Space Station that reportedly cost him a cool $35 million. For that kind of money, we hope he at least got a souvenir t-shirt.There's plenty more to see among these 20 images, including lava on Mars, the birth of an iceberg and a spectacular galactic collision. But wait, t …
It seems that I often hear people talking about their comfort zone, and it usually involves a comment about trying to get "outside" of that zone. Like most people, I think I automatically bought into the idea that we should always attempt to do this, because it somehow would either bring us new insight, or simply break us out of our rut.Yet I recall an interesting talk with Dr. Armistead one evening during our Galahad training. As the team psychologist, she loved discussing these kinds of things. While it might have been her job to pull thoughts and comments out of me, I treasured the times sh …
Sure, we at Club Galahad watch television and go to movies. We read books and magazines. We have iPods. We are not immune (or opposed) to pop culture. But sometimes we do scratch our heads and wonder what constitutes news. You know, actual news. Something important that we should all know about.Earlier this month, astronomers discovered 32 new planets, some of which are similar in size to Earth. Their findings bring the total number of known extrasolar planets to more than 400(!)... and these planets all have something to teach us. Which got us to wondering: Sure, most people know about the eight planets (sorry, Pluto) in our own solar system. But how many people know that there are hundreds of known planets in the galaxy? And how many people know the difference between a solar system and a galaxy anyway? Or that there are billions of galaxies in the observable universe? There was a time when there could be no BIGGER news than the discovery of even one new planet, let alone dozens of new planets. And yet this is probably the first you're hearing about it. …
You already know about NASA's gift for space exploration. But did you know that at any given time, NASA has dozens of satellites orbiting the Earth that do nothing but analyze our own planet? It's true. It is from these satellites that we get a lot of information on things we don't normally associate with NASA -- things like climate change, for instance.At NASA's website, their new Eyes on the Earth 3D project lets you explore the planet in amazing and interactive ways. You can follow the path of a satellite, check out real-time images of the Earth, learn about the equipment that is used to ge …
On the morning of Friday, October 9, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will smash-land into the belly of a crater called Cabeus near the south pole of the Moon. Oh yes, it's going to be quite a sight. You should watch it live here.Why, you might ask, are we assaulting the moon? Did it say something bad about us? Did it un-friend us on Facebook? Has it not been returning our calls?As it turns out, this isn't really a lunar attack at all. NASA designed the LCROSS mission in an attempt to find water on the moon, and scientists believe that Cabeus has a good chance of bei …
You know, NASA is so busy exploring the universe that it's hard to believe that they have time to maintain such a cool and interactive website. And yet somehow they do.This month, NASA is asking you to upload a short video that answers this important question: Why is space exploration important? They aren't looking for professionally-produced videos, either. You could probably shoot a few seconds of video with a cell phone and upload it to their site in just a few minutes. Each week they feature a handful of submitted videos on their site for all the world to see. Why couldn't yours be feature …
A friend of mine is in the process of earning her CPA license. She completed an exhausting schedule of classes, and has now begun the rigorous testing necessary to complete the process. Anyone who has been down this road knows how challenging it is. She spends hours and hours studying for each of the four major exams which are tackled over the course of one year.I talked about it with her husband while we sat in the stands at a baseball game. After listening to his description of her grueling journey, we chuckled and agreed that we both want that person preparing our taxes.In previous articles I've championed the cause of tougher challenges for students, rather than the cake walk prescribed by a few misguided souls bent on artificially boosting self-esteem. I've spotlighted the fundamental errors of that flawed approach, and how it ultimately fails the student. …
I'm a sucker for a good scary book. I've been kept awake at night after reading stories by masters like Edgar Allan Poe (I recommend The Cask of Amontillado) and Stephen King (his collection called Night Shift is chilling). To be able to frighten a movie-goer is not that tough, because you have sights and sounds to help you. With writing, however, it's more of a challenge... …
I know this sounds obvious - and perhaps it is - but when you sit down to write, have you given enough thought to what your ultimate goal might be? Trust me, it can make a world of difference in your writing. Here's what I'm talking about... …
Often I'll hear someone say, "It's not good to judge other people." I know they mean well, and on the surface it sounds very noble. And yet my dad - one of the friendliest, most kind-hearted gentlemen you'd ever meet - taught me the exact opposite. Although it might sound backwards, it continues to help me to this day.Dad understood that there's a huge distinction between judging a person by their appearance or background, and judging a person by their actions and intentions. There are so many people that we come into contact with, and it's important that we judge their actions in order to ma …
Your friends at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory would like to send you to Mars. Sort of.You see, the JPL is sending the Mars Science Laboratory rover to the red planet in 2011, and among the things they'll be taking with them is a microchip containing the names of anyone who submits their information to this website. It's easy and takes just a minute... simply type in your name, country and zip code, hit 'Submit' and you're on your way to Mars.So far, more than 186,000 people in the U.S. have submitted their names (and more than 490,000 worldwide). You can see the breakdowns here and here. Go ah …
Wanna hear what the longest continuous thunderstorm in the solar system sounds like?A team of astronomers has been studying a storm on Saturn that has been raging since -- get this -- January. (So if you're planning on taking a trip to Saturn anytime soon, pack accordingly.) The storm is more than 1,800 miles in size, with lightning flashes 10,000 times stronger than those on Earth. That's impressive.... And in other news today, it's worth noting that scientists have found the first rocky planet outside our own solar system. However, even though it may be Earthlike in the sense that it is a ro …
Okay, okay... so maybe this is a little silly. It's not exactly breaking news. But we still like it.Follow this link to find out how many people are orbiting planet Earth at any given time, and in what vessel. We like to check in from time to time, just to make sure no one's gone missing.
There's a scene in the Bruce Willis movie Die Hard where the police have surrounded the besieged Nakatomi Plaza and have arranged giant spotlights to bathe the building in brilliant light. The bad guys bust out a few windows and proceed to shoot out the lights in order to restore the cover of darkness. It's obvious what's happening; in fact, the street-wise patrol officer on the scene keeps saying, "They're shooting at the lights."Well, it takes the befuddled deputy police chief a while to catch on. You can see the exasperation on the patrolman's face when the chief finally looks around and says, "Hey! They're shooting at the lights!"I experienced a similar exasperation when I stumbled across a story in USA Today. The headline read: Low Standards Are a Hurdle to Graduation.In essence, the piece stated that researchers have made an astounding discovery: students, it seems, do better when challenged! …
I have always been very competitive, which surprises people who don't know me well. Because I tend to be quiet and reserved, it's often assumed that I'm either meek or a push-over. I'm not.My dad taught me that people are competitive in different ways, but yet many times we only recognize the same competitive trait in others that we share. Athletes resonate with other athletes, successful business leaders are in tune with others in that arena, and artists are quick to appreciate the same competitive spirit in fellow artists.When we understand that different incentives motivate different people …
Remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird when you were in school? How about The Great Gatsby or The Scarlet Letter? Chances are that you read at least one of those titles as part of an assigned reading program when you were a teenager. But there's a controversial movement afoot, as more and more schools are allowing students to choose their own books in hopes of encouraging young people to take a more active interest in what they read.This first showed up on our radar via this article, penned by a librarian in Fredricksburg, VA. She's kind enough to reference a certain young adult book series th …
When I was writing The Comet's Curse, I spent a lot of time writing things that would never make it into the book. No, they weren't unused scenes or chapters; I'm talking about background information for me to use, the stuff you compile to create what we call backstory. Here's more on that... …
You would think, with everything that goes into writing, that this would be the easy part. And yet it's often quite difficult for young writers to find the courage to actually open up and allow others to read their work. Let's talk about that... …
NASA's website is a gold mine for cool images and interactive features, and there are some other sites that we regularly link to because their content is consistently fun. But you know who has very quietly put together some of the best space and science content on the web? MSNBC, actually. And yes, we were surprised, too.The picture you see here is from their monthly feature of the best images taken from (or of) space. As always, there's a ton of great pictures to enjoy. You can also visit their Space home page by following this link. There's plenty to see and do, and they update it regularly. …
We at Club Galahad have made no secret of the fact that we love the Hubble Space Telescope. Can you blame us? Aside from all the profoundly important things that Hubble has done for us since it first launched, it's also just really, really cool.We've also never been ashamed to admit how much we love the TV show NOVA ScienceNow, which is also very cool on a regular basis.Well, now those two worlds collide. Here's a link to this week's episode of NOVA ScienceNow, which covers the most recent (and final) Hubble repair mission. Look for some truly remarkable video footage, behind-the-scenes goodie …
Did you know that as many as 10 volcanoes may be erupting on Earth right this minute? It's true. Some volcanoes can erupt for years and years at a very slow (but very dangerous) rate. Others do all their damage in a much shorter amount of time.Over the years, some of the greatest photos ever taken of erupting volcanoes have come from space. Wired magazine has collected ten of the best, and it's worth skipping over to their website to have a look. More than a few of them are downright incredible.The picture you see at left is NOT one from the Wired collection. It was taken by Comet's Curse auth …
It's no coincidence that Dom Testa's Galahad book series centers on 251 of the best and brightest kids on Earth (and beyond). The Big Brain Club founder has long been a believer in bringing out the best in young people, in real life and on the printed page. After all, that's what the Big Brain Club is all about -- not necessarily that everyone has to be a straight-A student all the time, but that it's okay to be the best version of yourself. It's okay to be smart, and to pay attention in school, and to avoid the peer pressure to constantly dumb down.With that in mind, it's interesting to watch …
Hey, check out this interview with Comet's Curse author Dom Testa. In just a few short minutes, he covers all sorts of useful topics -- the writing process, the future of humanity and the perils of getting your hair cut in space. Watch it, enjoy it, share it.That is all.
Science guy Steve Spangler will join Dom and Jane in studio on Friday, August 14. You can listen live here beginning at 7:00 a.m. Denver-area residents can hear the show at 100.3 on the FM dial.Steve is famous for his TV appearances in places like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and for his legendary Mentos Geyser Experiment, which first became an internet sensation in 2005. Whether you're a long-time fan or just learning about him for the first time, take a few minutes to check out the links below to some of his greatest hits... and then be sure to tune in Friday morning!Steve on The Ellen DeGenere …
Oh, that pesky sun. Sure, it's the source of all life on Earth and the focal point of our solar system, but it sure can do some damage, too. Solar storms, which are magnetic disruptions that release spurts of charged particles out into space, are particularly troublesome. In just the last few years they've cost airlines and telecommunications companies millions of dollars. They're also known to disrupt cell phone service and cause power blackouts.Which is why NASA wants to learn more about the sun. And with that in mind, they've launched two satellites that will provide the first-ever 360-degr …
Yes, that's me in the picture, visiting the famous Keck telescopes on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It's breathtaking up there, with more than a dozen observatories peering into the depths of space. While you're there you can't help but wonder 'what if?' And that's exactly what this month's exercise is about... …
I'm a bit of a planner, and when it comes to writing I try to organize my thoughts into a loose outline of sorts. That gives me some direction and helps to keep the storyline moving forward. However, there are times when I have to admit that it's best to abandon the plan. Here's what I mean... …
I had breakfast with Lita this morning, and while we were talking I realized one of the key reasons I value our friendship: It's not one-sided.When I was in 6th grade I didn't have a large circle of friends, but there was one girl in particular that I spent a pretty fair amount of time with. I considered her a good friend at one point, but found that she took advantage of that friendship. Everything we did was what she wanted to do, we only got together when it worked for her, and somehow we only talked about her problems and issues. If I ever spoke up with a problem that I had, she would wave …
The space shuttle Endeavor and its seven astronauts have returned safely to Earth. But after traveling 6.5 million miles in 16 days, and after doing critical repair work on the international space station, and after a picture-perfect landing at Cape Canaveral... the big topic, of course, is the high-tech Japanese underwear of astronaut Koichi Wakata.You see, Wakata has been wearing an experimental new type of boxer briefs called J-Wear for the past month, without changing them even once. And all in the name of science!Because it's impossible to wash clothes in space, astronauts have to toss ou …
French photographer Thierry Legault has a very nice camera. He must, because he managed to take this picture of the space shuttle Endeavor (docked with the International Space Station) as it passed in front of the sun. It's really a bit breathtaking.Legault uses special solar filters, and presumably a lot of other very high-tech equipment, to capture his images. You can see much more of his work right here. including some jaw-dropping images of the recent lunar eclipse, solar flares, and nebulas.And don't forget: if you come across any images online that you'd like to share with Club Galahad, …
An amateur astronomer from Australia took a break from watching sports to discover a blot in Jupiter's atmosphere that is the size of our own home planet.Anthony Wesley, a computer programmer who spends up to 20 hours per week watching and photographing Jupiter through his own backyard telescope, first tipped off NASA on Monday. The space agency used its own telescope, based in Hawaii, to confirm the Earth-sized hole and to snap these pictures, which were released late Monday, along with this explanation:Following up on a tip by an amateur astronomer, Anthony Wesley of Australia, that a new da …
Talk about a world-changing, milestone anniversary: July 20 marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. There's a ton of great coverage that we'll link to below, beginning with NASA's video footage, which is a must-see.NASA has the Apollo 11 video, interactive lunar activities, and much more here.MSNBC talks about what must of us don't know about Apollo 11 here.Britain's Telegraph has 10 little-known facts here.A look at the 'Space Race' that led the U.S. to the moon is here.And, just for fun, some information on the (debunked) theories that the landing was faked right here.
Meet Karl Iagnemma. He's a leading researcher in robotics. He works for MIT, one of the best schools on the planet. He helps create the robots that roam Mars. He's a big brain.Meet Karl Iagnemma. He's an acclaimed fiction writer. He's won awards for his short stories. He's been featured in famous magazines. He's published a book. He's a big brain.So how can someone be both of these things at once? Well, we don't want to spoil the surprise, so you'll have to meet Karl Iagnemma for yourself.
There just aren't very many shows on TV that are as cool or as worthwhile as NOVA ScienceNOW on PBS. Here in Colorado it airs on Tuesday nights, but if you live somewhere else, check your local listings or visit their website.Come to think of it, everyone should visit their website anyway. Why? Because there is so much fun, interactive stuff for kids and adults alike -- games, links, science news, and even an Ask the Expert feature that allows you to communicate with some of the smartest people around about all kinds of topics.Best of all, you can watch video of any episode you want. Here are …
During our training for this mission, we had plenty of official meetings and classes, and the work was pretty intense. But there were times when small groups of us would meet with Dr. Zimmer, and he'd simply talk to us about...well, about life, I guess.He never meant the meetings to be heavy, and in fact I remember lots of laughter as we sat around in the park, or in the campus dining hall, or wherever. Yet I usually picked up something that helped me personally.Something stands out from one of our last meetings. We'd had a good talk as a group, with most people chiming in to add their own tho …
Inspired by a Texas educator with big ambitions, a teacher from Colorado has developed this cross-curricular lesson plan for use in grades 5-9. Based around Dom Testa's award-winning YA novel The Comet's Curse, it's a terrific way to bring together various subjects -- everything from math and science, to reading and writing, to art and history -- in one big project that kids love. Download the lesson plan for free, and if you use it, let us know how it turns out. If you send pictures along, we'll even post them on this site and the official Club Galahad site.For a better understanding of how i …
You probably have heard the old saying: A picture is worth a thousand words. Well, for this month's exercise you'll actually get to put that to the test. Be prepared, however; this particular Big Brain Club exercise is a bit more challenging than others you might have tackled...but you can handle it!It happens in three steps. Read on to find out how it will ignite your creative powers... …
When I look back at some of my earliest attempts at writing, one particular mistake pops up over and over again. I didn't know any better, so I was constantly shifting the story's point of view within chapters, even within paragraphs. Yikes!Believe it or not, as long as you only use it to practice, that error might actually be helpful. Read on to get a new look at your story... …
Well, this is interesting. A little-known Russian island in the North Pacific was home to a massive volcanic eruption in mid-June. The picture you see at left, and the other cool ones you'll see if you follow the link, were taken by the crew of the international space station, more than 200 miles above the Earth!The volcano in question is called Sarychev Peak, which is on Matua Island, east of Russia. Thankfully, the island -- which has seen a lot of volcanic eruptions dating back to the 1700s -- is uninhabited. However, the enormous flume of smoke has forced hundreds of airline flights to re- …
Ever heard of the game called Mancala? It originated as a board game in Asia and Africa hundreds of years ago, but now, through the magic of science and technology, you can play online. You should go to this website and give it a try. But consider yourself warned... it's going to be hard to stop playing once you've started!
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var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_MAX_HIGHLIGHTS = 50;
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID = "leoHighlights_top_iframe";
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID = …
Newsweek has released its list of the Top 1,500 public schools in America. As to the criteria those rankings are based on, they've created a ratio consisting of the number of advanced placement, international baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a given school in 2008 divided by the number of graduating seniors.Whether you're a fan of that methodology or not, let's just say it's safe to assume that these are all very, very good schools. And it's interesting to note that each of the top two schools (and three of the top 10) are in the Dallas area.Conspicuously absent: R …
Scientists from my home state of Colorado have uncovered the first definitive evidence that a lake once existed on Mars, perhaps as far back as 3 billion years ago.The research team, based at the University of Colorado, identified shorelines of an ancient lake that would have been roughly the size of Lake Champlain (which straddles the northeastern U.S.-Canadian border). …
Seems that every summer we hear parents and teachers lamenting the fact that the long break from school impacts a student's overall knowledge base in a negative way. Often referred to as "the summer brain drain," the idea is that too much down time allows kids to not only fritter away what they might have learned in the previous school year, but also gets them out of learning mode.If you're concerned about this, let me suggest a few things that might help ease the problem... …
Experts tell us that sleep is crucial for many reasons that we know (rest, recuperation, memory function), and likely crucial for reasons that we still don't quite understand (how the mind works, cell regeneration, etc). Even though I know how important sleep is, I still often find myself unable to drift off because of one very frustrating reason: I can't shut off my mind.I've had the problem off and on since dad first became sick, and it pops up a lot now that we're off on the mission. Both Dr. Zimmer and Dr. Armistead talked with me about it, and they both offered suggestions. For that matte …
Ever wonder how something as complex and high-tech as the International Space Station gets made? USA Today has this very short (but very cool) graphic timeline. It's worth a few minutes of your time.Also: the crew of the Expedition 20 is preparing for its June 5 spacewalk. As always, NASA's got all the information and pictures you could ever want.
[caption id="attachment_274" align="alignleft" width="100" caption="Photo: Robert Giroux"][/caption]Thirteen year-old Kavya Shivashankar won the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, but it wasn't easy. The Kansas native beat out 292 other big brains, all between the ages of 9 and 15, by correctly spelling laodicean in the 15th round of the championship finals.This was Kavya's fourth trip to the championship round of the spelling bee, and she had gotten progressively better each time. At age 10 she placed 10th overall; she tied for 8th place the following year; and she tied for 4th pla …
Do yourself a favor and spend a few minutes looking over this slideshow from msnbc.com. It's all of the best space photos from the past month, including the Space Shuttle Atlantis liftoff, never-before-seen images of Mercury, and more. Enjoy!Also, there's word that NASA may have to delay the next shuttle launch. It was planned for June 13, but worries over the weather may put those plans on hold. The next opportunity won't come around until mid-July, so here's hoping that the skies clear over Cape Canaveral, and soon.
President Obama has chosen former astronaut Charles Bolden to be the new top administrator at NASA. If chosen, Bolden would be the first African-American space chief in U.S. history. His story and his list of accomplishments are very impressive.In a long and distinguished career, the one-time Navy pilot has logged more than 680 hours in space, including some of the most high-profile missions in recent history. He was aboard the flight that originally deployed the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990, and was part of the first American shuttle mission to include a Russian crew member. And all of this …
Fresh off its successful mission to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope last week, the shuttle Atlantis had to cancel its second homecoming attempt on Saturday because of bad weather in Florida. The seven crew members on board Atlantis will have to wait at least one more day before making it back safely to Earth, but they can't afford to wait too long -- they only have enough fuel and supplies to last until Monday.If the weather in Florida continues to be a problem, there is a backup plan: the shuttle could re-enter and land at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave desert. Bu …
I was finishing up a paper for school today, sitting near the back of the auditorium. I struck up a conversation with Angelina and she said something that stayed with me. Now, as I think more about it, I realize how important it is. In fact, I might post something to the crew later, just to give them something to think about.Angelina was talking about another school project, a history report, and said "I wish I had more time to read about that, because it seems pretty interesting." Then, a few minutes later, she was talking about the upcoming soccer tournament and said "I wish I had practiced …
Have you been following the work being done on the Hubble Space Telescope? In case you missed it, a crew of astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis spent the past week making repairs and installing two new instruments to the world's most famous telescope, 350 miles above Earth!
The entire project was more than two years in the making. Check out this link to see some cool photos and video, and to learn everything you need to know about the Hubble. You can also find some great stuff on NASA's website, and on NASA TV -- which quite a few cable providers carry (you may have it and …
Big Brain Club founder Dom Testa is featured in this month's issue of Colorado Parent magazine. The Q&A covers a wide range of topics, including the biggest issue facing today's students, Dom's award-winning Galahad book series and his secret alter-ego ambitions.Pick it up in stores now, or follow this link to read the full interview online.
Here's a story that may make you feel guilty for not getting around to fixing that leaky bathroom faucet -- the astronauts of the space shuttle Atlantis have just completed the final spacewalk to complete repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope, a mere 350 miles above the Earth. Now that's what it means to be handy. …
Recommending books can be tricky: personal tastes vary, and what is relevant or interesting to one person may seem less so to another. That said, we've got a recommendation that you're sure to find both relevant and interesting, even if you disagree with some of its positions.The book is called Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, and while only a small part of it deals with education directly, the book's central premise is widely applicable to the learning process. …
Writing, singing, sky diving, running marathons, fighting global warming -- these are just a few of the activities that keep some of our best and brightest young people busy. USA Today has announced its list of 20 College All-Stars, and you might be surprised at just how diverse (and how cool!) they are. See anything you have in common?This link will take you to the story.Sometimes we tend to think that kids like this are somehow different -- as if they are from another planet where everyone gets good grades and no one has to deal with challenges or obstacles. But the truth is that these kids …
I once wrote a short story that had a lot of promise, but I couldn't decide how I wanted it to end. So you know what I did? I wrote three different endings. I lost the story long ago, but always remembered the lesson I learned from that experience. Now it's your turn to try it... …
Writers often try too hard to dress up a sentence, to make it seem much more brilliant than the simple sentence it was meant to be. Often that means giving up on using "said" and replacing it with something colorful and descriptive. Please, don't fall into this cheap habit. Here's why... …
Some of the best fiction writing involves the art of taking a reader into an alternate reality, often because of some tweak in history. I happen to love this exercise, because it allows you - the author - to take liberties with real people and real events, and filter them through your own imagination. Let's explore... …
The dictionary describes a quirk as a "peculiar action or behavior." That may be, but a quirk is also a very important element in your writing when you define your characters. Here's how you add a bit of flavor... …
Originally scheduled to lift off a month ago, the space shuttle Discovery finally received the green light on March 15th. This time the cargo includes more components that will enable the International Space Station to soon host six full-time residents instead of the current three.Plus, Japan will have its first space station member. Read all about it on NASA's official site.
Fans of the Galahad book series know that Triana and the crew are on their way to Eos, a star system that contains not one, but two Earth-like planets.Well, we might just find planets like ours during our own lifetime! On Friday, March 6th, NASA launched the Kepler mission. Its goal is to study a patch of the sky for several years, looking for small, rocky planets like our blue home, Earth. It's a fascinating mission, and you can read all about it right here.Who knows, scientists might find Eos yet!
Some of the best stories ever written involve a character who has to make a very tough decision. As readers, we really get to know what's on the inside of a person when we watch them struggle with that dilemma. This month, you get to practice this... …
This one always raises an eyebrow. You've just finished writing a great story, you've gone over it a dozen times, and you think it's perfect. Well...what if I told you to throw away the first page? Here's what I'm talking about... …
I know, it sounds kinda funny...but this could be very, very cool for you. The people at NASA are looking for some help in naming a new section of the International Space Station. Technically it's called a module, but the quick and easy name that's commonly used is a 'node,' and this is temporarily being labeled Node 3.Node 1 is called Unity, and Node 2 was actually named by some school students; they called it Harmony. Now, the newest node will act as a control tower for robot technology (cool!) and a giant observation deck, and NASA is looking for suggestions for a name. They've offered Eart …
What is this? It's an image of one of the largest and most spectacular explosions in the universe. And when we say large, we mean HUGE!Thank goodness it happened so far away, because you don't want a gamma ray burst like this right next door. You've heard of a supernova, and you know how massive and deadly those are, right? Well, it's possible that this explosion was about the size of 9,000 supernovae. 9,000!Scientists at the Max Planck Institute believe that this particular fireball detonated more than 12 billion light years away, and was the result of a massive star running out of its nucle …
A couple of Galahad fans picked up on this before I did and sent me emails about it. Hopefully this comet is not related to Comet Bhaktul. And for those of you who think you have to be OLD before you do really cool stuff, you should know that the guy who discovered this comet was 19 years old at the time.
Quanzhi Ye hails from China, just like our own lovable Gap Lee, and, like Gap, has accomplished a lot before his 20th birthday. He's a meteorology student, and happened to be the first to spot this gorgeous green comet. Read the story of how he did it, and why the comet is green!
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On my morning radio show, I received a call from a teacher who mentioned something interesting about writing and text messaging. She said a few of her students had turned in papers that included a few 'text phrases,' as she put it. I've heard a few people suggest that this might be a problem...but is it really any different than other ways kids push the boundaries? Here are some thoughts... …
We learned a lot during our training for this mission. Much of it had to do with science, mathematics, and other subjects to help us with our day-to-day responsibilities of running the ship.But we also learned quite a bit about what makes us tick. I know that Dr. Armistead did all that she could in such a short time, but there's still so much more to understand about ourselves. Lately I've wondered about the simple - but also complex - idea of human contact.No matter how isolated we sometimes try to be, I believe that we all crave human touch. We might even physically need it. I remember how g …
Just hours ago, as I was getting ready to jot down a completely different writing exercise for this month, I took some time to go outside and look up into a crystal clear sky. I knew that the International Space Station was going to be passing overhead, and I wanted to watch that amazing sight. Well, I did, and it made me think of a completely different writing exercise. Here's what it's all about... …
After a recent presentation, I received a lot of interesting feedback regarding my "box of memories." Well, I didn't exactly call it that, but a lot of people did. The more I think about it, it's not just a matter of saving memories, but probably a terrific learning tool to help you become a better writer, faster. Here's what happened... …
The Big Brain Club welcomes your thoughts for the Guest Column section, on any issue or element surrounding education and literacy.Shanna Swinehart teaches sixth grade at Castle Rock Elementary, in Castle Rock, CO. She has penned a great article regarding the need for teachers to keep up with an ever-changing tech world. I would love to see your thoughts on Shanna's theme, so feel free to post them.This will take you to a PDF of Shanna's article: technologyinschools1
I personally think that this is ultra-cool stuff for everyone, but it might be especially helpful - and fun - for teachers.It's a daily podcast to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. Why 2009? Because this year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations through a telescope. This is truly a global project, with the podcasts written and produced by people all over the world.The subjects are diverse, and while you might not want to use all of them in the classroom (for instance, the story about beer produced from barley that was grown on the International Space Statio …
It's hard to believe, but afterthey were expected to last perhaps three months, the twin Mars Rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity, this month celebrate their five year anniversary. Many of us remember their spectacular touchdown in January, 2004, as they literally bounced onto the surface in giant, inflatable balls.Since then they have covered miles and miles of Martian terrain, and sent back more than a quarter of a million images. The extremely harsh winters on the red planet have taken their toll on the little robotic explorers, but somehow they have managed to live on.You can read the ful …
There are two types of creative writers: those who simply sit down and begin writing, watching the words tumble out onto the page, and those who insist on planning everything first. This month's tip addresses the subject of planning and plotting. Here are some quick suggestions... …
One of the most rewarding aspects of creative writing is the freedom to invent. You're inventing not only people, but the circumstances in which they find themselves. Sometimes a great way to exercise your creative juices is to spend fifteen or twenty minutes jotting down a journal entry from one single day in the life of (fill in the blank). Here are some examples... …
We can all name someone from the past who either inspires us or intrigues us. Well, what if you had the chance to sit down with them and ask any questions you want? That's the idea behind this month's writing prompt... …
Many young writers face the same challenge every time they sit down to write: Their own mind says "I'm no good at this," and they never make it past page one.For this final tip of 2008, I'm going to ask you to give yourself a break. Here's why it might make all the difference in the world...
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If you're like me, you're always on the hunt for something new - and good - to read. Well, the American Library Association has compiled lists of some of their favorite recommendations over the years, and there's a bunch to choose from.This might be a good site to bookmark for future reference. This will take you right to it! Happy reading!
When I saw this story, and the video that goes along with it, my mouth fell open. Here is a woman who completely personifies the idea behind The Big Brain Club.I recommend that you not only watch it, but watch it with your students and/or your children. The message of tBBC is sprinkled throughout. Plus, it's just a great feel-good story.This will take you to the story.
The International Space Station is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and the time has come to fix things up a bit. The space shuttle Endeavor lifted off beautifully on November 14th, on a mission that will transform the orbiting science lab from a "small apartment" to a "good-sized house."That means adding more bathroom facilities, sleeping quarters, and an amazing water recycling unit. Two links for you to check out: This link will give you the story of the launch and many of the items heading to space.This link will take you to NASA's shuttle pages, where you can go each day for updates. Th …
I'm a big fan of Astronomy magazine, because it's loaded with terrific articles and images that help to explain some of the most mind-blowing elements of space science in very easy-to-understand language.And they have a fantastic site that kids will love.Here's a link that will take you to that particular page. Teachers will especially find this useful when they do a unit on science/space.
I spend a good portion of my writing workshops discussing the importance of dialogue, and how it drives the emotion of a story. That means you must keep your dialogue interesting, and I've found that props are a good writing trick to do that. Here's what I'm talking about...
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At its core, writing should be fun! I remember the first time I read a story aloud to an audience and received a positive response. It was an assignment in sixth grade to write a tall tale, and it really lit a creative writing fire in me, and made writing fun. It might do the same for you... …
Over the past two years my dreams have become more and more vivid. Often the dreams are of dad, which make me happy, because in a way they give me a chance to stay connected with him. Some of those dreams are based strongly on pure memories of him, while others are very unfamiliar and slightly bizarre.I've tried to do some reading about dreams, and I find it all quite fascinating. Although we might never really know for sure how they work, or what they mean, there are several theories that make sense to me. In particular, I like the idea that the brain uses dreams to process much of the inform …
In order to launch amazing ships like Galahad, we have to take baby steps. One of those first steps includes setting up a permanent base on the moon. Well, 35 years after our last visit, the United States has begun the long process of returning to the moon. Here's the story...
In early 2009 NASA is going to launch the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a robotic vehicle that will have several tasks to manage. For one thing, it will be looking for interesting locations for future astronaut visits. Part of that assignment will be to look for water. Yep, water on the moon.In this case it would …
Why is that adults can't seem to enjoy the moment, or "the now," as many pop-psychology authors put it...and yet kids can't seem to do anything BUT that? The sad truth is that it's one of the reasons that young people fall prey to the peer pressure around them. To read Dom's article on the subject, "The Concept of Now," just click here.
This one might sound a little tricky, but with just a bit of practice you'll get it. We all read for enjoyment, and we love the way a writer pulls us into a story. But have you ever really thought about how the writer did that? Here's what it's all about...
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With fall in the air, that means sports, sports, and more sports! Football is underway, volleyball is in high gear, baseball playoffs are here, hockey is ready to go, and more! So, for something a little different this month, we're going to put a reporter's hat on you. Here's how it works... …
We've discussed the idea of not relying on adverbs too much in order to color your stories...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't paint pictures in the mind of your reader. This month we'll focus on language that does just that...
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For many people, the idea of getting away - or escaping - is a powerful emotion. That's why the concept of being stranded on a deserted island is so powerful in literature and film. This month you're going to be that castaway. Here's what you'll do... …
I know that I'm like most people when it comes to issues that trouble me; I tend to think of them as immense obstacles, giant barriers to happiness. And, many times, I feel that they will overwhelm me. It's during these moments that I try to remember another of the great lessons that my dad taught me.His love of the outdoors wore off on me, and together we shared bike rides, rafting trips, and (our favorite) long hikes. Growing up in Colorado, we had no shortage of gorgeous trails, with views of the Rocky Mountains that would take your breath away.During one particular hike in late August, nea …
You might be tempted to allow your readers access to every character's thoughts, but please don't! Read on to learn about point of view...
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When I conduct writing workshops at schools, I'm often impressed by the number of students who write poetry. And, by the way, both girls and boys use this as an outlet for their feelings. So this month let's try this poetry exercise... …
This month's writing tip is almost controversial, and I'll admit that not every writer agrees with me. But I'll say it anyway: Get rid of your adverbs! Here's why...
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There's something about summers at the beach that create an air of romance, adventure, or mystery. The sea can be quite an interesting backdrop for one of your stories. Let's try it...
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It's summertime! When hot weather rolls around, I want to get outside. So, here are some "get outside" books that you can take to the pool, or on road trips, or even just to read sitting under a tree! They all scream adventure and fun...
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Is it true that homework is responsible for the decline in reading for pleasure? Or is it possible that the problem is too much reality? Read all about it...
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Although it can be overdone, I find a particular joy when I discover an author who incorporates sound into their stories. So, take a few moments to see how sound can affect your writing, too...
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I recently re-read a classic young adult novel called "Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH." It made me think about animal stories, and led to this month's assignment. Read all about it... …
Apparently hitting bottom will no longer apply in education; now there's a safety net that will stop you halfway to the bottom. It's another in a long line of terrible ideas that come across as compassionate, and yet once again send a ridiculously bad message. Here's what's going on...
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In Hollywood, before a director begins to film a movie, he/she will often sketch a rough layout of how the scenes will fall into place. They call it a storyboard, a collection of pictures in sequence. You can do the same thing with your writing. Here's how...
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Have you ever daydreamed that you could stop time? What if you could freeze everything and everyone around you...but you could still move about? That's the bizarre concept behind this month's writing assignment. Read more about it... …
This is the very essence of The Big Brain Club, and occasionally I'll write a new column to address the issue. This particular article is directed at teachers, librarians, and parents, and helps to explain the pressure that kids feel to dumb down.
To read a PDF version of the article, just click here.
I have been hosting writing workshops at schools and libraries for several years, and I put an emphasis on the word WORK. As far as I'm concerned, the best way for kids to improve their writing skills is to actually work at it.
Some of the best feedback I get from teachers involves an exercise I do with writing prompts. If you'd like to try it in your classroom, here's what I do...
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At lunch this week I heard someone say "everything happens for a reason." It made me stop and think...and I'm still thinking about it.I struggle with this. On one hand, to say that everything happens for a reason is a powerful incentive to learn and grow. Take what happened with Comet Bhaktul; did that happen so that the 251 of us on the ship would have the chance to discover some hidden strengths within us? Did it happen to fulfill some kind of destiny? Did it happen to give our species a new beginning, which we maybe desperately needed?On the other hand, I feel that to throw up my hands and …
I get questions all the time about what the crew from Galahad might encounter during their voyage, and many of you have wondered if black holes might show up.So, when teacher Jen Byrne sent this story of the smallest black hole discovered so far, I had to share. It's only about 15 miles across, and yet has the mass of almost 4 of our suns! What would happen if Triana and the crew stumbled across this thing??Click here to read all about it!
How many times have you done something, or said something, and later wished you could go back in time and get a "do over." That's the seed for this month's creative writing assignment. Here are the details... …
Your characters obviously supply your story with most of its emotion, which means you're putting a lot of responsibility in their hands. The question is: Do you know your own characters that well? Here's a tip to help you understand not only what your characters look like, but what makes them tick... …
Electronic communication has been around for a long time, and I can't deny how useful it is. Email, a term that was born with the personal computer in the late 20th century, gets a lot of use on Galahad; I know that I rely on it daily.And yet I'm finally beginning to understand why Dr. Zimmer did not want us to carry personal communication devices on the ship. On Earth, nobody is ever alone, nobody is ever out of touch; just push a few buttons and you're connected. I was convinced I would miss that on this mission.Now, almost a year after launch, I realize that I haven't thought about it in mo …
If the crew of Galahad expects to eat during the mission to Eos, then Bon and his workers have a lot of work to do. The Farms are obviously crucial aboard the ship, and therefore get a lot of attention. But what does it really take to grow food in space?There's an interesting NASA page devoted to this, and I thought you might like to check it out. Just click here to read all about it
When you create dialogue in your stories, remember to include character movement and activity. It's important for many reasons, two of which we'll cover in this month's tip...
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During my writing assemblies and workshops at schools, I'm impressed by the number of students who keep a journal. That's a great way to grow comfortable with writing on an everyday basis. Your assignment for this month allows you to transform the idea of a journal, or diary, into a vehicle for creative writing. Here's what it's all about... …
The Big Brain Club is happy to accept guest columns from teachers, librarians, parents, or anyone else interested in the evolution of education and literacy. If you would like to submit your thoughts, you'll find the information here.Jen Byrne, a 6th grade teacher in Jefferson County, Colorado, has written a terrific piece that examines the need to enhance traditional learning methods with technology that kids embrace. She calls it "Today's Language," and I couldn't agree with her more. …
We have arrived at a time and place where effort and sacrifice are becoming extinct. Today, it's all about immediate gratification, and that applies to parenting as well as teaching.
I've been sitting on this article for about three weeks, but it's demanding to be published. As always, I'm prepared for a mix of responses. This link will take you to the article.
I have heard from so many teachers, librarians, and parents who have responded enthusiastically to what The Big Brain Club represents. Remember, your opinions are not only appreciated, but solicited!
The Big Brain Club will always be open to guest columns. If you would like to submit an article, simply follow these guidelines:
1. The topic must center around education, student behavior, classroom activities, parental involvement, etc.2. Articles/columns may not exceed 500 words.3. By submitting, you agree to allow the article/column to be posted on this site, and agree to be open to feedbac …
In the Dining Hall this evening I overheard two girls talking about self-esteem. I wasn't trying to snoop, but I was alone, they were right next to me, and it was impossible to tune them out. I found their conversation interesting because of the strange turn that it took.Within moments of talking about things they do to feel good about themselves (like exercising, paying attention to their appearance, working on their education, etc.), they fell into a stretch of gossip about another girl in their workout group. Soon they were saying some petty things about her looks and her gym routine. I'm s …
I have read passages from great leaders who have mentioned that leadership is a very lonely thing. I have vague memories of my father talking about this, and slightly more recent experiences with Dr. Zimmer; they both pretty much said the same thing.It's human nature to want people to like you, to fit in, to be accepted. The very idea of protecting yourself from being an outcast goes back to our earliest ancestors; to be cast out of the clan meant almost certain death in a very harsh world.My dad never put it in those terms, but he often spoke quietly with me about not sacrificing my values an …
Something odd happens within the brains of your typical teenager (well, besides some of the obvious), and it involves sleep. As a result, some schools have shifted their start times...and not everyone is happy about it. Here's the story...
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2008 marks the beginning of the sixth year for The Big Brain Club. Thank you very much to everyone who has participated over the years, from teachers, to parents, to students. And sincere thanks to all of the teachers who have incorporated the monthly assignments and writing tips into their classroom activities.
The goal for this year is to spread the word. If you have a vested interest in the education of young people, read on to find out more...
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We don't often focus on deeply personal writing, but that's exactly what we're going to do as we jump into 2008. Many people keep personal journals; if you don't, now would be an excellent time to start. Here are a few tips, and a challenge for you... …
It's happening slowly, but surely. It started with one whine, and has now spread. The latest to succumb? Boulder Valley Schools. Bravo to their school board; they have now joined the ranks of the spineless and misdirected. How, you ask? Prepare to be disgusted...
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Some parents invest little or no time in their child's education. Others, it seems, don't know when to stop. How about we all meet in the middle? Here are some thoughts...
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I happen to be passionate about not only getting kids interested in reading, but in writing as well. So I'm tuned in to a recent debate that has popped up over what exactly qualifies as writing. Let's talk about that...
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Hundreds of articles have touched on the Harry Potter phenomenon, excited that the teen wizard has inspired so many kids to read. But many teachers and parents have noticed something interesting about this: the kids are reading only Potter books. Here's a possible explanation...
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When I heard he was advocating that kids be paid to go to school, I simply shook my head. When I found out he was a former teacher, I grew irritated. But when I found out he is now a county commissioner (and might actually have some real influence), I decided to speak up. Here's the story...
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It's been more than six months since we left Earth behind. Or, to be more honest with myself, it's been six months since I fled. That's really what it was all about for me, and it's only been in the last month or so that I've been able to fully understand that.Dr. Zimmer knew it. I still remember the day, back on Earth, when he sat beside me and talked about running away from problems. Now, months later, I'm beginnng to realize a couple of things. First, I know he was right; we can try to distance ourselves physically from pain and sorrow, but until we come to terms with the pain itself, …
Finger pointing is big. It might have surpassed baseball as our national pastime, especially since it takes no special talent. Anyone can do it, and apparently most people are. Education is an active arena for finger pointing, that's for sure. But parents, this article is about you. Read it only if you're prepared to point the finger at yourself...
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One of the things I look forward to during my down-time is reading. On Galahad, our library (unfortunately) does not consist of very many real books. It's a space/weight issue. So instead we have books inside our computer banks, and (fortunately) it includes tens of thousands of titles. Dr. Zimmer and his staff wanted to make sure we took most of Earth's great history of literature with us to Eos.The book that has held my attention for the past few days is a collection of essays, written by young people from around the planet. What makes it interesting is both the subject, and the backgrou …
This evening, after a good workout in the gym with Channy and then a light dinner with Lita, I spent about an hour in my room, alone. For the first time in months I pulled out a few of the letters that my dad wrote to me before he died. It's still tough to read them without crying, but as time goes by I'm finding that I'm able to see through the tears a little bit better, and I'm able to understand more of the messages that he shared.One letter in particular stood out tonight. Dad mentioned life balance, and I'm sure that when I read it a long time ago it didn't sink in. This time, it did. …
I'm prepared to face some strong disagreement on this one, but that's what the Teacher Forum is about, right? In an age where many people believe that we should eliminate any and all educational competition, I'm here to take a contrarian stance. In fact, here's my suggestion for propelling some of your better students into a new level of learning...
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Sometimes I have to laugh. Recent articles have been published that claim - oh my! - boys and girls are different!! Wow! Who would have ever thought THAT?
Okay, sarcasm aside, isn't it time that people began to accept that this means boys and girls will also learn in different ways? Let's talk about that...
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Sure, 100 teachers will have 100 ideas when it comes to lighting a fire under kids and encouraging them to write. But that's what this forum is all about...exchanging ideas. Here's a very popular exercise from my writing workshops...
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Channy said something today that really got my attention. She was...well, she was being Channy, joking around and getting people to laugh. At one point she had some fun at my expense, which I probably deserved. While everyone else laughed, I smiled for a moment and then grew quiet, like I always seem to do.
Later, when we were alone in the hallway, Channy asked if I was bothered by what she'd said. I told her no, but that I just didn't know how to respond. And then she said it: "What's there to know? Just laugh! It's good f …
This week we're talking about the best ways to inspire students to write. In her classic "The Art of Teaching Writing," Lucy McCormick Calkins stresses the importance of reaching into a child's own personal well of experiences...
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People talk all the time about the peer pressure that young people face. Pressure to try drugs, to try alcohol, to try sex. There's a lot of time and money spent on these issues, and that's fine. But you never hear anyone express concern over another form of peer pressure that is suffocating young people: The peer pressure to dumb down. Until now, that is...
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When I was a little girl, the only thing I really understood about the holiday season was that I would be receiving gifts. My mom would usually toss some clothes my way, or find some other 'practical' thing I needed. My dad, on the other hand, used the occasion to spoil me with all of the fun things that no child really needs, but that every child wants.As I got a little older I began to wonder about the season. And, now that I'm on a ship with 250 other people, I wonder even more. There are dozens of different faiths represented on Galahad, and even more personal interpretations of those f …
I tend to be quiet when there's a group of people sitting around, talking. It's just my nature to sit still and absorb. Lately I've heard several crew members on the ship talking about their families.There was a lot of excitement when we launched from Earth more than six months ago. Sure, there was sadness, too, as we slowly pulled away from the tug of gravity...and the tug of families.Now it seems that we've all grown up, more so than we would have back home. Responsibility (and a few near-death experiences) will do that to you. I've mostly noticed it in the way people talk about their l …
