SJK Audio Edition

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/why-do-some-women-deny-gender-discrimination/ or watch at https://youtu.be/WE9siPUjqLoSummary: Scientists wanted to find out why some women deny that gender discrimination exists, even though it negatively affects them. Abstract: Women face discrimination across the world. They have fewer rights and opportunities (like education) than men, all because of their gender. And the COVID-19 pandemic has made this worse. But despite this, many people (including women) deny that gender discrimination exists. Even people who have experienced it personally! We wanted to find out why this is. We thought that perhaps it’s because denying discrimination makes the world seem fairer. This makes women happier. We carried out three studies, involving 20,000 participants from 23 countries altogether. We tested the hypothesis that denial of gender discrimination is related to better well-being in women. We found this to be true across the United States and worldwide. In fact, in countries where gender discrimination is worse, women were even more likely to deny it! Denial of discrimination helps women to cope, but it makes gender inequality worse. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #gender #discrimination #equality #happiness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-did-the-warrah-cross-the-ocean-to-the-falkland-islands/ or watch at https://youtu.be/ofl0BhJcA2MSummary: Scientists dug into sediment cores on the Falkland Islands and found signs that people had visited the islands before the European explorers arrived. Abstract: When Charles Darwin visited the Falkland Islands, he was puzzled to find only one species of land-dwelling mammal – a fox-like animal called the warrah [WAH-rah]. How could the warrah have reached the Falkland Islands? Until now, scientists have assumed humans weren’t responsible for bringing the warrah to the islands. However, we showed that it is very likely that Indigenous people from the Tierra del Fuego visited the islands centuries before the first European explorers arrived. The Yaghan people are traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers and often traveled with domesticated foxes. We believe that the Yaghan people probably brought the warrah to the islands centuries ago. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #warrah #FalklandIslands #middenheaps #fossilhunters #extinction #radiocarbondating #Yaghan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-is-the-ice-in-greenland-melting/ or watch at https://youtu.be/DS4JikjzYBgSummary: Researchers use new data about the Greenland ice sheet to find out exactly how the ice is melting. Abstract: The island of Greenland is almost completely covered in ice. But since the 1990s, the sheet of ice has been melting. This makes the sea level rise, causing problems for people and animals around the world who live on the coast. We wanted to find out exactly how the Greenland ice sheet is melting. Does the ocean affect how quickly it melts? Could it be melting Greenland’s ice from below? We needed lots of data (information) to be able to answer these questions. So we collected data to help us model the ice sheet melt. We looked at 226 glaciers all around the coast of Greenland. We found out most of the melt was happening with 74 glaciers in deep, underwater valleys. Here, the warm ocean melted the glaciers from below. Our findings are important for predicting the future of Greenland’s ice. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #ClimateChange #Greenland #glaciersmelting #warmocean This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-kinds-of-landscapes-keep-bees-healthy/ or watch at https://youtu.be/22ZPkmWOJjESummary: Scientists wanted to know if various landscape conditions make bumble bees more vulnerable to diseases. Abstract: Imagine a world without apples, watermelons, and sunflowers… It doesn’t sound very good, does it? Unfortunately, it could actually happen. Bees help these (and many other) plants grow, but they have been dying. One reason for this is that bees are suffering from more diseases. But where do these bee diseases come from? Does it have to do with our changing landscapes? To find out, we collected 890 bumble bees and screened them for three pathogens. We also looked at the types and qualities of the landscapes where we found these bees. Then we created a mathematical model to help us work out how different landscapes affect bees. We found out that landscapes with lots of food (flowers) for bees and more nesting sites led to healthier bees. Our results highlight the need to protect natural landscapes to conserve wild bees. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #bumblebees #landscape #savethebees #conservation #pollination This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-grow-models-of-embryos-in-the-lab/ or watch at https://youtu.be/LZwOoGVGVFISummary: Scientists used stem cells to grow 3D models of blastocysts to be able to study the development of embryos. Abstract: Studying embryos is important to understanding how humans develop. It can also help us understand some pregnancy complications. But access to embryos is very limited. We wanted to find a way to study embryos without actually needing any! We used stem cells to grow models of blastocysts – young embryos. Our experiments showed that stem cells can form structures that look like blastocysts. We called these models blastoids. Blastoids grow and develop at a similar speed as blastocysts. They also have the same size and cell composition. They are not embryos and cannot develop into an organism. But blastoids are a useful way to study human development. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #embryos #stemcells #embryogenesis #development #blastocyst #blastoid This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-does-air-pollution-affect-people-differently/ or watch at https://youtu.be/sweuX4R7IqASummary: Researchers found out that people of color are more exposed to air pollution than white people, for almost all pollution sources, income levels, and places. Abstract: Bad air quality is a problem all over the world. In the U.S., air quality is often worse in places where people of color live. There are many different sources of air pollution, like fireplaces, factories, cars, and power plants. We wanted to know how much different pollution sources added to inequality. We found out that people of color are exposed to more air pollution from almost every type of pollution source. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #airpollution #PM2.5 #environmentaljustice #redlining #healthdisparity #POC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-sharing-knowledge-better-explain-land-use-changes-in-ethiopia/ or watch at https://youtu.be/IBe-2FpQXjISummary: Scientists worked with local residents to create a better understanding of the causes and consequences of land use changes experienced in the Guassa grassland in Ethiopia Abstract: When you think about environmental issues, you probably think about science. How does science explain the problem? How can we use science to create a solution? Yet if we only think like scientists, we may miss important details. That is why we need to share knowledge with people who have different perspectives. We shared knowledge with local residents near the Guassa grassland in Ethiopia to discuss how land use had changed over time. They described how they use the land and the benefits it provides. Using satellite technology, we created maps of the area. We then shared these maps with the people of Guassa. Together, we found a link between soil problems and land use changes. We also determined how different management strategies affect land use. Because we shared knowledge with the local residents, we created a more complete picture of what is happening in Guassa. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #Ethiopia #landuse #ecosystemservices #knowledgecoproduction #community #sustainability This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/why-are-whales-in-trouble-again/ or watch at https://youtu.be/jwmQLi-hBJcSummary: Researchers used oceanic and population data to determine if climate change is contributing to the decline in the North Atlantic Right whale population.Abstract: Imagine you are standing on a boat. You look out, searching in all directions for a glimpse of a whale. But you can’t find any. Your excitement fades. Where are the whales? Many years ago, an ocean without whales was a real concern because we hunted them too much. Then we banned whaling and their populations grew. Yet some whale species are declining again. Why? To find out, we analyzed data from the feeding grounds of the North Atlantic Right whale. We found that warmer ocean temperatures made food harder to find. Without enough food, fewer whales were born. Also, whales started swimming north to find more food. This puts them in danger from getting hit by ships and tangled in fishing nets. So now they face a new threat from humans: climate change. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #RightWhale #endangeredspecies #GulfStream #copepods #climatechange #whalesightings This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-smartphones-affect-our-sleep/ or watch at https://youtu.be/JGfbZLcHptkSummary: Researchers wanted to know if smartphone addiction leads to poor sleep. Abstract: Do you own a smartphone? They are very useful and often we can’t imagine life without them. But they could be harmful as well. For example, people can get addicted to smartphones. As with any other addiction, this can lead to various problems. So does it affect our sleep? To find out, we asked 1,043 students to complete two questionnaires. This helped us determine how many of the students suffer from smartphone addiction. It also showed how many suffer from poor sleep. We found out that smartphone addiction is pretty common among young students. We also found a strong connection between smartphone addiction and poor sleep. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #smartphone #addiction #sleep #screentime #sleepquality #bedtime #technology This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-are-the-most-dangerous-places-for-sharks/ watch at https://youtu.be/vCg0KXGxr4Q Summary: Researchers wanted to find out where sharks are most at risk from fishing across all of the world’s oceans. Abstract: Many people are scared of sharks, but they are actually a very important part of the ocean’s ecosystem. Did you know that falling coconuts are actually more deadly to humans than sharks? Each year, tens of millions of sharks are caught by fishing vessels (ships). So actually, they should be afraid of us. And instead of fearing them, we should protect them – from ourselves! We wanted to find out where sharks are most at risk from fishing across all of the world’s oceans. We used tracking data from both sharks and fishing vessels to create maps of where sharks like to hang out and where ships go fishing. When they overlap, sharks are at risk of being caught! We found the areas that are most dangerous for sharks to swim. These areas are unique to different species and different oceans. We can use our findings to tell people who manage the seas how to best protect sharks and the other marine life that rely on them. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #sharks #overfishing #sharkhotspot #taggingsharks #MPAs This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-well-do-masks-protect-against-covid-19/ or watch at https://youtu.be/qhfPS9DmuU8 Summary: Researchers tested how effective face masks are in reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Abstract: COVID-19 has changed our lives. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many countries have introduced various restrictions. Most of us had to stay at home, distance ourselves from others, and wear face masks in public spaces for some period of time. Two years in, COVID-19 is still affecting us. Many people still have to keep their physical distance and wear masks. So are these measures effective? We tested what would happen if a sick person and a healthy one got together and talked for some time. We found out that social distancing alone isn’t effective. There is a 90% chance that a healthy person 3m (10ft) away will get infected in less than 5 minutes. However, if both wear a protective mask, this risk goes down considerably – even if they are standing quite close together! About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #COVID19 #pandemic #mask #maskfit #socialdistancing #virusspread This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-help-improve-human-elephant-conflict/ or watch at https://youtu.be/Uxl_3Uskzc0 Summary: Researchers identified the most important problems for people living near wild elephants in Myanmar, Asia. Abstract: When humans and wildlife share the same areas, they can come into conflict over resources. This is called human-wildlife conflict. This can be a big problem when the wildlife in question are large mammals (like tigers, lions, or elephants). Can you imagine living alongside such giants? To understand more about these types of conflict, we did interviews with rural people in Myanmar. The results of this study will help wildlife managers find ways for elephants and people to live side-by-side with less conflict! About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #AsianElephants #humanwildlifeconflict #endangeredspecies #Myanmar This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-does-reducing-air-pollution-help-birds/ or watch at https://youtu.be/67pX0zh6yvsSummary: Researchers show that air pollution reduction programs not only benefit human health but also the health of birds. Abstract: When you think of pollution, what image comes to mind? Litter? Oil spills? We think of these types of pollution first because they are visible. But the most dangerous form is one that we cannot see: air pollution. We know that chemicals and small particles in the air can harm human health, so governments create laws and programs to reduce air pollution. We wanted to know if these same programs also positively affect birds. After all, birds are such an important part of our world! We built a mathematical model using bird population and air pollution data to see which air pollutants (tropospheric ozone and/or fine particulate matter) harm birds. Then we looked at how a United States air pollution reduction program affected the bird populations. From this analysis, we found that air pollution programs not only benefit humans, but they also protect birds. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #airpollution #birds #ozone #PM2.5 #cleanair #smog #nitrogenoxides #EPA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-prepare-for-droughts/ or watch at https://youtu.be/tngs1vayQlgSummary: Researchers wanted to know if water suppliers and farmers could use climate models to plan for future droughts in Texas. Abstract: Droughts are common in many parts of the world. Yet climate change has made them more severe and difficult to predict. This makes it harder for water suppliers to plan for the future. Currently, they use data from past droughts to make these decisions. But we think it’s important to consider future changes as well. We analyzed drought projections for Texas – a large state in the USA with both wet and dry regions. They show that the conditions there will be even drier and hotter in the future. Water planning needs to adapt to these changes and take future climate change into account. Climate models would be very helpful for that. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #drought #climatechange #modeling #waterreservoir #aquifer #megadrought #water This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/routine-vaccinations-during-a-pandemic-benefit-or-risk/ or watch at https://youtu.be/m7qZNzzSeHkSummary: Scientists used a mathematical model to work out the risks and benefits if health systems sustain their routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abstract: Did you have your routine vaccinations as a kid? Vaccines help prevent millions of deaths each year. But now that the new coronavirus is here, some countries may stop their vaccination programs for a while. The idea is to reduce the risk of spreading the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. But which is better: fewer coronavirus infections or making sure children get all their usual vaccinations? To find out, we used a mathematical model. We worked out the risks and benefits if health systems in Africa continue with their vaccination programs as usual. We found that if African countries give vaccinations as usual, they will prevent many children from dying. The benefits are far greater than the risk of extra deaths due to COVID-19. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #vaccination #COVID19 #mathmodeling #Africa #epidemic This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-will-climate-change-affect-arctic-birds/ or watch at https://youtu.be/qr1Y3fI16ZoSummary: Scientists combined ideas from climate science and biology to figure out how climate change and genetics influence the migration habits of peregrine falcons. Abstract: Peregrine falcons are famous for their super-fast diving flights. But that’s not the only thing that they’re good at. Peregrines are also world travelers! We tracked peregrine falcons migrating from the Arctic to their winter habitat. Some went all the way from northern Russia to the tropics! We wanted to know how climate change and genetics affect the way peregrines migrate. So we used a computer program to predict how the Arctic would change over the next 50 years. We compared the peregrines’ current summer and winter habitats to the computer prediction. We found that summer habitats (where the birds breed) are shrinking, while winter habitats are growing. This is due to climate change. We tracked migration paths for peregrines from six places in the Eurasian Arctic. We found that some peregrines traveled more than five times as far as other peregrines! When we looked at the peregrines’ DNA, we saw that there were differences between the peregrines who had short migrations and those who had long migrations. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #climatechange #peregrinefalcon #migration #flyway #breedinggrounds #climatemodel #Arcticwarming #readaloud This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-turn-ocean-water-into-renewable-energy/ or watch at https://youtu.be/B9saMI5MtE4 Summary: In this article, scientists make renewable energy from ocean water by creating a device that combines osmosis and water-splitting to make hydrogen. Abstract: Think about what life would be like without energy. No refrigerators, no computers, no cars, and no cellphones! Today, most of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable resources ( resources that take a long time for the Earth to make) that pollute our air and land. That is why we are trying to find cleaner, renewable energy resources that can power our planet. Hydrogen is a great renewable fuel that can be made from water. Most of the water on Earth is salt water, so we created a device that can make hydrogen from it at a low cost. It combines the process of osmosis with the reaction of water splitting. Our data show that this device is effective and efficient, which means hydrogen could become more available in the future. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #renewable #energy #hydrogen #fuel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-many-lives-do-vaccines-save/ or watch at https://youtu.be/KNtFIPv5_-YSummary: Scientists wanted to measure the benefits of expanded vaccination programs in 98 countries.Abstract: Ever since their creation, vaccines have saved countless lives all over the world! Still, people in many countries suffer from diseases that could be prevented by vaccination. We looked at 98 countries where a lot of people are infected with such diseases. We wanted to measure the benefits of vaccination for them. Using mathematical models, we found that vaccination saved 37 million lives between 2000 and 2019! We project that it could save 32 million more by 2030.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #vaccination #modeling #measles #herdimunity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/would-beavers-make-good-firefighters/ or watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XNkc0irH4M&list=PLJ2oYgFchqUrwBeG5NKGxc4nysx_akVI-&index=48Summary: Researchers found out that beavers’ activities can protect plants and animals around them during a wildfire.Abstract: We all know beavers as cute animals with flat tails. They gnaw down trees with their sharp teeth and build dams in rivers. But beavers are much more than lumberjacks. By building those dams, they reshape the whole environment around them and provide their surroundings with more water. And this actually helps the plants around beaver dams to survive during wildfires! Therefore, we can think of beavers not only as great lumberjacks but also as effective firefighters.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #beavers #wildfires #ecosystemengineer #drought #refuge This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-some-algae-make-the-earth-warmer/ or watch at https://youtu.be/hKwuE6sYC2Y Summary: Scientists figure out how and why algae produce nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas stronger than carbon dioxide. Abstract: If you have ever visited a lake, a pond, or even the ocean, then you know about algae – not only the big ones that wash up on the beach, but also the much smaller microalgae. Responsible for the green you see on the water, these tiny organisms are not only the foundation of the aquatic food web, but they also photosynthesize. That means they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere like plants. And we all know how important that is because of global warming! Interestingly, some algae also produce nitrous oxide – another greenhouse gas. We wanted to find out which type of algae produces it and how they create it. We tested different types of algae in both light and dark environments, which made us realize that only green algae make nitrous oxide from nitric oxide, and they have different ways of doing it based on the amount of light available. We also linked the nitric oxide production to fertilizers, implying that there may be a way to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide produced by algae in the future. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #globalwarming #algae #greenhousegas #algalblooms #nitrousoxide #fertilizer #enzymes This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-virtual-reality-help-construction-engineers/ or watch at https://youtu.be/OypUnkXAqTgSummary: Researchers tested whether virtual reality could help construction engineers do their jobs more effectively. Abstract: With virtual reality (VR), you can look and move around in a digital world. We wanted to know if VR could help construction engineers plan their projects. To find out, we set up an experiment where expert and novice engineers used either VR goggles or a normal desktop computer to review engineering designs in three dimensions (3D). We found out that VR goggles made it easier for engineers to spot problems in construction plans. VR also helped engineers work out the order in which a project should be built. But VR has some limitations and should only be used for appropriate tasks and scenarios. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #virtualreality #VR #construction #designreview #engineering #digitalmodel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-can-ancient-dna-tell-us-about-stone-age-people/ or watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaSi64Jq8pE&list=PLJ2oYgFchqUrwBeG5NKGxc4nysx_akVI-&index=51Summary: Researchers analyzed DNA from the oldest Late Stone Age human specimens ever found in Europe and discovered that these people had recent Neanderthal ancestors. Abstract: Archaeologists digging in Bacho Kiro Cave in Bulgaria found bones from people who lived 45,000 years ago. This period is known as the early Upper Paleolithic. It was an exciting time for human evolution as humans took a big jump forward in art and technology. It’s also a time when Neanderthals were still around. We wanted to know what these people’s DNA could tell us about where their ancestors came from and where their descendants ended up. Surprisingly, even though the bones were found in Europe, their DNA had more in common with people from East Asia and Native Americans. We also found that all the individuals whose remains were found in Bacho Kiro Cave had Neanderthal ancestors only a few generations back. That means that not only did Stone Age humans and Neanderthals know about each other, they sometimes had children together. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #Evolution #Neanderthal #ancientDNA #upperpaleolithic #prehistoricpeople #StoneAge This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-relax-covid-19-restrictions/ or watch at https://youtu.be/CnZuQ-aFnmkSummary: In this article, researchers wanted to assess the impact of lifting the restrictions against COVID-19 in England and the emergence of the Delta variant. Abstract: COVID-19 has changed everyone’s lives. At one time or another, most of us have had to stay at home and socially distance ourselves from others. But in some countries, people are starting to get out of lockdowns. The last lockdown in England started in January 2021. Relaxing the restrictions afterwards happened gradually. It depended mainly on the number of immune people. Was this a good strategy? We created a mathematical model to see if lifting the restrictions was well timed. The strategy was successful at first. But the emergence of the Delta variant changed things. Our model shows that vaccination alone may not be enough to stop another peak of hospitalisations and deaths. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #COVID-19 #lockdowns #England #diseasespread #modeling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/where-did-flying-reptiles-come-from/ or watch at https://youtu.be/2G0lqZykAy8 Summary: In this article, researchers found out that the first flying vertebrates were very closely related to a small dinosaur-like group of animals.Abstract Have you heard of flying dinosaurs named pterodactyls [terr-oh-dak-tlz]? Well, you may be surprised to hear that they are not technically dinosaurs. Pterodactyls, part of the group pterosaurs [terr-oh-sorz], were reptiles. They were related to dinosaurs, which are also reptiles but do not belong to that group. Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates that were able to fly by flapping their wings. This makes them all the more interesting. Have you ever thought about how it is possible that some animals started to fly? How did they get their wings? The general answer is: evolution. But here the mystery deepens. For a long time, it seemed like there was a huge evolutionary gap between pterosaurs and most other animals. How did they come about? By looking at fossils, we found out that lagerpetids [la-jer-pe-tids] (a small group of non-flying reptiles) are close relatives of pterosaurs. Finding out about lagerpetids told us a bit about how pterosaurs started to fly.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #dinosaurs #paleontology This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-is-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-other-diseases/ or watch at https://youtu.be/g3553FCW770Summary: Scientists created mathematical models to estimate how the measures against COVID-19 are impacting people with HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.Abstract The new coronavirus has spread almost everywhere on our planet. Governments have taken various measures to try and control the disease – many of us are in lockdown, and lots of schools and businesses are closed. Some people have lost their jobs. These (and other) measures have consequences for other diseases as well. We wanted to assess what impact the coronavirus epidemic would have on three other current epidemics: HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. These three diseases are a major threat, especially in poorer countries. We created mathematical models to estimate how the measures against COVID-19 are impacting people with these other diseases. Unfortunately, we found that deaths could increase by 10% for HIV, 20% for TB and 36% for malaria. Our results show that governments should continue with the most important actions that help prevent and treat these three diseases.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #covid19 #HIV #TB #Malaria #epidemic #pandemic #diseasetreatment #mathematicalmodel #readaloud This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-did-covid-lockdowns-affect-air-pollution/ or watch at https://youtu.be/RmhHzntSz6oSummary: In this article, researchers looked at air pollution and transportation data and found out that air pollution decreased during the COVID-19 lockdowns.Abstract Air pollution harms people’s health. During the first few months of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many countries went into lockdown. Many adults worked from home, children went to school online, and families limited their trips outside of the home. Fewer trips outside meant fewer cars on the road and planes in the air. We wanted to know whether the change in people’s driving and flying habits resulted in better air quality. Using satellites, weather stations, and traffic data, we found out that it did!About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #COVID-19 #lockdown #airpollution #pandemic #transportation This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-will-dragonflies-adapt-to-a-warmer-earth/ or watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRNsRtdxYkI&list=PLJ2oYgFchqUrwBeG5NKGxc4nysx_akVI-&index=56Summary: In this article, researchers compared the wing coloration of different dragonfly species to see how the color and amount of coloration changed depending on the climate. Abstract: The Earth is getting warmer, and we can see the effects of it – destructive floods, severe droughts, and intense storms. Just as we must look for ways to adjust to our changing environment, animals and plants must also adapt if they want to survive. We wanted to know how animals’ reproductive traits change to help them survive in warmer climates. We looked at dragonflies because the males use dark coloring on their wings to attract mates and intimidate rivals. We created a database to compare dragonflies living in warm climates to those living in cooler climates. We found that male dragonflies living in warmer climates have less wing coloring than those living in cooler climates. We also found wing ornamentation in warmer areas to be lighter in color. This is because the darker coloring can overheat the dragonfly and they become unable to reproduce. Lighter or reduced ornamentation is naturally selected when climates are warmer. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #dragonflies #evolution #natural selection #climatechange #ornamentation This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/heavy-metal-pollution-how-can-we-make-water-safe-to-drink/ or watch at https://youtu.be/GNprpGzIlokSummary: In this article, scientists created a new material to remove copper from our water resources.Abstract: When you think of a glass of water, what words come to mind? Clean? Safe? Refreshing? Unfortunately, those words don’t describe most of the drinking water in the world. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 people on Earth don’t have access to safe drinking water. Children in some parts of Africa, for example, may need to walk for miles to get access to a bottle of drinking water. No matter where you live, people need clean water. Think about it. We need water for drinking, cooking, bathing, handwashing, and growing food. We need water to survive. Copper is a contaminant that makes water unsafe to drink. We created a new material – ZIOS – that can take copper out of the water and use it in other industries. We tested ZIOS to see how much it reduced copper levels in water. We also tested how quickly it does that, and if it would work in acidic environments. Our data support that ZIOS is a good solution to cleaning up copper pollution.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #osmosis #heavymetal #pollution This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/why-do-some-clownfish-not-breed/ or watch at https://youtu.be/PVT58BQq2T4Summary: In this article, scientists investigate an evolutionary puzzle: why some clownfish choose to remain peacefully in their social groups, even though this means they may not breed.Abstract: Clownfish are one of the most well-known tropical fish. But even though we see them on our TV screens, what do you know about them in real life? They live in social groups in which individuals are ranked by size (size-based dominance hierarchy). The two biggest dominant individuals breed (have babies), but the smaller individuals do not. So why do some clownfish forgo their own reproduction? We decided to investigate the smaller clownfish. We looked at the risks and rewards of moving to a different home to breed or of contesting to breed in their current home. We found that it’s too risky for these clownfish to move to a new home. Furthermore, they aren’t likely to contest by getting bigger and potentially fight the dominants since they risk being evicted from the group. So, they choose to stay put and wait in the hope that they will one day be able to breed.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #evolution #clownfish #Nemo This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

You can read the article here: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-we-make-sure-to-catch-only-the-fish-we-want-to-eat/ or watch it here: https://youtu.be/zyO0BfUezyMSummary: Researchers explored whether illuminating gillnets could reduce the accidental bycatch of marine animals like sharks, rays, and squid. Abstract: How much do you think seafood is worth? Would it surprise you to know that the world’s seafood market was worth over $250 billion in 2021?! And it’s not just money. 3 billion people (over 1/3 of the world’s population) rely on seafood as their main source of protein. But the way that we fish is harming marine life. Bycatch, where animals like sharks and turtles are accidentally caught, is a big problem. We urgently need to find solutions!We wanted to find out whether we could use lights to make gillnet fishing better. Could using illuminated nets reduce the amount of bycatch? We found that illuminated gillnets reduced the amount of bycatch. Even better, fishers using the nets still caught lots of the fish that they were targeting and spent less time retrieving the nets. It’s a win-win! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-can-we-learn-about-aging-from-naked-mole-rats/ or watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN61Jc6QjOcSummary: Scientists conducted a DNA analysis of naked mole-rats to determine why they age differently than other mammals. Abstract: Have you ever heard of a naked mole-rat? This rodent is interesting to scientists. That's because their bodies don’t age like the bodies of humans or other mammals. They also don’t get age-related diseases, such as heart disease or cancer. That’s why they can live over 30 years! Scientists are trying to understand how aging works in naked mole-rats. This will help them better understand aging in humans. We conducted an analysis of naked mole-rat DNA. We wanted to find out if the DNA changed with age. We found that naked mole-rats do age on a DNA level like other mammals. We then analyzed the places where the DNA changed. This analysis helped us predict how these changes might affect the body. We also found that the naked mole-rat queens age more slowly than the rest of the naked mole-rats in a community.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #DNA #nakedmolerats #DNA #epigenetics #aging #eusocial This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/can-you-help-stop-online-racism/ or watch at https://youtu.be/9YHNtPpRBWYSummary: Researchers wanted to understand the impacts of online racism on the lives of Black students and how to encourage White students to take a stand against it. Abstract Imagine you read a comment on a school social media site that made a negative statement about your race. How would that make you feel? Angry? Frustrated? Now imagine that nobody stood up to the person that made the comment. Would that make you feel worse? You might think other people agree with them, or you may feel disconnected from the school. Unfortunately, this is how many Black students feel because of the online racism they face today. We wanted to find out more about the impacts of online racism. We also wanted to discover what makes students more likely to stand up to online racism, and if this helps to reduce its negative impact. Our study showed that online racism negatively affects how Black students feel. But when they see White students standing up to the post, they feel better. We found that White students are more likely to stand up to online racism if they understand how it impacts Black students, and if they know what to say.About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries.#science #article #teach #STEM #students #racism #socialmedia #intervention #ally This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at https://sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-ravens-thinking-skills-compare-with-apes/ or watch at https://youtu.be/QKUQe-pur9M Summary: Scientists wanted to know how ravens’ intelligence and cognitive skills compared to apes. Abstract Ravens behave in ways that suggest they are really smart. Most scientists studying animal intelligence focus on monkeys and apes like macaques and chimpanzees. One group of scientists made a set of puzzles that tested primates’ physical and social thinking skills. We wanted to know more about ravens’ intelligence, and we wanted to be able to compare ravens and great apes. So, we changed the set of puzzles to make sure they could be solved by a bird using a beak instead of fingers. We found that ravens did just as well as the apes on almost all of the puzzles! About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #neuro #brain #intelligence #cognitive #ravens This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com