Jr High Science

That's right! NASA wants to build an elevator into space! While there are many scientific as well as political questions to address they have held competitions for the past four years to see if anyone could develop a model solar powered space elevator. They finally have a winner! A Seattle based team completed the climb and won $900,000! For more info check out the story at the link below.

http://www.comcast.net/articles
ews-science/20091110/US.Space.Elevator/

That's right! Scientists have discovered a way to collect and use electricity that is naturally produced by a tree. The maple trees that they studied can only power very low voltage items (1.1 volts) but it might be enough to run an environmental sensor, or fire detector. That sounds amazing to me!

Read more:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32862305
s/technology_and_science-green_innovation/

The astronauts space walk is still planned for Thursday 9-3-09 even though there is a large piece of space junk that will be passing nearby. It is surprising that space is already so littered that astronauts have to take cover some times!

Read more:
http://www.comcast.net/articles
ews-science/20090901/US.Space.Shuttle/

More and more loggerhead turtles are being caught in fishing nets prompting some groups to push for endangered status for the animals. These large migratory sea turtles are in danger of population decreases if something isn't done soon, expecially since their largest nesting grounds (south-east coast of the US) are being depleted.

Read More:
http://www.comcast.net/articles
ews-science/20090903/US.Sea.Turtles.Extinction/

When an electrically charged block of plastic is struck with a nail lightning bolts tunnel through creating a template upon which artifical blood vessels could grow. The tunnels, which resemble capilaries, could be used to grow new arteries and veins for a person, or to help scientists grow organs in a laboratory setting. Cool!

Read more at MSNBC science news:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32509657
s/technology_and_science-science/