The Amazing Human Heart!

The Human Heart is pretty amazing! It's the power house of our circulatory system. One muscle with four chambers that pumps about 1900 gallons of blood every single day!  That's pretty impressive considering that this vital organ only weighs about 10 ounces.  Don't let size fool you though, the heart's work goes a long way, literally!  The average adult human circulatory system can actually reach about 60,000 miles. That's enough to wrap around the Earth four times!! On top of all this, as if that were not impressive enough, the human heart will beat about 3 billion times in a full lifetime!  Pretty impressive! No wonder we all <3 the human heart!

The Amazing and Incredible Human Foot

Painter, inventor, scientist, and all around smart guy, Leonardo Da Vinci, once said: "The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art."
True that Leo!
Consider for a moment all the things the human foot does to make our lives more interesting.
Field goals, tap dancing, drum sets, ballet, marathons, soccer, skateboarding, driving, reaching for that top shelf in the kitchen, karate, and showing off mad dance skills at parties are all possible because of the human foot.  26 bones working together to accomplish some amazing achievements step by step!  Props to the human foot!

Question Your World - Women In Science

Now is a great time for science. New inventions, discoveries, and groundbreaking research are constantly improving the quality of our lives. Women scientists have contributed greatly to our understanding of the world. Marie Curie helped us understand the very nature of the atom and radioactivity. Grace Hopper helped unlock the power of computers. Sally Ride and Mae Jemison helped us to understand the cosmos. Jane Goodall’s research on primates helps us better understand ourselves. Their hard work and contributions continue to be a fantastic source of inspiration for many generations of female scientists to come. Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs.
Imagine what our world will be like when women fill a greater share of STEM jobs? The Science Museum of Virginia is a place for girls to dream about the possibilities of their future. Programs like Girls in Medicine and Girls in Science invite hundreds of future female scientists to dream about how they can help make the world a better place through STEM. Now is a great time for progress…and a wonderful opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists.

For more info on other females that have changed the world of science click here: Women in Science For even more info check out this page: Yesterday & Today's Women in Science

Question Your World - Some Hot Nascar Science

Have you ever thought about the numbers behind NASCAR?  We’re not talking about the number of your favorite driver; we’re talking about the amazing math and science behind these speedy racers.  For example those super powerful engines race around at incredible speeds. Some have even been known to go around 200 mph in a straightaway, thus producing a lot of engine heat.  Temperatures have been recorded at about 140 degrees INSIDE the car.  Compound that with the amazing about of heat from the friction of those wheels constantly rubbing against the track and we’re looking at some hot, hot, hot numbers!

So, 140 degrees inside the car and the heat of the track itself, we’re looking at some sweaty drivers!  In fact, some NASCAR drivers have been known to lose anywhere from 5 – 10 lbs simply from perspiration!

Those are some hot-hot rods! 

Want more info on the science behind racing? Click here! : http://www.buildingspeed.org/

Need even MORE info on the science of these fast machines?... MORE Nascar Science

QUESTION YOUR WORLD - WATER YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Water we talking about?!?!? We're talking about two hydrogen atoms forged together with one oxygen atom. The merging of these two elements has been monumental to life as we know it here on Earth! Every person you know and most every single living thing on this planet needs water. For us humans, we need about 8-12 glasses of delicious fresh water. So, how much fresh water is there on this planet anyway? Well, most of the Earth is covered in water. A beautiful blue liquid carpet coats nearly 70% of the Earth's surface. Despite its abundance, we can't actually use all of that. We humans need fresh water (not salt water that seems to own the monopoly on our oceans). It's pretty amazing to consider that only 2.5% of all the water on our entire planet is useable for drinking. Oh but there's more! That 2.5% fresh water statistic is accurate, but not very useful for us considering that it factors in all the water that's frozen in ice, running below our feet, in the atmosphere, plants, and animals. So, what even smaller amount is useable by us? A little less than 0.4% of the water on this planet is available for all of us to use for drinking! That's right, the seven billion plus global population has to share a little less than 0.4% of the water on this planet,thus making it one of our most precious resources. So, I guess it’s true when we're told to turn off the tap when we're not using it, because that water is a very special part of this Earth and our lives and we certainly should not be wasting it.

Aside from keeping humans hydrated, water serves a few other important tasks. We need fresh water to grow all of our delicious foods! Everything from your morning coffee to your late night ice cream snack requires the use of this awesome substance, water! Also, don't forget, we're not alone...your pets, those birds you hear when you go outside, the animals you see on TV, and most any other critter needs the same thing that keeps us going, yep...you guessed it, water!

Some more info on this amazing and rare resource: water facts
Also, water's good for you!!: water for the body

QUESTION YOUR WORLD - the amazing BRAIN!!

How many different brains were involved in making it possible for you to read this blog entry? Whew! That's a tall order to even look into!

Think about all the amazing things the human brain has done, yet it's a pretty small organ. The brain takes up about 2% of your body mass, that's it! Despite its small size it sure does carry out a lot of vital functions that keep you going — such as: breathing, eating, walking, thinking, sleeping, sitting, showering, brushing your teeth, and so on...

The brain also uses up about 20% of the oxygen we take in!
On average a human brain is about 77% water!
The brain also works on about 20 watts of power (the same as a laptop or the bulb in your fridge)!
Need more brains? Here's more info on the brain!!
STILL need more brains?? ...even more info on your brain!!!

So since these things are so important, make sure you keep your brain safe!! Helmets are our friends!!

Question Your World - Question Your Coffee

Did you have any coffee today? A lot of people did. The United States moves about 400 million cups of coffee every day! Everything from intricate gourmet coffee to the basic cup of plain coffee. Even the basic cup of coffee is still very complex, holding over 1500 chemicals! The most familiar is caffeine, of course. It takes caffeine about 30 minutes to be fully absorbed by our bodies. Once in the bloodstream, it actually does enhance thought process and the body's capacity for physical activity.

Also, coffee contains antioxidants. Actually, Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than any other food or beverage!

Several studies have suggested that coffee may even reduce the risk of various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's!

For more coffee info check out this link: COFFEE also, check out some coffee-health-facts here, MORE COFFEE!!!

Question Your World - Do we really need that much water?

Simple answer, yes!

The human body does some pretty exceptional work, but in order for it to function at optimal capacity it needs to be properly hydrated. Water is essential for all life and it's no wonder that our bodies need it for both physical and mental functions.



Water helps regulate your temperature, lubricates joints and muscles, and digestion! But did you know that the amount of water you drink has a direct impact on your brain?!?!

A properly hydrated body will yield a brain that has a stronger memory capacity, a level temperament, and will increase motivation! A lack of water will cause the brain to get slightly hydrated and reduce the oxygen flow to the cerebral center. Some scientists have also hypothesized that a dehydrated body will also have some temporarily shrunk neurons and receptors!!

So, remember to get in a good amount of water everyday, its good for you!

Here's some more info on relationship of water and your body!
Water!
also...
So, how much water do you need??

QUESTION YOUR WORLD - Leap Day Science!

What's going on in February this year? Why is the month of March one whole day further back than I'm used to??

Well, for the answer to that we'll have to turn to our old friend, Math!

The Earth's orbit around the sun is 365 days, kinda. Though we count it as 365 in reality each year yields a little extra time. The actual time it takes the Earth to orbit the sun is 365.25 days a year (yielding a surplus quarter of a day at the end of the year). So, the Gregorian calendar, the one we use, came up with a very simple but effective solution...everytime we hit the 4th quarter day (every 4 years) we add a 'Leap Day'! 4 quarter days = 1 full day, right?

There's some other pretty amazing math that goes into Leap Day too!

For example:
Years that are divisible by 100 can NOT be leap years, however years divisible by 400 CAN be leap years...So, 2100, 2200, 2300 will not be leap years, however 2400 and 2800 will be leap years!

Also, in the span of 2 millennia we will only have a total of 485 leap years! Which makes this year pretty special.
So, be sure to enjoy the extra day...after all, its the hoppiest day of the year!

For more leap day info check this out Leap Day Wiki page
Anything ever happen on a Leap Day? Leap Day history
Are you born on a leap day? Well, you're in good company! Leap Day B-Days!

QUESTION YOUR WORLD - How long is a light year?

So, how long is a light year...short answer: Long!!! long answer: about 5.9 trillion miles!!! That's how quickly light can traverse across space. So if you wanted to walk the distance of a light year you would need to be marching on your feet for about 168 million years!! For you to arrive at this moment, you would have had to start walking from the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth! Whew...better pack a few lunches for the calories you would have been using up! The speed at which light travels is still the fastest known speed in our universe.

On a related note, there sure are a lot of movies that make reference to this amazingly fast speed. Warp speed, Hyperspace, and Ludicrous speed are all references to the fastest known speed that we humans have been able to identify!

Check out more info on light year and big stellar distances here: Distance!


Also, Cool Cosmos has some pretty cool info about some of these huge distances and times!

Question Your World - Valentine's Day special! Mate for life!

So, we sure do celebrate loyalty, companionship, and romance on Valentine's Day. We're not the only species that shares similar sentiments. Did you know some animals also mate for life? Wolves and Termites are just two of the many animals that mate for life! Its good to know that there are strong bonds of loyalty from nuclear family mammals to insects that pine for one another.

Want more examples of animals that keep that one special main squeeze? Check this out! :Mate for life list!

QUESTION YOUR WORLD - COFFEE!!!!!

Did you have any coffee today? A lot of people did. The United States moves about 400 million cups of coffee every day! Everything from intricate gourmet coffee to the basic cup of plain coffee. Even the basic cup of coffee is still very complex, holding over 1500 chemicals! The most familiar is caffeine, of course. It takes caffeine about 30 minutes to be fully absorbed by our body. Once in the bloodstream, it actually does enhance thought process and the body's capacity for physical activity.

Also, coffee contains antioxidants. Actually, Americans get more antioxidants from cofee than any other food or beverage!

Several studies have suggested that coffee may even reduce the risk of various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's!

For more coffee info check out this link: COFFEE also, check out some coffee-health-facts here, MORE COFfEE!!!

Question Your World - How often does it thunder??

Thunder!! by ScienceMuseumofVA

How often does thunder happen on Earth?

A LOT!! 2,000 times per minute!! Also impressive is the amount of lightning that strikes the Earth every minute. 6,000 lightning strikes per minute! These bright flashes and loud rumbles of thunder are scary to some, but rain fall is a vital part of what makes Earth such a wonderful place for us to live on.

Here's an idea. Instead of being startled by the next thunder rumble you hear, you can use it to do a mini weather forecast.
Once you see lightning, just count the amount of seconds before you hear thunder. Then divide that number by 5.

Example:
(seconds between the lightning flash and hearing thunder) 10/ 5 = 2
The storm is 2 miles away from you!
That's enough time to grab an umbrella!

Thunder is pretty impressive stuff.

Question Your World - Breathing

Question Your World - Breathing by ScienceMuseumofVA

Our bodies are pretty amazing and complex! A lot of the involuntary actions that we do every single second keep us alive and healthy. Breathing, for example, is one of the most basic functions of the human body. So, how often does a person do this? Well, on average about 15 times a minute! This varies based on activity level, but on average we are clocking in at around 15 breaths per minute. Check it out, do an experiment, try to count how many times you inhale/exhale in a minute. Try it while laying down, sitting up, walking, maybe even running.

Question Your World - Megacities!! Happy New Year!!

Question Your World - Megacities! by ScienceMuseumofVA



In 1950 there was only one city on the planet that held 10 million (plus) people. Now there are several more. As the population of our planet grows, as do the amount of megacities. Tokyo is high a top the list with almost 34 MILLION people!! Talk about a MEGA-city! These cities also happen to be some of the most watched places for New Years fun! So, this year when you're watching the ball drop, be sure to consider the amazing amount of people that are in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Delhi, and various other megacities all around the world! Happy New Year everyone!!

Question Your World - Stellar Headlines!

A lot of space related news has happened in the last month. Here are some of the highlights of what's happening out there...way out there.

Huge news from NASA. The MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) launched in late November and is expected to arrive on the Martian surface in August of 2012. This one ton robot will rove the planet looking for soil samples that show if Mars was or was not ever capable of holding life. This will be a huge step forward in researching the types of conditions in the universe that could or could not hold life! For more info on the MSL please go to http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/



In other news, the Voyager 1 satellite has left the solar system!!! That's right, this officially is the very first human made object to leave the solar system. This probe is about 10 BILLION miles away from Earth right now and is, amazingly, still communicating with us. Voyager 1 was launched in 1977...pretty far out!

Lastly, big big big news from 600 light years away. Kepler 22b has been confirmed as an "Earth-like" planet. This newly discovered planet is 600 light years away, about 2.5 times larger than Earth, and orbits a star very similar to our own sun. Scientists think that the average temprature on Kepler 22b is about 70 degrees, how lovely. More on this discovery can be found right here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler-22b





Happy Holidays and we'll catch up with more Stellar Headlines next month!

Question Your World - Bad Predictions...about computers

Question Your World - Bad Predictions by ScienceMuseumofVA

So, things have changed a lot since 1943. Back then the computer industry was tiny compared to the giant booming, seemingly endless industry that it is these days. Thomas Watson has been quoted (or misquoted depending on who you ask) about how the world market could hold maybe 5 computers. Five computers?? Really?? Well, currently there are nearly 1 billion personal computers on the planet right now! If these trends continue we should hit the 2 billion mark in the year 2015. Wow! Motherload of motherboards! Wait, it gets better. This calculation is only based on personal computers. Once you factor in the machines used by various companies (big and small) and the millions used by governments around the world, that number becomes significantly larger!

Regardless, that quote sure was a sign of the times. Those words could never be said today.
For more information on Thomas Watson check out his wiki page!

Question Your World - What's NASA ever done for me?

20111130 NASAinventions by ScienceMuseumofVA

Other than blasting people into space and taking photos of far off distant worlds, NASA has contributed a lot to our day-to-day lives also. Check out this page for more info on what NASA's done to help you sleep, clean, and live a little easier. NASA Inventions!

Thank you NASA!

Question Your World: Thanksgiving Priceless Science

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

One of the most common misconceptions about this tasty holiday is based around some simple chemistry. The amino acid in question is Tryptophan! The most popular source of this culinary chemical on your dinner table is turkey, however there is a little myth that we need to clear up. Though turkey does contain tryptophan, you should know that turkey is actually not the most tryptophan filled food. In fact its not even close. There are several other foods that contain way more of this chemical than your Thanksgiving centerpiece.

For example eggs, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, milk, and sesame seeds all have way more tryptophan than the turkey on your plate! If you want to see a chart of tryptophan break down, follow this handy dandy Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan

So, why do we get tired if its not this chemical agent? Well, the answer is actually the same as why you get tired after running a few miles, work. Your body is just working overtime to digest the vast amounts of food you are eating on Thanksgiving. So, this year when the post-dinner zzz’s find you, just know that your body is tired from digesting the mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, green beans, pumpkin pie, and…oh yeah…the turkey.

Have a tryped out Thanksgiving everyone!

QUESTION YOUR WORLD: So, exactly, how big is a BILLION?

Billion by ScienceMuseumofVA


How big is a billion?

Well, lets count:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, errr...999,999,998...999,999,999..1,000,000,000!! Whew!! Took a bit longer than we thought. A billion is a huge number!! If you were to count from one to a billion you would need nearly 96 years! Keep in mind this is straight counting, no food, bathroom breaks, tv shows, nothing! When news headlines reference billions of dollars or when you hear about the billions of stars in our galaxy, it can be hard to grasp the enormity of the data, so lets put some perspective on this giant number.
For instance:
A billion pennies is 10 million dollars.
A billion miles could get from Earth to well beyond Saturn
Or a billion miles is about 41,000 trips around the Earth.
And a billion seconds is 31 years, 8 months, and 12 days...That’s enough time for you to do about a billion things!

**side note**...check out this cool link on the time it would take to collect a billion dollars, http://www.classroomtools.com/billion.htm. Yikes!





Also, on April 9, 2012 Facebook bought Instagram for $1 Billion dollars...that's a lot of money!!