The news was buzzing from all ends of the STEM spectrum last month, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite highlights.
Animal Kingdom
The National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada spent some time crowd sourcing science last month during the Great Backyard Bird Count. This event, which takes place for a few days every February, allows casual bird enthusiasts to participate in scientific data collection by helping track wild bird populations. This year’s event yielded interesting information about snowy owls, robins, and doves, among others. Read article.
Extreme Weather
There’s no doubt that the past few months have yielded some strange weather. From droughts in the west to snow and cold in the east, weather in the U.S. continues to disrupt the lives of many. Read article.
Medical Innovations
February marked the 50th anniversary of American Heart Month. While the risk of heart issues is often attributed to adults, students from California to Alabama got in on the celebratory action by jumping rope for heart health. And in case you missed our heart-themed scavenger hunt, there’s still time to check it out! To the Scavenger Hunt!
Robotics
One person’s pest is another person’s inspiration. Harvard engineers have drawn inspiration from termites in order to develop a network of self-organizing robots. These little critters are self-regulating and cooperate by modifying their environment. Read article.
Space
Who says STEM has no sense of romance? Valentine’s Day sweethearts were treated to a full moon—called a “snow moon” due to its appearance in February. But while couples on earth could only dance in the moonlight, a host of spacecraft actually celebrated the romantic holiday by dancing with the moon. Read article.
Under the Sea
Pop quiz: Who said that her view of the deep was like watching the Discovery Channel in real time? Deep-sea researcher and Cool Jobs alumna Shannon Johnson, of course. In February we caught up with Shannon to hear all about her recent tour of the South Pacific. Read article.
Video Games
Get ready to dramatically bolster your supply of coasters. A February article from CNN Money reported that disc-based video games may be a dying breed as smartphone and tablet games take over the video game market. Read article.
Wind Energy
Wondering how renewable energy is faring in the overall market? A recent report from the Global Wind Energy Council recaps the findings from the previous year. Read article.
So there, various STEM subject lovers. We’ve got you covered!
