Humans love beautiful things. There is just something about the concept of beauty that draws our eyes, captures our minds and hearts. The public perception of sciences doesn’t usually include the beauty we scientists see in our work. This past month I was able to participate in two science fairs. The feedback that the public …
Chilly Alligators and the Process of Brumation
As reptiles, alligators are cold-blooded and need the heat of their surroundings for their body warmth. Fortunately, alligators are found in tropical and subtropical habitats so it is not uncommon for them to experience freezing temperatures. Weather patterns in recent years, however, have gone awry and occasionally, a cold snap hits a normally balmy region. …
Michigan’s State Rock is an Ancient Sea Creature
More than 350 million years ago, warm, shallow seas covered many parts of North America, including much of the Midwest. During this time period, known as the Devonian era, these shallow waters were teaming with salt water marine life. Fish, mussels, crustaceans, and micro-organisms flourished in the region. In addition to the other sea animals, …
Properties of Honey [Infographic]
Benefits of Long Term Project Based Learning
It was 1966, and an idealistic group of doctors thought there was a better way to both teach and learn medicine. These were the founding fathers of McMasters Medical School and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) . The goals of the McMaster’s programme were to focus on the individual rather than rote memorization and regurgitation of facts. …
The Pickerel Frog: Not Your Ordinary Amphibian
The Pickerel frog, Lithobates palustris, is unique among North American frogs. Common in the clear, cool ponds and streams of the northeastern and eastern United States and Canada, as well as the coastal swamps and marshes of the south, the Pickerel Frog is plentiful in the wild. In fact, International Union for Conservation of Nature …
An ADHD Secret to Reclaiming Your Time
Honey, You’ve Got Economic Importance
It’s not a surprise that the apiary field, and honey, has a pretty decent economic impact. After all, without bees to pollinate many foods, we’d be in terrible shape. That’s why when the bees started to decline, the CDC opened a dialogue between a variety of academic fields to get a full scope on what …
Problem Based Learning for Homeschooling
We here at Insanitek value the pleasure and passion behind gaining knowledge. We don’t think life should be about stuffing information into your head for a test, while skipping over the purpose of the information. That’s why we made this apprenticeship firm. It’s also why we strive to tie every lesson into a project. The …
Why Was the Volcano Mount St. Helens So Deadly?
When Mount St. Helens in the cascade mountain range in Washington State erupted on May 18, 1980, the landscape of the mountain was forever changed. The eruption blew off the top 1,000 feet of the volcanic mountain’s summit and sent ash and debris nearly 10,000 feet into the air. The volcano had been rumbling back …