The formation of potholes. Water is one of the few liquid compounds that expands when it freezes, instead of contracting. The power of expansion packs a destructive punch. It is responsible for causing extensive damage to streets and roads all over the world. While the freezing and thawing of water is one of the driving …
Bismuth crystals. They are majestic and beautiful looking structures, and since bismuth melts at 520°F, it can even be made at home — if you have stainless steel pot you don’t mind sacrificing for science. All you need for this is a stove, a stainless steel pot, and a stainless steel spatula. Take a look …
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, …
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 …
Every spring, when farmers plow their fields, they find large boulders that weren’t there the previous year. Does the boulder fairy deliver these to the farmer? Nope! The truth is, the rocks have always been there, hiding deep in the soil out of reach of the plow blade. Thanks to the process of frost heaving, …
You’ve likely already heard about our planet’s oceans warming up, but what about the lakes? Well, those are heating up as well, according to UPI. A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters has found that the world’s lakes are increasing in temperature by an average rate of 0.61 degrees Fahrenheit each decade. This outpaces the ocean …