Category: student post

Lines Blurred: Archaeopteryx Knocked From Perch of “First Bird”

December 14, 2011 at 3:57 am

Since its discovery in Germany in 1861, Archaeopteryx has been heralded as the “missing link” between birds and dinosaurs: the first bird. This conclusion was drawn because of the fossil’s bird-like features such as its feathers, wishbone, and three-fingered hands. However, recently, as more fossils are found with these same bird-like structures, Archaeopteryx’s position of […]

By Sam Charny | Comments Off on Lines Blurred: Archaeopteryx Knocked From Perch of “First Bird”

The Wandering Albatross

December 13, 2011 at 12:31 am

The wandering albatross is known for it’s ability to travel for many days over the open ocean. It can effortlessly glide for miles without flapping, and even drink salt water. The secret to their amazing flying abilities lies in their mastery of air currents. The wandering albatross uses both dynamic soaring and the principle of […]

By szabo | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

The Science of Smoke Rings

December 13, 2011 at 12:08 am

Though smoking may not be the best thing to your health, smokers have come up rather creative ways to exhale their smoke. For decades, smokers have been forming smoke rings as crowd pleasers or for own personal entertainment. Smokers, though capable of blowing these captivating rings, may not know the reason these rings form. It […]

By Thomas Your | Tagged | Comments (1)

The Saker Falcon

December 12, 2011 at 9:29 pm

The Saker Falcon is a very big falcon, one of the biggest with a wingspan of 105-129 cm and a length of 47-55cm. It is almost as large as the Gyrfalcon, and is a bird of prey which breeds from eastern Europe eastwards across Asia to Manchuria. There are several sub-species of Saker falcons; the steain […]

By Saud Al Jawder | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a…Mobula Ray?

December 12, 2011 at 7:26 pm

When it comes to the world of the great blue sea, people generally don’t tend to think of things flying through the air.  Sure, sometimes someone will bring up flying fish.  Penguins also may come to mind, but they are just birds who can’t fly.  Out there though there are much, much weirder members of […]

By cgibson2 | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)