Another fascinating example of computational science, The Cosmic Dawn Project - how the universe evolved after Big Bang

 An amazing animation coming from a supercomputer simulation of the evolution of the universe following the Big Bang has been published. This movie shows how it took tens of millions of years for the first gas atoms and molecules (almost entirely hydrogen) to begin to come together under gravity to form the first stars. What this new simulation does for the first time is include the interaction between radiation from the Big Bang and the first stars and matter (gas clouds). Filaments of gas formed in a web-like pattern, which are the white strands that develop in the movie. It is along these massive strands where more stars and eventually the first galaxies formed. We see web-like patterns of matter forming a superstructure to the universe to this day! Very cool! This is part of the Cosmic Dawn Project, which attempts to understand the birth and evolution of the universe.

Cracking/Fragmentation of glass - wide range of experimentation with this!

 A good example of original research that can be done in the area of fragmentation/cracking of material, such as glass slides, can be found here. Interesting variations can be done on this in numerous ways. FOr instance, looking at what cracks when there's more than 2 layers of slides could be done. Having the landing object land on different locations of the slide can be done. Hitting on an edge rather than the flat face of the slide could be done. Different sized and shaped slides could be used (circular rather than rectangular, for instance - what happens as boundary conditions are changed? Check out the paper and see if this type of research interests you! It is good experience to have in effectively 'counting' experiments, where one does as many cracked examples as possible, and then categorizes each one by a type or class of cracking - basically one looks to 'measure' the probabilities for each type of cracking pattern to form. Or you can try other materials in a similar manner. 

Get some other ideas for these types of experiments with this article. 

Electron Spin - A good story of how theoretical science & research (physics) evolves

 If you've had high school chemistry, likely you've been introduced to the 4 quantum numbers necessary to understand the structure of the periodic table of elements. One of those four numbers is the "spin" of the electron. Spin has traditionally been thought of in a literal sense, as if every electron spins around some axis like a top. But it is not quite that simple. 

If you are interested in theoretical work, a good Scientific American historical article about electronic spin shows how this work is often done, where a lot of what ifs are asked and explored to try and make sense out of a concept or experimental result or physical observation. It often takes years with many brilliant people thinking about a particular phenomenon, before consensus arises among theorists, and hopefully from that process comes predictions that can be tested experimentally. Already something like spin is showing promise as a contender for quantum computing, and as the article discusses, our universe would not be our universe without electronic spin!

Math Modeling contest - a good way to build student teamwork and analytical-problem solving skills

 Math modeling for high school students is a nice pathway to build up analysis and problem solving skills. For instance, the COMAP High School Math Modeling Competition allows small teams of students two weeks to try and develop a viable, reasonable solution to an open-ended, complex, real-world problem. This is unlike typical math problem solving in school, and allows students to break free with a wonderful challenge that requires their creativity and skills in numerous STEM areas. They also have the experience of doing some technical writing. So many of the skills students can develop and grow with these experiences only enhance and help with science research. Encourage students to try this. Another opportunity is the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge. 

Research into climate change and Greenland ice sheet melting - significant ocean rise basically inevitable

  A new study of Greenland's rapidly melting ice sheets concludes, using a conservative model, that oceans will rise at least 10 inches over the coming years/decades. While no timeline was given, this melting will occur regardless of what humans do to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The reason is that the melting cycle has already been put into motion, and the combination of warming ocean temps, water from melted ice (that then melts more ice...sort of like pouring liquid water on ice cubes in a sink will melt the ice), and the fact that warming water expands in volume, means this rise is inevitable. Also, using sophisticated radar techniques, dozens of lakes below the surface ice have been discovered - this means there is melting happening underneath the ice that we had not observed before. Often some computer models were underestimating the rate of melting, and as further research is done more mechanisms for melting are being discovered to help us understand why the rates are quickening.

What's significant about Greenland's ice sheets is that they are land-based. They are not icebergs already in the water. If an iceberg melts, there won't be any rise. However, run-off water from land is new water in the ocean, and makes sea levels rise. 

Like Thanos in The Avengers, the conclusion of this study is significant rise is inevitable.

STARFORGE Astrophysical Simulations

 Friends with the CIERA Group at Northwestern University have been involved with the creation and running of STARFORGE simulation software, which provides the most detailed and accurate star formation simulations ever made and seen. You can check some out here, and learn more about what this simulation platform is. Below is NOT a photo from the Webb telescope, but rather a snapshot from a simulation!

'Quantum to Cosmos' powers of 10 resource

 An excellent Powers of 10 resource, which allows you to scan from the smallest (quantum realm) to the largest (cosmological) size scales is the Quantum to Cosmos site. Very useful and easy to use, and we in STEM can learn a lot from this!!

TED Talk: New Mindset for how we think about students, inspired by Quantum Mechanics!

  I wanted to share my TED Talk, just out, about the Quantum Revolution in Education. In order to break educators everywhere from the traditional mindset that all students will more or less get the same experience and learning from any given lesson teachers provide, we need a more realistic mindset that drives home the fact students are unique, with their own emotional and intellectual states! 

They DO NOT get the same experience from any lesson we do! We must then ACT and INTERACT with students in different ways if we really mean what we say with "No Child Left Behind." 

This mindset is inspired by quantum mechanics, of all things, so check it out. 

Weather trends over the last century - CODAP

 I came across a platform for looking at NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) data dating back to the 1890s, developed for students at the Concord Consortium. Their CODAP platform is able to allow you to analyze weather data in a variety of ways, so check it out if you have an interest in what the trends are, using weather stations around the world. 

Agent-based programming and research: Netlogo

 Northwestern University researchers created a programming platform called Netlogo some years ago, and it's likely a million students, graduate students and even professors have used this to learn how to program, run its hundreds of prewritten simulations in just about every STEM field for assignments, or used it for actual, high-level research that is agent-based. 

By agents, we mean individual objects or even organisms. Netlogo is designed to, as easily as can be done, develop programs and simulations where individual entities interact with each other by some set of rules or mathematical law. You can do orbits, for example, since this is just individual objects interacting through Newton's law of gravity. You can do growth of bacteria, since those are individual organisms that follow some statistical rule for reproduction. You can simulate forest fires since each tree is an individual organism (an agent), and the spread of fire follows a relatively simple rule (if a neighboring tree catches fire, those trees next to it will catch on fire). 

It is worthwhile to check this out. You can download it, or run it on the Web, so even ChromeBooks can use Netlogo. There is a library with hundreds of examples, and you are free to modify the code for any of them to learn the language and create your own versions of the original simulation! 

Have a good, fun summer by doing some research, at home if you wish!!

 The purpose of this site is to provide numerous ideas for real, original science research opportunities that do NOT require expensive equipment or professional labs - do these in a typical high school science lab or at home! Hundreds of ideas exist, just look through the pages to the right, and get ideas that you can take as is, or be creative and expand on them in any way you wish. The summer is a great time for any curious teen out there to give it a try! Have fun with following your curiosities, and discovering answers to unsolved questions! 

An inspiring scientist - Templeton Prize & Nobel Prize winner, Frank Wilczek

 The Templeton Prize is given to inspirational people, in any field, who has helped humanity with big, fundamental questions and has inspired generations to improve the human condition. This year's winner is Frank Wilczek, a Nobel Prize winning physicist who thinks deeply about 'what it all means.' Get inspired in a few minutes of watching this announcement: 

NASA's Basics of Space Flight

  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, is the nerve center for all space missions throughout the solar system. If you are interested in astronomy, aerospace or aeronautical engineering, space mechanics and dynamics, or just think it's a cool topic, their site for the basics of space flight is good and understandable to a high school student. Check it out! 

EARTH DAY - If only we could get everyone on the planet to watch this classic TED talk...

  If you can watch this video and still deny something weird is not going on with our planet, then I will not be able to understand what other evidence is needed (unless one has other agendas they're after, and the evidence is inconvenient). A wonderful classic TED talk by James Balog, showing what is happening to the world's glaciers and ice sheets through time-lapse photography. Check it out. It is pretty convincing. Happy Earth Day, and let's never stop trying to make change for the health of our planet and future generations...

What is Quantum Science & Why Should we Care in K-12 Education?

 I was honored to be asked to be on this panel and state webinar to discuss the importance of including more quantum science (QS) into K-12 education, especially in HS, if for any other reason to increase the exposure of students to QS. Keep in mind that the quantum revolution began 120 years ago!! This is NOT new material, and there is a lot we can do to improve awareness and some basic level of knowledge to young students so they have opportunities to participate and work in countless fields and industries that rely on QS. This is projected to be a trillion $ sector of the global economy in the near future, and we are already short on the workforce. 

The webinar was recorded on World Quantum Day, April 14, and run by the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology - thank you for the invitation! Here's a quick quantum introduction! 

Earth Day 2022 is April 22

 Earth Day is on Friday, April 22. Consider the U.N. SDGs again - are there little things you can do this week, and then perhaps every week, to help? Reducing time in the shower. Recycling. Turning lights and other electrical devices/appliances off. Composting food waste. Buying food you need, and reducing food waste and excess. Put some plants in the ground. Pick up litter in the neighborhood. Donate to and/or volunteer at a favorite organization doing good work. Post these types of actions on your social media platforms, encourage others to do the same (remember the multiplier effect on impact!). Be kind, compassionate and empathetic to others, while being grateful and respectful for what we have in our lives compared to most on the planet. 

Thanks for considering!! This is the only home we have, let's respect it and take care of it, always. 

Congratulations to 2022 Regeneron STS Finalists and Winners!

 If interested in seeing what the Top 40 Finalists in the Science Talent Search did for the 2022 competition, check it out! These are some of the best and most promising young scientists in the country. 

Interesting Fluids studies - droplets on windshields

 One of the Fluid Dynamics options listed in CABS has to do with studying drops of water (or other liquids) on windshields of cars, or at least simulating this in a lab. Fluids offer a nearly endless range of possibilities of phenomena and situations to study, and in many cases to do so fairly easily, at least for high school level research. This type of work can be done in a school lab or even at home, perhaps in one's basement! 

To hopefully convince you that this can provide original work, a formal study on droplets on windshields was just published in a professional peer-reviewed journal. And when one thinks about variations on a theme, many more possible studies develop from the original (good research typically creates more questions than answers, and keeps that research stream alive for many years). Keep observing, keep questioning, and keep doing interesting science! 

The Fantastic Fungi! Endless possibilities to research and study

 On Netflix, I came across the documentary 'Fantastic Fungi.' The most prevalent form of life on earth is truly amazing, and essential for the natural cycles of life whenever any type of organism dies and needs to be broken down so new life can replace it.  

Research into anything related to mushrooms and other fungi is possible in simple experiments and setups, without a need for huge expenses. Studies are, of course, conducive to field work in literally any environment and ecosystem you live near, from urban to suburban to forest to field to anything else you can think of, so field work is a nice option. Fungi help break down anything that is naturally built from hydrocarbons, and the 'root' networks literally everywhere in the world, which is called mycelium for mushrooms, form the largest living networks on the planet. The mycelium, which consist of trillions of webs and interconnections in just a cubic meter of soil in a forest, is a neural network similar in structure to our brain's network of neurons. Trees use mycelium as part of their underground communications networks (yes, trees and plants 'talk' to each other through their root systems!). There are over one-million species of fungi, so do experiments that explore the growth and uses/applications of fungi/mushrooms! This can also lead to finding the most efficient and productive ways of growing edible mushrooms as food sources in the home, for very little cost, that low income households and food deserts can use. There are all sorts of ideas for this amazing kingdom, so be creative and find an original piece of this to study!  

Engineering Open House at the U. of Illinois coming up April 8-9

 For those with access to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

UIUC has one of the elite engineering colleges in the world, with 39 Top-10 ranked degree programs for undergraduate and graduate levels. I don't think any other school can say this. Anyhow, they put on a pretty good show each year with their Engineering Open House. This year it is on April 8-9, 2022, and will go back to in-person. 

If you want to check out the engineering programs, that would be the weekend to see so much and talk to people from literally every department within the engineering college. It's about a 2.5 hour drive to UIUC, so check it out if you have a chance!! The photo below is of the Bardeen Quad on Engineering Campus (a small portion of the engineering campus). John Bardeen is the professor I've mentioned who is the only person to win 2 Nobels in Physics, for the transistor and theory of superconductivity. 

Keep in mind if you are in other parts of the country, open houses at nearby universities and colleges can be wonderful for students to see what's out there in STEM, make possible connections with professors and college students, and getting research ideas. 

Regeneron Science Talent Search National Semifinalists

 You can check out the titles of all 300 national semifinalist projects in the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS). Get ideas from the top research projects in the country. Keep in mind that nearly all of them will have been done in professional labs with professors and professional researchers as their mentors. While that is all wonderful, and these students did remarkable work and learned SO much, we realize very few students around the country have those connections and are near the professional labs to be able to do these types of projects - the vast majority of schools do NOT have these opportunities, and do not have in-house research programs, and likely have no school history to fall back on for science research. 

It is for these reasons and these students with few options for such advanced research that CABS exists! We can still do original research in our schools and homes, with little equipment or materials, and we can offer such opportunities to any student, anywhere, and they have the chance to make discoveries! This is cool to think about, and even cooler to do! 

Our World in Data - Fantastic site

 Looking for data and trends in countless areas of life? The Our World in Data site, run through the University of Oxford, is amazing! It has thousands of interactive graphs on everything from world hunger to electricity accessibility to education to war to agriculture...

It is also a site used in teaching for the world's best universities and sponsored by the top scientific and media-based organizations on the planet. Use it when writing papers for school or doing your own research. 

It is difficult to solve the world's big problems if one does not know the extent of the problems, and this site helps address that issue! 

Get beyond the politics of big problems, and go after the actual data to help figure it out!