The Gooru Corner featured wind as an energy source earlier in this month and as fall approaches and there's more breezes passing through, we couldn't think of a better time to highlight all the things wind can do. The wind has many practical uses: flying a kite, going sailing, paragliding or just cooling off on a warm day. But did you know that wind can be harnessed as a renewable energy source as well? Check out this multimedia collection brought to you by Gooru Corner to learn about the benefits and consequences of wind power. What would you do with wind power?
Have you ever wanted to make your own satellite? Create something that's so intricate, high-tech and helpful? Well, The Gooru Corner is giving you that chance. With their interactive resource, you can try your hand at designing a communications satellite. You'll need to figure out how to launch it, power it and make it return signals to Earth. After you make all your choices, see how well your satellite works.
Today is Endangered Species Day! Defined, an endangered species is any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or significant portion of its range. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 400 animals listed as endangered and the list is growing.
There are hot spots around the world with high numbers of endangered species. These hot spots include Indonesia, India, China, Columbia and Mexico. Check out this interactive map to learn more about these hot spots and the endangered animals that live in them. In Indonesia it's the Sunda Clouded Leopard and in India it's the Asian Elephant. A Federal Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973. Learn more about it in this featured collection from Gooru Learning. Keep up with STEMconnector's Gooru Corner for more information on endangered species.
Yesterday was Earth Day's 43rd anniversary! The very first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. We're taking the entire week to honor the beautiful planet we live on and so is The Gooru Corner! The STEMConnector project blog will enable you to learn about the challenges our planet faces today, as well as basic steps that you can take to shrink your environmental footprint. The Gooru Corner will be bringing you these updates on Wednesday and Friday, so be sure to stay tuned! What did you do to celebrate Earth Day yesterday?! Project Scientist made bird feeders and put them in a local park in their community. National Geographic came out with 20 incredible shots of Earth from space to celebrate the day. Check the pictures out here. And the Huffington Post even put out a spoof on what celebrities are doing to observe the day. Take a look at what they put together if you're in need of a good chuckle. Let us know what you did to celebrate Earth Day yesterday and you'll be entered to win a free lab manual!
Happy birthday, Charles Darwin! Darwin's theory of evolution and influential book On the Origin of Species shaped the biology lessons that student all over the world study today. You were an innovator, a revolutionary and an intellectual of your time and for this, we give you a day! Don't know too much about Darwin? Well for starters, he developed the theory of evolution! Watch this short biography video on him to get a better idea.
If you want an even closer peek into Darwin's life, you're in luck. Like many people of his time, Darwin kept diaries and secret notebooks throughout his life that later helped historians and filmmakers piece together his story. Although he was worried that his theory of evolution would shock many in the Victorian society (including his wife), Darwin was driven to discover nature's laws. Take a glimpse at everything from scientific insights to personal struggles in some pieces of Darwin's diary. Now, if you really want to have some fun, try taking this Gooru Corner quiz on Darwin's theory.
