When the platypus was first discovered by Europeans in the 1800s, it was well-known by Australian Aborigines-but no one knew how to classify it. It lived in the water and laid eggs like a reptile, had a bill like a bird, and was furry and warm-blooded like a mammal. Scientists had to come up with a way to solve this and many other mysteries of nature. Alaskan Polar bears sleeping in hidden underground dens caused problems for researchers wanting to drill for oil without disturbing the bears. Find out how scientists used infrared imaging to see the caves beneath the snow. One type of parrot from southern Peru munches on dirt from a riverbank each morning. Learn how these birds (and some people) use dirt as part of their diet. And also learn how a special kind of bird in Africa actually leads villagers to one of the town's main food sources, honey. This collection of articles by Jack Myers, long-time chief science editor for Highlights for Children magazine, answers some of the most interesting questions science has explored.
Have you ever wondered what makes popcorn pop? One second a kernel is sitting there, tiny and hard as a rock. Next thing you know, it bursts into a fluffy and delicious snack. If you're curious about this or any of the other mysteries surrounding us every day, then What Makes Popcorn Pop? is the book for you. For example, if salt isn't hot, then how come we use it to melt ice in the winter? Where exactly does wind come from, and how come we can't see it? Why is the sky blue? And while we're on the subject, why are lakes and oceans blue-is it because they reflect the sky? The answers to these questions and dozens more are explained in this fun book from Jack Myers, longtime science editor of Highlights for Children/ magazine. John McDonough's warm and enthusiastic narration captures the limitless joy and wonder of the world around us.
Few activities grip our attention more than animal watching. Dolphins and seals bring us much joy, and sharks and alligators hold us in awe. But animals can also prompt a variety of fascinating questions. -Why do dolphins sometimes surf? -How well can birds of prey actually see? -Why do giant pandas eat bamboo fast food? -Why are cavities essential to one reptile's survival? -What effect can a slight temperature change have on alligator hatchlings? -How can some seals stay underwater so long and dive so deeply without harm? Jack Myers-acclaimed molecular biologist and science editor of Highlights for Children from 1956 to 2006-had a knack for simplifying science and making it interesting to children. For this book, he handpicked 12 captivating articles that explore puzzling animal mysteries from "How Cats Purr" to "What Happened to the Mammoths?"
