SJK Audio Edition

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Read this article at:  or watch at: https://youtu.be/ZABfFHDHUgwSummary: Scientists wanted to find out what types of microorganisms are in the wood of living trees. Abstract: When you think of microorganisms, what comes to mind? Sore throats, stuffy noses, and coughs? Some microorganisms can cause infections that make us sick. But many microorganisms help us stay healthy. All the microorganisms in a particular environment are part of its microbiome. There are microbiomes in the soil, the ocean, and even the human body! We wanted to explore the microbiomes found in the wood of living trees. We collected wood cores from 150 trees representing 16 species. Then we analyzed the DNA found in the wood. This told us which types of microorganisms lived there. We found that each tree species had its own unique microbiome. We also found that different parts of the wood had different microbiomes. Some of the microorganisms were types known to help plants and trees grow. Knowing more about tree microbiomes can help people maintain and conserve forests.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at:  or watch at: https://youtu.be/b6r5oEVg69USummary: Scientists tested a new drug delivery process using magnets to help make proteins in synthetic cells.Abstract: Many medicines are made from proteins. We are always looking for new and efficient ways to make these medicines. We also need safe ways to deliver them around the human body. Synthetic (lab-made) cells might hold the answer! Researchers have created proteins within synthetic cells. But we need to better control how we do this. We wanted to know if we could control protein creation in synthetic cells using magnets. We built tiny magnetic structures that can help make proteins. But this only happens in a magnetic field. We tested this process by adding instructions to make a fluorescent protein. We also tested the process in a synthetic cell. We were able to make fluorescent proteins when we applied a magnetic field to our solution. We found that it also worked in a synthetic cell. We were even able to make a protein that could form a hole in the membrane to transport materials out of the synthetic cell. We can use this information to help design safer and more efficient ways to deliver medicine.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at:  or watch at: https://youtu.be/b9OvkOCN21ASummary: Scientists found that past extinctions help us understand why species disappear but may not predict extinction in the future.Abstract: Our planet has millions of amazing species of plants and animals. But scientists now believe that Earth is having an extinction crisis caused by humans. Hundreds of species have gone extinct in the last few hundred years, and tens of thousands of species are currently at risk of extinction. We studied species that disappeared over the last 500 years. We learned that past extinctions may not be a good way to predict future extinctions. In the past 500 years, the majority of extinctions happened on islands. The primary cause of these extinctions was invasive species. But today the biggest threat is habitat loss. You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: or watch at: https://youtu.be/cbheEPeWzTkSummary: Scientists found evidence of droughts in ancient human history by looking at the layers in a stalagmite from Mexico. Abstract: Do you choose to do different activities on rainy days and sunny days? Much like we react to the weather day to day, humans also respond to the climate. The climate is the long-term pattern in weather. Changes in climate, such as long droughts, can affect how people live. It can even impact whole civilizations. We wanted to find out whether climate change affected the Classic Maya civilization. This civilization lived in Mesoamerica over a thousand years ago. We studied the layers of a stalagmite pillar from a cave. These layers showed evidence of long, severe droughts. Soon after, the Maya people abandoned their cities in the area. We think the droughts might have forced people to leave and caused their political systems to collapse.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: or watch at: https://youtu.be/dYpODn4Q8GoSummary: Fringe-lipped bats get better at identifying frogs and toads by their mating calls as they get older.Abstract: Can you think of a sound that tells you that you’re about to get your favourite food? Maybe a friend opens a bag of chips, or you hear corn popping. Listening helped you get a snack! Some animals are very good at listening, too. If you have a dog or a cat, they’ll probably appear when they hear you pick up their food bowl. Some bats also use sounds to find their favourite things to eat. But we didn’t know how much information they get from listening to their prey. We played sounds from different frogs and toads to see how fringe-lipped bats responded. We found that adult bats reacted more to species that were good to eat. In contrast, juvenile bats responded strongly to some poisonous species of toads. All the bats responded to acoustic signals related to size. Experience seems to help bats learn which sounds to tune into for a chance at a good meal. You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: or watch at: https://youtu.be/u64V_AHfE_sSummary: Researchers used two methods to determine the pressure experienced by rocks in the Grand Canyon to make a more detailed timeline for the area. Abstract: Did you know the Grand Canyon can help us figure out what happened on Earth long ago? As in, 1.7 billion years ago? As we go down into the Grand Canyon, we find older and older rocks. Some of the oldest rocks are in a section of the canyon called the Upper Granite Gorge. These blocks of metamorphic rock formed when older rocks experienced extreme heat and pressure. We wanted to figure out the pressure experienced by four of the blocks. We collected five samples and analyzed them. We used the minerals in the rocks to determine the pressure each block experienced. We learned that the blocks formed under different pressures. We also found out that the blocks that formed at higher temperatures experienced higher pressure than blocks that formed at lower temperatures. The difference in pressure made us realize the blocks formed at different depths. Then they moved when tectonic plates pushed together to form mountains.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at:  or watch at: https://youtu.be/KbvQUJSS298Summary: Scientists tested whether tiny radio-tag backpacks changed how hummingbirds spent their time flying, feeding, preening, and perching. Abstract: Scientists often use tiny tools to study wild animals. These tools can show where animals go and how they move. But if the tools aren't safe for the animals, then we aren't doing our job properly! We studied Black-throated Mango hummingbirds in Colombia. These birds are small, fast, and full of energy. We wanted to know if wearing a tiny radio backpack changed how they spent their time. Each bird had a tiny ID chip, like a name tag. We tested each bird in two ways. The first time, the bird wore the radio backpack. The second time, it did not. The clearest change in the birds’ behavior was preening. Birds with backpacks used their beaks to touch or pull at the straps more often. Birds with backpacks also flew a little less and ate a little more, but those results were not as consistent. No birds got caught in plants while wearing the backpack. Our study shows that scientists should test tracking tools with great care before using them in the wild.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at:  or watch at: https://youtu.be/kvbw3exNvf0Summary: Researchers examined the leg movements of shrimp while swimming and found that reducing drag is an important factor in their movement.Abstract: It is important for animals to move around easily. It helps them avoid predators or catch a meal. But the ways animals move depend on the environment they live in. A lot of animals that live in water beat their legs one after another. It is called metachronal swimming. And it is really efficient at propelling animals through the water. We wanted to investigate the other half of the story. Is metachronal swimming also good at reducing drag? We performed experiments on grass shrimp to look at metachronal swimming. We looked at leg flexibility, the patterns of leg movement, and how the water moved around the legs. Then we built a robotic model to measure water flow and force data at the same time. We found that leg flexibility reduced drag up to 75% compared to stiff legs. We also saw that there was less drag when legs grouped together. It caused fewer interactions with wakes from other legs. Hopefully, this information can help us build more efficient underwater vehicles in the future.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/can-living-in-a-multilingual-country-slow-down-aging/ or watch at: https://youtu.be/WQRs-r1iqRcSummary: Researchers wanted to find out if living in a multilingual country can help people stay mentally and physically active as they grow older. Abstract: Have you heard about brain training? That might bring to mind crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or brain teasers. Learning new languages is another powerful way to stimulate the brain. Activities that challenge the brain can help us stay healthy and sharp for longer. So, we wanted to see whether living in multilingual countries is associated with slower aging. We interviewed a large number of people about their cognition, health, and lifestyle. We estimated their age from their answers. Next, we compared their real age to this estimated age. With statistics, we found some interesting things. People who live in countries that speak more than one language tend to be more mentally and physically fit. For people living in monolingual countries, it’s the opposite. They are more likely to age faster. Also, living in a country with more spoken languages offers greater protection against age-related decline over time.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com