Written by Stephanie Kazmierzak-Esler | 11 April 2011
Posted in Science Live!

DNA Day at the Orlando Science Center is just a month away, so in honor of this amazing molecule I thought it would be neat to look over some genetics news.

This article is from last year, but the research continues. Neanderthals, or cavemen, have long been thought to be dull, slow and stupid, (thus the whole Geico thing about being so easy a caveman could do it). Ever since the reconstruction of the remains at La Chapelle aux Saints in 1911 by Marcellin Boule, the general public has had the idea that Neanderthals stood hunched-over, with their arms drooping down and that they moved slowly. In fact, this is a mistake. The remains from La Chapelle Aux Saints turn out to be those of an old man who had severe arthritis. Of course he would have walked slowly and been hunched over, but Boule thought this idea applied to all Neanderthals.

Much work had been done since then, but analyzing bones can only get you so far. That’s where this study comes in; a group of researchers from the Max Planck Institute are looking into DNA preserved in different specimens. What can we tell from this? For one, we can see how different Neanderthals really were from modern humans and we can get ideas about why you don’t see more cavemen around today.

If you think this is cool, imagine what it would be like to ask one of these researchers questions about their findings. On May 7, DNA Day, you can have that chance; Dr. Emily Hodges from the research team will be available via Skype for questions!

For more information, click here to view the full article.

Stephanie is a Science Interpreter at the Science Center and often is found in DinoDigs or Careers for Life. Paleontology, Anthropology and Anatomy are her passion and jumps at every opportunity to talk about it. Stop in and say Hello!

Written by J.J. Leissing | 12 December 2010
Posted in Science Live!

Think about a shallow tide pool that is subject to enormous changes in salinity, temperature, and water level. Now try to imagine the deepest, coldest, darkest part of the ocean, which is over 36,000 feet underwater. The open ocean covers nearly 70% of our entire planet, with an incredible abundance of all kinds of life.

In doing some research for an upcoming floor program on the different ocean animals and the zones of the ocean they live in, I read about an amazing program called the Census of Marine Life, which is a ten year project to try and document life in the ocean from all different locations and depths. The ultimate goal of the project was to develop a better understanding of the ocean and its inhabitants by researching the number of species, where they live, and how many live there. It is hard enough to try and keep track of a few fish in a fish tank, let alone to try and document all the species in the ocean!

If you are interested in learning more visit: www.coml.org.

29 July 2010
Posted in Science Live!

Run of Live Show Exploring Extreme Temps Extended by Popular Demand

Saturday Evenings, 7:00 p.m., Now Through August 21

From common colds, like ice and snow, to instant-freeze hazards like liquid Nitrogen and Carbonic Acid, Sub-Zero is the only way to chill! Check out the coolest show in town with the Orlando Science Center’s latest live experience.

Originally, this show was wrapping up at the end of July, but thanks to popular demand, Sub-Zero has been extended for several weeks. During this show, the “King of Cool, the Emperor of Ice, the Master Blaster of Disaster,” Jimmy “J-Rex” Waldron explores the science of things that freeze AND go bang!

26 July 2010
Posted in Science Live!

Answer: a mind (and toe, and finger, and just general body) numbing -100°C (or -148°F!). Where is this place, and what does it mean to you? Well, the coldest place on Earth is known as “Dome A,” or “Dome Argus,” and is located in the middle of Antarctica. It is known as the summit of the “East Antarctic Ice Cap,” which is in essence a large “mountain” of ice in Antarctica. What this means to you is that you would probably freeze to death in seconds if you went there unprotected (never mind the elevation and oxygen issues).

What is interesting to note is that dry ice (frozen Carbon Dioxide) is generally kept at around –78.5°C (or -109°F). This means that if you brought a block of dry ice to Dome A, it would actually get colder. We sure do live on a crazy planet!

To check out some substances that are actually hundreds of degrees colder than Dome A (or dry ice), check out the new Orlando Science Center show Sub-Zero, playing every Saturday in July.