Description Of Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is highly desirable because of its unique color.

Rose quartz is a mineral in the quartz family. Quartz is the most abundant mineral found on earth; it makes up about 12 percent of the earth's crust and is found in many places throughout the world. Rose quartz is named for its translucent rosy color and it is highly desirable for decorative carving. Today most rose quartz is mined in Brazil but other deposits have been found in India, Germany and, in the United States, in South Dakota.

Properties

Rose quartz is a silicate and is made of one part silica and two parts oxygen. Its unique color is due to metals within the crystal, but the question of "which metals" is still up for discussion among geologists, though most scientists attribute the rosy color to trace amounts of titanium. This crystal has a conchoidal fracture and no cleavage, meaning that it does not break in a specific pattern but, instead, breaks in curved surfaces much like a chunk of glass.

Uses

Quartz has many uses and rose quartz especially so. Because of its unique color, rose quartz is superb for use in the decorative arts. Carvings, statues and crystal balls are commonly made from rose quartz. Also, quartz is a hard mineral, possessing a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, a geologic scale of hardness from 1 to 10. This makes it a perfect abrasive mineral and, when ground, it is often used for blasting or sanding. Quartz is sometimes found on a micro scale as sand; this sand has many uses. Because of the mineral's resistance to wear and high temperature, quartz sand makes for good foundry sand. Its melting point is higher than most metals, making it a perfect molding medium. Quartz sand is also used as filler in rubber, paint and putty. The petroleum industry uses quartz sand to make fractures in rock reservoirs.

Forming Process

Rose quartz is an igneous mineral, meaning that it forms from liquid rock. Quartz forms in slow cooling magma, which is liquid rock beneath the surface of the earth. As molten magma rises in the earth's crust from a large reservoir called a pluton, it branches out in finger-like formations called pegmatites. Because they are on the outskirts of the pluton, the pegmatites are often rich in silica and oxygen. When magma rich in silica and oxygen cools slowly, crystallization forms deposits of quartz. Quartz is most often found in massive deposits and does not grow shapely crystals.

Mystical Properties

Many metaphysical enthusiasts believe that rose quartz has specific healing properties and can be used as a spiritual medicine. Because of its pink color it is often associated with friendship and love. It is associated with rights of forgiveness, compassion and is used in Wiccan spells to attract such attributes. According to the Psychics and Mediums Network, rose quartz can aid in the removal of repressed anger, hatred and jealousy. It is said to be good for the spleen or kidneys and can even be employed to increase chances of fertility.

Collecting Regulations

A large deposit of rose quartz was found in South Dakota in the late 1880s. In February 1966 rose quartz was named South Dakota's official state mineral. You can collect your own crystals; however, regulations have been adopted to prevent overmining. No more than one square meter of land may be disturbed by people collecting for their own pleasure and no public collecting is allowed on state or federal lands. Obviously it is against the law to remove a crystal found on private property without permission from the landowner but you can take home small pieces found on the sides of roadways with permission from the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Laws are in place because of concern that overmining of the mineral may lead to hastened erosion of the land.

Tags: South Dakota, Rose quartz, rose quartz, unique color, associated with, earth crust

Careers With Ocean Animals

Careers that can be pursued by those who love ocean animals are not plentiful. Below are a few interesting jobs that involve interaction with aquatic animals.

Marine Biologists

These scientists are in charge of examining and observing animals in their natural habitats. They use the findings of their studies to compile statistics about such issues as environmental effects on animals, animal populations and diseases associated with ocean specimens.

Aquarists

Aquarists take care of animals on display at aquariums. They are responsible for the upkeep of exhibits and making sure that the ocean animals are living in a healthy, safe environment.

Animal Trainers

Perhaps the closest relationship one can have with an ocean animal is to be a trainer for dolphins, whales or seals at theme parks such as Sea World. The trusting relationship a trainer builds with his animals can be amazing to watch.

Staff Veterinarians

These workers are responsible for the health of the animals at aquariums and other large venues such as Sea World. They diagnose and treat any erratic behavior that may be occurring with the ocean animals, and perform medical procedures when necessary.

Scuba Diver Instructors

Qualified instructors teach people the rules and regulations of scuba diving through various certification courses. Besides instruction, they take others on a journey underwater to observe the beauty of the depths of the ocean. While scuba diving, people often come face to face with colorful fish, turtles, sharks and other sea life.

Commercial Fishermen

Fishermen spend long hours gathering up tuna, lobster, shrimp, crab, cod, squid and other aquatic animals under sometimes very dangerous weather conditions. Forbes.com listed commercial fishing as the most dangerous job in America in 2008.

Tags: aquatic animals, ocean animals, scuba diving, such World, with ocean

Hot Springs In Montana

Soaking in hot springs is purported to be beneficial for your health.

Montana is home to 61 natural hot springs. Approximately 20 resorts and bath houses provide public access to the warm mineral waters. These geothermal aquifers are located all across the state, providing recreation, relaxation and purported therapeutic benefits to patrons. Hot springs are also used for heating in aquaculture and for buildings in Montana. There is even a city called Hot Springs in Montana.

Bozeman Hot Springs

The Bozeman area is home to the largest hot springs resort in Montana, the Bozeman Hot Springs Spa and Fitness, as well as approximately 12 additional hot springs. In 1879, the first pool was built to provide access to the hot springs. As of 2010, nine pools are located at the Bozeman hot springs. Water temperatures at the hot springs range from 59 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Crystal clear waters flow out of a geothermal well in the Gallatin Valley to fill Bozeman's hot springs. Swim laps in the larger pools or mediate in the pools featuring cascading waterfalls at the Bozeman Hot Springs Resort. A steam room and sauna round off the rejuvenating experience provided by the resort.

Chico Hot Springs

Chico hot springs are located south of Yellowstone National Park and 20 miles south of Livingston, Montana. Hot springs at Chico were first documented in 1865. A hotel quickly established itself by 1900 to accommodate guests to the hot springs. Visit the Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa to discover the attraction of the warm waters. Slip into waters of large pools that average 96 degrees Fahrenheit, or test the warmer waters of the small pool which increase to an average of 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a dip in one of the open-air pools before visiting the country-western bar and fine dining restaurant at the resort.

Fairmont Hot Springs

Native Americans refer to the 12 hot springs at Fairmont as the "medicine waters." The waters at Fairmont are purported to cure rheumatism and arthritis, and are served as soups to cure these inflictions. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort provides ample opportunities for soaking in the hot springs. The resort is home to two mineral soaking pools, as well as two Olympic-size pools for swimming laps. Waters that supply the pools reach 155 degrees Fahrenheit, but the resort cools the temperatures so they are more agreeable to patrons. Slip down the 350-foot water slide and land in one of the swimming pools located outside. The expansive resort is home to other recreational activities. Play a round of golf or explore the wildlife zoo. Relax indoors at the Whispering Willows Spa, featuring reflexology and massages.

Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, Bozeman Springs, average degrees, average degrees Fahrenheit, Bozeman springs

About Radioactive Dating

Mankind has made some incredible scientific discoveries and radioactive dating is one of them. Also called radiometric dating, this technique is used by geologists and physicists to determine how old a substance is. We have learned some fascinating history from dating rocks and fossils, thanks to dating. Radioactive dating has an important function, history and many interesting features. There are two main types, both of which have their limitations.

Function

Radioactive dating is used to date materials like rocks, fossils and other archaeological artifacts. This technique is important to use when artifacts are found because it's the main way that we establish our geological time scale. This dating helps us put together the Earth's history, long before our time. It helps us date buildings, figure out when extinct animals lived and even tells us how old the Earth is.

Features

Radioactive dating works by using the features of radioactive isotopes in rocks and their decaying products. Isotopes differ by the number of neutrons in their atomic nuclei and some are useful for dating. The chemical element that's used in radiometric dating is the nuclide, a type of isotope, because some of these are unstable and transform spontaneously. When these nuclides transform, some of the atoms decay at an exponential rate, which can be calculated and is called half-life.

Types

There are two main types of radioactive dating, based on how old the substance is that scientists are dating. The first is long-term dating, which can be used to date rocks that are over one billion years old. Specific kinds include using the half life of uranium, potassium, rubidium and strontium. The other type is short-range dating for younger artifacts. Carbon-14 is the main method here, with a much shorter half life of almost 6000 years.

History

Humans have been trying to date materials for centuries, possibly even before the 1700s. In the 1900s, scientists discovered that there were radioactive atoms inside rocks that break down and can help us date those rocks. The technique used to date samples much smaller than a gram is the mass spectrometer, invented in the 1940s and used first in the 1950s. This uses ionized atoms and magnetic fields to develop a current and determine the concentration of different atoms. Since then, scientists have discovered that many elements can help us determine the age of rocks.

Considerations

Radioactive dating is a complicated procedure and it's easy to create inaccurate results. Precision is of the utmost importance, and if the scientist doesn't take into consideration the contamination of parent and daughter isotopes and keep in mind the time that's passed since the sample was created, the results won't be precise enough. There are also limitations of each isotope's half-life--some are longer than others. And precision can be compromised if the rock isn't large enough to run two samples from different locations to help confirm age.

Tags: Radioactive dating, used date, date materials, discovered that, half life

The Differences In Paleolithic & Neolithic Art

A Plaeolithic era painting found at Altamira, Spain.

Humans first made art during the Stone Age, but it evolved drastically as the eras moved from Paleolithic to Neolithic. The methods for making art became more varied as tools were developed and humans learned to make crafts like pottery. While it is believed that both Paleolithic and Neolithic people made art for ritualistic purposes, this intent was more apparent during Neolithic times. To understand Stone Age art we must first look at how people lived.

Paleolithic People

Paleolithic society was made up of hunters and gatherers from about 2 million to 9000 B.C. Everything they needed, from firewood to food, had to be found. Humans used rocks to hunt but creativity evolved when they chipped away at the rocks to make them function better. These rocks became tools humans could use to make art. Paleolithic people later made other tools of bone and flint. Because of the cycles of nature, they had quiet moments where they could spend time making art. They were the first humans to visually represent the things they found in the natural environment.

Neolithic People

Neolithic people lived during the New Stone Age, from 9000 to 8000 B.C. Their society was different from Paleolithic culture because they lived in settled communities, domesticated animals and cultivated crops. As they improved their society they developed skills like spinning, weaving and building, but they had less time for fine art like painting. Because of this, Neolithic art is most known for crafts and architecture. They also made tombs and religious objects.

Paleolithic Painting

The most famous pieces of Paleolithic art are cave paintings, particularly the ones found at Altamira, Spain, and Lascaux, France. Examples such as the animals in the Lascaux caves (created around 15,000 B.C.) are very detailed and show lively animals painted realistically. Shading highlights the forms of the animals and makes them appear more lifelike. It is unknown why Paleolithic people painted these pictures, though they may have been ritualistic.

Neolithic Painting

Neolithic people also painted; they were the first to apply pigment to a man-made surface. The Turkish site at Catal Huyuk (6000 B.C.) was once a large complex of plaster and mud brick buildings. Paintings still adorn the remains of the walls. Hunting scenes show animals that are simpler and less life-like. Scholars do know these paintings were part of a ritual to honor a deity.

Paleolithic and Neolithic Sculpture

The Venus of Willendorf is a famous Paleolithic carving.

Paleolithic people made small carvings out of bone, horn or stone at the end of their era. They used flint tools. Venus of Willendorf (25,000 to 20,000 B.C.) is an example of such a carving. This small image of a full figured woman is made from stone and the details are crudely carved. Neolithic artists were different than Paleolithic people because they developed skills in pottery. They learned to model and made baked clay statues. A goddess figure found at Catal Huyuk depicts a seated woman flanked by two leopards.

Tags: Paleolithic Neolithic, Paleolithic people, Neolithic people, Altamira Spain, because they, Catal Huyuk, developed skills

Graduate School Travel Grants

Graduate travel grants fund field research, conference travel and presentations nationally and abroad.

Graduate schools feature travel grants for currently enrolled students to further research dissertation projects, present research, or attend a professional conference nationally or internationally. Some government or national foundations--like the National Science Foundation or an arts endowment--also sponsor travel funding to currently enrolled graduate students for research and presentations. While graduate school travel grants are usually limited to $500 to $1000 USD per student, funds defray the cost of transportation and accommodation so a student can focus on their work.

University of North Texas: Toulouse Graduate School

Listed by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 10 public National Universities 2010, the University of North Texas offers 101 master's and 48 doctoral degree programs in the Toulouse Graduate School program. Graduate students in good standing with the university who are presently enrolled in master's or doctoral degree programs may apply for a travel grant. The financial grant, awarded by the school to one or more students, funds the costs of travel to professional meetings during the academic year. A graduate student applies for a travel grant to attend a meeting relevant to their major and degree.

UNT also funds travel grants to financially back students presenting field research or creative arts--like a presentation on contemporary poetry or modern art--which the student authored, co-authored, or created. UNT additionally sponsors travel grants for graduate students holding or participating in a professional development workshop to strengthen their skills for a career. Travel grants do not, however, fund students simply attending a conference or meeting. They must actively be a part of the event whether as a founder or presenter. Travel grant applications, as of 2010, are available on the University of North Texas website.

University of North Texas: Toulouse Graduate School

Toulouse School of Graduate Studies

1155 Union Circle #305459

Denton, TX 76203-5017

1-888-UNT-GRAD

tsgs.unt.edu

University of Michigan: The Graduate School

Part of the University of Michigan's graduate school program, travel grants encourage and support dissertation studies by graduate in the masters or Ph.D level as well as senior-year undergraduate students. Full-time, enrolled university students may apply for a travel grants to fund travel to international meetings and conferences.

When a student submits an application for funding, the submission undergoes consideration by both the graduate school and Office of

International Studies and Programs (ISP). UM caps the amount to $400 per travel grantee and do not provide student health insurance or tuition fees.

University of Michigan

The Graduate School

Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

118 Linton Hall

East Lansing, MI 48824-1044

517-355-0301

grad.msu.edu

Cornell University Graduate School: Conference & Research Travel Grants

Cornell University's graduate school program offers full-time registered students the opportunity to present papers or other presentations at conferences nationally and internationally. The student must have been invited by the conference committee to receive Cornell funding. The grants cover conference participation fees, like transportation, accommodation and conference ticket prices.

Cornell University additionally features research award grants to current graduate students. Research travel grants--offered for travel within the U.S. and abroad--fund dissertation research during the academic year. According to the Cornell University Graduate School website, research grant priority is given to PhD. students who have or will have passed the A Exam prior to initiating their travel as well as those traveling for pre-dissertation research. However, graduate students have won in the past. Travel grants cover expenses like transportation and accommodation and may last a few weeks to a month or longer until the research is satisfactorily complete.

Cornell University

Cornell Graduate School

Travel grants

143 Caldwell Hall

607-255-5820

Ithaca, NY 14853-2602

607-255-5820

gradschool.cornell.edu

Geological Society of America: Grants and Awards

The GSA funds field research for geology graduate and undergraduate students.

The Geological Society of America--America's leading geological research organization--provides travel grant money to encourage and financially back desert studies. Masters, PhD, and senior-year undergraduates are all eligible applicants. GSA annual meeting attendees support this mission; all of the money donated to student travel grants, according to the GSA website, funnels directly into the travel grant fund. If an excess of funds remains at the end of the application season, leftover money goes back int the Student Travel Fund for the next year's annual meeting.

The Geological Society of America's International Section also offering travel grants. Grantees win money to support their participation in the international scientists and students GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, USA or, as of 2010, the Tectonic Crossroads meeting in Ankara, Turkey. Funds do not cover all trip expenses but will cut the cost of travel and accommodation.

Geological Society of America

Program Officer - Grants, Awards & Recognition

Geological Society of America

P.O. Box 9140

Boulder, CO 80301-9140, USA

303-357-1028

geosociety.org/grants/travel

Tags: Graduate School, Cornell University, Geological Society, travel grants, Geological Society America, North Texas

Learn Trig Online

Online trigonometry tutorials makes learning fun and easy.

Colorful graphics and interactive study aids make learning trigonometry online fun and easy. Learn about radians and the unit circle from interactive tutorials, study equations used in trigonometry with virtual flashcards. Take online quizzes with automatic scoring and play trigonometry games online to reinforce skills learned. The Internet provides a variety of learning tools for students of trigonometry.

Instructions

1. Study online trigonometry tutorials at CoolMath.com's website. Colorful graphics teach students the unit circle and basic trigonometry identities, radians and angles, corresponding points on the circumference, as well as sines and cosines. Practice problems, with solutions, are provided at the end of the lessons. CoolMath.com also teaches about Pythagorean identities and important trigonometry equations necessary to solve trigonometry problems. A geometry and trigonometry reference section on CoolMath.com's site provides a different set of tutorials about the trigonometry of circles and triangles, including the study of arcs, area, angles, sectors, circumferences, basic trigonometric definitions and the laws of sines and cosines.

2. Learn about degrees and radians with online unit circle tutorials.

Learn trigonometry basics using online flashcards, worksheets and quizzes at Quizlet's website. Quizlet has over 500 flashcard sets on trigonometry subjects ranging from radians and degrees, to the unit circle and functions and formulas. Quizlet allows students to learn and review trigonometry with audio-enhanced virtual flashcards that can be played online or you can print the cards for offline use. Each flashcard set comes with worksheets that can be practiced with online scoring or they can be printed with answer sheets. Quizzes are also available for practice online or offline.

3. Play Trigonometry Battleship on the Quia website.

Reinforce lessons learned through online tutorials at Quia's website by playing trigonometry games. Quia has a search engine which allows for the choice of trigonometry as the category, and then users can choose between games and activities offered. Trigonometry Battleship simulates the classic child's board game using trigonometry questions to allow moves, while Trigonometry Jeopardy is a simulated game show where players answer trigonometry questions to win points online. Trigonometry Hangman and word search puzzles are available on the site, in addition to flashcards and quizzes.

4. SoftSchools allows students to experiment with a trigonometry calculator online.

Experiment with an online trigonometry calculator at SoftSchools.com's website. Choose between radians or degrees, then enter a number and the calculator will display all of the sines and cosines, as well as tangents, cotangents, secants and cosecants, in addition to arcs.

5. Watch advanced trigonometry videos online.

Watch instructional videos about advanced trigonometry subjects at OnlineMathLearning.com's website. Topics such as inverse trigonometric functions, factoring trigonometric equations, trigonometric identities, sine and cosine addition formulas, half and double angle identities and power reducing identities are explored in video format.

Tags: unit circle, sines cosines, with online, advanced trigonometry, allows students, Colorful graphics, Learn about

Information On Physical Science Projects

Chemistry is one example of a physical science.

Choosing a project on the topic of science brings forth a variety of options. Physical science projects encompass the sciences of chemistry, geology, astronomy and physics. Physical science offers a wider range of topics for a student to choose from, thus allowing for more creativity. Deciding on a topic within the physical sciences has the potential for educating the student while keeping him entertained as well.

Volcanoes

Making a volcano is a practical way for showing off physical science knowledge about geology. Place an empty film canister on a piece of cardboard. Play-dough or mud can be molded around the canister for a realistic effect. Put 1 tablespoon of baking soda in the canister. In a separate bottle, mix a few drops of red food coloring and 1/4 cup of vinegar. When it's time for demonstrating a volcanic eruption, pour the vinegar and food coloring mixture into the canister for an instant recreation.

Float an Egg

When placed in regular tap water, eggs sink. For this project representing physics, the student will demonstrate how eggs float when salt is added into the water, creating a natural buoyancy for the egg and teaching how saltwater is naturally denser than tap water. Fill two glasses or beakers with water and place an uncooked egg inside each glass. Leave one glass alone, and in the other add 1/2 tablespoon of salt, stirring the salt until it dissolves. Add salt until the egg is floating on the surface of the water. Record results for presentation.

Growing Crystals

Demonstrate the combined sciences of chemistry and geology by making crystals with ingredients found at home in the kitchen. Filling a drinking glass with water, add a teaspoon of salt and stir until dissolved. Continue adding salt until salt will not dissolve any more. Tie a piece of string onto a pencil, making sure the string goes almost to the bottom of the glass. Place string in the glass and balance the pencil on the glass rim. Experiment with crystal size by adding more salt on a daily basis. Repeat the process for a week and record results each day of the crystals' growth.

Soda Can Experiment

Demonstrate heat transfer by cooling down room temperature canned sodas at as rapid a pace as possible. For this physical science project, prepare a bucket with ice only, another with a 50/50 mixture of ice and water and make sure there is access to a freezer. Taking three warmed cans of soda, place one in each suggested environment. Open the tops of the cans and test the temperature of the soda with a thermometer every 5 minutes. The project is complete when the temperature has stabilized. Log all results and record temperatures to be included in the final presentation.

Tags: salt until, chemistry geology, food coloring, Physical science, physical science

Places To Find Fossils In Washington

Fossilized sea life can be found in various parts of Washington state.

Washington boasts fossils as much as 550 million years old, from imprinted palms and seashells in sandstone bluffs in the northwest part of the state to the remains of a temperate forest in the northeast. The state's Department of Natural Resources offers geologic maps and fossil reports -- and permits -- to help hunters seek out likely fossil locations. At several sites in the state, though, fossils are easy to find.

Republic

Near the city of Republic, in the Okanogan highlands of northeast Washington, lies the preserved remains of a temperate forest that existed 50 million years ago. Part of the area is under a lake bed, and the sediment and volcanic ash that settled there trapped plants, insects and fish, and created one of the state's most renowned homes for fossils. Amateur paleontologists can get an inexpensive day permit and rent tools at the Stonerose Interpretive Center.

Chuckanut

On State Route 11, also known as Chuckanut Drive, sandstone bluffs are visible about 10 miles south of Bellingham in northwest Washington. During the Eocene epoch 55 million years ago, the area was a vast, warm floodplain, and trapped in its ancient sediments were palm and horsetail leaves, parts of Sequoia trees, ferns and more. The fragile bluffs can break apart easily, making the road prone to rock slides that have the unintended benefit of exposing the imprints and petrified remains of those plants.

Blue Lake

Layers of lava covered the Columbia Plateau in central Washington 10 to 15 million years ago. Two million years ago, one of the world's largest floods scoured the land, leaving layers of those flows -- and the fossils they contained. One of the state's most famous fossils was found there, a few miles south of Dry Falls, in an area called Blue Lake, writes David B. Williams in a May 2010 post on HistoryLink.org. In 1935, a group hiking near there found a mold and several bones of a small rhinoceros, which was later dubbed the "Blue Lake Rhino."

Clallam Formation

Heading toward the westernmost tip of Washington is the Clallam Formation, an exposure of 20-million-year-old sandstone and siltstone outcrops running 50 miles from Cape Flattery to the west and Freshwater Bay to the east in Clallam County. The area is rich in fossils from the Miocene and Oligocene ages, a span of 5 million to 30 million years ago. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture's collection of marine fossils includes preserved geoduck and other clams, scallops and crab found in Clallam. Fossilized whale bones also have been reported.

Tags: million years, Blue Lake, Clallam Formation, miles south, remains temperate, remains temperate forest, sandstone bluffs

Find Gold In Quartz

The "mother lode" of gold usually occurs within veins of quartz.

In its original form, gold appears in igneous volcanic hydrothermal (hot water) veins where it is deposited along with quartz, amethyst, other minerals and heavy metal ores. The "Mother Lode" of gold in California is a region crisscrossed by many such quartz-and-gold-filled hydrothermal veins. Nearly all hydrothermal quartz veins everywhere contain some amount of gold. Find the quartz first and then find the gold.

Instructions

1. Look for gold and gold-containing quartz rocks in areas where volcanic hydrothermal activity has taken place in the geologic past. These areas include the regions around old gold mines and rock outcrops upstream from placer gold deposits where gold has eroded out of its bedrock, washed downstream and accumulated in and near stream channels. Generally, gold originates upstream from places where it is actively panned or has been historically panned and sluiced from sand and gravel deposits.

2. Look for rock outcrops and rocky areas that contain a lot of quartz. Quartz appears in a variety of colors (including amethyst) depending on the mineral impurities it contains. Quartz has a massive crystalline appearance and can be white, yellow, pink, purple, grey or black. Gold occurs in between the other crystals found in quartz.

3. Look for natural cracks and lines in the quartz rocks that you find and examine them carefully because gold often occurs along such linear structures. Gold is easy to spot in white quartz.

4. Look for gold in quartz veins in areas where the bedrock is fractured by tectonic and volcanic activity. Fractures and cracks in the bedrock form ideal pathways for superheated water and steam under pressure to flow and to precipitate out their dissolved mineral and heavy metal loads. Gold is deposited by precipitation along the fracture edges and walls. Active geyser basins and old extinct geysers are evidence of such hydrothermal activity.

5. Use a metal detector to look for gold in quartz bearing rocks. Any large gold crystal pieces (nuggets) or veins of gold will give a good strong signal on most metal detectors. But just because you might not get a strong signal does not mean that gold is not there. Conversely strong metal detector signals may indicate the presence of other metals besides gold. Fortunately, when metals are present in quartz veins, gold is usually among them.

6. Look for gold-bearing quartz rocks where other miners and prospectors have already been. Even rocks that have been passed over by other prospectors as well as gold mine tailings (leftovers) may contain gold. Fortunes have been made by patiently and systematically reworking the leftovers and tailings of fly-by-night and slash-and-grab gold prospectors and miners. Large corporate efforts to extract gold often leave behind gold that is more efficiently and cost-effectively extracted by small-time miners and weekend prospectors.

7. Use your geology hammer and sledge to break open quartz and potential gold-bearing rocks. Place an iron or steel anvil in a large flat pan to prevent loss of rock powder and contained gold. Look for large pieces of gold that you can collect manually or with tweezers.

8. Sieve and pan the smallest fractions of crushed, gold bearing quartz rock in water to collect and extract the gold. Employ standard placer gold panning methods to extract small gold nuggets and gold dust from the pulverized rock. Pan, break up and re-pan finer and finer fractions.

9. Dry and place your genuine gold nuggets and any gold dust you find and extract from quartz rocks into small glass vials for storage and for subsequent gold assaying, metals analysis, refining, display or sale.

Tags: quartz rocks, quartz veins, areas where, extract gold, gold dust, gold nuggets

Ph D Program Work

Coursework

There are two things you must do to earn a Ph.D. First, you must master the subject matter. Second, you must contribute to the body of knowledge through your own research. Mastering the subject matter begins once after you've been admitted to a Ph.D. program. Your first step is to complete the required coursework. This may consume the first 2 to 3 years of your doctoral studies. Required courses often involve a heavy amount of reading, giving you a solid grasp of the body of knowledge in your field of study. So be prepared to read and digest large quantities of material. Reading will include not only textbooks, but also scholarly journals in your field of study. Other courses will focus on research methods, preparing you to conduct independent research of your own--something you will be expected to do when you begin work on your dissertation.

Qualifying Exam

Many Ph.D. programs require their students to demonstrate their mastery of the subject matter in their field of study by successfully passing a comprehensive examination. As with the coursework, you should expect to read and synthesize a large amount of material to prepare yourself for this lengthy exam. Some programs require students to complete a second comprehensive exam that tests research skills.

Research

While mastering your subject matter, you should also prepare to conduct research of your own. Many Ph.D. students get involved with university research projects, assisting tenured faculty members with their research. You also can get research experience by writing research papers for presentation at academic conferences or submission to peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

Dissertation

Once you've mastered your field of study through reading, coursework, and comprehensive examinations, your next step is to contribute to that body of knowledge through your own research. To complete your Ph.D., you will conduct your own research and present the results in a formal written document known as a thesis or dissertation. You will work closely with a faculty member in your field, who will advise you and monitor your progress. After completing your dissertation, you will present your research findings to a panel of faculty members. This presentation is an oral examination in which you will defend your work as faculty members question your findings and methodology.

Considerations

A Ph.D. program is rigorous and demanding. Intellectual capability alone will not guarantee success. Successful completion of a Ph.D. requires dedication and commitment. It can take 4 to 6 years to complete the degree. The process is demanding, but many Ph.D. students find the experience a rewarding one.

Tags: field study, subject matter, your field, your research, body knowledge, faculty members

Utah Programs For Troubled Teens

Teenagers learn the benefit of calm and confident behavior through horse therapy.

Many programs in Utah offer therapeutic residential treatment programs for adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. These programs typically involve a combination of psychological therapy, skill-building, academic learning and physical activity. Programs range from treatment ranches with horse therapy to nomadic wilderness therapy programs. Some programs last months, while others may last years. Throughout each program, adolescents are taught the importance of responsibility, accountability, self-esteem and teamwork.

Aspen Achievement Academy

Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), the Aspen Achievement Academy provides a residential treatment program for teens between 13 and 17 years of age. Each teenager is unique and requires varying lengths of stay, but generally, a stay of no less than 35 days is expected. The program accepts adolescents exhibiting defiant behavior, depression, drug or alcohol dependence, low self-esteem and manipulative behavior. The program utilizes a four-phase system that includes therapy, physical activity, academics and skill building to address emotional and behavioral difficulties. As participants progress through the programs' phases, they become more self-reliant and cooperative and learn to make healthy decisions, communicate and manage and express anger appropriately.

Aspen Achievement Academy

98 South Main St.

P.O. Box 509

Loa, UT 84747

(800)283-8334

aspenacademy.com

Cross Creek Programs

Cross Creek Programs provides residential therapeutic treatment for junior high and high school students with a variety of behavioral and emotional problems. Throughout the program, adolescents work through six levels, each with their own privileges and responsibilities, that encourage positive behavioral changes. In order to advance through these levels, the program utilizes a self-assessment approach, through which each participant evaluates her own progress in areas such as cooperation, responsibilities and attitude. Program staff members review these evaluations. Students participate in core and elective academic work and individual and group therapy sessions. Specialized group therapy programs are available for grief counseling, adoption issues and alcohol and substance abuse problems. Students take part in physical activities, such as basketball, track and field and hiking and line dancing, as well as a number of seminars and workshops. There are workshops available for 18-year-olds that prepare these older participants for independent living through discussions about personal finances, job and college preparation, adult relationships and purchasing a home.

Cross Creek Programs

150 N State St.

La Verkin, UT 84745

(800) 818-6228

crosscreekprogram.com

RedCliff Ascent

RedCliff Ascent is a 30 to 60-day wilderness therapy program for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17. The program provides individual and group therapy, life-skills training, teamwork and physical activity to help teenagers that exhibit defiant behavior, drug addictions, depression, poor academic performance, violence and more. Teens progress through seven phases of therapy and value building to internalize values such as courage, respect, honesty, compassion and self-discipline. Participants hike a total of three to seven miles every day, and have the opportunity to learn about modern geology and ecology, as well as archaic skills used to make tools, pottery, moccasins and more. Due to the physical nature of the program, RedCliff Ascent may not be appropriate for adolescents with severe asthma, epilepsy, hypoglycemia or diabetes.

RedCliff Ascent

757 South Main

Springville, UT 84663

(800) 898-1244

redcliffascent.com

Turn-About-Ranch

The Turn-About Ranch offers a residential program for troubled adolescents exhibiting defiance, low self-esteem, impulsivity, anger, depression, school truancy and drug and alcohol experimentation. The program is not suitable for teens with serious eating disorders, physical aggressiveness or suicidal tendencies. The program utilizes a multi-faceted approach to encourage honesty, respect, responsibility and accountability. Participants generally are required to commit to a stay of 100 days, throughout which professional staff uses horsemanship, ranch work, life skills training, academics and individual and group therapy to build each teen's self-esteem, self-respect and respect of others. In addition to traditional academics, which are taught in four-hour sessions several times each week, participants have the opportunity to learn vocational skills in the culinary arts, auto mechanics and the construction trades. Parents are kept apprised of each teen's progress through weekly phone conferences, as well as visits halfway through the program and at the final graduation.

Turn-About Ranch

280 North 300 East

PO Box 345

Escalante, UT 84726

(800) 842-1165

turnaboutranch.com

Youth Care Inc

The Youth Care residential treatment center offers therapeutic programs for adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age who exhibit behaviors such as defiance, truancy, low self-esteem and impulsivity. Pregnant teens are also accepted. The program is not appropriate for violent teenagers or those with eating disorders. The program accepts no more than 14 students at any time. Each week includes three individual therapy sessions, one family therapy session and five group therapy sessions. The program also includes an academic program and recreational therapy where students participate in cross-country skiing, indoor wall climbing and community service activities at nursing homes and food banks. The teen pregnancy program at Youth Care uses infant simulator dolls to introduce participants to the daily demands of a new baby. The program has regular on-site medical care, nurse visits and dietary consultations to ensure a healthy pregnancy for the teen and baby.

Youth Care, Inc

PO Box 909

Draper, UT 84020

(800) 786-4924

youthcare.com

Tags: group therapy, RedCliff Ascent, Youth Care, Achievement Academy, Aspen Achievement, Aspen Achievement Academy, Creek Programs

Find Hotsprings

Look for the steam to find hotsprings.

Finding hotsprings that are accessed by good roads is easy. But thousands of hotsprings exist off the beaten path. Some are hard to get to, but rewarding in their isolation. You might walk up the side of a mountain or descend into a river canyon; hotsprings can be anywhere. If you plan ahead, do some research and look for clues, you can find hotsprings all over the United States.

Instructions

1. Open your computer browser. Search for the Google Earth program and download it to your desktop. Open the Google Earth program and type in the general area where you are going to be searching for hotsprings.

2. Scroll the elevation to 2,200 feet. Scan along river banks, creeks and mountain ranges for Youtube icons, geographic symbols that denote hotsprings or names of hotsprings. Write down the locations.

3. Type "hotsprings" and the state where you are going to be looking for hotsprings into your computer's browser. Look for pages that list all the hotsprings for that state. Take note of the ones you wish to visit.

4. Order a USGS map online or download one if the one you want is available online (see Resources). Mark the locations on the map. Use the map to find other remote hotsprings that may not be on your other sources' locations.

5. Drive to the area where the hotsprings are using your map as a guide. Look for road signs denoting hotsprings. Some have them, some don't. Camp in a designated place as close as possible to the hotsprings.

6. Get up at daybreak. To find lesser-known or remote hotsprings, walk down trails or drive along the riverbanks or side roads using directions from your map. Look for well-worn paths that lead into the forest, along ridges or open meadows. Look for steam rising from the trees, open ground or creek beds. When you see the steam, you have found a hotspring.

Tags: hotsprings that, area where, computer browser, Earth program, find hotsprings, Google Earth, Google Earth program

Test The Hardness Of A Rock

Testing the hardness of a rock can help you determine what type it is.

In 1822 a scientist named Friedrich Mohs invented what is now known as the Mohs test or the scratch test--the most commonly used test to determine the hardness of rocks and minerals. This test is important for identifying unknown rocks and minerals. Basically, the test compares the hardness of rocks and minerals to a set scale, which runs from softest to hardest, in order to identify what a specimen is. The test is based on the fact that a harder rock will scratch a softer one.

Instructions

1. Select the rock you want to test and find a clean spot on it.

2. Scratch your rock specimen with an object of known hardness. Some common objects you can use include a penny (hardness of 3.0), your fingernail (hardness of 2.5), and a knife (hardness of 5.5). You can also use any of the minerals listed on the Mohs hardness scale. Once you see a scratch on your rock specimen, you will know your rock is softer than the object that scratched it.

3. Write down the hardness levels of the objects that scratch your rock specimen. You are looking for the object with the lowest hardness level. Then you will know the approximate hardness level of your rock and will be able to identify it by using the Mohs scale of hardness.

Tags: your rock, rock specimen, rocks minerals, your rock specimen, hardness level, hardness rocks

Oceanography Merit Badge Requirements

A Boy Scout researches the ocean to earn an oceanography merit badge.

The Boy Scouts of America organization offers more than 100 different merit badges covering arts, crafts, science, history, sports and business. You may work toward any of the available merit badges until you reach the age of 18. Some badges are required to attain the rank of Eagle Scout but most, including the oceanography merit badge, are optional.

Understand the Ocean

Demonstrate an understanding the scope, methods and value of oceanography to your merit badge counselor, who will expect you to name four branches of oceanography and explain at least five reasons why people should know about the oceans. You will also describe the chemistry, geology, topography, botany, zoology and microbiology of the ocean and discuss important interactions within the ocean's ecosystem with your merit badge counselor.

Define Terms and Concepts

Define, explain and in some cases articulate the differences between a lengthy list of oceanographic terms and concepts. Be prepared to define salinity, temperature and density specifically as properties of seawater. You'll also need to know the meaning of such terms as storm surge, tidal bore, tidal wave and tsunami, and be able to explain the differences between them. Lastly, you will need to be able to discuss properties of seawater that are important to the biology of the ocean, including ocean organisms like benthos and plankton.

Build a Model

The model-making requirement offers the most options of any requirement for the oceanography badge. You can choose to make and use a plankton net, build a model series illustrating the growth of a volcanic island, make a model of shoreline sedimentation that shows the influence of currents and tidal movement, or construct a wave generator to demonstrate reflection and refraction of waves. If you don't want to build a model you can track various changes to the water in a specific area for five consecutive days or monitor satellite images of an area with online imaging data for a period of three weeks. You will then discuss what you learned with your merit badge counselor.

Draw a Diagram

Prepare a diagram that shows underwater topography. It must include a continental shelf, continental slope, abyssal plain, canyon, guyot, oceanic ridge, rift valley, seamount and trench. Include a note on the scale of the diagram, comparing the depth of the ocean to the height of mountains.

Written or Oral Report

Write a 500-word report on a book about oceanography or about your visit to an oceanographic research ship or institute. Alternately, you may prepare and deliver a five-minute speech titled either "Why Oceanography is Important" or "Career Opportunities in Oceanography." Make sure your merit badge counselor approves either your book choice or speech outline.

Tags: badge counselor, merit badge counselor, your merit, your merit badge, merit badge, merit badge, build model

Activities For Students For "My Side Of The Mountain"

Students interested in Sam's falcon can research the ancient art of falconry.

"My Side of the Mountain," by avid naturalist and author Jean Craighead George, easily makes many recommended reading lists with its classic appeal to young readers through Sam Gribley's independent survival experience. Outdoor adventure tales such as this help teachers inspire reluctant readers by appealing to some students' interest in the natural world and wilderness survival. Literature-based activities for students cross curricular boundaries in language arts, math, science, art and social studies as well as give learners a chance to try their hand at survival techniques.

Language Arts

Baron Weasel, Jesse James the raccoon and Sam's many other animal companions can motivate wildlife poetry. Have students read selections from Thoreau's "On Walden Pond" and draw connections between this Thoreau and the reason Bando gives Sam this nickname. Give your traditional book report a new look by turning it into a digital slide show. The author's website (see Resources) contains an email link allowing students to send her an email as welling as learn more about her and her work.

Math

Give students a graph of quantities for Sam's food supply, such as blueberries, dandelions, mushrooms, wild carrots, arrow leaves, cattails, raspberries, rabbit, venison, fish, squirrel and turtle. Make up word problems, such as, "If Sam used 3 cups of wild carrots for a soup once a week, how long would his carrot supply last?" or, "Sam wants to lay in a supply of 100 cups of strawberries. His bucket holds one quart. How many trips will he need to make to Mrs. Strawberry's patch?"

Science

Frightful, the peregrine falcon that Sam captures and raises from a fledgling and subsequently trains, provides ample material for writing a falcon training manual or newsletter on the biology, care and feeding of falcons. Diagram the web of life in Sam's environment with the animals, flora and fauna. Conduct a science experiment on food preservation in the wilderness. Try smoking, drying, salting or burying your food. Compare the condition and edibility of the food after a few weeks.

Art

Translate Mrs. George's detailed descriptions into a drawing or model of Sam's tree house. Carve the model out of small log and use clay and pebbles for the chimney. Cover the door with a small piece of leather to represent the deer hide. Have a student follow Sam's example to make a pants and jacket pattern for himself. For an additional challenge, he can get some cloth that resembles deer hide and sew the clothes. Make clay jam jars or follow Sam's instructions to create a slide willow whistle.

Social Studies

Practice map skills by drawing a map of the Gribley farm. Design a virtual scrapbook of seasons in the Catskill Mountains. Include a caption for each picture of the cyclical beauty of this region.

Wilderness Survival

Tell students to imagine they are setting out on an adventure, as Sam did. Have them make a list of supplies they will need to pack to survive on their own, including a reason for choosing each item. Sam makes many devices to help him survive in the wilderness. Let students test their survival skills by making a box trap or fish hook according to the diagrams in the book. Other students may enjoy building a model of Sam's bed or a meat-smoking rack with toothpicks and string.

Tags: deer hide, makes many, Side Mountain, wild carrots, will need

History Of The New River Gorge Bridge

History of the New River Gorge Bridge

The New River Gorge Bridge is located in Fayetteville, West Virginia. It is part of U.S. Highway 19 and is 3,030 feet long. It is the highest bridge for cars in the country and the second highest in the world after the Millau Viaduct in France. About 16,000 vehicles go over the bridge each day.

Construction

The New River Gorge Bridge opened in 1977, taking four years for construction to be completed. It cost $37 million to build.

Design

The Michael Baker Company designed the bridge and it was built by the American Bridge Division of U.S. Steel.

Benefits

The bridge, built over a gorge, supposedly cut travel time down to 45 seconds from 45 minutes.

Bridge Day

On the third Saturday of every October, the New River Gorge Bridge is closed to cars and people are allowed to walk on the bridge.

Accidents

On Bridge Day, people are allowed to rappel or BASE jump from the bridge. Bungee jumping is not allowed since 1993, following an accident.

Tags: Gorge Bridge, River Gorge, River Gorge Bridge, bridge built, History River, History River Gorge, people allowed

Four Geographic Regions Of The United States

New York City is in the Northeast region of the United States.

The United States is divided into four main regions by the U.S. Census Bureau for population registration purposes: the Northeast, Midwest, South and West. Each region is broken down into two or more subregions. These U.S. regions have different cultures and language dialects than other regions in the country. Since the inception of the United States, the regions' names have changed due to the expansion of the U.S. borders.

Northeast

The Northeast United States features two subregions, New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. New England consists of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island. The remaining northeastern states --- New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey --- are in the Mid-Atlantic region. According to the Census Bureau, as of 2005, the Northeast region acounts for 18.4 percent of the population of the United States.

Midwest

Also referred to as the "Heartland," the Midwest region of the United States has 12 states in two subregions, East North Central and West North Central. The states in the East North Central subregion are Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. The West North Central states include Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. The largest cities in the Midwest are Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately two-thirds of the nation's wheat and soy beans come from the Great Plains, which includes Midwest states such as Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The Midwest region has 22.3 percent of the U.S. population.

South

The South region has the highest number of states in the U.S. Census Bureau categorization. The South is the only region in the United States with three subregions: South Atlantic, East South Central and West South Central. The South Atlantic states are Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Although the District of Columbia is not a state, its population is counted with South Atlantic states. States in the East South Central subregion include Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma round out the South region as the West South Central states. The South has the largest percentage of U.S. population, at 36.3 percent.

West

The fourth region of the United States is the West. Subregions of the West include the Mountain West and Pacific West. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Nevada and Idaho are the Mountain West states. Three states in the continental United States are in the Pacific West: California, Washington and Oregon. Hawaii and Alaska, the United States' non-continental states, are also a part of the Pacific West region. The West region is home to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. Los Angeles, California, is the West region's largest city. The West has 23 percent of the population.

Tags: United States, North Central, region United, region United States, South Central

The Worst Natural Disasters In American History

Cities throughout the United States have been subjected to earthquakes.

Throughout the United States' history, many municipalities have been subjected to a myriad of natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. While most of these disasters are soon forgotten, a handful of U.S. natural disasters caused severe damage and high fatality counts. In some cases, the ramifications of these disasters were so great it changed the course of geological studies and the infrastructure of cities.

The 1900 Storm

One of the earliest recorded natural disasters in the United States occurred on Galveston Island in eastern Texas. Resting on the Gulf of Mexico, this island was subject to hurricane with winds up to 140 miles per hour. The height of the waves during the storm's surge was over 15 feet, compared to the highest elevation level of Galveston Island -- 8 feet in 1900. Approximately 6,000 people were found dead in Galveston in the aftermath of the storm. As a result of the 1900 Storm, the City of Galveston erected a sea wall at the eastern edge of the city.

The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake shook the City of San Francisco in the wee hours of early morning. The earthquake's epicenter was in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Further, the earthquake's length of time was approximately 45 to 60 seconds. Nearly 700 people were killed as a result of the earthquake. Once the earthquake was done, wildfire spread throughout the city, burning down many of the city's structures. San Francisco's earthquake also ruptured the northernmost end of the San Andreas fault, a scientific fact that would not be realized until later in the 20th century.

Johnstown Flood of 1889

Johnstown is a small western Pennsylvania town in the Conemaugh River Valley. In 1889, this town suffered from a flood from the nearby Conemaugh and Stony Creek Rivers, which were normally kept at bay by the South Fork Dam. However, water managed to flow over the dam and result was one of the most devastating disasters in U.S. history in terms of fatalities. Approximately 2,200 people were killed. However, no construction efforts were made to control future flooding until 1936.

Tri-State Tornado of 1925

According to USA Today, the Tri-State Tornado of 1925 is perhaps the worst tornado in the recorded history of the United States in terms of destruction and fatalities; over 690 people were killed. This tornado traveled over 219 miles through the Midwest states of Illinois, Missouri and Indiana; most of the home damage and fatalities were in southern Illinois. Tri-State Tornado's had an average ground speed of 62 miles per hour and measured approximately three-quarters of a mile wide. The Fujita tornado intensity scale, created in 1971, estimates this tornado was an F5 -- the scale's highest rating.

Tags: people were, United States, people were killed, Tri-State Tornado, were killed, 1900 Storm

History Of Monument Valley Arizona

Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Nation, under the purview of Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation. Its iconic rock formations have been seen in hundreds of movies.

Geology

Monument Valley's rocks were formed in the Permian era, 160 million years ago. Volcanic activity, erosion and shifting created today's landscape.

First People

Around 12,000 B.C., prehistoric man arrived in Monument Valley and lived there until around 6,000 B.C. Ancient hunter-gatherers followed.

Early Peoples

Kayenta Anasazi arrived around the time Christ was born, vanishing around 1300 A.D. Around 1300 A.D. Paiutes hunted here; later, the Navajos settled.

Navajo

The Navajo clashed with 18th-century Spanish settlers and, later, silver prospectors. In 1860 Kit Carson shipped them off to a reservation; they returned in 1868. In 1884, President Chester Arthur added Monument Valley to their reservation.

Westerns

John Ford's 1939 movie "Stagecoach" made Monument Valley famous. Dozens of other movies including 2001, A Space Odyssey and Easy Riders have featured Monument Valley.

Modern History

In the 1950s the Navajo were involved with uranium mining on the land. They founded their Park Service in 1957 and Monument Valley became a tribal park. Visitors can drive through; to visit the interior guests must take a guided tour.

Tags: Monument Valley, Navajo Nation

Science Projects For Middle Schools

If your teacher assigns you a science project you may feel worried about how you will execute an A-plus project. Science projects require purchasing materials, hours of time conducting experiments, recording data, writing a paper and creating a live demonstration model for your class. Before you jump into an idea, consider how you will prove your hypothesis and what it will take to perform the experiment for the class.

Vitamin C in Orange Juice

Base your science experiment on whether all brands of orange juice have the same amount of vitamin C. Compare different compounds of orange juice to determine the effect of vitamin C concentration in each. Report on which compound has the most vitamin C per 15 milliliters.

Use a blender, 3 disposable pipettes, 1 10-milliliter graduated cylinder, 3 50-milliliter flasks or medicine cups, 1 stirring rod, graph paper, distilled water and cheesecloth for the experiment.

You will also need vitamin C indicator solution. Combine 2 grams of cornstarch in 200 milliliters of cold, distilled water. Bring mixture to a boil. Add 8 milliliters of this solution to 1 liter of water and add 1 milliliter of tincture of iodine. The color will turn royal blue.

Select freshly squeezed orange juice, bottled orange juice, frozen orange juice and canned orange juice as your subjects.

Pour 15 milliliters of the vitamin C indicator into a 50-milliliter cup. Add 1 drop from 1 orange juice sample to this concoction and gently mix. Continue adding from the same sample of orange juice until the vitamin indicator blue mixture turns colorless. Count the number of drops you added and record the data. Repeat with each orange juice sample.

Blood Pressure Readings after Caffeine Intake

Find out if drinking caffeinated beverages raises your blood pressure. Gather a group of friends to conduct the experiment and be sure it's OK with their parents.

Measure blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer, an instrument that measures blood pressure. Ask the school nurse if you can borrow if for your experiment.

You will need 26 cans of Diet Pepsi, 13 straws, 13 middle school friends and a chart to complete the experiment.

Take and record participants' blood pressure first thing in the morning and be sure no one has had anything to drink or eat. Have participants drink 1 can of Diet Pepsi immediately after taking the readings. Wait 45 to 55 minutes then re-take and record everyone's blood pressure.

Compare blood pressure readings without caffeine versus 1 can of Diet Pepsi and the difference between no caffeine versus 2 cans of Diet Pepsi.

Which Mouthwash Kills Bacteria

Report on which mouthwash kills bacteria the best. Select four popular brands of mouthwash, four petri dishes, mouth swabs and four friends.

Mark each petri dish with each friend's name. Have friends rinse their mouths with water two hours after they've eaten. Clean their mouths with a cotton swab then swab a small area on each of their individual petri dishes with the cotton swab.

Ask each friend to gargle with one of the mouthwashes and swab the inside of their mouths and then apply the swabbed area to another area of their same petri dish. Tape each dish closed and observe whether the bacteria decreased, stayed the same or grew after four days.

Tags: orange juice, blood pressure, Diet Pepsi, their mouths, vitamin indicator, caffeine versus, cans Diet

What Does It Mean To Be A Scientist

Scientists are highly educated individuals involved in a wide variety of research. Most scientific research serves to forward our understanding of all sorts of phenomena. Scientists discover new technologies, methods and ways of knowing, all in the hopes of contributing to the betterment and advancement of humanity. Becoming a scientist is a long journey of gaining valuable education and skills and cultivating an innate sense of curiosity, inquisitiveness and lifelong learning.

Secondary Education

Throughout a potential scientist's secondary education experience, she typically does well on assignments related to science and mathematics. In high school, a potential scientist will cultivate skills in various science and mathematics courses. An interest in a particular area of science usually develops at this time, such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, geology, geography, social science or astronomy, among others. In the junior and senior year, potential scientists will begin taking standardized tests, seeking information about prospective colleges and universities and begin applying to those institutions of higher learning.

College and University Education

Once in college or university, the potential scientist will declare his scientific-related major or field of study. General education courses that supplement a science major include mathematics and statistics courses. During the university experience, it is beneficial for potential scientists to develop a good working relationship and mentorship with science professors. During the junior and senior years at college, potential scientists should begin taking standardized tests for graduate school and begin seeking out opportunities to further their education by attending graduate school. This process involves finding a scientist/professor at a university who is willing to work with the student as her mentor during graduate study.

Graduate Education and Terminal Degree

An important and essential part of becoming a scientist and what it means to become a scientist is gaining a graduate education and the terminal degree in the chosen area of science. For example, if a person wishes to become a chemist, then a PhD doctoral degree in chemistry is essential. A vital part of graduate education is the professional relationship that develops between a graduate student and his adviser and other professors. These individuals will offer sound guidance, mentorship and collaborative experiences for the budding scientist during his formative years. Also during graduate school, it is essential to participate in active research projects to hone research skills, attend and present research at professional and academic conferences and publish research findings in scholarly, peer-reviewed academic and scientific journals. Also of utmost importance is the topic and work performed toward producing a dissertation as a part of the requirements for earning a doctoral degree.

A Scientific Career

Upon earning a doctoral degree in a particular field of study, a scientist can begin pursuing career aspirations. Careers for scientists are wide-ranging, with opportunities available in many different organizations and workplace settings such as universities and other higher education facilities, research institutions, think tanks, government organizations, corporations and laboratories, among others. Many scientists, in addition to research, must disseminate research results through conference presentations and scholarly publications. It is also important for scientists to communicate their findings to the broader public in an interesting and understandable manner.

Tags: doctoral degree, graduate school, potential scientist, potential scientists, among others

Historic Gold Mines In Western North Carolina

Panning was the most common method for finding gold.

North Carolina's gold belt runs through the Piedmont north of Charlotte, but McDowell and Rutherford counties in the Blue Ridge Mountains drew prospectors suffering from gold fever to Vein Mountain and Golden Valley during the 19th century. The miners are long gone, but visitors can try their hand at panning at a handful of the old mines.

Gold in North Carolina

A 12-year-old boy named Conrad Reed pulled a 17-pound gold nugget from Little Meadow Creek in 1799 and took it home, where it served as a doorstop until 1802. An unscrupulous jeweler offered Conrad's father $3.50 for the specimen, and so began the North Carolina Gold Rush. For the first 20 years of the gold rush, prospectors typically used a shovel and pan to look for gold on the surface or in streams, but by 1825, the first mine was established. The gold veins near the tiny village of Rutherfordton near the Blue Ridge lured the Bechtler family to the South, where, in 1832, they minted the first gold dollar in the United States. A wayside marker north of town marks the spot of the mint and the Bechtler House Museum (no website; 130 W. Sixth St.; Rutherfordton; 828-287-6113) is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Reed Gold Mine

While not in western North Carolina, the Reed Gold Mine (nchistoricsites.org) deserves a mention because it was the site of the first documented gold discovery in the country. Visitors can tour historic buildings, portions of the underground tunnels and the visitor center, where gold and mining equipment are on display. "Talking rocks" on an educational trail provide lessons in geology, and the remains of an 1854 mill house can be reached by a short walk. Tours of the historic buildings and the mine at the North Carolina Historic Site, open Tuesday through Saturday, are free. A small fee is collected for gold panning.

Tourist Destinations

Tourist-oriented gold mine attractions in western North Carolina typically sell visitors a bucket seeded with gems or gold and give them a seat at a sluice, where they use running water to sift through the dirt. Emerald Village (emeraldvillage.com), high in the Blue Ridge near Little Switzerland, is the site of the North Carolina Mining Museum and a gold-panning operation. Thermal City Gold Mine (huntforgold.com) in Union Mills is 10 miles north of the Bechtler home in Rutherfordton. In addition to gold sluices, the company has a store selling mining supplies and a riverside campground where guests can pan for gold. The Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine (luckystrikegoldandgem.com) in Marion invites guests to choose their own method of prospecting on the Second Broad River. Lucky Strike is the only attraction open year-round.

Museums and Festivals

The Mountain Gateway Museum (mountaingatewaymuseum.org) in Old Fort is the site of the annual North Carolina Gold Festival. Gold mining and panning demonstrations, exhibits and vendors surround the historic log cabins that house the museum. Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals (no website; 214 Parkway Maintenance Rd.; Spruce Pine; 828-765-2761) displays more than 300 gems and minerals in interactive displays. The family-oriented Colburn Earth Science Museum (colburnmeseum.wordpress.com) is part of Pack Place (packplace.org), an education, science and arts center in downtown Asheville. The science museum has an extensive collection of gems, crystals and minerals.

Tags: North Carolina, Blue Ridge, Gold Mine, historic buildings, Lucky Strike, North Carolina Gold

The Best Time To Visit Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Geological Activity

From gaping canyons to spewing geysers to hot springs cascades, Yellowstone is one of the world's natural treasures. Established in 1872 as the first national park in the world, Yellowstone houses a diverse array of flora, fauna and geological wonders. Whether you want to marvel at fields of bison, peer deep into the colorful morning glory pool or watch Old Faithful erupt like clockwork, Yellowstone will keep you busy for days. However, since most of the park is closed in the winter and summer crowds are mostly massive, finding the best time to see Yellowstone's wonders is tricky business.

Weather

From November to April, most of Yellowstone is closed due to snowy conditions and cold temperatures. Snow can continue even into the spring and early summer months. Nonetheless, many visitors endure the cold and wet May and June conditions to see the newborn animals that frequent those months. Although the temperatures begin to cool during September and October, the weather is mostly pleasant and, more importantly, the crowds are thinner and the prices are cheaper.

During the Winter, only the road from the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance remains open to cars. Other roads remain open to oversnow vehicles. Certain park services and facilities operate during the winter for people who want to see Yellowstone in its majestic snowy glory. Winter activities include snowmobile tours, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Crowds

While the July and August weather in Yellowstone is lovely and the wildlife is in full stride, the crowds can be a bit overwhelming. More than 1.5 million visitors descend upon Yellowstone in these months. As a result, you can expect huge crowds, traffic jams and limited parking. Since Yellowstone is such a large park, certain areas will be less crowded in the summer, but you can expect quite a bit of congestion at the more popular park areas such as Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Hiking trails are far less congested than the roadways in the summer. Shuttle companies offer services within the park so you do not need to worry about parking if you want to access Yellowstone's world-class trails. Crowds are more bearable in early season (May and June), late season (September and October) and winter.

Lodging

Like the rest of the park, lodging in Yellowstone is at full capacity during the summer months. If you plan on going in the summer, make sure to book far in advance. For those who want to brave the snow, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hotel have winter seasons. Remember that road access during the winter is mostly limited to over-snow vehicles. Contact a company that offers winter Yellowstone tours for more specific information. Since Yellowstone is more inaccessible during the winter, the lodges are usually more available. If you can brave the cold, the winter landscapes are well worth your time and energy.

Tags: during winter, September October, Since Yellowstone, summer months

Tell If A Moqui Stone Is A Fake

According to CrystalsRocksAndGems.com, the Moqui stone is an extremely old mineral that is thought by some to have spiritual properties including regenerating the immune system; physical and spiritual unity; supplying a joy of life; and providing a feeling of belonging to people, plants and animals. To try and experience these benefits through a Moqui stone, you must first identify if you have the genuine article. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Feel the weight of the stone. The shell is made of heavy, natural iron deposits, so the Moqui stone should have quite a lot of weight to it, although it should not feel entirely like an iron construct, as the center is filled with extremely fine, coral-colored sandstone.

2. Examine the shape of the stone. Genuine Moqui stones are roughly circular, or in some cases, elliptical. If you receive a stone that is a different shape or has rough, jagged edges, then it could be a fake, or at least have been artificially cut.

3. Submit your stone for age testing. This could be a time-consuming and complicated route, but if you find a laboratory or university that is willing to test the age of the stone, you will get an excellent idea as to the authenticity of the stone. According to Salagram.net, Moqui stones are estimated at somewhere between 130 to 155 million years old, so the result of the age test will certainly give you an idea if it is a fake.

4. Find out where the stone came from. Genuine Moqui stones have a very limited scope in regards to where they can be mined from. Genuine Moqui stones generally come from Navajo sandstone formations, especially in the state of Utah. If you cannot confirm where the stone has come from and whether it is from a region with Navajo sandstone formations, then you cannot be sure the stone is genuine.

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List Of Major Deserts

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world

A desert is an area on the earth which gets less than 10 inches of accumulative precipitations in a a year. They generally contain very limited vegetation, a variety of animal life and have large to enormous rock formations. Temperatures in desert regions can become extremely hot in the daytime, reaching well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit regularly, while in winter temperatures can fall to around freezing at night.

Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari Desert is situated in South Africa. It is semi-arid to arid and extends 350,000 square miles which covers most of Botswana and many parts of Namibia. The Kalahari Desert is the seventh largest of all desert regions on the globe. It averages anywhere from 3 to 7 inches of precipitation every year. Plant life in the Kalahari Desert includes primarily grasses and acacia trees, while desert animals include antelope, warthogs, jackals, meerkats, brown lions and giraffes.

Sahara Desert

The Sahara desert is about 2.5 million years old and is the largest non-Arctic desert in the world, covering approximately 3.5 million square miles in Northern Africa. A variety of animals inhabit the Sahara Desert, which includes antelopes, gerbils, spotted hyena, jackal, the desert fox, camels, African wild dogs and ostriches. Vegetation in this region is sparse due to the extreme heat and dryness however, areas of grass can be found as well as the occasional olive tree.

Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert covers approximately 900,000 square miles. It is located throughout areas of the Persian Gulf to Yemen, Jordan and Iraq, occupying the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. It gets an average of only about 1.4 inches per year of precipitation which makes it friendly to only a few types of plant growth. Plants which can be found in the Arabian Desert include the Date Palm, Juniper and the caper. Animals in this region include the dromedary camel, Egyptian vulture, flamingo, hedgehog, Arabian horse, fox, hyena and jackal.

Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is the second largest desert in all of Asia, and the third largest in all of the world. It covers about 500,000 square miles which includes the southern portions of Mongolia. The temperatures in the Gobi Desert vary greatly, dropping as low as 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in winter and getting as hot as 113 degrees F in the summer months. The Saxaul Tree is one of the few plants that can be found in many parts of this region. Animals that inhabit the Gobi Desert include camel, wild horses, wild asses and antelopes.

Great Victoria Desert

The Great Victoria Desert stretches over more than 250,000 square miles in the western and southern regions of Australia. Plants that can be found in this area include wildflowers, acacia trees, black desert oak, marble gums, spinifex, cacti and hibbertia. Animals that live in the Victoria Desert include snakes, camels, wallabies and lizards.

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What Is Eris Made Of

Eris, a dwarf planet discovered in 2005, is named for the Greek goddess of warfare and strife.

Eris, a dwarf planet recently discovered by a research team led by Michael Brown from California Institute of Technology, is similar to Pluto in size and mass. Armed with that information, scientists made the informed guess that Eris is like Pluto in its composition of rock and ice. Studies of the dwarf planet's characteristics continue.

Surface

By studying the sunlight reflected off the surface of Eris, scientists think that Eris has a surface that is similar to the planet Pluto. The sunlight indicates a surface covered with a solid frozen methane gas or natural gas. Methane is present on Earth in gaseous forms. Because of the extremely low temperatures, the methane would be frozen solid on Eris.

Interior

Scientists believe the interior of Eris is probably a rock and ice mixture, similar to Pluto's interior. Until scientists can learn more about the actual density of the planet, they can only speculate about the interior's composition.

Atmosphere

Eris orbits around the sun every 280 years. The planet is now as far from the sun as it gets in its orbit. Scientists believe that at this time the atmosphere, likely consisting of methane and nitrogen, is frozen solid to the surface of the planet. Over the course of the 280-year orbit, as the planet gets closer to the sun, the atmosphere evaporates.

Tags: dwarf planet, Eris dwarf, Eris dwarf planet, frozen solid, Scientists believe, similar Pluto

High School Engineering Summer Schools

High school students get hands-on practice at many engineering schools' summer programs.

High school students looking to improve their understanding of and abilities in engineering may attend summer school programs at several universities' engineering schools. The programs vary in scope, depth and format. Though numerous schools offer summer courses to high school students, you might begin your search by noting a few programs from well-known universities. Continue your search by looking at programs close to home at local schools.

Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering

At Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, high school students can learn about engineering through a combination of hands-on projects, research essays, presentations, lectures and lab experiments. Among the program's highlights, students try to "build a better mousetrap" of their own design. They also compete against one another to build the strongest bridge out of dry spaghetti. Students complete a range of hands-on and virtual laboratory experiments. The program has 11 sites at universities and high schools in California, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The Maryland site is on-campus; the others are day programs.

University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering

At the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering, high school students can participate in one of several summer programs. S.P.I.C.E. Camp is aimed at young women entering ninth and 10th grades, while Exploring Engineering at the University of Maryland (E2@UMD) is aimed at young women going into 11th or 12th grades. The Center for Minorities in Engineering offers Project Pipeline to students from Project Lead the Way, who are entering grades 10 through 12. If you're entering 11th or 12th grade, Discovering Engineering may be the program for you, with a residential format.

University of Idaho

The University of Idaho's Junior Engineering, Math and Science Program gives high school students a chance to expand their math skills and make connections with engineering problems. To participate, students must be entering grades 11 or 12. Living on campus, students take classes in a range of subjects, including environmental engineering, computer programming, robotics and computer graphics. Completing the program can earn participants two college credits.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

For an engineering program with an emphasis on mine engineering, high school students may attend classes at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. A range of short camps and classes focus on various subjects and their intersection with engineering problems, such as mining and explosives, geology, chemical and biological engineering, and forensics and materials engineering. Participants may select from all-girls, all-boys or coed classes. Age groups vary as well, with some older groups excluding freshmen and other younger groups including older middle school students.

Tags: school students, School Engineering, high school, high school students, University Maryland

Different Kinds Of Tides

Tides ebb and flow with the moon.

Though the sun's mass, and its gravitational pull, is greater than the moon's, the moon is closer and so wields twice the gravitational pull on Earth's oceans. The moon revolves around Earth every 23 hours and 53 minutes, or the time of a tidal day, but because the moon and earth have elliptical orbits, a full tidal cycle actually takes 19 years. Variations in the distance and alignment of the sun and moon to the Earth result in several different types of tides.

Tidal Variations

The moon's gravity affects each object on and in the Earth. When gravitational forces act on the Earth, objects distort, including water and the Earth itself. Oceans distort in the form of two tidal bulges. Oceans on the side of the Earth closest to the moon exhibit a large tidal bulge. Oceans on the opposite side of the planet also exhibit a smaller tidal bulge, as the moon's gravitational pull moves the Earth toward the moon and away from the water. As the Earth rotates under these two bulges, any coastline on the planet's surface generally experiences two high tides and two low tides during each full rotation. Of course, there are exceptions to this simplistic model.

Spring Tides

One complicating factor that creates different types of tides is the sun's gravitational pull. When the moon is in its new and full phases, the Earth, moon and sun are aligned in a formation that adds the sun's gravitational pull to the moon's gravitational pull. This phenomenon, known as spring tide, results in higher-than-normal high tides and lower-than-normal low tides.

Neap Tides

When the moon is in its first and third quarters, the sun and moon are aligned at right angles to the Earth. Because the sun's gravitational pull works against the moon's pull in this alignment, both high tides and low tides are weaker. This phenomenon is known as neap tide. Spring tides and neap tides alternate at 1-week intervals.

Perigean Tides

Like other heavenly bodies, the moon's orbit around the Earth is elliptical. Once each month, the moon passes by the Earth at perigee, which is about 30,000 miles closer than at apogee, or the furthest point in orbit. When spring tides and perigee align, the moon's extra-strong pull results in unusually high tides, known as perigean tides. Perigean tides take place at intervals that are slightly longer than six months, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Diurnal Tides

If one high tide and one low tide take place in a lunar day, it's known as a diurnal tide. Diurnal tides create 24-hour, 50-minute tidal periods. Oceans in partially enclosed basins, such as the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast of the U.S. often experience diurnal tides.

Semi-Diurnal Tides

When two high and two low tides of the same height take place in a lunar day, it's called a semi-diurnal tide. Semi-diurnal tidal periods are 12 hour and 25 minutes long. Most coastlines experience semi-diurnal tides.

Mixed Tides

Mixed tides consist of two high tides and two low tides of varied heights during a lunar day. Most open coastlines, such as the west coast of the U.S., experience mixed tides.

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