Scientists have developed a teeny backpack for bumblebees which will enable researchers to be able to use the insects to fly around and collect data onto the sensor found inside the backpacks. Information collected from the sensors, with rechargeable batteries, will help supply temperature, humidity and flying patterns of bees and help with agriculture. Creating a sensor weighing about the weight of 7 uncooked grains of rice, was the hard part. Bumblebees used for the experiment were collected and placed in a freezer to slow them down and backpacks were glued to their backs. Scientists from the school of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington say using bees over drones, is much more efficient. Next, backpacks that are equipped with live cameras, which farmers can used to monitor their crops.

A company in England has developed a biodegradable pod that may replace plastic water bottles. Made of seaweed, scientists removed any odor and the green coloring. The pods, which are edible and tasteless, were used in the London Marathon, last weekend. The 41,000 runners were handed the water capsules made from seaweed. If not used within about six weeks, the pods decompose. That's much more environmentally friendly than using plastic water bottles that can take 450 years to breakdown! The company says the pods can be filled with all sorts of liquids.

Photograph from livekindly.com

Two third graders in a school in Medford, MA, were looking for a way to make their school neighborhood safer. Their idea was to make the crosswalk in the school's pick up zone a 3D illusion. The children spoke with the Mayor of Medford as well as the traffic commission trying to convince the adults of their class project idea. Local officials liked the students' idea and hired an artist to paint the school's crosswalk to look 3D. Now, 3D crosswalks will be coming to other area elementary schools,too. The illusion makes the white painted barriers look raised up causing drivers to slow down. The students are very excited that their idea and hard work was made a reality and hope it will help keep children safer as they cross the streets.

Photograph from medfordccsr.org

Scientists in the country of Israel have found another use for 3D printers. What is believed to be the world's first tiny heart was produced using cell containing "bioink""! The heart has the necessary functions to actually work including cells, blood vessels and chambers.Although the heart is only about the size of a rabbit's heart, it is thought that it is a step to possible human hearts being printed. Imagine creating a human heart, when needed, on a 3D printer, saving lives of many people who die every day because a needed replacement heart is not currently available. Amazing!

Photograph from nbcnews.com

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"The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to compromise."FDR "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."(Ben Franklin) "You must be the change you want to see in the world."(Mahatma Gandhi) "School is a building that has four walls-with tomorrow inside."(Lon Watters) "We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make."(Senator Ted Kennedy) "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." (Robert Byrne)
Special thanks to EducationWorld for letting me use this image of my "alter ego" as Mrs. "Waffenschmidt!

About Gail:

I have retired from teaching after 33 1/2 years in the classroom. Of that time, I taught Grade 6 Social Studies teacher for 31 1/2 years.I earned my BA in early secondary education with a concentration in social studies from SUNY Oneonta, New York, and my MST in social studies education from Binghamton University in New York. In 1988, I was awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from the New York State Council for the Social Studies. Additionally, in 1988, I was also awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award by the National Council for the Social Studies. I am the author of 8 books for teachers and over 30 books for children(Purple Turtle Series by Aadarsh Publishing). In 2019, my new series of three books, "Odd History" will be published by Red Chair Press.

My work has appeared in most children's publications including:
Appleseeds,Scholastic's Super Science,Scholastic's Science World,Highlights for Children,Jack and Jill,National Geographic World, Ranger Rick, Cobblestone, Faces, Muse Magazine,Contact Kids, US Kids,Action Magazine(Scholastic),Girls' Life,Boys' Life,American Girl, Instructor,Creative Classroom,Middle Years,Time for Kids,Scholastic News,Scholastic News Zone, Time for Kids , Ask Magazine, Dig,Calliope, Cobblestone, FACES, Studies Weekly, Glo Adventurer, and more.

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