Argues people have forgotten how much of an idealization the Newtonian world view actually is. For this reason, people have come to believe that we can only "see" the world in three spatial dimensions. Describes an alternative idealization, or set of pictures, that would lead to find the claim that the universe is a four-dimensional…

Using graphs and diagrams, the authors describe a simple fermentation chamber and provide key experiments that can be used in the classroom to give students meaningful insight into metabolic processes. (ZWH)

Almost 70 years of scientific research leaves many unanswered questions concerning diabetes mellitus. This disease can be viewed as an illustration of the complexity of biological systems. Textbooks stress normal rather than abnormal physiology and rarely share the difficulties encountered in understanding those abnormal conditions (PR)

Describes the use of concept maps and Vee maps in science instruction. (PR)

Discusses the apparent chaos of two student activities in a seventh-grade reading and writing workshop in the light of physicists' recent theories of time. Show how time is thought to be organic and evolving, with the past active in the present, and with students using time not in a linear way but as a whole. (SR)

Describes a toy shaped like a bird that has an intuitively astonishing property: no matter how far away from equilibrium it is moved, it oscillates back to equilibrium. The behavior of this physical system is explained and is used to illustrate the concept of mechanical stability and the usefulness of making simple, idealized models for describing…

Focuses on the relationship between loudness and intensity of sounds. (Author/PVD)

Focuses on the concepts of pitch and timbre of sounds. (PVD)

An investigation was conducted of the relative drag experienced by different types of tea/coffee stirrers to make deductions about their stirring efficiencies. Experiments compared the stirring performances of convex and concave sides of a plastic teaspoon with the performance of a commercial stirrer. The performance of the spoon exceeded that of…

Fifteen adolescents with and 15 without mental retardation were compared on their tendency to show the representational momentum effect when viewing a stimulus array that implied motion. Participants with mental retardation showed the representational momentum effects as did the others, although the magnitude of the memory shift was smaller.…

Illustrates that acid-base indicators come in many forms and the reversible effects that acids and bases have on the colors of such indicators. An object is dyed in an indicator, which causes the object to turn dark blue at pH less than 3.0 to 5.0. Suggests using dyeable fabric shoes and other cotton articles. (PVD)

Presents an analogy that relates the one-dimensional mechanical equilibrium of a rigid block between two Hooke's law springs and the chemical equilibrium of two perfect gases using ordinary materials. (PVD)

Describes the use of a theoretical framework of DNA topology and a simple method for modeling structures as successful ways of teaching students about DNA supercoiling. (WRM)

Reports on how science teachers might work to improve their students' use of science process skills in ways that will contribute to their meaningful learning during laboratory activities. (Author/WRM)

Describes a way to demonstrate the causes of seasons and related phenomena by using an umbrella and flashlight. (WRM)