Brownfields: Brown is the Next Green!
by Meru S. A property can be considered a brownfield and not just an abandoned building when the local city detects contaminants underground beneath the property. Additionally, it can be regarded as a brownfield even if there is only a possibility of pollutants, since in both circumstances, it would be unsafe for prolonged human activity…
3D Modeling Software for 3D Printing
by Camden S. One thing that everyone needs when making a 3D printed model is 3D modeling software. No matter if you are new to the hobby, or have some experience, a program for creating objects is a crucial tool. This article is about software specifically for 3D printing, yet can be used in a…
Oldest Active Astronaut Returns Home from 220-Day Mission
by guest author Jonathan David Don Petit, the current oldest active astronaut, returned to Earth on his 70th birthday froma 220-day mission on the International Space Station. He spent many hours on scientificresearch in the areas of 3D printing in space, water sanitation, plant growth and fire behavior inmicrogravity. This was his fourth mission, totaling…
California’s Special Species – Part 1
by Sabine B. Why is California so diverse? One reason is the abundance of different biomes and environments. The wide beaches and rocky cliffs of the coast regions border groves of redwood trees, oak woodlands merge into stands of fir and pine that give way to alpine meadows, and sage flats sprawl into sandy deserts.…
Crash Course in 3D Printing
by Camden S. How does one start 3D printing? In this article you’ll learn the basics of 3D printing, and where to start. Picking the Printer There are three main types of 3D printers: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) uses a spool of filament and prints molten plastic in layers, SLA (Stereolithography) uses a laser to…
Yosemite’s Fall of Fire
by Layal Hilal Have you ever seen a waterfall on fire? If you have, you’ve probably been to Yosemite and seen Horsetail Falls in February, where the waterfall “lights on fire” a few times every year. The illusion of it becoming a literal “river of lava” is caused by the sun setting at the right…
The Psychology of Stress
by Lucas David Understanding stress is very important for a number of reasons, especially for teens, who experience comparatively high amounts of stress in their daily lives. For one, stress has a direct impact on your mental wellbeing, as it can cause you to feel overwhelmed or anxious, as well as causing difficulty concentrating, memory…
Concorde: A Pinnacle of Air Travel
By Hudson Ebach The Concorde was a supersonic jet airliner, manufactured by Aérospatiale, British Aircraft Corporation, Sud Aviation, and British Aerospace. It was made in 1976 and was retired in 2003. About The Concorde. The Concorde went speeds up to Mach 2 (over 1500 MPH), making it the fastest airliner to have ever been built.…
Learn About Your Body – The Skeletal System!
by Aleena Haimor Wow! We’re already three systems in! Next up on our list of the body’s systems to learn about is the skeletal system. The skeleton is made up of bones, which act as the body’s support system. Here are some of the most important bones in your body: The skeletal system is super…
What is a Good Game Engine for Beginners?
by Camden S. What is a game engine? A game engine is a software that is essentially a framework that can be used to create video games. It can help you create a video game by providing tools that make the process easier. There are many game engines, and a lot of them have a…
Learn About Your Body – The Digestive System!
by Aleena Haimor Our next body system is the digestive system! When you eat food, your body has to turn it into nutrients to keep you going. The nutrients are energy for your body. This is all done by your amazing digestive system! Here are the steps to digesting food: The circulatory system contains many…
Learn About Your Body – The Circulatory System
by Aleena Haimor Have you ever wondered how your body works? How your heart beats? How your brain controls your body? Well, you’re in luck! I’m starting a new series on how the body works! Every publishing, I’ll dive into a different body system. Let’s begin! First up is the circulatory system! It is one…
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycles!
by guest author Ayah Haimor Butterflies are amazing creatures. They do so much for the earth. Today I will be telling you about Monarch butterflies. Let’s get started! First I will tell you about one type, or species, of butterfly. There are many different kinds of butterflies, but today I’ll tell you about the monarch…
The Resent Total Solar Eclipse
by Lucas David Last week, I flew to Texas to see the total solar eclipse, only to find the sky obstructed by heavy clouds that blanketed most of Texas. The forecast showed the possibility of blue sky in a couple different directions, hours away from us, but we couldn’t know for sure which of them…
Lise Meitner and her Scientific Discoveries
by Olive Pea “Life need not be easy, provided only that it is not empty” stated Lise Meitner. Despite being at a disadvantage in many ways, Lise Meitner earned the impressive title “Mother of the Atomic Bomb”. She was a determined physicist who made many discoveries such as the radioactive element protactinium, and nuclear fission.…
Solar Eclipse Facts!
by Layal Hilal Have you ever seen a solar eclipse? Solar eclipses are amazing phenomena and are once-in-a-lifetime experiences…or twice-in-a-lifetime! In fact, during a time period of about four minutes, a solar eclipse will occur on April 8th, 2024. And in order to properly prepare for this eclipse, I will be sharing some facts about…
All About Elephants
by guest author Mila Martinov Elephants are interesting animals. I chose to write about them, because I find them truly magnificent. Check out these really cool facts about some of the most amazing creatures in the world, in my opinion. African Elephants live in savannas and jungles, while Asian Elephants live in tropical forests and…
A Day in the Life of a Rattlesnake
by Lydia I. Martinov Hey! Don’t be ssscared. I’m a nice sssnake. Welcome to northern Mexico. My name is Russ the Rattlesnake, or more formally, Russell the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. I live inside of a bunny burrow I found. I’m not sure if the bunny still lives here, but I find it cozy. I like…
Fun Facts: What is Mitosis?
by Aleena Haimor Mi·to·sis /mīˈtōsəs/ Noun Definition: A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth. The first step actually starts BEFORE mitosis. It is called interphase (G2) The G2 is the second part of…
Current Sustainability Problems in the Bay Area
by Ava Salado To shed some light on what pollutants exist in the San Francisco Bay area we have to take into consideration both the air and the water. Pollution such as home chemicals, gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers, rubbish, and legacy harmful pollutants are washed into the Bay untreated or unfiltered when it rains. Rainwater is…
Contra Costa Water District: Behind the Scenes
by Meru S. Take a drink of water from your kitchen faucet. Have you ever wondered where that water is coming from? Clean water is essential for our everyday lives. We use it for drinking, showering, watering our gardens, cleaning our clothes, washing our dishes, and for many other daily tasks. Contra Costa Water District…
What is DNA?
by Aleena Haimor Do you know what causes your eye, hair and skin color, etc? Well, you can thank your DNA! DNA are molecules that make you, well, you! DNA itself stands for deoxyribonucleic acid (ask your parents on how to pronounce that). The deoxy part means that DNA has one less (the de part…
A Day in the Life of a Great White Shark
by Lydia I. Martinov Hey there! My name is Todd, and I’m a Great White Shark. Don’t be shy, I had a big breakfast, so I won’t bite. My scientific name is “Carcharodon carcharias” for those of you who like that kind of stuff. I am 35 years old, so technically, I can be considered…
All About Tigers
by guest author Mila Martinov I decided to write about tigers because they are so cool. There are many awesome facts about them. Most important thing I can say is, “Don’t adopt a tiger!”! Tigers can jump really high, as high as an elephant’s head. That is 16 feet high! They are predators and are…
Five Awesome Whales
by Guest Author – Mila Martinov I wrote this article because, as you know, I love sea creatures. They are so cool! I hope you like this article and enjoy the fun learning. Last time, I wrote about jellyfish. Today, I want to tell you about the coolest mammals in the sea. 1. Blue whale…
Discover the World’s Largest Marine Mammal Hospital
by Meru S. The Marine Mammal Center is the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, with Operations in Monterey Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Fort Bragg, California. The Center’s Main Hospital and Headquarters are located in Sausalito, California., They also have a hospital and visitor center in Kona, Hawaii — the Ke Kai Ola (The Healing…
What’s that Cat Saying?
by Olive Pea Have you ever wondered what your pet cat was trying to tell you? When your cat is rubbing on your legs, you probably have thought, “Does my little fur ball want food or pets?” It can be quite difficult to tell what they are trying to say, and sometimes misunderstandings can lead…
5 California Wildflowers to Look Forward to this Season
by Ava Salado Spring has almost sprung. And you know what that means… wildflowers! Yes, it also means debilitating allergies for some lucky folks but the beauty is worth it. Soon we will see oceans of lovely colors floating above our bay area fields. In fact, the northern California area has some very unique wildflowers.…
A Day in the Life of a Platypus
by Lydia I. Martinov Hello, there! My name is Percy Platypus. I can not wait to tell you what a day in my life looks like. I just woke up in my burrow, which is located on the shore near a beautiful river in Australia. It looks like it’s almost evening, so it’s time for…
Let’s have a Conversation about Conservation!
by Meru S. My local 4-H club recently invited a guest speaker from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to talk about water conservation. He spoke about the most common ways water is wasted in everyday life, and how we can use less water to conserve it. Even with the rain that we have…
5 Coolest Jellyfish
by Guest Author Mila M. (age 5) I love sea animals. In fact, jellyfish are my favorite. I hope my article gets you to like them too. I find jellyfish to be very beautiful, because of their many bright colors, glowing in the dark, and cool shapes. They have been around for almost 600 million…
Mt. Diablo Audubon Society 2022 Christmas Bird Count Results
by Meru S. Mt. Diablo Audubon Society (MDAS) announced the results of the 2022 Central and East Contra Costa County Christmas Bird Count on their Facebook page on January 16th, 2023. A total of 160 bird species were seen in Central County, one less than 2020’s record of 161. In East County, a total of…
Tesla’s Optimus: A State-of-the-Art Robot or Another Impractical Toy?
by Lydia I. Martinov The future is here! Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has finally unveiled the Optimus (also known as the Tesla robot). This epic piece of machinery contains AI (Artificial Intelligence), meaning that it can perform tasks that usually require a human mind. The Optimus was unveiled by Elon Musk on September…
Let’s Help Solitary Bees – Part 2 –
by Ava Salado What is a bee hotel? Well, it’s basically a home where solitary bees can lay their eggs, these eggs can hatch into larvae, then emerge to pollinate your garden! Bee hotels are kind of a birdhouse but for bees. Solitary bees need a small, hollow “cave” like place to lay their eggs…
Let’s Help Solitary Bees – Part 1 –
by Ava Salado When you think of bees, most people think of hive dwelling, queen born, black and yellow little puff balls. But there’s actually much more than that! Not all bees live in hives, actually, out of 20,000 species, 90% are Solitary bees. 70% of all Solitary bees live underground, and only less than…
A Day in the Life of a Peacock
by Lydia I. Martinov Hello, there! My name is Johnathan, but you can call me Johnny. I am a peacock! Now, you might wonder: What exactly is a normal day in the life of a peacock? Well, lucky for you, I am about to tell you! I just woke up in a tree. I live…
A Day in the Life of a Tasmanian Devil
by Lydia I. Martinov Hi, I’m Taz. I am a Tasmanian Devil, and I can’t wait to tell you about my life! First off, I look like a little black bear. I also have a white stripe across my chest. About the size of a large housecat, I am fast and ferocious, but we’ll get…
CA Acadamy of Sciences vs Exploratorium
by Dominic Kauffman The Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium are both fascinating places to go in San Francisco. They both Include exhibits that teach and pique your curiosity. But they have several major differences that may influence your decision if you can visit only one or the other (please note this is by my…
Itinerary: Mars
by Lydia I. Martinov Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hang out far, far away on Mars? Well, you are in luck, because this article has all you need to know about our red neighbor. Mars, (also known as The Red Planet) is a planet with a very thin atmosphere that…
Flatufacts Farticle
Submission by Emmett Moala You do it. I do it. We all do it. Yep, you know what I’m talking about. Farting! Did you know termites fart so much that it contributes 20 million tons of methane to the atmosphere every year? Birds on the other hand, do the opposite! They don’t fart at all…
What is Synesthesia?
by Olive Pea I recently learned I had synesthesia. I was talking to my piano teacher about what the color C was on the piano. She thought it was the color yellow, and I thought it was blue. She said she used to have arguments with her brother (who is also a musician) on what…
King of the Tyrant Lizards
by Lucas Garcia The T-Rex is without a doubt the most famous dinosaur in history, but there is much more to the Tyrant Lizard King than you might think. In the year 1900, assistant curator of the American Museum of Natural History, Barnum Brown, found the first partial skeleton of T-Rex; two years later, he…
Sauropods
by Lucas Garcia Most herbivorous dinosaurs kind of take a back seat when it comes to pop culture, especially sauropods. Sauropods often don’t get the spotlight they deserve, as they are usually dismissed as nothing more than gentle, long-necked giants. But what some don’t realize is the largest animals to have ever lived on land…
Antlion
by Lucas Garcia Antlions are a group of insects in the family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for their larvae’s predatory habits, with many species lying at the bottom of pits to trap their prey. There are over 2000 species that live in a lot of diverse environments, from the tropics to places with cold temperatures,…
Fossil Ownership
by Lucas Garcia Last year, a new show aired on the Discovery channel called “Dino Hunters,” and it brought to my attention how some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of Paleontology work. The truth is, it’s not as simple as professional Paleontologists finding fossils and bringing them back to a lab where they can be studied. …
Allosaurus
by Lucas Garcia Allosaurus is a large, carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived during the Jurassic period in North America around 155 to 145 million years ago. Fully-grown adults could be over 28 feet long and weigh more than 2 tons. It was named Allosaurus (meaning, different/other lizard) for its, at the time, unique, concave vertebrae. …
Paleontology
by Lucas Garcia The field of Paleontology is fascinating to me. It allows us to study extinct plants and animals to hypothesize what they would’ve been like when they were still alive. It’s amazing how much our understanding of these wonderful organisms can change as we discover and learn more about them. One of my…
Common Side-Blotched Lizard
Lucas Garcia The common side-blotched lizard is a unique animal. The males behave in 3 different ways and also differ in the color of the scales on their throats. There are three different colors: blue, orange, and yellow. Certain behaviors correspond to each color. The different colors have a unique “Rock-Paper-Scissors” form of competition. The…
Leaping Blennies: A Terrestrial Fish!
by Blake Killion The Pacific Leaping Blenny (Alticus arnoldorum) is one of a limited number of amphibious fish, a kind of fish that can leave water for an extended period of time. What makes Pacific Leaping Blennies and other kinds of Leaping Blennies so interesting, besides their head crests and reddish-orange dorsal fins, is their…
“Life uh… Finds a Way”
By Lucas Garcia The Jurassic Park franchise is hands down the most popular piece of dinosaur media ever. Based on the 1990 novel by Michael Crichton, the first Jurassic Park movie cemented dinosaurs as pop-culture icons. One of the most prominently featured dinosaurs in the franchise is the Velociraptor. However, its portrayal in that series…
Megalosaurus
by Lucas Garcia Meaning: Giant Lizard Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be discovered and scientifically named. From what little fossils they had at the time, Paleontologists thought Megalosaurus resembled a bulky, bear-like lizard. When in reality, its skeleton was more similarly structured to some birds, such as roadrunners.
Pterosaurs
by Lucas Garcia The “P” is silent! When people think of flying dinosaurs, Pterosaurs are usually what they are referring to. However, while they are closely related, Pterosaurs are not Dinosaurs. In the early days of Paleontology, “Dinosaur” was a catch-all term for most prehistoric, reptilian animals. As the fossil record grew it became easier…
The Lighthouse 