I am working on a new series on Astronomy and Astrophysics, which is slated for release in December 2009 (this year!).  I am so excited about this new program, as this new program combines two of  my core passions: teaching and stars. Astronomy is one of those rare subjects that overarcs a lot of other fields of science (physics, chemistry, biology…), and the students who rise up to make it their full-time study area do it because they are seriously passionate about it.  You won’t find many people in this field who don’t have a strong desire to learn more on a universal scale.

So what will this new class be like? Well, first of all, there are no materials required. That in itself is a miracle!  I love to make stuff out of everyday ‘junk’, but my lab is filled with a lot of stuff most folks don’t have (or would even consider having!).  So we’re slashed the materials for this course because we wanted to make it accessible to everyone.  The only things you need are a computer and a phone, and if you’re reading this blog, then we know you have those already.

Secondly, it will be like having a front-row seat at an ultra-cool planetarium show.  Right in  your own house.  I’ve got special slides, maps, charts, and astronomy software to show you that will take you through the galaxy without you having to leave your seat.  We’ll be on the phone, too, so it’s a live show.  How does that sound?

This course is included with the eScience program and is the topic for study in December.  So get your rocketship ready for take-off, because here we come!

I get a lot of emails about the Scientific Method, including what it is and why we use it.  My answer is not that complex – it’s very simple, actually.  The scientific method is a way of organizing data and removing emotion. When you do the scientific method, you estimate what’s going to happen (hypothesis), design and run an experiment, and collect the data on what happened.  You then package it into a form that allows other people to figure out what you did, also.  Wrap it all up and you get the scientific method… which is NOT the most-favored method by scientists, by the way.

Surprised?

Most engineers and scientists use a variety of other tools to do their real ’science’ work… the Scientific Method is designed for science teachers and some science researchers.  That’s about it.  Most scientists don’t sit around, spitting out random ideas to test and then stoutly run through this whole thing.  Most great science comes from getting curious about something and then just messing around.

For example, ink jet printer technology was discovered when an engineer accidentally put a hot soldering iron on his ink pen (and the ink came shooting out).  The microwave oven was invented after a scientist (who was testing a magnetron) accidentally shot radar near his shirt and melted the food inside the pocket.  And scientists discovered gamma rays that came from deep space while searching the upper atmosphere for nuclear signatures (a sign of nuclear weapon testing) from the Russians (boy, was that a fun one!)

So science doesn’t have to be a serious, no-messing around undertaking.  The best stuff comes from being curious enough to find your own answers, and having a mom with enough foresight to tolerate the mess (and close the door).

Happy Experimenting!
Aurora

Hi there!  I know I haven’t been writing for a while now – we were on a long tour that ended in Alaska in late August, and then we started up our eScience program that absolutely swamped our emailboxes and phone lines for weeks!  But I’m back now, and I’ll be posting some great content here for you to review, including how to make some really cool Halloween science projects on a shoestring budget.  Hoes does that sound?

Great – then I’ll be back in a bit… just wanted to say ‘Hi, I’m back!”

More soon, I promise!
~Aurora