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observation

Curves Illusion

This is an optical illusion that I first saw as part of a kit of magic tricks that I received as a present when I was young. The kit was designed for children, so most of the "tricks" were things that did not take a lot of skill. Like many other magic tricks, this one relies on science instead of sleight of hand.

What is Science?

Why do we have to study science? What good is it? For that matter, what is it? That question, "What is science?", is a very good one, and not easy to answer. Many different definitions have been proposed by different sources. After looking through many of them, I have tried to combine and distill them into a workable definition that we can use in our study of science.

Bird Bones

One of the important ways that we learn about anatomy is by dissection. The word "dissection: may make you think of dead frogs in bottles of preservative, but you probably dissect things frequently. You just don't think of it as dissection. Instead, you think of it as dinner.

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Rufous Hummingbird
I took this photo of a female Rufous Hummingbird at our bird feeder today. Why are hummingbird feeders red?

920

Ice in bird bath
We are expecting a hard freeze tonight. The water in our bird baths will probably have a layer of ice, if they don't freeze solid. If cold water sinks, why does the ice form at the top?

923

Pinyon Jays at feeder
Huge flocks of Pinyon Jays are visiting our feeders this week to get ready for winter. They are picking out the sunflower seeds and swallowing them whole. Why?

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Trees with yellow leaves
Although we have had several freezes, the leaves here are just starting to change. Every year, the leaves start changing colors in the North first, and then the color change spreads South. This is not due to the temperature. What causes it?

926

Running horse
Running horses played an important role in the development of a very common, modern technology. What is it?

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