Fingerprints for lava?

Did you know that scientists can tell the difference between some of the volcanic lava coming from some of Hawaii's volcanoes? It is like a fingerprint for the lava. Check it out.

Stress and Prey

Predators Can Stress Prey to Death

A hungry fish can kill prey with a quick bite. That is, of course, if its prey hasn't already died of fright. Take tasty dragonflies. The mere presence of predators—even caged ones—is enough to scare dragonflies to death, according to a study in the journal Ecology.

Researchers collected wild dragonfly larvae, and placed them in tanks with fish or insect predators. The larvae could see and smell their hunters—but were kept safe by underwater cages. After two months, the researchers took a head count—and found that dragonfly larvae sharing quarters with their killers were two to four times as likely to die off, compared to counterparts living in predator-free waters. And they had slimmer chances of surviving metamorphosis, too.

The authors suggest a couple reasons why. First, prey tend to make fewer forays for snacks when predators are lurking around, so they may not be as nutritionally fit. And previous studies have shown that the presence of predators ups stress levels in prey, weakening their immune systems and making them more vulnerable to disease—and death.

As if being eaten wasn't enough to worry about, looks can kill too.

Listen to this 60-Second Science podcast and comment to the post.

Where did recess go?

This article from Live Science makes me want to go out and play...RIGHT NOW. Okay, not right now because I want to get some things done and the wind is blowing really hard.

How often do you get to go outside and play? How much recess did you have in elementary school? What suggestions do you have as spring approaches that will help us go outside and play AND learn at the same time? If you can come up with some that I did not think of, I will see what I can do.