D4K Top 10 Questions
After each D4K, we sort though all the calls and emails and pick out our top ten questions. Our guest experts then give us the answers. Did your question make the top ten?
When you're done with this year's, you can look back at questions and answers from previous seasons:
Rivers (May 2010)
Thanks to Jan Boll, Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho; and Cindy Busche, Environmental Education Coordinator, Boise Watershed Project for their answers
* Why do we need rivers? Show answer 
There are many reasons why we need rivers. Rivers are a lifeline, connecting the landscape to the oceans. They provide a transportation corridor for people. We also rely on them economically. The list goes on and on. (From Leah in Mrs. Hunt's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide 
* Does the river that a fish grows in affect it as in weight or health? Show answer
Yes, the chemistry of the river really can affect the way a fish can thrive within its environment. If the chemistry or water quality is poor, then the fish may have less of a chance of survival. If there are really nice, cold water temperatures like sometimes here in Idaho, and there are great habitats for fish to spawn and lay eggs, then there is a greater chance the fish will survive and become large healthy fish. (From Ancell in Gris' class at Horizon Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* How big of an issue is pollution? Show answer
The Boise River has been relatively cleaner than in the past; however, it's still listed as an impaired river by the U.S. EPA. This is because there are a lot of sediments as well as nutrients. Also, issues with temperature in parts of the river (temperatures that are not cold enough for the cold water fish and other aquatic habitat) lead us to know that some improvements still need to be made. (From Kelli in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Do all rivers lead to the ocean? Show answer
No, not all rivers lead to the ocean, but most rivers do. (From Parker in Mrs. Drainsfield's class at Mary McPherson Elementary School in Meridian) Hide
* Is there a difference between a brook and a stream? Show answer
Typically, I would say that a brook and a stream are smaller than a river, but by all definitions, they're really both rivers. Some of the terminology used may be determined by the part of the country it's in. For example, people like to talk about creeks in the West, but they may be referred to as streams, or brooks, in the East. (From Adam in Mrs. Bowe's class at McDonald Elementary School in Moscow) Hide
* What kind of force makes rivers flow? Show answer
Water is going to follow the path of least resistance, either across the land or where it flows underground. Gravity has a big impact on it, as well as the elevation or slope of the land. So, the geology is really important to the flow of a river. (From Kate in Mrs. Gris' class at Horizon Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Is it true that three-quarters of our earth is covered by water? Show answer
That is true. However, if you look at just surface water, that would be rivers, lakes, and streams, it adds up to only .01% of all of our earth's water resources. It is a very small fraction of all of earth's water. (From Tucker in Mrs. McCoy's class at Donnelly Elementary School in Donnelly) Hide
* How long is the longest river in Idaho? Do the rivers in Idaho connect with other rivers, and can we get to the ocean starting with an Idaho river? Show answer
The Snake River is Idaho's longest river. It is approximately 1,040 miles long with many tributaries. Many smaller rivers feed into the Snake River. So, there is a large network of rivers all connecting each other. Yes, we can get to the ocean from the Snake River. The Snake River flows into the Columbia River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. (From Brenna in Mrs. Chaffee's class at Valley View Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* How many rivers are there in Idaho? Show answer
There are eight major rivers in Idaho, and then there are hundreds, possibly thousands, that lead to those main rivers. (From William in Ms. Johnson's class at Cloverdale Elementary School in Idaho Falls) Hide
* Is there any salt in rivers? Show answer
The amount of minerals in the river really depends on what kinds of rocks the water is flowing over. I'm sure there is a small amount of salt, but most rivers are fresh water. (From Karina in Mrs. Mantooth's class at Riverside Elementary in Boise) Hide
Salmon (April 2010)
Thanks to Brenda Beckley, Aquatic Education Supervisor, Idaho Department of Fish and Game; and Jeff Heindel, Fish Hatcheries Supervisor, Idaho Department of Fish and Game for their answers
* What is the most commonly caught and manufactured salmon in the United States? Is the species endangered? Show answer
In terms of numbers, that would be the pink or chum salmon. They are typically associated with the west coast (Washington, Canada and Alaska). Currently, they are not endangered. (From Tanner in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* How do salmon go upstream if the water is going so fast? Show answer
Salmon are built like torpedoes and are very streamlined. They have a huge muscle and they use that muscle to swim upstream. After they use their muscle to get through a current, they may rest by stopping at a pool behind a rock or an eddy. (From Ellie who is home schooled in Eagle) Hide
* What is the difference between salmon and trout? Show answer
The basic difference between salmon and trout is that trout can spawn multiple times in their lifetime, while salmon spawn only once. (From Colby in Mrs. Nicolescu's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Why are salmon pink? Show answer
Salmon are not always pink. The sockeye salmon are very silver in color when they are adults in the ocean. It's when they migrate back to Idaho to spawn that they turn red and pink in color. Salmon are pink inside when you cook them because they eat a lot of krill, a type of shrimp. This helps them to be very, very pink when we eat them. (From Ryan in Ms. Chris' class at the Northwest Children's Home in Lewiston) Hide
* What is the biggest salmon in the world? Show answer
The largest species of salmon is the chinook salmon. Many people call them king salmon. They can be over 5 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds! (From Austin in Mrs. Woodall's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens) Hide
* What types of salmon are in the Snake River? Show answer
There are chinook salmon and steelhead, although steelhead are technically trout. Also, there are likely coho salmon that were reintroduced to Idaho by fish managers. (From Taylor in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* How long can a salmon live? Show answer
The oldest salmon is typically the chinook. They can live to be eight or nine years old. They'll spend three or four years in fresh water, and may spend three or four years in salt water before they return back to spawn. (From Brian in Mr. Sasaki's class at Sage Valley Elementary School in Nampa) Hide
* How far can a salmon jump? Show answer
It depends on the habitat they are in. For example, if they have a large pool below a waterfall, they can get a burst of speed and certainly jump 10 feet or more. Also, they are very streamlined and muscular. This allows them to be strong and to jump quite a height. (From Morgan in Mrs. Gris' class at Horizon Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* What is the smallest salmon in the world? Show answer
As a species, the pink sockeye are the smallest salmon. However, residual males, who never go to the ocean and live their entire lives in fresh water are very small and may be no longer than a pencil. (From Aidan who is home schooled in Jerome) Hide
* How do you tell if a salmon is male or female? Show answer
It's difficult to tell the difference between a male and a female. The male species gets a little more color when they start to mature and get ready to spawn. Some of them will develop a hump and a hook jaw. Typically the females are not quite as colorful and they have rounder bellies. (From Owen in Mrs. Schultz's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens) Hide
Food Chain (March 2010)
Thanks to Evin Oneale, Conservation Educator, Idaho Department of Fish and Game; and Adare Evans, Wildlife Educator, Idaho Department of Fish and Game for their answers
* If a predator stalks poisonous prey, would the predator be poisoned? Show answer
It depends on the predator/prey relationship. Some predators build up immunity to their prey even though the prey may be poisonous to other animals. Predators learn pretty quickly what is edible and what they should stay away from. (From Jordan in Mrs. Hudson's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens.) Hide
* Are there any living things, besides green plants, that make their own food? Show answer
Some of you wanted to know if it all starts from the sun, but there are bacteria in the ocean that use minerals from hot deep sea vents. They start the food chain there in the pitch black and start energy from minerals. It's amazing! (From Abbey in Mrs. Hudson's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens.) Hide
* What is photosynthesis? Show answer
In very simple terms, it's a process whereby plants take the energy from the sun and convert it into food. (From Mrs. Woodall's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens.) Hide
* Is poop considered part of the food chain? Show answer
Yes, there are animals that eat poop. Some take it and use it for their own energy. (From Mrs. Woodall's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens.) Hide
* Have typical food chains been altered drastically over the last few decades? If so, why? Show answer
Yes, there have been alterations to food chains, particularly in the last 100 years and mostly related to human impact. Certain habitats have become extinct or greatly reduced. There's probably not a food chain out there that hasn't been altered somehow by people. (From Mrs. Hunt's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise.) Hide
* Does the food chain have arrows? Show answer
Arrows are used to show food webs, but the arrow is not really part of the food chain. It's a graphic and shows the direction of energy flow. If you see a diagram and there are all these different plants and animals there, the arrows show which way the energy flows. In other words, who will eat what and what that will eat. (From Isaiah in Mrs. Brando's class at the Northwest Children's Home Education Center in Lewiston.) Hide
* Are insects a big part of the food chain? Show answer
Absolutely! There are more insects (about a million different species of insects) living on this planet than there is anything else. Insects eat plants, are eaten by things and pollinate flowers. This helps bring us fruits and vegetables and makes them a big part of the food chain. (From Gabriel in Mrs. Nicolescu's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise.) Hide
* Where do fungi (mold, mushrooms, etc.) fit in the food chain? Show answer
Fungi are decomposers. They feed off dead rotting material and use it for themselves. It's interesting as you can look at decomposing as the beginning of the food chain or the end of it. Fungi are very important because they break down the nutrients for the plants to reabsorb and start all over again. (From Colton in Mrs. Bramlet's class at Pathways Middle School in Meridian.) Hide
* Why does the food chain start with the sun? Show answer
The sun is that initial source of energy that allows things to produce. They couldn't do it by themselves. Without that first source of energy, energy can't be passed along. (From Conner in Mrs. Woodall's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton Gardens.) Hide
* What animal is at the bottom of the food chain? Show answer
We start with a source of energy, either the sun or the really hot deep sea vents. Then we have plants that use that energy. Animals eat those plants and those animals may be eaten along the chain and they die and decompose. You can look at those decomposers as the end or the beginning. It all depends. The chain is really a web that's all interconnected. (From Michael in Mr. Wing's class at Marsing Middle School in Marsing.) Hide
Body Waste (February 2010)
Thanks to Dr. Naya Antink, Pediatrician, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group; and Dr. Heather Owens, Pediatrician, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group for their answers
* What is the hardest food to digest? Show answer
There is no one food that is difficult to digest. There are foods you digest partially and foods you digest completely. If you digest a food particle completely, then all of the nutrients get absorbed into your body. If there is something your body cannot digest, it gets pooped out. (From Cameron in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Why do some feces float? Show answer
Most of the time feces float because there is a fat content. If you eat a lot of fatty foods, the grease does not digest completely and it comes out with the poop. This helps the feces float in the water. (From Caleb in Mrs. Boehne's class at McDonald Elementary School in Moscow) Hide
* Why do farts stink? Show answer
Not all farts stink. Farts are gas that comes out of the rectum. The gas usually consists of oxygen that we've swallowed and the oxygen in the intestine does not stink. The bad smell from farts can come from certain foods that we eat that contain sulfides, or it can be from the good bacteria in our intestines. When these bacteria process certain types of sugar, like those in beans, it creates gas that smells. Some farts stink and some don't, but they are all normal. (From Conner in Mrs. Woodall's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton) Hide
* Why do we get pimples and pus? Show answer
Usually, pimples are a collection of oil. There may be bacteria growing on the skin, and that bacteria feeds off your oils and makes a little bit of its own waste as more oil and a pus-like substance. Your body will wall this pus off and hold onto it for a bit, forming a pimple. (From Danielle in Mrs. Batazzi's class at Sawtooth Elementary School in Meridian) Hide
* Why does sweat taste salty? Show answer
Sweat tastes salty because there is quite a bit of salt in sweat. There is salt floating around in your bloodstream and when you sweat, this salt and water solution moves through the ducts and out through the pores on your skin. (From Bailey in Mrs. Woodall's class at Dalton Elementary School in Dalton) Hide
* What happens when you are constipated? Show answer
Constipation is when the poop is hard and painful. When you have a stomach bug, food and water can fly through your intestines, making your poop really watery. When you are constipated, it's the opposite. Food stays in your body for too long. It then gets dryer and dryer, and it gets harder and harder, making it hard to poop out. This is constipation. (From Rich in Mrs. Mantooth's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Why are our muscles sore after working out? Show answer
Your muscle cells create waste products even from just walking around. Sometimes we get overloaded with those chemicals that are broken down out of our muscle proteins, and those can cause our blood vessels to be a little twitchy and make us feel more sore than usual. They are natural chemicals that are made on a daily basis, but when you work out you produce them in larger quantities. These quantities can be somewhat irritating and can cause sensations of pain or soreness. (From Tyler in Ms. Ewing's class at Les Bois Junior High School in Boise) Hide
* What causes blackheads, how can you get rid of them, and why are they always on your nose? Show answer
The blackhead is the collection of dead skin cells and oils that our body makes (it is the start of the acne process). The little cave that is created can get plugged up. When bacteria comes and feeds off of that, it may create a little reaction (like a little infection). This gets red around it and it can go from being just a blackhead to pus-filled. The craters are everywhere on your body, but there are more of them on your nose. That's why we tend to get more blackheads on our noses. (From Pat in Mrs. Bate's class at Windsor Elementary School in Spokane) Hide
* How small is the hole that sweat comes out of? Show answer
It's a micro. You'd have to look at it under the microscope to look at each little sweat gland and follicle. They are microscopic. (From Jackson in Mrs. Mantooth's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* What color should your poop be? Show answer
Poop is usually brown. That's because our liver has to get rid of by-products that have a certain pigment, or color, to them. That color, when passed through our intestines, is brown. If foods move through your system at a faster pace, like when you have diarrhea, your poop may be absent of the brown color and look green. This is nothing tremendous. It just tells you that things are moving quickly. Normal poop, however, is brown. (From many students all over the state) Hide
Nutrition (January 2010)
Thanks to Ruth Schneider, Associate Professor of Nutrition, Idaho State University; and Colleen Fillmore, Director of the Child Nutrition Program, Idaho State Department of Education for their answers
* Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? Show answer
What that saying most likely means is if you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, you will have a healthy diet. If you have a healthy diet, you are less likely to get sick. (From Cassidy in Mr. McNally's class at Morley Nelson Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Is Gatorade healthy or unhealthy? Show answer
Gatorade has a lot of sugar in it, so it is not considered a healthy substitute for water or milk. Water is the best beverage. You could, however, make your own Gatorade by diluting juice (like apple or orange juice) in half with water and adding a teaspoon of salt. This would not only give you the sodium and potassium that is in Gatorade, but also all the other nutrients that come with juice. Gatorade only has sugar, potassium and sodium. (From Sarah in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Is ice cream nutritious? Show answer
Ice cream can be nutritious because it has different nutrients that will help our bodies, but it is also a food that is high in fat and sugar. It is best to eat it in smaller portions, less frequently. (From McKenzie in Mrs. Allen's class at Bush Elementary School in Idaho Falls) Hide
* Why is whole wheat bread better for you than white bread? Show answer
Both breads are made from wheat. However, when they make white bread, they remove the bran and the germ from the grain. The bran contains the fiber and the germ has a lot of vitamins and minerals. You are left with the endosperm, which has few nutrients. Whole wheat bread uses both of those parts (the bran and the germ) so the bread has fiber and a lot more nutrients. (From Abigail in Mrs. Hudson's class at Dalton Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene) Hide
* What makes healthy foods healthy? Show answer
The best definition of a healthy food is that it is a whole food. Whole foods are foods in their most natural state. These foods will have the most vitamins and minerals, and they will give you the nutrients you need. Processed foods remove nutrients and often add sodium, sugar and fat. When this happens, they become less healthy. The less processed a food is, the more healthy it is. So, whole foods are our healthiest option. (From Katie in Ms. Bates' class at Windsor Elementary School in Spokane) Hide
* Why is sugar bad? Show answer
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate. That means it doesn't have the nutrients that a complex carbohydrate has (like whole wheat bread). It lacks the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. You shouldn't eliminate it from your diet, but try to eat it in moderation. (From Lydia in Mrs. Gris' class at Horizon Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* What is the most nutritious food in the country? Show answer
There is not one food that contains all of the nutrients we need. We should eat a variety of foods. It's important to get a balance of all the different food groups in order for us to get the nutrients our bodies should have. So, there is no one food that is the healthiest. (From Hayla in Mrs. Tanner's class at Hayden Elementary School in Hayden Lake) Hide
* How do we gain weight with calories? Show answer
It boils down to math. If you take in more calories than you burn off, you will gain weight. If you take in fewer calories than you use, you will lose weight. If you take in about the same amount of calories that your body uses, you will maintain your weight. At the end of the day, the amount of physical activity you get in relationship to the amount of food you've eaten determines whether you are going to gain, lose, or maintain weight. (From Kaylee in Mrs. Hunt's at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Why does freshly picked fruit have more flavor? Show answer
Freshly picked fruit ripens on the vine. This allows it to develop its full flavor. As fruit matures, the carbohydrates in the fruit turn into sugar with the help of enzymes in the plant. So, the fruit may taste sweeter when it ripens on the vine rather than being picked early and ripening somewhere else. (From Joseph in Mrs. Hudson's class at Dalton Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene) Hide
* Can a person get too many vitamins and can that make them sick? Show answer
Yes, it is possible to get too many vitamins. The fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), in particular, can be toxic if you take too much. Even some of the water soluble vitamins can lead to problems. It's important to look at the nutrient requirements and not think that more is better. There is a certain amount that is an optimal amount, but vitamins can be toxic if you take too much. (From Kirsten in Mrs. McCoy's class at Donnelly Elementary School in Donnelly) Hide
Astronomy (December 2009)
Thanks to Dr. Kenneth Carpenter, Hubble Space Telescope Operations Project scientist for their answers
* Who made the Hubble Telescope? Show answer
The making of the Hubble Telescope took the collaborative efforts of many people. The Goddard Space Flight Center and the Marshall Space Flight Center (both parts of NASA) helped put the telescope together originally and managed the program of building it. Numerous astronomers/scientists from around the world defined the requirements for the telescope, and then there were aerospace corporations from across the United States that came together to build, assemble, and test the hardware. Then they launched the Hubble Telescope into orbit. (From Faith in Mrs. Childers' class at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Hayden Lake) Hide
* Why isn't there any gravity in space? Show answer
Actually, there is some gravity in space. When you are right on the surface of a planet, like earth, the gravity feels pretty strong. The further away you are from the surface, the weaker it gets. Halfway to the moon, gravity will actually pull you toward the surface of the earth, but it does it very slowly and it feels like there is no gravity. You are actually in a free-fall where you are moving toward the earth, but there is nothing to stand on so you don't feel any force of gravity. (From Hannah who is homeschooled in Pocatello) Hide
* How fast does a star go? Show answer
Different stars move at different velocities depending on where they are. Our own sun is part of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is a collection of many hundreds of billions of stars that form a shape similar to a saucer. Think of a plate with the stars spread all over the plate. We are about one-third of the way out from the center of the plate, and we move in a big circle around the center of the galaxy. Most stars orbit around the galaxy in that way, but there are also high velocity stars that move up and down in different directions out of the plane of the galaxy. So, you have some stars that move very slowly at maybe tens of miles per hour and others that move at hundreds of miles per hour. (From A.J. in Ms. Brando's class at the Northwest Children's Home Education Center in Lewiston) Hide
* Why is there no oxygen in space so people cannot breathe? Show answer
When you get off the surface of planets, the concentration of elements, like oxygen, is very low. There is oxygen in space, but it is so thin and so rare that there is not enough for us to breathe. When we look at light that comes from stars in the distance down to earth, we can see the signature of atoms like oxygen because the oxygen absorbs a certain color of light. If that color is missing, it means there is oxygen there. It's just in very, very small amounts and not enough to keep us breathing and healthy. (From Leif in Mrs. McCoy's class at Donnelly Elementary School in Donnelly) Hide
* How hot is the sun? Show answer
The sun's temperature at the surface is almost 6,000 degrees, but it warms up as you go to the interior of the sun. At the very center of the sun, the temperature is hundreds of millions of degrees! It is so hot that hydrogen atoms actually fuse together and release energy. This is what powers the sun. This energy trickles out through layers of material until it gets to the surface where the temperature is about 5,800 degrees. (From Christina in Ms. Brando's class at the Northwest Children's Home Education Center in Lewiston) Hide
* What are stars made out of? Show answer
The universe started out with hydrogen and helium and that is what most stars are made out of, but stars that came later manufacture the heavier elements. This is what you, I, and earth are made out of. (From Alex in Mrs. McCamish's fourth grade class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* When was the first telescope invented? Show answer
In the early 1600s, Galileo invented the first telescope that was actually used for astronomy. Before that, a number of people used pieces of glass to magnify their views of things on the ground. Galileo heard about that and made some adaptations so he could look at things in the sky. Galileo invented the first astronomical telescope, but there were several Dutch people who invented telescopes for using on the ground. (From Claire in Mrs. Miller's class at Caldwell Adventist Elementary School in Caldwell) Hide
* Why was Pluto dropped as a planet? Show answer
Pluto is very small compared to the other planets. It doesn't really dominate the region of space that it orbits through and you sort of need that to be a planet. When we look out there now, we see smaller and fainter objects in the outer regions of our solar system. We call these dwarf planets and they are the size of Pluto. Right now, we know of about five dwarf planets, but the number could easily go up to 50 in the next couple of years and some people even believe there could be two to three hundred of them. (From Allyson in Mrs. Hunt's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Bosise (and many other kids with the same question)) Hide
* Why do they call it the Milky Way? Show answer
The name comes from the Greeks long before people could use a telescope. When they looked at the sky on a dark night with just their eyes, instead of seeing individual stars, they saw a milky kind of cloud structure that looked like a milky river going across the sky. So, it was named the Milky Way. (From Caitlin in Mrs. Tanner's class at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Hayden Lake) Hide
* What is the big red spot on Jupiter? Show answer
We have known that this red spots exists ever since Galileo saw it in 1609, but we don't really know what it is. We think it is most likely a huge storm in Jupiter's atmosphere. It's like a hurricane on earth except that instead of lasting for a few days or weeks, it has been going on for 400 years or more. We believe it is a massive storm on Jupiter. (From Hannah in Mrs. Hudson's class at Dalton Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene) Hide
Chemistry (November 2009)
Thanks to Henry Charlier, Associate Director of Chemistry, Boise State University; and Daniel Stelck, University of Idaho for their answers
* How many different kinds of chemicals are there? Show answer
There are 20 million chemicals known to mankind and that number increases substantially every year. Everything that you see is a chemical. (From Kaylee in Mrs. Little's class at Ross Elementary School in Kuna) Hide
* Do atoms change when matter changes? Show answer
Atoms can combine differently with other chemicals to make compounds, but for the most part, an atom is not going to change and is always an atom. Only if you split it apart with nuclear fission will you create new atoms. (From Kristopher in Mrs. Chaffee's class at Valley View Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* What is the Periodic Table of Elements? Show answer
The Periodic Table is a way to organize and list the different elements. All elements have atomic structures - the number of electrons and protons. The table lets us see how many electrons are in a certain atomic orbital. By looking at it, we can understand trends and predict the behaviors of several of the elements. (From Marie in Mrs. Childer's class at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Hayden) Hide
* Why is chemistry important for everyday life? Show answer
Everything we do in life is chemistry. When we breathe, we change oxygen to carbon dioxide and give ourselves energy. When we eat, we digest food. This also gives us energy. Biochemists try to make drugs work better to treat illnesses and cancers. All of these things involve chemistry. It's important in everything we do. (From Allyssa in Miss Miller's class at Caldwell Adventist Elementary School in Caldwell) Hide
* How many chemicals are in the human body? Show answer
There are many types of chemicals in your body. There are proteins, fats, sugars, and DNA. All of these are chemicals and there are thousands and thousands of them. (From Molly in the Idaho Virtual Academy from Emmett) Hide
* Why does baking soda sizzle when it hits vinegar? Show answer
When baking soda and vinegar are combined, carbon dioxide, a gas, is created. The gas is trapped in the liquid and when it fizzles out, it creates a fizzling (sizzling) sound. (From Miles in Mrs. McCoy's third grade class at Donnelly Elementary School in Donnelly) Hide
* What is the most dangerous chemical? Show answer
There are all sorts of dangerous, or toxic, chemicals. Some examples are cyanide and radioactive chemicals, like uranium. Even water can be as dangerous as any toxic chemical because people drown in water. Depending on the concentration of the chemical, all of them could be dangerous. (From Megan in Mrs. Hunt's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* If everything is made from atoms, are atoms different? Show answer
Atoms are different because they have a different number of protons or neutrons (different combinations). Most living things are made up of the same types of atoms. It's how they are combined that makes them different. (From Caleb in Ms. Miller's class at Caldwell Adventist Elementary School in Caldwell) Hide
* How do you find new chemicals? Show answer
To find new chemicals, scientists and chemists combine different numbers of atoms and/or different types of atoms and see if they connect correctly. If they connect together correctly, they try to determine if this is a new structure. It's like putting tinker toys together. We combine atoms in different ways to see if they have different physical and chemical properties. When they do, we have a new chemical. (From Karie in Mrs. Rice's class at Purple Sage Elementary School in Caldwell) Hide
* Are there different kinds of chemistry or only one kind? Show answer
There are several different types of chemistry. Some examples are biochemistry, organic chemistry, forensic chemistry, physical chemistry, medicinal chemistry and many more. (From Stuart in Mrs. Amber's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide
Bird Migration (October 2009)
Thanks to Jay Carlisle, Research Director, Idaho Bird Observatory; and Vicky Runnoe, Conservation Education Supervisor, Idaho Department of Fish and Game for their answers
* What is the biggest bird? Show answer
The Emu is probably the largest living bird. Emus are big in part because they don't fly. By not having wings, they can put on extra body weight. If they had to fly, they wouldn't be able to carry that weight. (From Kenton at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene) Hide
* How many birds migrate a year? Show answer
Millions and millions of birds migrate every single year. It's hard to put a number on it. However, on each continent there are millions of birds migrating between the temperate and tropical zones every year. (From Grace in Mrs. Dransfield's class at Mary McPherson Elementary School in Meridian) Hide
* How come some birds don't migrate? Show answer
A lot of it depends on what they eat. If they eat insects and the insects die off during the winter months, they will need to migrate in order to eat. However, if they are a bird who eats foods that are around in the winter, like eating seeds for example, they won't have to migrate and will stay locally. (From Ben in Mrs. Dransfield's class at Mary McPherson Elementary School in Meridian) Hide
* How do birds flap their wings so they don't get tired? Show answer
Birds utilize oxygen very efficiently, allowing them to exercise (or flap their wings) more efficiently than we may be able to. Also, they store a lot of fat. Fat is their migratory fuel. This fuel allows them to keep going as if they had a battery. Some species can even fly for 72 hours continuously! However, scientists believe that there is evidence that birds really are tired when they land. Flapping a lot and being tired may go hand in hand. (From Jake in Mrs. Gris' class at Horizon Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Where do the birds from Idaho mostly go? Show answer
It depends on the kind of bird. Our Mountain Bluebird migrates to the southern United States. The Osprey goes to South America. Central Mexico seems to be the area that hosts the highest number of Idaho species during the winter. (From Jenna in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* What birds are adapted to living in winter instead of going south? Show answer
There are several birds that can live in winter weather conditions. For example, there are raptors, like the Red Tailed Hawk, that eat small mammals, and Bald Eagles that eat fish. These birds don't need to migrate as far. Black-capped Chickadees can switch their diet from eating more insects to eating more seeds and fruit, allowing them to stay here. Also Sparrows, the more common wintering birds in the Treasure Valley, feed on seeds through the winter. (From Elise in Mrs. Boyer's class at Mary Nelson Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Do birds carry diseases? Show answer
Birds do carry diseases. Some areas have a higher prevalence of disease than others. In southwestern Idaho, we will see migrating birds carrying a virus called avian pox. This is not a fatal disease, but sometimes it can cause them to lose a toe or something like that. This is not a dangerous disease or really prevalent among the population, but there are other areas where a disease like that can be more dangerous to bird populations. (From Haven in Londeen's class at Christine Donnell Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Do owls migrate? Show answer
There are some owl species that do migrate and some that don't. Northern and Flammulated Owls eat mainly insects, so they migrate to the southern United States and west central Mexico for the winter months. Saw Whet Owls rely on small mammals for food, so their distance of migration is much shorter (200 or 300 miles). The Great Horned Owl, another common resident here, eats from small mammals up to raccoons or skunks. They do not migrate at all and can eat year-round right here. (From Calen in Mrs. McCoy's class at Donnelly Elementary School in Donnelly) Hide
* Why can't birds hibernate? Do they do anything like bears? Show answer
They don't hibernate but there are some birds that will voluntarily lower their body temperature. For instance, Chickadees can do this at night where they can store up fat from the food they eat during the day. Then, they lower their body temperature at night so they don't have to keep their body as warm, using less energy. However they still have to shiver to keep some baseline level of warmth so their body organs won't fail. In the morning, they turn it back on, and in about half an hour their body warms back up again and is ready for flight. There is a bird that is related to the Night Hawk that will do this for longer periods. (From Leah in Mrs. Hunt's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Why do birds travel as a group in a "V" formation? Show answer
It has to do with saving energy. If birds can travel in a group like that and save energy while flying, they can travel further and more efficiently during their migration. So, the lead bird takes some of the brunt of the wind in the front and then they trade out over time. Those traveling in the back will eventually be up in the front, but while they are in the back, they can save energy by drafting off the lead birds. (More than 20 students from all over the state asked this question) Hide
Geology (September 2009)
Thanks to Scott Hughes, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Idaho State University; and Matt Kohn, Associate Professor of Geology, Boise State University for their answers
* How are rocks formed? Show answer
As the planet heats up, it undergoes the process of differentiation. This is where it begins to partially melt and the core forms out of this material that sinks deeply. Then, the crust floats up to the surface. These very first rocks are igneous rocks. Once these rocks become subject to change, they become metamorphic. At this point, if there is a surface process that can alter them chemically, causing erosion, transport and deposition, they become sedimentary rocks. Rocks basically start from an igneous state and get transformed from there. (From Taylor in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* How are caves formed? Show answer
Caves are normally formed by surface water that penetrates down into limestone or a material that's made of calcium carbonate. Normally, water that percolates into the earth is slightly acidic, similar to baking soda. If you add acid, it will dissolve away holes in the limestone leaving a cave. (From Zach at McDonald Elementary School in Moscow) Hide
* How can you tell if you have real gold? Show answer
Real gold is very soft and dense. It's easy to scratch. However, even though fool's gold is gold colored, it's actually iron sulfide and is much harder than gold. You can't deform fool's gold like you can real gold. (From Kirsten in Mrs. McCoy's class at Donnelly Elementary School in Donnelly) Hide
* Why do crystals look so shiny and pretty? Show answer
Crystals have underlying structures, so they tend to break in certain ways or to form faces. They look shiny because the faces reflect the light. When we look at a crystal, the reflection lets us see the underlying structure. (From Marissa in Mrs. Drainsfield's class at Mary McPherson's Elementary School in Meridian) Hide
* What minerals are found in Idaho? Show answer
There's a lot of volcanic rock that has minerals, white crystals and green crystals. Idaho is famous for having certain kinds of garnets. You can find star garnets near Moscow. (From Jayce in Mrs. Childers' class at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Hayden) Hide
* Is there any rhyme or reason to when volcanoes go off? Show answer
It depends on how the magma comes into the volcano. If there is a lot that comes in at a particular time, it will erupt more frequently. In general, the way the magma comes in is quite chaotic, so there is no way of predicting a volcanic eruption way in advance. (From Jasmine in Mrs. Schweitzer's class at Riverside Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* Can an earthquake break lands apart? Show answer
An earthquake can break the surface of the earth, but if there is any spreading where the lands starts to pull apart, it is almost immediately followed by a collapse which sort of brings it back together. So, an earthquake does not open up with big cracks and swallow people up. Instead, an earthquake allows the surface to reconstruct itself changing the surface of the earth. (From Alexa in Mrs. Tanner's class at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Hayden) Hide
* How are diamonds formed? Show answer
Diamonds are actually pieces of carbon. When carbon is put under high pressure and high temperatures (somewhere between 50-150 miles beneath the surface of the earth), it will form molecules that are so tight that the crystal structures become the hardest known to humans. These are diamonds, and they get to the surface by being erupted through a volcano. (From Ethan in Mrs. Boehne's class at McDonald Elementary School in Moscow) Hide
* What's the most rare kind of rock found? Show answer
The most rare rock found is a meteorite from Mars. (From Kate in Mrs. Hunt's class at Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise) Hide
* How long does it take to make a valley more than a thousand feet deep? Show answer
A valley that is a thousand feet deep could take between 10,000 to 500,000 years if the rock is very resistant to erosion. If the rock is very resistant and strong, and the forces are very slow, it could take thousands or even millions of years. But, if the rock is very loose, like sand, and the water is running fast, it might take only a few weeks to form. (From Annika in Coeur d'Alene) Hide