One of two Science Fair projects, sponsored by the FoCoMOD
The district science fair was pretty good this year. There were two entries having to do with reading on a computer screen versus reading on paper. The display shown above won a “Superior” award while the other similar entry entitled “Do Fifth-Graders Remember More from Reading Text on a Computer Screen OR Piece of Paper?” won “Best in Show”. Interestingly the two entries had opposite conclusions. Clearly, if you just test 10-year-olds, you will find that they remember better while reading on a screen. If you include older people in your study, i.e., moms, you will find that your test subjects tend to remember more from what they read on paper than from on a computer screen. Speaking of text, check out this link for even more strange stuff.
We all know Nikola Tesla had a laboratory in Colorado Springs…
A Tesla Coil in Fort Collins
Now that line transformers are going underground, you may be able to get one of those old pole transformers if you are in the right place at the right time. In the pole transformer, the 120 line voltage is increased to 14,000 volts. The Tesla secondary coil in this unit can produce 500,000 volts.
CSU Students getting ready to observe 500,000 volts
The first Colorado State University club was started by this guy:
Clarence P. Gillette
100 years ago it was called simply “The Entomology Club” then it was changed to the “Gillette Club” in 1925. Somehow the students named it “The Gillette Infestation” for a time and then back to the Gillette Club by 1945. Now it’s called the “Gillette Entomology Club” which seems like a good compromise. We like to call it the G.E.C.
Fun things to do at the Bug Bash
With the Bug Petting Zoo, Bee Hive exhibition, Ask an Entomologist, Bee Pong, Bed Bug Bean Bag toss, and a bunch more!
Ghost Mantis on my arm
My task at the CSU Bug Bash was to show off some of the insects at the bug zoo. In the above photo the ghost mantis is walking toward my faded Black Sheep tattoo that was created by bed bug bites last month.
At last count there were at least 22 parlors in town where one or more tattoo artists apply their trade. I plan to visit them all some day just to add what I find on Roadside Mysteries because it is a mystery why there are really 22 tattoo parlors in a town with a population of a little over 140,000. While I have yet to visit any tattoo parlor I am fairly certain that if and when it happens I will not subject myself to indelible markings. Think Department of Corrections Category: Cross/Trible Tattoo on Right Forearm, Dragon Tattoo on Right Arm, D.C. Tattoo on Back. Identifying marks on the body. No! I won’t do it! However:
In the interest of science, I recently submitted to a rather unusual marking of my skin.
It’s a Bed Bug Tattoo!
I decided to get a tattoo of my favorite local bike shop brand : Black Sheep Bikes. Their logo is a sheep. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be a BLACK sheep, but red is the only color a bed bug knows. So, what are Bed Bugs?
Bed Bug Tattoo artist of the genus Cimex
A bite from a bed bug can cause skin rashes (the redness in color important for tattoos), various allergic symptoms (it’s a chance you have to take) and possible psychological effects (who could tell?) . The little buggers need human blood to survive and after their bite and the resulting color change due to irritation on the skin the markings could be used as body art to some extent: It’s a Win – Win situation. Bugs get fed, You get art!
If you would like to have a bed bug tattoo I have illustrated some steps you will have to follow in order to do this right.
1) Select the artwork
I have chosen to get a tattoo of the company logo for the Black Sheep Bike Company located right here in Fort Collins, Colorado. If you go to the website of the Black Sheep company, at the top of the site are the words “Black Sheep” and there’s a little graphic of a sheep. It’s kind of cool, and only those that are “in” to custom bikes will recognize it for what it is. There are other logos out there, but some are easier to work with than others, so read further before you choose the artwork for your tattoo.
2) Choose a suitable mask material
Here’s the thing: The bed bugs are going to have to bite in specific areas of your skin in order to create an image that is recognizable. The mask allows the bugs to do their work in the interest of art and science. In this case I am using an Avery Badge Label #5895 for the mask material. The adhesive backing on the Avery label will help keep the mask in place during feeding and it will also help keep the label on the computer screen if you carefully remove the backing on each corner of the label before attaching it to the screen.
3) Trace the artwork onto the label
This is fairly easy. The label paper is thin enough that you can see the screen image through the paper. A pencil works well for this purpose.
4) Cut the mask
This is the hard part. You have to cut away the part of the image that you want to transfer to your skin. It’s best not to choose a logo that is too complicated. Also, if your image includes any kind of lettering (text), the cutout on the non-adhesive side should be a mirror image of the text.
In the above example, I used a single edge razor blade. You may find it easier to use one of those X-Acto type cutting knifes; I couldn’t find mine, so I used a razor blade.
5) Find the place where bed bugs live
In most developed countries in the 1950’s, bed bugs were almost unknown as human pests due to the use of strong insecticides such as DDT. Now you can find them lots of places in the U.S. but since some say that bed bugs could be infected by as many as 28 human pathogens, you may want to check out a few “clean” bugs from your local entomologist. Hey, I know where there are clean bugs! They live at the Insectary of course. We visited there in 2011. Time to go back and check out some bugs.
6) Prepare yourself for the bite of your life!
Here I am in the entomology lab with my right arm exposed. In my left hand is a Mason Jar full of little starving bed bugs who haven’t had a good blood meal in months! The top of the jar is covered with a light mesh material and on top of the mesh is the finished Avery label with the black Sheep logo cut out. Check the clock! You need to hold the inverted jar on your arm for at least 25 minutes to ensure that all the bed bugs get at least one bite!
7) Pain in the Name of Science
No, not too bad actually. You can feel the little buggers bite into your skin, but it’s not anything that I would consider painful. Bed bugs are typically night feeders, so their bites usually will not wake you while you are asleep. These guys were very hungry and they got down to business right away. In 25 minutes it was over!
‘8) OK, so where’s the tattoo?
After the required 25 minute ordeal, you must slowly and carefully lift the jar off your skin to make sure that the bed bugs have time to remove their blood sucking sippy straws. This is a critical step as you don’t want to harm the bugs and you don’t want used insect mouth parts left in your skin.
So, where is the tattoo? As far as the bug art is concerned, it is up to YOU to get your skin rash on. Any number of things could happen. It might take a few days for the full color to develop. It might itch like crazy. Don’t scratch the tattoo as it might become infected!! Wash your arm thoroughly in the area of the bites just to stave off infection.
If I get any weird skin reactions, I shall report them, otherwise, I’m out of here for now. Damn, the Tour de Fat was last week and I haven’t bloggered it yet!
This was hot! Not the typical Elmer’s white tri-fold project display board (Item #11042542 priced at $7.49) but what seems to be professionally printed paper sandwiched between clear acrylic sheets with fairly substantial metal hinges holding it all together.
Best Food related Subject matter
Which reminds me to check out Vicki Cobb’s Kid’s Science Page. Cobb’s first book Science Experiments You Can Eat was published in 1972 and includes the kind of material every food scientist should know!
Best Whimsical Category involving germs
I see now that there actually is a video game called Angry Germs but is has nothing to do with the children’s book entitled Billy and the Angry Germs by Len Lucarelli.
Just a few of many interesting projects. Yes, there is hope for future scientists in this country believe it or not. I can’t wait to see next year’s entries.
Posted in Scientific | Comments Off on Even more science
Or was that 4:20? I can’t remember. Anyhow, the CU-Boulder campus cracked down:
Can’t visit CU without a permit
… and if you did get in and managed to walk over to the Norlin Quad you would have found something fishy. Apparently the CU grounds crew applied some real stinky fish fertilizer on the quad the night before.
On the CSU campus, it was calm and quiet
A few Friday night parties and some more organized music events west of College Avenue were happening like the Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs party on Laurel Street.
This Dope Guard Dog
stood at the doorway entrance to a medical marijuana grow warehouse in Boulder just to make sure we wouldn’t come any closer. I took this picture months ago but couldn’t find an appropriate place to place it in the blog until now.
Powered by Nickel metal hydride batteries, this little boat was being tested by the U.S. Geological Survey for use in determining water depth in Colorado rivers. It’s about 5 feet in length and maybe 3 feet wide. At the top of the mast is a 360 degree prism target for a theodolite tracking measurement system.
Launching the toy boat
What kind of job lets you play in the water with a remote control boat? In the above picture, the nice young lady from the USGS is launching the boat by the edge of the lagoon. In this picture, the mast on the boat has been changed over to a GPS satellite dome antenna.
The USGS lady with the 360 degree prism
She was out on this nice day to make sure the equipment was working properly before traveling out near Grand Junction to do some work of some geological nature. Remember Grand Junction? It’s near Otto’s Monument.
The “Total Station”
Not just a Total Station mind you, but one of those newfangled ROBOTIC Total Stations that can be remotely activated to track the remotely activated toy boat as it goes down the river.
Posted in Gadgets, Scientific | Comments Off on Toy boat toy boat toy boat toy boat toy boat toy boat
Remember last year? The 2011 5th grade Science Fair? It seemed it was all about moldy bread and corroded metal coins. I was beginning to worry about the local science teachers but now I’m convinced it was just a phase.
Exploding anything
OK, there were just a few of these exploding soft drink container experiments. 5th grade boys need this kind of action and I was glad to see that this year’s fair was limited to about three entries. This one showed some imagination by choosing root beer instead of Coke.
My favorite Food Science experiment
In the wake of the recent Pink Slime scandal it’s good to see that some budding scientist is on top of the real problem.
Energy conversion experiment
A fairly large portion of the American adult population wouldn’t have a clue about this. This kid still has about 7 years before learning about electrochemical half-cell potentials; And what about the use of LED’s to show that electricity is produced? I wonder.
Somehow a 4th grader got into the show
This little girl found this HUGE snail that was in a head of lettuce purchased at a local grocery store. She has kept it for a pet for nearly a year! Whatever. If she included a detailed notebook I would have attempted to make sure she made it to the regional’s in two weeks. Speaking of which, I will be judging the regional science fair in two weeks, so it will be interesting to see how it goes. Stay tuned.
Posted in Scientific | Comments Off on R U Smarter than a 5th Grader?
In the past we have visited Sunlight Peak just to make fun of it’s short stature, and historically there was John Bunyan’s little garage he used for viewing the heavens. Usually on the third Saturday one can visit the Stargazer and on the third Friday of every night at the Little Thompson there is something to see if there are no clouds. Of course these are observatories and most are identified by the dome shaped roofs apart from everyday architectural constructions we have seen (Pantheon, Hagia Sophia, St. Paul’s, most capitol buildings, etc.) plus they have some sort of telescope inside. Turns out there is another observatory nearby on the campus of CSU and it’s open on Tuesday nights:
The Madison-Macdonald Observatory (someplace behind the big bush)
Named after Marion Leslie Madison and Stewart Lincoln MacDonald who were department heads of Mathematics and Astronomy at CSU (not at the same time). These days there is no “Department of Mathematics and Astronomy” at CSU. OK, there is a department of Mathematics, but any astronomy courses are under the Department of Physics at the College of Natural Sciences.
Telescope at the Madison-Macdonald
Another view
It seems there is a Pierre Auger Observatory that has some support from CSU but apparently it is located in Argentina.
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