Making a Recycled Gravity Car

When I began to create my car, I tested out a few different ideas of what materials to use and how I would get each part to work together. I tested out bases of water bottles and boxes. When I came upon a decision, I used a recycled box for the base. To begin, I decorated the box with comic newspaper print. Then, I created holes in the side where the axles could go through. After having to make a decision between straws and skewers, I decided to use straws for the axles. Next, I put two CD discss together for each of the wheels. These are fastened in place with putty. After all four wheels were put in place, I placed extra putty for more support of the wheels. Then, I tested the vehicle to make sure everything was successful and working correctly. For more support, I steadied the box and put more support on the wheels so that they would be able to move the vehicle. This vehicle does not have an engine and cannot be accelerated by rubber bands. As a result of this process, my Recycled Gravity Car was created.

Seal Whiskers

    

 It has been known that harbor seals can use their whiskers to detect movement, and that this skill helps them capture their prey. However, German researchers have conducted lab tests that have proven it possible for a seal to distinguish items by shape and size, using only their whiskers.

     During the lab test, a harbor seal's head was placed into a box that is used for experiments, which was placed inside a tank. The seal's essential senses, such as sight and hearing, were made unable to use, so the whiskers' skills could be more easily observed. Paddles were used in this experimentation. As each paddle of different shape and size was placed into the tank, the seal was able to use its whiskers to distinguish it by the disruptions that the paddles made in the water.
     This experiment gave researchers and scientists an idea of how a seal can use body parts other than eyes, ears, nose, etc. to their own benefit. This discovery is impactful in many ways, including the possibility of experiments on other animals to find how they use their uncommon body parts to their advantage. This was a discovery that makes people look at seals in a whole new way. Before I read this article, I didn't even know that seals use their whiskers in a beneficial way at all!


For more information, visit the following link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/science/17obseals.html?ref=research