Science at Home
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Columbus’s Mermaids
January doesn’t usually remind us about Christopher Columbus, but on January 9, 1493, he described seeing mermaids swim near the Dominican Republic. (See the History Channel’s “On this Day in History.”) However, Columbus was mistaken. What he saw were not mermaids swimming, but manatees. These animals are exceptionally lovely. Large and slow-moving mammals, manatees eat… Continue reading
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The Sky Has No Limits
Diligence. Patience. Perseverance. Every teacher and parent wants children to develop these qualities. Aside from urging students to complete their work, just how is it done? Consider parent William Mitchell, a father of ten. He loved astronomy and expected his children to assist him—as part of their education—as he observed the sky at night. He… Continue reading
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