Everybody’s destiny looks different. Scientist Nathan’s looks like a humanoid robot dancing in the street. Nathan is the engineer designing a robot named Destiny’s software, creating her personality, and making sure she doesn't trip over anything.
Like many other robots, Destiny’s hardware was built in China, but it's Nathan who has spent months customizing and programming instructions. It can do housework or walk the dog, but the tech is being developed to ultimately help save the world. Unless your room is dangerously dirty, that probably looks more like decommissioning nuclear reactors or remote bomb disposal. That’s possible with robots like Destiny because they be controlled from across the world, where their human bosses are safe and sound.
But even distance between engineer and robot doesn’t necessarily mean Destiny is open to threats. Nathan says software has come so far that if it gets hacked, the robot can turn itself off, so that it can’t be controlled. So, no danger of your teacher getting into the system and assigning extra homework or something. Destiny is meant to be a friend, not a threat! Unless you’re scared of getting out-danced. Turns out, she’s got some moves besides just “the robot”!
If you’ve ever wanted to ask Brussels sprouts… just… why? Well, you may be able to get pretty close. There’s an exhibition called Talking Plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, where visitors can talk to plants! Well, anyone can always talk to plants. But, in this greenhouse, artificial intelligence is being used to get the plants to respond.
The exhibit features a variety of plant life to go with 20 AI personalities a Cambridge professor, Sam, and his team created for the garden. With a QR code and a phone, visitors can come in and engage with the plants, ask them questions, and listen to their responses. Each plant has its own name, personality, and based on where in the world it's from, and some can speak multiple languages. They can even tell jokes!
Did somebody say CAT scan? The Norfolk Zoo is doubling down on the idea of a big CAT scan by giving a big cat a scan! A tiger named Mishka is one of many animal patients that the zoo is sending through a CAT, or CT, scan. Short for “computerized axial tomography” or “computed tomography,” depending on how much time you have and how much you want to impress your friends, CT scans use a combination of X-rays and computer technology to help see inside bodies, produced detailed images of bones, organs, and soft tissue.
To the untrained eye, the scan’s grey and white blobs may look like, well, blobs. But, skilled professionals will be able to see if they show any abnormalities in bones or soft tissues. In addition to Mishka, the zoo also checked out other animals like a vulture, penguin, and sloth.
Their scans will not only help animals at the zoo, but in the wild, too. The findings will be added to the base knowledge on a species or animal, which can be shared with experts and vet colleagues globally.
Did you know we’re still finding new dinosaurs?! You’d think the 66 million years they’ve been extinct would have been enough time for research, but the Natural History Museum is getting ready to welcome yet another new addition — a small dinosaur that they had previously mistaken for a Nanosaurus. It’s a two-legged, herbivorous dinosaur with big feet and a long tail, about the height of a labrador. Scientists have renamed it “Enigmacursor,” which means “puzzling runner,” and would also be a very cool name for the next Nike sneaker.
To determine if a dinosaur (or any creature) is new, researchers try to find unique features, like parts, proportions, and shapes. The Enigmacursor will be displayed at the Natural History Museum and will be an important tool for learning how its bigger relatives evolved, since dinosaurs started their evolution as small animals and became much, much bigger over a long, long time.
Every family has a story — and JoJo is about to find out just how big hers really is. With Gran Gran's help, she traces her roots all the way back to a great-great-gran gran, discovers that Auntie Dee is actually Mummy's cousin, and learns she was named after an ancestor called Josephine. (JoJo. Josephine. Mind. Blown.) A real-life family then gets their hands literally covered in paint to make their own handprint family tree — because what's better than turning family history into a craft project? This one's guaranteed to send kids running to ask their parents a hundred questions about grandparents and great grandparents!
Join Tala and the Go Jetters to discover amazing facts about Sumatran tigers! In this interactive worksheet, you'll:
- Explore what makes these tigers unique, what they eat, and how they survive in protected areas.
- Complete a quick quiz.
- Doodle stripes on a tiger.
- Trace the name of another big cat found in Sumatra.
Join Tala and the Go Jetters to discover fascinating facts about mountain gorillas! In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Explore what gorillas eat, how they live, and what makes them unique.
- Complete a quick quiz.
- Doodle fruit for the gorillas
- Trace the name of another ape — the gibbon!
Join the Go Jetters in learning about the wonders of the Amazon rainforest. In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Discover fascinating facts about rainforest habitats and biodiversity.
- Locate the Amazon rainforest on a map.
- Trace the Mighty Amazon River.
- Try to name three different plants.
Can you name all the Alphablocks you’ve met? Check as you spot each letter and say the sound.*
King of kicks!
We love wigs!
Grow and grow!
*Remember that Q doesn't make a sound on her own!
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Put this poster up in your classroom to teach correct letter formation with your favorite Alphablocks! Here are some fun teaching ideas:
- Have students stand up and trace each letter in the air with their pointer finger while looking at the poster.
- Pick one letter each day. Examine how it’s formed on the poster (where to start, which direction to move). Have students trace it on a whiteboard or in a sand tray.
- Laminate a smaller version of the poster or display it on a table. Encourage students to trace letters with their fingers while saying the letter name and sound aloud.
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Explore the fascinating world of paleontology with "Digging Up a Baby Triceratops," a captivating clip from the iconic BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs. Join team leader Eric Lund and fossil restorer Nikki Simon as they uncover the rare remains of a young Triceratops named Clover. This video offers a unique glimpse into the life of a baby dinosaur, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and scientific inquiry. Perfect for sparking discussions about natural history and the methods of paleontologists, this engaging clip is sure to ignite curiosity in young learners. This video is included in our Walking With Dinosaurs Virtual Field Trip.
Ever dreamed of having your very own toy shop? YOU HAVE? Excellent. Start by giving it a name (use your fave color and age). Next, do a stock check. Look at the toy patterns below and circle what comes next. Finally, stack the shelves! Draw some brand-new toys in the spaces. How about some unicorns? Or cool cars? Or furry monsters? Don't forget to draw your own favorite toy on one of the shelves. And add some customers!
Everybody’s destiny looks different. Scientist Nathan’s looks like a humanoid robot dancing in the street. Nathan is the engineer designing a robot named Destiny’s software, creating her personality, and making sure she doesn't trip over anything.
Like many other robots, Destiny’s hardware was built in China, but it's Nathan who has spent months customizing and programming instructions. It can do housework or walk the dog, but the tech is being developed to ultimately help save the world. Unless your room is dangerously dirty, that probably looks more like decommissioning nuclear reactors or remote bomb disposal. That’s possible with robots like Destiny because they be controlled from across the world, where their human bosses are safe and sound.
But even distance between engineer and robot doesn’t necessarily mean Destiny is open to threats. Nathan says software has come so far that if it gets hacked, the robot can turn itself off, so that it can’t be controlled. So, no danger of your teacher getting into the system and assigning extra homework or something. Destiny is meant to be a friend, not a threat! Unless you’re scared of getting out-danced. Turns out, she’s got some moves besides just “the robot”!
If you’ve ever wanted to ask Brussels sprouts… just… why? Well, you may be able to get pretty close. There’s an exhibition called Talking Plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, where visitors can talk to plants! Well, anyone can always talk to plants. But, in this greenhouse, artificial intelligence is being used to get the plants to respond.
The exhibit features a variety of plant life to go with 20 AI personalities a Cambridge professor, Sam, and his team created for the garden. With a QR code and a phone, visitors can come in and engage with the plants, ask them questions, and listen to their responses. Each plant has its own name, personality, and based on where in the world it's from, and some can speak multiple languages. They can even tell jokes!
Did somebody say CAT scan? The Norfolk Zoo is doubling down on the idea of a big CAT scan by giving a big cat a scan! A tiger named Mishka is one of many animal patients that the zoo is sending through a CAT, or CT, scan. Short for “computerized axial tomography” or “computed tomography,” depending on how much time you have and how much you want to impress your friends, CT scans use a combination of X-rays and computer technology to help see inside bodies, produced detailed images of bones, organs, and soft tissue.
To the untrained eye, the scan’s grey and white blobs may look like, well, blobs. But, skilled professionals will be able to see if they show any abnormalities in bones or soft tissues. In addition to Mishka, the zoo also checked out other animals like a vulture, penguin, and sloth.
Their scans will not only help animals at the zoo, but in the wild, too. The findings will be added to the base knowledge on a species or animal, which can be shared with experts and vet colleagues globally.
Did you know we’re still finding new dinosaurs?! You’d think the 66 million years they’ve been extinct would have been enough time for research, but the Natural History Museum is getting ready to welcome yet another new addition — a small dinosaur that they had previously mistaken for a Nanosaurus. It’s a two-legged, herbivorous dinosaur with big feet and a long tail, about the height of a labrador. Scientists have renamed it “Enigmacursor,” which means “puzzling runner,” and would also be a very cool name for the next Nike sneaker.
To determine if a dinosaur (or any creature) is new, researchers try to find unique features, like parts, proportions, and shapes. The Enigmacursor will be displayed at the Natural History Museum and will be an important tool for learning how its bigger relatives evolved, since dinosaurs started their evolution as small animals and became much, much bigger over a long, long time.
Every family has a story — and JoJo is about to find out just how big hers really is. With Gran Gran's help, she traces her roots all the way back to a great-great-gran gran, discovers that Auntie Dee is actually Mummy's cousin, and learns she was named after an ancestor called Josephine. (JoJo. Josephine. Mind. Blown.) A real-life family then gets their hands literally covered in paint to make their own handprint family tree — because what's better than turning family history into a craft project? This one's guaranteed to send kids running to ask their parents a hundred questions about grandparents and great grandparents!
Join Tala and the Go Jetters to discover amazing facts about Sumatran tigers! In this interactive worksheet, you'll:
- Explore what makes these tigers unique, what they eat, and how they survive in protected areas.
- Complete a quick quiz.
- Doodle stripes on a tiger.
- Trace the name of another big cat found in Sumatra.
Join Tala and the Go Jetters to discover fascinating facts about mountain gorillas! In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Explore what gorillas eat, how they live, and what makes them unique.
- Complete a quick quiz.
- Doodle fruit for the gorillas
- Trace the name of another ape — the gibbon!
Join the Go Jetters in learning about the wonders of the Amazon rainforest. In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Discover fascinating facts about rainforest habitats and biodiversity.
- Locate the Amazon rainforest on a map.
- Trace the Mighty Amazon River.
- Try to name three different plants.
Can you name all the Alphablocks you’ve met? Check as you spot each letter and say the sound.*
King of kicks!
We love wigs!
Grow and grow!
*Remember that Q doesn't make a sound on her own!
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Put this poster up in your classroom to teach correct letter formation with your favorite Alphablocks! Here are some fun teaching ideas:
- Have students stand up and trace each letter in the air with their pointer finger while looking at the poster.
- Pick one letter each day. Examine how it’s formed on the poster (where to start, which direction to move). Have students trace it on a whiteboard or in a sand tray.
- Laminate a smaller version of the poster or display it on a table. Encourage students to trace letters with their fingers while saying the letter name and sound aloud.
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Explore the fascinating world of paleontology with "Digging Up a Baby Triceratops," a captivating clip from the iconic BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs. Join team leader Eric Lund and fossil restorer Nikki Simon as they uncover the rare remains of a young Triceratops named Clover. This video offers a unique glimpse into the life of a baby dinosaur, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and scientific inquiry. Perfect for sparking discussions about natural history and the methods of paleontologists, this engaging clip is sure to ignite curiosity in young learners. This video is included in our Walking With Dinosaurs Virtual Field Trip.
Ever dreamed of having your very own toy shop? YOU HAVE? Excellent. Start by giving it a name (use your fave color and age). Next, do a stock check. Look at the toy patterns below and circle what comes next. Finally, stack the shelves! Draw some brand-new toys in the spaces. How about some unicorns? Or cool cars? Or furry monsters? Don't forget to draw your own favorite toy on one of the shelves. And add some customers!