IN THE PINK

Last summer, flamingos at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. suddenly started rushing about before huddling together. They seemed to sense that something ominous was about to happen. It certainly was. Moments later, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled the northeastern United States. The Smithsonian incident was just the latest surprise that flamingos have held out to the scientists who study them. This issue’s cover story delves into the weird world of the big pink birds. The issue also includes features about a new, underground observatory in Antarctica that looks for ghostly subatomic particles, an innovative nonprofit organization that fills in the health-care gaps in poor neighborhoods, and the controversy over what caused the mysterious Carolina bays.

The issue also includes short items about Earth’s newfound asteroid, a marine fish that uses tools, a girl whose face was surgically rebuilt, an experimental sports car that has six wheels, charges of false advertising laid against the makers of trendy toning shoes, and the reason why dogs and other animals shake when they’re wet.

Go to Teaching Center for Battle of the Bands, the January 13, 2012 issue.

CSi

Internet links to videos, updates, and other Web resources related to articles in this issue of Current Science.

IN THE PINK (Page 4)

ARKive: Andean Flamingo (video)

BBC: Massive Volcanoes & Flamingo Colony (YouTube video)

BLAST IN THE PAST (Page 6)

A Brief Tour of the Carolina Bays on Google Earth (YouTube video)

ICE PICKS (Page 8)

IceCube Neutrino Observatory: Animated Overview (YouTube video)

New Scientist: World’s Largest Neutrino Detector (YouTube video)

FOLLOW THE LEADERS (Page 10)

Health Leads

Health Leads & Physicians Foundation (YouTube video)

Martha Minow & Rebecca Onie on Health Leads (YouTube video)

SHOE COMPANY  STUMBLES (Page 13)

Web MD: The Truth About Toning Shoes

FISH USES TOOLS (Page 14)

University of California: Video Shows Tool Use By A Fish (video)

HOW FAST DO DOGS SHAKE? (Page 14) (video)

Discovery Channel: Time Warp: The Wet-Dog Shake

Wanted: MYSTERY PHOTOS

Most of the Mystery Photos featured in Current Science are taken by student photographers. For each photo published in the magazine, the photographer receives $50 plus a T-shirt with the photo printed on the front. The photographer or classroom with the most photos published in a school year wins the Mystery Photo Contest. Please e-mail your photos to csmysteryphotos@weeklyreader.com or send them via regular mail to:

Mystery Photo Editor
Current Science
Weekly Reader Publishing
44 South Broadway, 18th Floor
White Plains, NY
10601

If your photo is selected for publication in the magazine, you will be contacted by the Mystery Photo Editor. (If your photo is not selected, you will not be notified.) The winner of the Mystery Photo Contest will be contacted in the spring.

Starting September 1, Current Science's popular Sci-Triv Game can be played on a classroom whiteboard or computer. Separate your class into teams and compete for points throughout the school year.

A new Sci-Triv Game will be posted online the first day of every month.

All teachers who subscribe to Current Science have access to the game through the CS Teaching Center. To access the games, click on the icon at right and enter your username and password. Playing instructions and tips are included with the game.

Current Science Teaching Centers and Issue Dates, 2011-12