NASA Earth and Space Science Education E-News
April 2009

http://science.hq.nasa.gov/education/edreports/index.html
This monthly broadcast includes upcoming educational programs, events, opportunities and the latest resources from NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

(1) New Exhibit Featuring Ground and Space Telescope Images
(2) NASA Presentations Planned for National Afterschool Association Conference (April 2-4, New Orleans, La.)
(3) 100 Hours of Astronomy, Public Education Event (April 2-5, Washington, DC)
(4) Around the World in 80 Telescopes, Public Education Webcast (April 3-4)
(5) Public Library Tour: Visions of the Universe (April 8–June 12 Itinerary)
(6) Kepler Space Science Workshop for Teachers (April 4, Cambridge, Mass.; April 25, Washington, DC)
(7) 2009 Exploring Space Lectures (April 9, Washington, DC)
(8) Global Warming: Causes and Consequences Webcast (April 9)
(9) Earth Science Webcast Series for Teachers, Grades 3-8 (April 16)
(10) Family Science Nights at NASA Goddard (April 16)
(11) Sally Ride Science Festival for Girls, Grades 5-8 (April 18, Fairfax, Va.)
(12) The Sunday Experiment at NASA Goddard (April 19)
(13) Our Sun—It’s Influence on Life and Climate: Public Lecture at Library of Congress (April 22)
(14) Top Stars: New Opportunity for Formal and Informal Educators (Begin submitting entries April 30; first round of selections begins May 30)
(15) NASA Quest—LCROSS: Exploration Through Navigation Challenge Part II (Projects Due April 30)
(16) YouTube Video Contest for High School Students and Teachers (Deadline May 1)
(17) No Boundaries National Competition for High Student Students (Deadline: May 15)
(18) View Atmosphere from Space—Workshop for Middle/High School Teachers (Registration Deadline: May 1, Lincoln, Neb.)
(19) Climate Discovery Online Courses for Educators (Early Registration by May 31)
(20) Summer Science Workshops for K-12 Educators (Penn State University)
(21) NASA Planetary Science Summer School (July 20-24, August 3-7; Pasadena, Calif.)
(22) Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s 120th Anniversary Celebration (Sept. 12-16)

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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

(23) Lunar Construction Game for Students for Middle/High School Students
(24) Frozen: New Science on a Sphere Movie
(25) Solar Dynamics Observatory’s Ambassador in the Classroom Program
(26) High School Physics Field Trip (Goddard Space Flight Center, Md.)
(27) Ocean Conveyor Belt Impact: New Article on Ocean Motion Web site
(28) New Space Math Problems
(29) Why is it So Hot Inside Earth’s Core? New Podcast on Space Place
(30) 2009 Earth Science Week Kits: Understanding Climate

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SCIENCE NEWS

(31) Mars Rover Update
(32) NASA and Microsoft to Make Universe of Data Available to the Public
(33) Hubble Finds Rare Precursor to a Supernova
(34) Simulation Shows World Without Ozone Layer
(35) NASA Scientists Find Clues to a Secret of Life
(36) Drought, Urbanization Were Ingredients for Atlanta’s Perfect Storm
(37) New Concept Could Harness the Power of Ocean Waves

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CALENDAR

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS/EVENTS

(1) NEW EXHIBIT FEATURING GROUND AND SPACE TELESCOPE IMAGES
“From Earth to the Universe” is an exhibit of large scale, full color images of objects in the universe taken by ground and space-based telescopes. The project is a cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy, and is being exhibited both nationally and internationally.

U.S. Venues:

• Terre Haute, Ind., Rose-Hulman Inst. of Technology, Now through May 2010
• Tuscaloosa, Ala., University of Alabama, Now through June 2009
• Memphis, Tenn., Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, April 1-30, 2009
• Atlanta, Ga., Hartsfield International Airport, April 6-Sept. 2009
• New Orleans, LA, Xavier University, Week of April 13, 2009
• Chicago, Ill., O'Hare International Airport, April 15-Dec. 2009
• College Park, Md, American Inst. of Physics/American Center for Physics, April 24-Nov. 2009
• San Francisco, Calif., CA Academy of Sciences, April 25-Sept. 2009

Accompanying materials are available in English and Spanish, and Braille panels are being prepared. The materials are available online, may be printed, or shown digitally. For the full schedule, and to find the exhibit nearest you, see:

http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/table_events.php

(2) NASA PRESENTATIONS PLANNED FOR NATIONAL AFTERSCHOOL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
April 2-4, 2009, New Orleans, La.

The NAA annual convention is the largest nationwide gathering of professionals representing before school, after-school and summer school programs, youth-serving organizations, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, parks and recreation departments; administrators from all public, private, faith-, school- and community-based sectors; and local, state and national policymakers. The NAA is partnering with the National Association of Elementary School Principals in a joint conference that will bring together an exceptional array of presentations, including the following NASA workshops:

• Small Worlds in the Solar System: Hands-On Modeling Activities, April 2, 2009, 10:30am-12:00pm
• The Thrill of Discovery -- Engage Students in NASA Space Exploration Activities, April 2, 1:30pm-3:00pm
• From Out-of-School to Outer Space, April 3, 9:00am-10:30am
• Explore! Health in Space: Keeping Astronauts (and Children) Healthy, April 3, 11:00am-12:30pm
• Ready-to-Go Space Science Activities for Young Explorers, April 3, 2:00pm-3:30pm
• Edible Rocks, Meteorites and Meteorwrongs! April 3, 4:00pm-5:30pm
• Kids Can Learn Space Science Through Fiction: Everyone Loves a Story, April 4, 11:00am-12:30pm

For more information about the 2009 NAA conference, visit http://www.naaconvention.org.

(3) 100 HOURS OF ASTRONOMY, PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT
April 2-5, Washington, DC

Bring NASA and astronomy in your schools and communities during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. The "100 Hours of Astronomy" is a four-day event designed to bring astronomy down to Earth. The Astrophysics Science Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is coordinating a series of events in the DC metropolitan area including Webcasts, tours for informal educators, educator showcases, rocket launches, and more. Check out the full schedule of activities at http://universe.nasa.gov/100hours.

(4) AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TELESCOPES  (APRIL 3-4)
As a part of the International Year of Astronomy, several NASA missions and many ground-based observatories are participating in "Around the World in 80 Telescopes". This Webcast program is hosted from Germany (European Space Agency) and will visit astronomical observatories for 24 hours. Each observatory will be featured for about 20 minutes. For a complete list of telescopes, visit:  http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/program/75-live-24-hour-research-observatory-webcast

(5) PUBLIC LIBRARY TOUR: VISIONS OF THE UNIVERSE (APRIL 8–JUNE 12 ITINERARY)
The American Library Association (ALA), in cooperation with the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), invited public libraries to apply for a national tour to 40 sites of “Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery,” a traveling exhibition to mark the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) in 2009. The exhibit will travel from January 2009 through December 2010.  From April 12-June 12, 2009, eight copies of the exhibit will be displayed at the following sites:

Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, KS
Oconto Falls Community Library, Oconto Falls, WI
Prescott Public Library, Prescott, AZ
Libraries of Stevens County, Loon Lake, WA
Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Alpena, MI
Waco-McLennan County Library, Waco, TX
Washington Public Library, Washington, MO
Ridgefield Library Association, Ridgefield, CT

For more information, including PDFs of the exhibit panels and supplementary booklet, go to: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/visions.

(6) KEPLER SPACE SCIENCE WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS
April 4, Cambridge, Mass.
April 25, Washington, DC

Celebrate NASA’s Kepler mission and the International Year of Astronomy with an exciting day of science and hands-on activities for middle and high school science teachers. The featured speaker will discuss the science behind Kepler, which launched in March 6, 2009. Standards based, classroom ready activities include: Human Orrery, Detecting Extrasolar Planets, Transit Tracks, and building a computer-interfaced transit model. Participants will also gain access to the MicroObservatory online telescopes. Each workshop participant will receive a complete transit model, which includes a LEGO orrery, Vernier light sensor, interface and graphing software, morning coffee and lunch. A letter verifying 8 hours of professional development can be provided.

Advance workshop sign-up is required. Please visit the workshop Web site for details: http://kepler.nasa.gov/ed/workshops.html - 20090404 or e-mail Cynthia Ramseyer for more information at cramseyer@seti.org.

Saturday, April 4, 2009--8:15am–5:00pm
Location: Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Featured speaker/scientist: Dr. David Latham, Kepler Mission Stellar Classification Program Lead Scientist

Saturday, April 25, 2009--8:15am–5:00pm
Location: National Air and Space Museum, National Mall Building, Briefing Room, Washington, DC
Featured speaker/scientist:  Dr. Patricia Boyd, NASA Headquarters Kepler Program Scientist

(7) 2009 EXPLORING SPACE LECTURES
National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

The Exploring Space lectures will feature world-class scholars discussing astronomy, the vastness of the universe, the search for Earth-like planets and our unpredictable sun. The lectures will be held at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and are free to attend. Tickets are required. If you are unable to attend the lectures, they will be Webcast live for free viewing online. Lecture videos will also be archived.

• What IS the Universe? – April 9, 2009, 7:30pm
  http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1217.
• Are We Alone? Searching for an Exoplanet Like Home – May 27, 2009, 7:30pm
  http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1218.
• Our Sun: is it a Steady Performer? – June 18, 2009, 7:30pm
  http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1219.

(8) GLOBAL WARMING CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES WEBCAST (April 9)
Join NASA Langley Research Center and the National Alliance of Black School Educators for the last in a series of free, interactive programs that allow you and your students to learn more about our home planet and the universe beyond. On April 9, NASA scientist, Dr. Joel Levine, will discuss “Global Warming: Causes and Consequences,” from 11:00am–12:30pm EDT.

For more information, and to submit questions to be answered during the event, visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/catalog/details/?cid=1646.

(9) EARTH SCIENCE WEBCAST SERIES FOR TEACHERS (Grades 3-8)
NASA Langley Research Center - in co-operation with NOAA and the Virginia Department of Education Region 2 Math/Science Coalition - will offer a series of professional development programs for teachers of grades 3-8. Each of the five monthly Webcasts will address a different Earth system science topic. The Webcasts may be accessed on the NASA Digital Learning Network at http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/.

Upcoming Webcasts:

• Apr. 16: Tides (4:00-5:30pm EST)
• June 18: The Story of Ocean Heat Storage (4:00-5:30pm EST)

(10) FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHTS AT NASA GODDARD (April 16)
This monthly two-hour program is open to the DC metro area middle school kids and their families. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. The Goddard Visitor Center, the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Astrophysics Science Division support this event.  For more information, visit: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.

Upcoming Family Science Nights include:

• April 16: Now you see it … Now you don’t (eclipses)
• May 21: Searching for Other Worlds (search for planets outside our solar system)
• TBD in June or July: Family Science Night Overnight.

(11) SALLY RIDE SCIENCE FESTIVAL FOR GIRLS, GRADES 5-8 (APRIL 18)
George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.

George Mason University and Sally Ride Science Festivals will once again bring together hundreds of girls in grades 5-8 for a festive day of science and socializing on April 18, 2009. The festival will feature an inspiring talk by cosmochemist Laurie Leshin, who is Deputy Director for Science and Technology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. There will also be Discovery Workshops for students given by local scientists and engineers, as well as workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support students’ interests in science and math. Advance registration is required and costs $15 (includes the featured talk, workshops, lunch, and the Street Fair). The registration fee will be increased to $20 after March 23. For a schedule, workshop information and to sign-up, visit: http://www.sallyridescience.com/festivals/09gmu0418.

(12) THE SUNDAY EXPERIMENT AT NASA GODDARD (april 19)
The Sunday Experiment is a two-hour open house – the 3rd Sunday of each month from 1 to 3 pm - for kids, families and teachers in the Washington, DC, area. During the event, families get to participate in a variety of hands-on activities, demos and explore the Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center.  For more information, visit: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/sunday.php.  

Upcoming events include:

• April 19: Astrophysics
• May 17: Hubble Servicing Mission 4 (SM4)

(13) PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: OUR SUN–ITS INFLUENCE ON LIFE AND CLIMATE
April 22, Washington, DC

Edward F. Guinan, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Villanova University, will present “Our Sun: Its Influence on Life and Climate” at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, in the Mary Pickford Theater on the third floor of the James Madison Building, Washington, D. C.  The presentation is made possible through a partnership between the Library's Science, Technology, and Business Division and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.  The event is free and open to the public; tickets are not required. 

Upcoming programs in the series include:

• June 2, Daniel Glavin: Astrobiology: Life in Space
• Sept. 16, Tracking Severe Storms
• Oct. 13, Richard Mushotzky: Dark Matter
• Nov. 17, Update on Polar Ice

Webcasts of these presentations will be available at: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html (note: the Webcasts are typically not available for at least a couple of months after the event). For more information, go to: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html.

(14) TOP STARS: NEW OPPORTUNTIY FOR FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATORS  (Begin submitting entries April 30; entries received by May 30 will be included in the first round of selections)

For almost 20 years, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has inspired and engaged educators and students of all ages. U.S. formal (K-12, college) and informal educators are invited to submit their best examples of using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope for science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics education. Those selected as "Top Stars" will receive national recognition and awards. Entries will be accepted from May 2009 through January 2, 2010, with entries selected approximately every 2-3 months.  Entries received by May 30, 2009, will be included in the first round of selections.

The Top Stars contest is sponsored by NASA and is a project of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Arlington, Va.
http://topstars.strategies.org

(15) NASA QUEST -- LCROSS: EXPLORATION THROUGH NAVIGATION CHALLENGE PART II
Student Projects Due: April 30

This challenge requires students to chart a course from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., to one of the lunar poles by using navigation skills appropriate for outer space. Other activities include weekly challenge questions (with prizes), an opening and closing Webcast, and a chat with the author of "A Man on the Moon." Background materials and an educator's guide are available. Registration is open now, and student projects are due April 30, 2009.  Participation in Part I of the challenge, which was held fall 2008, is not required for participation in Part II. The two parts of the challenge complement each other but ultimately stand alone.

For more information about the challenge and to register online, visit
http://quest.nasa.gov/challenges/lcross3/

(16) YOUTUBE VIDEO CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
Entry Deadline: May 1, 2009

The Universe Adventure at UC Berkeley is offering a video contest on YouTube about the physics of the universe. The contest is open to all high school teachers and their currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 (at least 14 years of age) at a full time in public, private or home school. Videos must be 1-5 minutes long and explain, in a clear and entertaining way, a fundamental concept or physical law that influences the cosmology or astrophysics of the universe. The deadline to enter is May 1, 2009. Prizes will be awarded for the winning team of high school students and their teacher.

For examples of student videos, contest rules, prizes and more information, visit http://universeadventure.org/index/videocontest.htm - eligibility.

(17) NO BOUNDARIES NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009

NASA has teamed with USA TODAY Education to create the "No Boundaries" project and national student competition. This project is designed to help students explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The No Boundaries Web site has a Teacher Toolkit and step-by-step instructions for teachers to implement the project in their classrooms. Students research and develop projects (e.g., podcast, Web site, newspaper, songs, artwork, etc.) marketing NASA STEM careers to teens and are encouraged to enter their projects in the No Boundaries National Competition. The contest deadline is May 15, 2009. For more information go to: http://www.noboundaries-stemcareers.com/.

(18) VIEW ATMOSPHERE FROM SPACE—WORKSHOP FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
June 23-24, Lincoln, Neb.
Free Registration Deadline: May 1

Hosted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, this workshop will provide an introduction to NASA’s satellite view of weather and climate to approximately 15 middle/high-school teachers. Participants will receive NASA educational resources, examine NASA satellite imagery, learn about NASA Earth observation systems and programs encouraging student/teacher participation in science, and interact with NASA scientists and other participants to find ways to integrate NASA satellite observation and research into their curriculum. Each participant will receive a $100/day stipend to cover travel costs, and free lunch and lodging. For more information and to register, contact Dr. Jun Wang at jwang7@unl.edu.

(19) CLIMATE DISCOVERY ONLINE COURSES FOR EDUCATORS
Early Registration deadline: May 31, 2009

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) offers a series of seven week online courses for middle and high school teachers that combine geoscience content, information about current climate research, easy to implement hands-on activities, and group discussion. There is a $225 fee per course (save $25 if you register by May 31). The courses run concurrently from June 18-August 9, 2009.

For complete course schedule and registration information, visit
http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu

(20) SUMMER SCIENCE WORKSHOPS FOR K-12 EDUCATORS
June-July 2009, Penn State University

Penn State University is offering six science workshops for K-12 educators in the summer of 2009.  Participants earn 2 graduate credits and PA ACT 48 hours. The courses are aligned with the National Science Education Standards and Pennsylvania Standards for Science and Technology. Grants are awarded to all participants to cover lodging, meals and partial travel. Tuition subsidies are available for all workshops on a competitive basis. For more information on workshop contents, or to apply for one or more workshops, visit: http://teachscience.psu.edu

Workshop topics include: Earth’s history (educators grades 6-12), renewable energy technologies (educators grades 9-12), calculator-controlled robots (educators grades 6-12), lunar exploration (educators K-6), extreme cosmic messengers (educators grades 9-12) and black holes (educators grades 6-12).

The workshops are an outreach program of NASA’s Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium, the Eberly College of Science, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and NASA.

(21) NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE SUMMER SCHOOL
July 20-24, 2009 and August 3-7, 2009
Applications Due: May 1, 2009

NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 21st Annual Planetary Science Summer School. Two separate sessions will be held this summer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. (July 20-24 and August 3-7). During the program, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept study, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board and receive feedback. At the end of the week, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a robotic space mission; relationships between mission design, cost, and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the quality of science. Applications are due May 1, 2009. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals. Further information is available at http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov. 

(22) ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC'S 120TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Sept. 12-16, 2009

Registration is now open for the 2009 ASP meeting to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area. The theme of the 2009 gathering will be "Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future." The meeting will begin with hands-on workshops on Sept. 12-13 for formal and informal astronomy and science educators. The meeting proper will be held Sept 14-16.

For more information and to sign up to receive program updates, go to
http://m1e.net/c?75116197-W8ceafm7URt2k%404112591-aRmfbHA4MuBmM

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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

(23) LUNAR CONSTRUCTION GAME FOR STUDENTS FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Named after the Greek lunar goddess, Selene challenges players to learn the major geologic processes scientists believe formed the modern moon. Players create their own moon and then pepper it with impact craters and flood it with lava. The game is designed for students between the ages of 13-18, takes about an hour to complete and offers a great opportunity for students to learn about lunar geology while helping researchers study some key videogame design principles. More time can be spent checking out Selene's various resources about the moon.

To play, participants must be enrolled by an adult recruiter to ensure parent or guardian consent for participation. Adults may visit the Selene Web site and click on the Recruiter button. Recruiters help find players to play the game and take part in the study. To learn more about the game and how you can play or recruit, visit http://selene.cet.edu. If you have questions about this project, please e-mail your inquiries to selene@cet.edu.

Selene: A Lunar Construction Game was created through NASA by the Center for Educational Technologies® at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W. Va., and its learning research continues through a National Science Foundation grant.

(24) FROZEN: NEW SCIENCE ON A SPHERE MOVIE
"Frozen" brings Earth to life, projecting images of the planet onto completely spherical movie screens hanging in the center of darkened theaters. Turning in space, images on the screen become a portal onto a virtual planet, complete with churning, swirling depictions of huge natural forces moving below. "Frozen" showcases the global cryosphere, those places on Earth where temperatures don't generally rise above water's freezing point. As one of the most directly observable climate gauges, the changing cryosphere serves as a proxy for larger themes.

For more information about the film and a partial list of Science On a Sphere theaters, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/multimedia/frozen/index.html.

(25) SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY’S AMBASSADOR IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM
Teachers may invite an SDO Ambassador to come visit their classroom. Visits will include an introduction to the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the science behind it, Q&A session about NASA and its current projects, and a hands-on activity aligned with national science standards. Currently only teachers in Washington DC, Montgomery County and Baltimore City are eligible. http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/educators/ambassador.php

(26) A DAY AT GODDARD: HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS FIELD TRIP
High school physics and Earth science teachers are invited to bring their classes to spend the day at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Activities include a facilities tour, a career-oriented meet and greet with scientists, and a lab activity conducted on center. The purpose of this trip would be to increase student's interest in science, expose them to potential careers in science, and increase their awareness of the research that NASA conducts, as well as to support your curriculum and give you a day of fun. http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/educators/

(27) OCEAN CONVEYOR BELT IMPACT: NEW ARTICLE ON OCEAN MOTION WEB SITE
Where do ocean waters travel? What role do these pathways of the sea play in redistributing heat around the world? The story of how ocean surface currents impact the world's climate is found in a new article in Ocean Motion, a NASA Web site for students at grade levels 9-12. 
http://www.oceanmotion.org/html/impact/conveyor.htm

(28) NEW SPACE MATH PROBLEMS
The Space Math Web site posted 15 new math problems primarily covering fractions and mixed numbers. More advanced problems include calculating the length of an arc to represent the trajectory of the Dawn spacecraft, the energy needed to create craters on the moon of various sizes, and energy and unit conversions.
http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/

(29) WHY IS EARTH’S CORE SO HOT? NEW PODCAST ON SPACE PLACE
A new podcast entitled “Why is Earth’s core so hot?” is now available on the Space Place Web site for elementary-aged children. Blistering hot molten rock bursts through weak places in Earth's crust. What is down there and why is it so hot? Earth's core may seem as mysterious and remote as outer space, but scientists have actually learned a great deal about it. Listen to a scientist explain. To listen to this and previous podcasts on your computer, or to read the transcripts, visit http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/educators/podcast/.

(30) UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE: 2009 EARTH SCIENCE WEEK KITS
The American Geological Institute (AGI) annually hosts Earth Science Week (ESW) in cooperation with sponsors including NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service and other geoscience groups.

“Understanding Climate” is the theme for the 2009 ESW, which will be held Oct. 11-17. NASA will again contribute educational resources to the ESW kits; AGI plans to distribute the kits beginning in summer 2009. For more information on ESW, go to http://www.earthsciweek.org.

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SCIENCE NEWS

(31) MARS ROVER UPDATE
March 26 -- Back in 2004, most experts would have said this story is impossible. No rover could possibly survive long enough on Mars for a five-year update. Yet here it is. Mission scientists reveal what Spirit and Opportunity are up to on the Red Planet today--and what their prospects are for the future.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/26mar_marsroverupdate.htm?list1110881

(32) NASA AND MICROSOFT TO MAKE UNIVERSE OF DATA AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
March 24 -- NASA and Microsoft Corp. plan to make planetary images and data available via the Internet under a Space Act Agreement. Through this project, NASA and Microsoft jointly will develop the technology and infrastructure necessary to make the most interesting NASA content -- including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon -- explorable on WorldWide Telescope, Microsoft's online virtual telescope for exploring the universe. Additional information and a free download of WorldWide Telescope can be found at: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org

(33) HUBBLE FINDS RARE PRECURSOR TO A SUPERNOVA
March 23 -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has identified a star that was one million times brighter than the sun before it exploded as a supernova in 2005. According to current theories of stellar evolution, the star should not have self-destructed so early in its life.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/supernova_prog.html

(34) SIMULATION SHOWS WORLD WITHOUT OZONE LAYER
March 18 – A team of atmospheric chemists used a comprehensive model that included atmospheric chemical effects, wind changes, and radiation changes to show "what might have been" if chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and similar chemicals were not banned through the treaty known as the Montreal Protocol. Read more at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/view.php?id=37588.

(35) NASA SCIENTISTS FIND CLUES TO A SECRET OF LIFE
March 17 -- NASA scientists analyzing the dust of meteorites have discovered new clues to a long-standing mystery about how life works on its most basic, molecular level.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/view.php?id=37586

(36) DROUGHT, URBANIZATION WERE INGREDIENTS FOR ATLANTA'S PERFECT STORM
March 11 -- Researchers have used NASA satellite data to pinpoint the cause of a 2008 tornado that struck Atlanta. It was the first twister in the city's recorded history.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/view.php?id=37451

(37) NEW CONCEPT COULD HARNESS THE POWER OF OCEAN WAVES
March 5 -- NASA researchers who developed a new way to power robotic underwater vehicles believe a spin-off technology could help convert ocean energy into electrical energy on a much larger scale.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/view.php?id=37316

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CALENDAR

April 2-4
NASA Presentations at National Afterschool Association Conference, http://www.naaconvention.org.

April 2-5
100 Hours of Astronomy, http://universe.nasa.gov/100hours.

April 3-4
Around the World in 80 Telescopes Webcast, http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/program/75-live-24-hour-research-observatory-webcast

April 4
Kepler Space Science Workshop, http://kepler.nasa.gov/ed/workshops.html - 20090404

April 6
Thacher Scholar Entries Due – contest for grades 9-12, for student projects using geospatial technologies to study Earth. http://www.strategies.org/education/index.aspx?sub=education&sub2=scholars&sub3=scholars2009.

April 9
Proposals due for SMD Science Education and Public Outreach Forum Proposals, http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

April 9
Exploring Space Lecture—What IS the Universe?, http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1217.

April 9
Educator Lecture: Global Warming, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/catalog/details/?cid=1646

April 16
Family Science Night at GSFC, Now You See it…Now You Don’t, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.

April 18
Sally Ride Science Festival at George Mason University, http://www.sallyridescience.com/festivals/09gmu0418.

April 19
Professional Development Webcast (teachers grades 3-8): Tides, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/

April 19
The Sunday Experiment at GSFC, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/sunday.php.  

April 22
NASA Public Lecture: Our Sun—It’s Influence on Life and Climate,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html

April 25
Kepler Space Science Workshop, http://kepler.nasa.gov/ed/workshops.html - 20090404

April 29
Videoconference – Meteorology: An Educator’s Resource Guide for Inquiry-Based Learning, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/

April 30
Begin submitting entries for Top Stars Contest, http://topstars.strategies.org

April 30
NASA Quest—LCROSS Student Projects Due, http://quest.nasa.gov/challenges/lcross3/

May 1
Deadline for YouTube Astrophysics Video Contest, http://universeadventure.org/index/videocontest.htm - eligibility.

May 1
Registration Deadline for “View Atmosphere from Space” – Teacher Workshop at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jwang7@unl.edu.

May 15
No Boundaries Competition Entries Due, http://www.noboundaries-stemcareers.com/.

May 17
The Sunday Experiment at GSFC, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/sunday.php.  

May 21
Family Science Night at GSFC, Searching for Other Worlds, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.

May 27
Videoconference – NASA Explores Virtual Worlds, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast/

May 27
Exploring Space Lecture—Are We Alone?, http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1218.

May 31
Registration Deadline for Climate Discovery Online Courses, http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu

June 1-12
2009 Summer Institute on Climate Information for Public Health, http://iri.columbia.edu/education/summerinstitute09.

June 2
NASA Public Lecture: Astrobiology: Life in Space,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html

June 18
Professional Development Webcast (teachers grades 3-8): The Story of Ocean Heat Storage, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/

June 18
Exploring Space Lecture, Our Sun: is it a Steady Performer?, http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1219.

June 23-24
View Atmosphere From Space, Middle/High School Teacher Workshop, jwang7@unl.edu.

July 20-24
NASA Planetary Science Summer School, http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov. 

Aug. 3-7
NASA Planetary Science Summer School, http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov. 

Sept. 12-16
Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s 120th Anniversary Celebration, http://m1e.net/c?75116197-W8ceafm7URt2k%404112591-aRmfbHA4MuBmM

Sept. 16
NASA Public Lecture: Tracking Severe Storms,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html

Oct. 13
NASA Public Lecture: Dark Matter,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html

Nov. 17
NASA Public Lecture: Update on Polar Ice,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

NASA Science Mission Directorate: Larry Cooper, Stephanie Stockman and Ming-Ying Wei.

Editor: Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), theresa_schwerin@strategies.org.
Writer: Catherine Fahey, IGES, catherine_fahey@strategies.org.

Contributions from: Sheri Asplund, JPL; Sheryl Beach, George Mason University; Edna DeVore; SETI Institute; Emilie Drobnes, NASA GSFC; Karin Hauck, Sun-Earth Connection; Katie Hecker, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Jan Heiderer, GLOBE; Sandra Henderson, UCAR; Anita Krishnamurthi, NASA GSFC; Kathleen Lestition, Chandra X-ray Center; Nancy Leon, NASA JPL; Kirsten Meymaris, UCAR; Susan Moore, SSAI; Heather Nelson, Pennsylvania State University; Randy Russell, UCAR; Glen Shuster, US-Satellite Laboratory; Anita Sohus, JPL; Sara Tweedie, NASA HQ; Sten Odenwald, NASA GSFC.