Technologys Child

Have you ever wondered how a penny or dime is made? Coins are made from metal in factories called mints. First, an artist draws a picture of the coin, next clay is used to make a mold made from plastic. Then a machine engraves and designs a piece of metal–these metal pieces will be used to make stamps called dies. In the United States, there are only four factories–can you guess where?

Help tell the story of Benjamin Franklin's discovery of electricity! Together with your friend, act out this play to learn how Benjamin Franklin used a wire, attached to the top of a kite, to attract lightning from the sky. Lightning is a form of electricity! It travelled down the kite string to the key that created electric sparks! How did Franklin come up with the idea for his famous experiment?

Of all the historic spacecraft vehicles displayed at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in New York–one remains special! On the Moon, it gave shelter to the astronauts. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lunar Module–also used as a communications center–the LM-13 was built to transport people from earth to outer space! Learn what else makes this aeronautical spacecraft special!

Have you ever had an electrical power outage at home? In 2003, the largest blackout in United States history left millions of people without power for days! Learn how power generation plants are connected to the power grid that distributes electricity to regions of the country and to homes. What causes power outages? How does losing power affect daily life? What can people do to conserve energy?

Popcorn is a yummy snack–how is popcorn cooked? From an un-popped kernel, heat boils the water that the kernel naturally has inside it. The water turns into steam after it builds up inside. Scientists used cameras to discover how corn popped! What’s inside the kernel to make an explosive change happen–turning a kernel of corn into a tasty buttery treat–popcorn?

Do you know how the anatomy of the eye allows us to see colors? Learn about the part of the eye called cones. Cones are like sensors that detect colors. The more cones a person or animal has, the more colors the eye perceives. Can you guess if your pets see you in full color, or if you see your pets in full colors?

Animals survive in the wild against predators. Many animals, like the salamander, can regenerate limbs–arms, tails, toes, and hearts! Can you guess how long it takes the salamander to grow a new limb? Learn about other animals like the octopus with this same protection. Not all animals have cells that can regenerate limbs for their survival. What do you do if you find an injured animal?

Did you know anyone can become an inventor? Being an inventor is all about solving problems in your everyday life. Inventing means you come up with lots of ideas using your creativity. Follow along in this activity to learn the steps to solve a problem and to improve the world around you!

Animals have different-looking ears, yet, help them to hear! Some animals have large floppy ears like the bunny, who points each ear in different directions–hearing two sounds at once! The harbor seal that has no ears, yet hears through holes that close when it dives! Whether floppy or unnoticed–these animals have ears perfect for hearing!

Innovation starts with a problem whose solution sets in motion all kinds of unexpected discoveries. That's why you can draw a line from pendulums to punching the clock at a factory, from ice blocks to summer movie blockbusters, from clean water to computer chips. In the lively storytelling style that has made him a popular, best-selling author Steven Johnson looks at how accidental genius, brilliant mistakes, and unintended consequences shape the way we live in the modern world.

Welcome to Peru! Hike through the clouds to ancient cities of the Andes Mountains. Hear the calls of birds in the Amazon rain forest. Learn about the people, places, and traditions of this beautiful South American country.

With Herobrine momentarily defeated, but not destroyed, Zeke and his friends realize they are not safe unless they keep moving.

Corn. Chocolate. Fishing hooks. Boats that float. Insulated double-walled construction. Recorded history and folklore. Life-saving disinfectant. Forest fire management. Our lives would be unrecognizable without these, and countless other, scientific discoveries and technological inventions from Indigenous North Americans. Spanning topics from transportation to civil engineering, hunting technologies, astronomy, brain surgery, architecture, and agriculture, Indigenous Ingenuity is a wide-ranging STEM offering that answers the call for Indigenous nonfiction by reappropriating hidden history.

What do all the things you can see and touch in the universe have in common? Atoms! Made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons, atoms are so tiny you can’t see them without special microscopes.

In 1949, Dorothy Vaughan became the first African American woman to lead a team at NASA's Langley Research Center. Her work as a mathematician was an important part of helping the United States explore space. Learn more about Vaughan's life as a famous mathematician!

Tensions continue to rise between the Soviet Union and the United States as they engage in a Cold War. One of these battles was the space race. Learn how both countries began engineering and scientific effort to be the first to travel into space and back to Earth and the technology necessary to operate in it. See how scientists fight for peace as they begin their efforts to explore the unknown.

Imagine if the sunlight could not reach where you lived–the weather would be cold and slippery! The sun does not shine directly on the Arctic and Antarctica, causing the surrounding waters to freeze solid. The earth is tilted as it rotates around the sun, preventing the polar regions from getting enough sunlight. Can you guess how long it takes the earth to orbit the sun?

How smart can humans really be? According to a panel of expert canines, we're awfully confusing! We ignore the fact that we have a big water bowl in the bathroom, and don't even re-eat our vomit! Follow along and see why our pets might think we're a little silly.

Everyone has heard of Albert Einstein - but what exactly did he do? How much do kids really know about Albert Einstein besides the funny hair and genius label? For instance, do they know that he was expelled from school as a kid? Finally, here's the story of Albert Einstein's life, told in a fun, engaging way that clearly explores the world he lived in and changed.

With only three months of formal education, Thomas Edison grew up to be one of the most successful inventors of all time. Applying scientific principles to practical use, he made scores of inventions and held over thirteen hundred patents, from improvements on the telegraph and phonograph to the development of the incandescent lamp and a whole system for distributing electricity. Edison's rise from humble beginnings and his unceasing struggle to overcome obstacles illustrate the spirit of America.