Spectacular Science

Have you ever wondered how there are so many breeds of dogs in the world. Or, have you wondered why there are so many varieties of fruits and vegetables. It’s all thanks to artificial selection and selective breeding! Akshay visits the animal shelter in search of a new pet, and sees all of these hundreds of breeds to choose from. Curious about selective breeding, Akshay visits Dr. Ian Dworkin, a professor at McMaster University in Canada, in his awesome fruit fly lab to learn more about artificial selection. You’ll see why fruit flies are important to the study of artificial selection and will learn more about this concept in this amazing episode.

Special thanks to Dr. Will Ratcliff for arranging this interview with Dr. Dworkin!

What’s the big deal with microplastics? What is microplastic and why is it harmful to the environment, especially animals? In this episode, Akshay tries to relax on the beach, but can’t because of all the plastic on the beach! He gets curious about microplastics and learns more about them. In this episode, we will learn about what microplastics are, why they are harmful, and what we can do about this problem.

Here is an article! It is called “Microplastics”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2021/05/microplastics/)

Here is an activity! It is called “Clean Up Plastic Poster”. (https://spectacularsci.com/clean-up-plastic-poster/)

Food chains and food webs! They are important to show the transfer of food from one animal to another. Even humans are part of a giant food web. But, how exactly does a food chain work? What are the parts of a food chain and what role do animals and plants play in it? In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind food chains and even how they can get even more complex, such as food webs

Here is an article about the very beginning of the food chain, producers! It is called “Why Do Plants Need Sunlight”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2021/06/why-do-plants-need-sunlight/)

Here is an activity! It is called “Draw Your Own Food Chain”. (https://spectacularsci.com/draw-food-chain/)

You’re in the kitchen chopping onions, then suddenly, you start crying! No, it’s not because you are hurt but is because of the onion. Why do onions make us cry? In this episode, Akshay is making his signature Soup of Imagination in his kitchen. He starts chopping onions for his soup and starts crying! In this episode, Akshay uncovers the hidden mysteries of the onion’s amazing defensive system!

Here is an article! It is called “Why Do Onions Make Us Cry”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2022/02/why-do-onions-make-us-cry/)

Here is an activity! It is called “The Onion’s Reason for Defense Discovery Quest”. (https://spectacularsci.com/onion-cry-discovery-quest/)

Sharks! They’re one of the most mysterious, misunderstood, and amazing creatures on Earth! Have you ever wondered about sharks and what it is like when diving with them? Akshay wants to learn more about sharks, so he talks to Ms. Melissa Cristina Márquez, a shark researcher and explorer. Akshay builds a new imaginary submarine and takes it on a test drive with Ms. Márquez while learning more about sharks! Join us on this deep sea adventure with an amazing shark scientist.

Check out Ms. Márquez’s book series, Wild Survival! It is an amazing series, so go check it out at https://melissacristinamarquez.com/books.html

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Now you see me, now you don’t! Chameleons are able to camouflage into their surroundings. But, how do they do this and is how they change dependent upon their surroundings? In this episode, Akshay goes out exploring in the woods and finds chameleons everywhere, even though he can’t see some of them! Learn about chameleons in this amazing episode of Spectacular Science!

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Here is an article! It is called “Chameleon Camouflage”. (https://spectacularsci.com/chameleon-camouflage/)

Here is an activity! It is called “Hide Your Chameleon”. (https://spectacularsci.com/hide-your-chameleon/)

Have you ever wondered how humans originated from apes or why birds look different based on their environments? Evolution and natural selection are the answers to those questions! What is evolution and natural selection? How does it work? Akshay wonders about this on his trip to the zoo, so he talks to Dr. William Ratcliff, an evolutionary biologist and professor at Georgia Tech. Dr. Ratcliff studies evolution and how animals and plants originated from single-celled organisms millions of years ago in his lab.

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Find blog posts, activities, and sign up for the Spectacular Science membership by visiting https://spectacularsci.com.

Many creatures such as fireflies, mushrooms, fish, worms, and microscopic sea animals make light. They have this amazing superpower that lights up their surroundings. How do they make light? Akshay wonders the same thing while watching fireflies in his backyard! In this episode, we are going to take a deep dive into the science of bioluminescence, or in other words, animals that produce light naturally.

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Here is an article! It is called “How Some Animals Glow In The Dark”. (https://spectacularsci.com/how-some-animals-glow-in-the-dark/)

Here is an activity! It is called “Make Glow-In-The-Dark Water”. (https://spectacularsci.com/make-glow-in-the-dark-water/)

What is the largest animal on Earth? It is the blue whale! The blue whale is as long as three school buses and weighs over 200 tons! This giant animal is also the loudest animal on Earth. Let’s go discover more fun facts about the blue whale! Join Akshay as he dives deep down into the ocean to uncover the science behind the amazing gentle giants.

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Here is an article! It is called “Blue Whale Facts”. (https://spectacularsci.com/blue-whale-facts/)

Here is an activity! It is called “Life-Size Blue Whale Drawing”. (https://spectacularsci.com/life-size-blue-whale-drawing/)

Pollinators are all around us! They help us humans get food and crops and also help the ecosystem stay in balance. But, we have a problem! Climate change! Climate change is impacting pollinators and the ecosystem as well. Akshay is curious about this and meets Dr. Samuel Myers at a bee farm! Dr. Myers is a principal research scientist at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, specializing in planetary health. He is also the Director of the Planetary Health Alliance. In this episode, you will learn a lot about pollinators, the importance of them, and how we can save the pollinator population.