Written by Kristin Kish, Digital Marketing Intern.
Between school, homework, practice and spending time with loved ones, it’s easy to miss out on the latest in science, technology, engineering, art and math. But don’t worry, Thinkery’s got you covered. Here are some of our favorite STEAM discoveries from the previous week. It’s fuel for your weekend.
Meet William Simpson, the paleontology collections manager at Chicago’s Field Museum and the caretaker of the most famous Tyrannosaurus rex ever, Sue. Sue, who’s been dead for more than 66 million years, is not only the museum’s showpiece—she’s also an essential part of its scientific collection. Researchers come from all over the world to see (and learn from) Sue and the rest of the Field Museum’s extensive fossil collection. What’s it like working with these long-dead dinos? Learn more about William’s job.
What is a sinkhole? A sinkhole is a hole in the ground caused by a collapse in the surface layer. Last week in Fukuoka, Japan, a gigantic sinkhole opened up in the middle of the road. Measuring 90 feet wide, 100 feet long and 50 feet deep, the thing is huge. Sinkholes are pretty crazy—they can occur naturally or after years of human interference. Sometimes, they’re full of bones dating back millions of years. Can we predict them? Find out here!
Bunnies in Australia have adapted to the cold by eating the toxic leaves of alpine eucalyptus trees. Normally, rabbits would survive off grass—but what are they to do when snow covers all their food? After tracking and studying their fecal pellets for three years, scientists determined that eucalyptus leaves are the biggest part of the rabbits’ winter diet. These eucalyptus leaves are hard to digest and contain toxins. How are the bunnies surviving on this new food source? Read more about it here!