Written by Alana Hughes, 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.
Scientists are working to bring an extinct reptile back to life! Don’t worry, you won’t be seeing a dinosaur anytime soon, but in a few years, you may be able to see the Floreana tortoise—which has been extinct for over 150 years! Conservationists have discovered living tortoises that are distant genetic relatives to the Galapagos Island’s extinct Floreana tortoise. Though it may take many years, researchers are using DNA and genetic profiles to bring this reptile back to life.
In rural Japan, art students have created giant animal sculptures made entirely out of rice straw! At the Niigata Wara Art Festival, rice straw (known as “wara” in Japan) is braided together and sculpted into sharks, dinosaurs and even adorable giant kittens. Click here to read more about this awesome art project!
Did you know that Saturn isn’t the only planet with rings? Rings around planets in the Solar System are actually very common and astronomers have just discovered a new and surprising ring system. The planet Haumea is the first dwarf planet found to have its very own ring! This egg-shaped planet is found beyond Neptune in the Kuiper belt and its ring is only 43-miles wide. Scientists hope this discovery will help them better understand minor and faraway planets like Haumea as well as how ring systems are formed.