If the great oak tree could see, what stories might it tell? Well, apparently it can reveal a lot! Read about the life of this 400-year-old oak tree in Oxfordshire, England.
Author Archives: annettebrennan
A Video Library of Human Life Experiences
Read about the collaborative work of filmmakers, designers, and many other volunteers from around the world who are producing a video library called Global Lives Project. Click on the Global Lives Project link within the article to get a window into the very different lives of individuals from all around the world.
The Star-Spangled Banner
Explore this interactive American flag which was originally made by hand in 1813 by Mary Pickersgill. Find out about its history by selecting the hotspots and learn about preservation plans for future generations.
8 Life Lessons Which You Can Learn From Sport and Hobbies
The eight life lessons talked about in this article originate from the advice that a coach gives to some young boys who are learning hurling (a very popular Irish sport). The valuable life lessons underlying the skills of pastimes have an impact on our development as human beings.
Cliff Young — The farmer who outran the field
In 1983, a 61-year-old potato farmer ambled up to the start of an over 500-mile-long Australian ultramarathon and made history with his stunning finish.
How Do Fireflies Glow? Mystery Solved After 60 Years
Scientists at Connecticut College discover the final twist in the tail of the magical lightning bug. Being able to recreate the chemical reaction in a lab might lead to advances in medicine in the future.
The Underground Railroad: Escape from Slavery
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses and people who helped slaves to freedom. Using this online interactivity, step back to 1860 and experience life as a young slave as he flees a Kentucky plantation for a long and dangerous journey to Canada.
Deep-Sea Sub Crushed Under Pressure
Nereus, a highly advanced and costly deep-sea robotic submarine, was about 6.2 miles deep in the ocean when it was crushed under the pressure of the deep waters.
5 Teens Who Are Helping Others Online
Read about what spurred on five different U.S. teenagers to utilize the internet and social media to make a lasting change on the lives of others.
The Sapling Project
For Anne Frank, a chestnut tree growing outside her window symbolized the freedom she hoped she would one day experience again. Cuttings taken from the tree before it collapsed in 2010 have been planted throughout the world, including America.
Youth Voices: I Have a Voice!
Mei-Hua Li, a Chinese emigrant in the United States, tells about how the responsibility of interpreting for her family brought maturity. She also discusses how the youth program of the Asian Community Corporation (A-VOYCE) helped her understand her own identity in a foreign country.
How your eyes trick your mind
An interactive guide on visual and optical illusions down through history. Scientists explore some theories behind how our brains react to what our eyes take in.
Portraits of a Generation: Children of Immigrants
Quetzal Maucci, an Argentinean- and Peruvian-American photographer, creates a portrait series depicting children from immigrant families living in the U.S. and tells the stories of their identity struggles in their new culture.
Hollywood Horror: The Evolution of the Horror Movie Poster
How were movies advertised before the internet existed? This article looks at the important role that movie posters played in spreading the word about the latest, scariest horror movie.
New ‘Intraterrestrial’ Virus Found in Ocean Depths
With the help of the robotic submarine Alvin probing the bottom of the ocean floor off the coast of Santa Monica, California, scientists make new discoveries into a virus that causes single-celled sea creatures called archaea to mutate.
Teen Entrepreneurs – 11 Important Business Lessons from Teenage Entrepreneurs
From a student who made bio-fuel and used it to drive a teacher’s car to another who developed a wind-powered cell phone charger, get 11 valuable lessons direct from teenage entrepreneurs who participated in Schoolyard Ventures. This Philadelphia-based organization helps high school students become entrepreneurs.
The Roughest, Toughest Race in the World
In Tennessee every year the Barkley Marathons push runners to their absolute mental and physical limits. Watch this short documentary to get an insight into what drives the competitors to take on this mammoth challenge, considering the small number that have ever finished the run.
Children on the Battlefield
How did younger boys get around the legal age limitations to join the army in the Civil War? What roles did the boys carry out when enlisted? How did they fit into camp life amongst the older soldiers, and what impact did the battleground have on these young lives?
Escher’s gravity-defying waterfall
M. C. Escher was a Dutch graphic artist specializing in woodcuts, mezzotints, and lithographs inspired by mathematical principles. “Waterfall” is a lithograph first printed in October 1961 creating an optical illusion which Escher was famous for. Select the link in the article to see the original lithograph and more of Escher’s amazing work.
Look, something shiny!
Colorful products overshadow our logical, sensible brain when purchasing. And, marketers strategically use color to guide us in a particular direction. This study from The Ohio State University covers some interesting points on how our brains treat color versus black and white objects.