Explore Outdoors ~ Hummingbird Moths!

It's a bird! It's a plane! Nope, it's a hummingbird moth! Look at that long, curly tongue and those clear see-through wings. And there, at the back end, it almost looks like a tail. These little guys are almost as big as hummingbirds and even make a low hum as their wings whir.

If you are lucky enough to come across one of these moths, spend some time watching them. The good folks over at the Caterpillar Lab have some photos of the babies...

Solve it! for Kids ~ a podcast for all ages

Ever wonder how scientists, engineers, and experts solve problems? If so, you will want to check out the Solve It for Kids podcast. My friend and colleague, Jennifer Swanson co-hosts with Jed Doherty – and they get the scoop directly from experts on they solve problems in their really cool jobs.

New podcasts are released each Tuesday. Each podcast is a half-hour long interview with a scientist doing their thing. And they’re archived so you can catch up on any you’ve missed.

Want to know how to build teeth out of soap? You can find out here.
What about measuring particles that you can’t see? Or figuring out how to communicate with astronauts on Mars? You’ll find those here and here. Each episode includes a challenge for kids (and curious adults) – which is great because, as Jennifer and Jed say, “You’ve got what it takes to solve the world’s biggest challenges!”

Jennifer is a member of #STEAMTeam2020 and also the creator of the STEM Tuesday blog. You can find a review of her most recent book, Beastly Bionics here and find out more about her at her website.

Explore Outdoors ~ milkweed visitor

Milkweeds are wonderful butterfly plants ~ not just for monarchs, either. When they pop up in my flower garden, I let them grow. Sometimes I find beetles on them, or caterpillars.

Who do you notice visiting milkweed plants?