Student Adventures

Announcing a series of service-based trips

2012-01-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

As part of our ongoing Global Student Support Program, Discovery Student Adventures is thrilled to announce a series of service-focused trips exclusively for teachers. It begins in July 2012 with Impact Costa Rica, a 7-day journey loaded with volunteer projects designed to make a lasting impact on the region.

Educators selected for Impact Costa Rica will help make a difference by participating in humanitarian and environmental projects ranging from rehabilitating endangered sea turtles to donating school supplies to renovating classrooms.

“Efforts like this exemplify our dedication to making a lasting difference in education, whether it’s through offering extraordinary travel opportunities, or helping students around the world,” says Discovery Student Adventures vice president Susannah Stoltz.

We are currently accepting applications from educators interested in being considered for this all-expense-paid inaugural service trip. Qualifying teachers will be chosen from all complete applications submitted by February 15. Apply here.

Polar bears: icons of the Arctic

2011-12-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

A symbol of the North Pole, polar bears are the world’s largest land predator and biggest member of the bear family. With heavy fur, blubber up to four inches thick and black skin that absorbs heat from the sun, polar bears are amazingly well adapted to the Arctic climate.

Interestingly, a polar bear’s fur is transparent. The long, coarse, guard hairs that protect the plush thick undercoat are hollow and transparent. The thinner hair of the undercoat is not hollow but they, like the guard hairs, are colorless.

Want to watch polar bears at play in their own environment? Join Discovery Student Adventures for an amazing 16 day journey to the Arctic!

What’s your favorite Arctic animal? Polar bears? Walruses? Beluga whales? Something else?

Majestic sea turtles struggle for survival

2011-12-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

From leatherbacks to loggerheads, 6 of the world’s 7 species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered at the hand of humans. Sadly, they face many dangers as they travel the seas—including accidental capture and entanglement in fishing gear, the loss of nesting and feeding sites to coastal development, and ocean pollution.

Discovery Student Adventures is proud to do its part to help save these incredible creatures. From relocating the nests of loggerhead sea turtles laid in unsafe areas on the Grecian coast, to working with wildlife biologists and volunteers to rehabilitate giant leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica. It’s all part of our mission to give back to the communities we visit.

Have you ever seen a sea turtle outside of captivity?

Rip-roaring adrenaline rush soaring on a zip line

2011-12-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

Want to fly but not fearless enough for hang gliding or bungee jumping? Fear not.

Ziplining is a fun, safe alternative. With lines that range from 100 feet to more than a mile, locations around the world offer an incredible variety of great opportunities to fly like a bird at speeds up to 100 mph over rivers and mountains, past volcanoes and above rainforest canopies.

Discovery Student Adventures offers some of the most exhilarating zip lining on the planet in Costa Rica and Ecuador. In Costa Rica, you can take in magnificent views of Arenal volcano and its lush surroundings as you fly above the jungle on a series of 8 zip lines. Our Ecuadorian travelers can explore the Cloud Forest and encounter exotic residents such as tanagers, flycatchers, toucans, and hummingbirds.

The many lists of worldly wonders

2011-12-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Our planet is full of dazzling and awe-inspiring places. When it comes to naming wonders of the world, there is no shortage of places to marvel over.

From Natural Wonders to Ancient Wonders to New Wonders, and even Strange Wonders. Check out the many wonders of our world, and see which ones you can experience with Discovery Student Adventures.

The Original Seven Wonders of the World

The Colossus of Rhodes
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The Seven Wonders of the Modern World

Channel Tunnel
CN Tower
Empire State Building
Golden Gate Bridge
Itaipu Dam
Netherlands North Sea Protection Works
Panama Canal

The Natural Wonders of the World

Grand Canyon
The Great Barrier Reef
The Harbor at Rio de Janeiro
Mt. Everest
Northern Lights
Paricutin Volcano
Victoria Falls

Strange Wonders of the World

Split Apple Rock, New Zealand
Mud Volcanoes of Azerbaijan, Eurasia
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Devils Tower, Wyoming
Crystal Caves, Mexico
Chocolate Hills, Philippines
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

Are there any wonders you'd add to the list?

Gulp! These sea predators rule the ocean

2011-12-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

When you encounter the world's most feared fish face to face, you know it must be a Discovery experience. On a trip to South Africa with Discovery Student Adventures, you’ll look right into the eyes of these beasts during a cage-diving expedition you’re not likely to forget. Wildlife experts describe these great fish as "elegant" and "misunderstood," but let’s face it: Great Whites have earned their reputation for fierceness. Here are 5 cool facts about these amazing eating machines.

1. In one year, a single Great White consumes about 11 tons of food—that’s nearly 60 pounds per day.

2. The biggest Great White Shark ever caught was off Canada’s Prince Edward Island in 1993. It was 20 feet long.

3. Great White sharks live along the coasts of all continents except Antarctica.

4. Scientists believe there are less than 10,000 Great White Sharks in the world and they are considered endangered.

5. Great White Sharks rarely attack people and when they do, it is because they mistake the person for their usual seal prey.

Gaudy gifts: World's tackiest souvenirs

2011-12-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

We all like to come back from a trip with something to remind us and our friends of what a wonderful time we had. For Discovery Student Adventure travelers, that might include hand-painted pottery from Italy, fancy chopsticks from China, or Washington Monument paperweight from the nation’s capital. Cool stuff. Unfortunately, not all souvenirs are created equal. We searched the world over for some of the tackiest gifts around. Here’s what made our list:

1. President Obama footwear. A pair of flip-flops that feature toe straps brimming with the beaming likeness of our commander and chief fashioned out of plastic.

2. London nail clippers. Finally, you can combine two of your favorite activities: clipping your toenails and loving London!

3. Winter Down Under. Enjoy this typical Australian scene with kangaroos bouncing along in a blizzard underneath the desert sun.

4. Bermuda socks. You don’t want to wear one of those in-your-face, look-at-me-I’ve-been-to-Bermuda T-shirts. You have to be more subtle about it.

5. Canned fog from San Francisco. Crack open a can of SF fog and let the same magical silver cloud that shrouds the Golden Gate Bridge help with all your vital fogging needs.

What's the tackiest souvenir you've ever purchased or received?

Festive fundraising ideas for our travelers

2011-12-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Holidays are the perfect time to raise funds for the ultimate gift: An educational adventure of a lifetime. To aid our students in their fundraising endeavors, we’ve created new tools to ease their efforts.

E-cards make it simple for family and friends to give the gift of travel. Students can email as many E-cards as they like and customize their message to share fundraising goals and highlight the amazing destination they’ll be visiting. The email recipients can easily make a donation directly to the student’s trip account.

A fundraising calendar provides great inspiration and can help maintain momentum through the year. Planning is key to meeting your fundraising goals and what could be better than a tried and true idea for every month? December is a great month to hold an event. Caroling, bake sales, Christmas trees, oh my!

Packing lists are chock-full of good gifts. Don’t have a pair of waterproof, closed-toe shoes for that night hike through the rainforest? Check off the items you have and note what you need. Sometimes, it’s more meaningful for friends and family to give a gift that’s tangible and useful instead of money. Travel gifts can be used long after the gift wrap is torn away.

Enrolled students have access to these great tools in their Travel Center.

What kind of travel gift would you like?

5 insanely spectacular plunge waterfalls

2011-11-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Plunge waterfalls are waterfalls that drop vertically while losing contact with the underlying cliff face, or bedrock, behind them. They often make for great spectacles as they plummet over sheer drops in breathtaking torrents—and the views from the top are dizzying to say the least! For your wonderment, here are 5 stunning waterfalls from around the world.

1. Havasu Falls
One of the most visited falls in the Grand Canyon, Havasu Falls leaps spectacularly over a 120-foot vertical cliff. The water is highly mineralized, and its erosive powers cause the occasional division of the falls into two chutes as well as having created the blue-green pools below.

2. Waireinga Falls
Located along the Pakoka River in New Zealand, this magnificent plunge waterfall is 180 feet high and over time has caused a large pool to form at its base.

3. La Fortuna Waterfall
Running through the rainforest in Costa Rica, the Tenorio River feeds this marvelous plunge waterfall. It is 230 to 246 feet high and is found at the base of the Chato volcano.

4. Whangarei Falls
The Hatea River in New Zealand plunges 85 feet at Whangarei Falls. It was considered such a special spot that in the 1920s the land was bought to prevent its being exploited, and in 1946 it was purchased on behalf of the local citizens.

5. Angel Falls
Feeding into the Kerep River, Angel Falls in Venezuela is not only the highest plunge waterfall in the world but the highest waterfall of any kind. It is 3,212 feet at its tallest point, while the longest drop itself plunges 2,648 feet. In the local Pemon language, the waterfall’s name means "waterfall of the deepest place," or "the fall from the highest point."

What do these amazing waterfalls all have in common? Most are located in places visited by Discovery Student Adventures. Do you have a favorite waterfall you’ve visited?

Thanksgiving’s cultural cousins

2011-11-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

Autumn festivals, including American Thanksgiving, East Asian Mid-Autumn Festival and Jewish Sukkot, celebrate family and the Earth's bounty in similar ways despite cultural differences. Of those three, Thanksgiving is the newcomer. The Pilgrims celebrated a harvest festival with the Native Americans in 1621. And their ancient Anglo-Saxon ancestors also celebrated autumn harvest festivals.

But Thanksgiving wasn't an official annual event until 1863 when President Lincoln proclaimed, “...set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."

Thanksgiving was new, but may have had an ancient inspiration in Leviticus, a holy book to both Jews and Christians. In Leviticus 23:39, God commanded the ancient Israelites to observe the Feast of Booths, Sukkot in Hebrew, after crops were gathered.

During sukkot, celebrated this year from Oct. 12-19, observers worship, eat and even sleep in a sukkah, a flimsy booth representing the temporary structures the Israelites used after fleeing Egypt.

The celebration of the Mid-Autumn, or Moon Festival in China, Taiwan, Vietnam and other East Asian countries, also involves food and family and friends. During the Mid-Autumn festival, people come back home to be with their family. It's one of the biggest holidays in eastern Asia.

What are you most thankful for this holiday season?

10 mind-bending facts about the universe

2011-11-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

From neutron stars to multiple dimensions to life on other planets, here are cool facts about the universe that might make your brain hurt.

1. The universe contains around 50,000,000,000 galaxies, each of which has between 100,000,000,000 and 1,000,000,000,000 stars.

2. At the speed of light, time stops.

3. Dark matter makes up 83 percent of the matter in the universe, but we can’t see it and we don’t know what it is.

4. Time passes more slowly in orbit around the earth meaning returning astronauts arrive home slightly younger than if they had spent the same amount of time on earth.

5. Atoms are 99.9999999999999999% empty space meaning all the matter making up the entire human race could fit into a sugar cube.

6. Just a thimbleful of a neutron star would weigh over 100 million tons.

7. Sagittarius 3, an interstellar gas cloud, contains a billion, billion, billion liters of alcohol.

8. The most powerful explosions ever witnessed in the universe are gamma-ray bursts that are trillions of times brighter than our sun.

9. In quantum physics causality can work backwards meaning our choices in the present can effectively determine what occurred in the past.

10. According to some models of cosmology, there are an infinite number of universes with an infinite number of people.

Source: MSN news

Do you think life exists beyond our world?

5 of the best quirky and unusual museums in the U.S.

2011-11-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

A good museum can inspire, educate, and keep weary travelers dry and toasty-warm on rainy days. Unfortunately, even the best museums can also overwhelm with impenetrable sizes, high admissions, and endless crowds. That’s why many smart travelers steer clear of major museums and seek out for smaller galleries. The following is a quirky collection of 5 of the best small, unusual, and underrated museums in the United States.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum – Alexandria, Virginia
Entering this tiny museum is like traveling back in time; after operating for generations as a family-owned pharmacy, the shop suddenly closed during the 1940s Depression. It has since been meticulously restored and preserved, with original wooden shelving, antiquated signage, and assortments of glass jars and beakers that haven’t been touched in decades. Local volunteers conduct short but informative tours, regaling visitors with tales of colonial-era “medicine”, such as bloodletting. A particularly gruesome procedure, it was thought to cure a number of illnesses and was famously favored by George Washington.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza – Dallas, Texas
For American history buffs and conspiracy theorists alike, the Sixth Floor Museum might prove to be morbidly irresistible. The museum is devoted to the life and death (but mostly the death) of President John F. Kennedy. The exhibits begin innocently enough. An audio tour guides visitors through a generic pathway of informative panels and video clips, describing JFK’s childhood, rise to political fame, election to president, and first years in office. Suddenly, though, the narrative becomes very specific about the President’s 1963 visit to Texas, the events taking place on the morning of November 22, and his motorcade ride through the streets of Dallas.

The Center for Wooden Boats – Seattle, Washington
Where else could you take a museum’s historic artifacts out onto the water for a pleasure cruise? The CWB, as it’s informally known, is dedicated to maritime preservation, but they aren’t interested in merely restoring historic vessels to put on display (although the center does house a small, more traditional boating museum). Rather, they hold workshops, community outreach programs, and free Sunday sails, all intended to get people out on the water. Their mission passing down the love and knowledge of small craft sailing.

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel – Memphis, Tennessee
There’s little arguing that this museum is well worth a somber and reflective visit. This is not a place for housing attractive works of art or flashy multimedia displays. There are educational panels tracing the narrative of the civil rights movement, from the pre-Civil War days to the Birmingham public transport strike sparked by Rosa Parks, but they are simple text-and-photo panels. The chills come upon entering the portion of the museum encased in Room 306, where King was staying on April 4, 1968, the day of his assassination on the motel balcony.

Cable Car Museum – San Francisco, California
For those who really want to appreciate the mechanical marvel and historical significance of these old-fashioned trolleys, the Cable Car Museum should not be missed. First and foremost, the building is home to the working powerhouse of the entire cable car system. In addition to the requisite historic plaques and photographs, visitors to the Cable Car Museum are invited to watch the inner workings of the transportation system. Gigantic, noisy engines and wheels power the cables pulling the cars up and down the streets of San Francisco.

When is the last time you visited a museum?

Polar bears put on a show in Manitoba

2011-11-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Tucked away in the Canadian province of Manitoba for several weeks each autumn is the largest wild polar bear concentration in the world. An estimated 1,000 or so polar bears gather near the small town of Churchill, waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze over so they can hunt seals and other marine mammals. That represents about 5% of the world’s population of these majestic animals, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

This annual migration provides tourists, photographers, and scientists from around the world the unique opportunity to view polar bears up close and personal.

Each summer, the ice melts on Hudson Bay, forcing polar bears ashore. Once on land, without access to seals and other marine mammals, the bears enter a state known as walking hibernation. They live off their fat reserves and spend most of the summer resting and conserving energy, according to wildlife experts.

Some polar bears will roam up to 900 miles along the coast in search of food, such as berries, grasses and kelp, but these don't meet their nutritional needs.

As autumn approaches, the bears migrate back to the Churchill region, where the annual freeze-up occurs sooner than elsewhere. As soon as the bay freezes, they scatter across the ice to hunt. The bears catch their prey from the surface of the sea ice. They remain there until the ice melts in summer and then the cycle repeats itself.

The U.S. Geological Survey projects that two-thirds of polar bears will disappear by the year 2050, as climate change melts sea ice.

Are you concerned that polar bears may someday become extinct?

BOO! 5 super-scary places to surrender your scream

2011-10-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Halloween … Are you ready for an adventure steeped with spooks? These places combine the thrill of an historical experience with a slight taste of down-right spine-chilling spooky. The U.S. offers a wealth of frightening parks, haunted houses and creepy attractions. Consider, for example, these scary spots.

1. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. One of the most famous battles of the Civil War was fought here. While visiting the park and memorial, guests have reported armies marching in step. Others have reported sad ghostly wives looking for their spouses who had fallen during battle. You can explore Gettysburg with Discovery Student Adventures. We’ll leave the haunts behind!

2. St. Augustine, Florida. This quaint historic city was the first Spanish settlement in the United States. The Castillo De San Marco is a famous tourist attraction in the oldest city where hauntings supposedly take place. Reported spooky areas of the castle include the watch tower and the dungeon.

3. Jonesboro, Arkansas. Jonesboro is the largest city in Northeast Arkansas, bordering the Ozark mountains. While visiting local Craig’s Lake, beware of the ghost of a person who drowned while swimming with three teenage friends. He is often spotted swimming in the water, yelling for help.

4. Asheville, North Carolina. Called the Paris of the south, Asheville is home to the famous Biltmore House that supposedly still houses the occupants’ ghosts. George W. Vanderbilt and his wife Edith, are often heard throughout the mansion. His wife can still be heard in the library, softly talking to her husband.

5. San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio is known as the home of the Alamo. Nearby Mission San Jose has a romantic ghost story – a stonemason fell in love with a maiden while constructing the mission. She fell ill and after dying, the stonemason built a rose window with a memorial in honor of her. If you are lucky, you can catch sight of her in the window.
Do you believe in real-life haunted houses?

Ping pong-playing robots make their debut

2011-10-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Robots are already taking away jobs at factories. Now, it appears, they're ready to rule the table tennis court, too. Two ping pong-playing humanoid robots named Wu and Kong recently debuted at Zhejiang University in China where they showed off their skills in front of engineers and journalists. The twin 5 foot, 3 inch, 121 pound robots have 30 individually-powered joints, giving them an impressive range of motion. Each arm, for example, can move seven directions, according to the university's description.

Key to their ability to serve and return balls with forehands, backhands, and stoic focus are eye-mounted cameras that predict the path of the ball so the robot get can ready for the next shot.

Each camera captures 120 images per second, which are transferred to the robots' processors that calculate the balls' position, speed, angle, landing position and path, the Xinhuanet news agency reports.

It takes 50 to 100 milliseconds for the robots to respond and their ability to predict the balls' landing position has a margin of error of just less than an inch.

That's one MONSTER croc!

2011-10-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

A hunting team in the southern Philippines caught a 21-foot crocodile in September that weighs a whopping 2,370 pounds and is estimated to be at least 50 years old. It is believe to be the largest reptile of its kind ever captured. It took roughly 100 people to pull the beast from a creek by rope and then hoist it by crane onto a truck.

Villagers suspect the animal of fatally attacking a farmer in the town of Bunwan, as well as a 12-year-old girl who was killed in 2009. But villagers are not resting easy just yet. They are not certain this is the man-eater, because there have been sightings of other crocodiles in the area.

In fact, local residents believe there may be an even bigger crocodile that could be the culprit. The local government in Bunwan said that it would not kill the animal and would instead establish a nature park where tourists could visit the enormous animal.

Are you surprised that this crocodile’s life is being spared?

Barcelona says adios to bullfighting

2011-10-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Centuries of toreador history recently ended in Barcelona, when Spain's northeast region of Catalonia held its last bullfight after voting to stop the practice. But the bullfighting ban in fiercely independent Catalonia remains controversial.

Some critics charge that the move—the second in Spain, after the Canary Islands outlawed the fights in 1991—was tied more to Catalan nationalism than concern for animal rights. Throughout Spain, the younger generation calls it murder, but still sees matadors as icons and related events like "bull running" still draw thousands of tourists.

Bullfighting is also popular in southern France, Mexico (one Mexico City ring seats 48,000 people) and some South American countries, including Colombia and Peru. In Ecuador, voters approved a controversial May referendum to outlaw the spectacles, though the ban has not yet been put into effect.

Even in Spain, the number of fights has fallen by a third over the past three years as the residential construction bubble burst and Spanish town halls, which funded many fights, lost income from building licenses.

Should bull fighting be universally banned around the world?

Crews scale Washington Monument checking for earthquake damage

2011-09-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

A team of engineers recently rappelled down the sides of the Washington Monument looking for damage caused by a rare earthquake that hit the East Coast in August. Crews exited the iconic monument from windows at the 500-foot level and scaled to the top to do a very close visual inspection. They were conducting an inventory of cracks sustained during the earthquake to determine whether those cracks could, in the next couple of years, grow.

The heaviest damage appears to be concentrated at the very top of the monument, in what is called the pyramidion, where large cracks of up to 1-1/4 inch wide developed through stone and mortar joints, according to officials with the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Daylight is visible through some of the cracks, and rain water has gotten into the monument, which could cause further damage.

The difficult-access rappelling team scaled the outside of the structure to get a closer look. They installed climbing ropes and safety lines on all four sides, then clipped onto those lines. They climbed up the pyramidion and then descended the length of the monument looking for exterior damage.

The Washington Monument, built between 1848 and 1884, is 555 feet tall. Its walls, 15-feet thick at the base and 18-inches at the top, are composed primarily of white marble blocks, according to the Park Service.

On a journey to Washington, D.C. with Discovery Student Adventures, which famous landmark would you most like to explore?

Great white shark numbers dwindling

2011-09-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

The world’s most feared fish may have something to fear itself: Its own demise. Far fewer white sharks are cruising the waters off California than previously thought, according to a new study. Counting the great white sharks was a hands-on activity. Researchers went out into the Pacific Ocean in small boats to places where great white sharks congregate, and lured the massive predators into photo range using a seal-shaped decoy on a fishing line.

From 321 photographs of the uniquely jagged edges of the sharks' dorsal fins, researchers identified 131 individual sharks. From these data, they used statistical methods to estimate that there are 219 great white sharks in the region.

The study, published in the journal Biology Letters, is the first rigorous scientific estimate of white shark numbers in the northeast Pacific Ocean, and represents one of the best estimates among the world's three known white-shark populations.

Great white sharks also live in the waters around Australia and New Zealand, and off the coast of South Africa.

Shark species around the globe have suffered steep declines in recent years. As many as one-third of the world's sharks and other cartilaginous fishes are threatened, and shark numbers along the United States eastern seaboard have plummeted, some species by as much as 90 percent. Great white sharks are classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, but relatively little is known about the elusive species.

Is enough being done to protect the great white shark population?

The world’s most spectacular vistas

2011-09-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

It’s long been said the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What’s stunning to one person may lack significant appeal to another. That may be, but when it comes to spectacular global destinations, it’s hard imagine anybody could deny the beauty of these jaw-dropping vistas.

Milford Sound

The Maori attribute the creation of the New Zealand fjords, such as Milford Sound, to Tute Rakiwhanoa, who cut the steep-sided valleys with his adze. What other explanation could there be for these spectacularly steep, sheer cliffs that rise nearly vertically from the ocean?

Uluru

Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is a large rock formation in the National Park Uluru-Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory of Australia. Uluru is sacred to the Aṉangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings.

The Dolomites

Swiss architect Le Corbusier called Italy's Dolomites les plus belle architectures du monde (the most beautiful architectures on Earth); indeed, the Italian mountain range speaks to the power of nature. The Dolomites comprise many types of rock, some of which eroded spectacularly, leaving seemingly delicate pinnacles, some of which formed tightly compact peaks and some of which formed from cooling lava.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon can easily overwhelm our imaginations with its daunting size: A mile deep, 277 river miles long and 18 miles across at its widest. But it can immediately deliver serenity with its solid magnificence; it is a powerful landscape at any time of the day, but most inspiring at sunset and sunrise when the canyon walls color and fade.

Cliff of Moher

As if shot from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, the massive Cliffs of Moher make the edge of Ireland appear to have been sheared off by giants a long time ago. One of the country's most popular attractions, the Cliffs of Moher attract a million visitors each year and provide a home for millions of nesting sea birds.

Study tips to start your school year off on the right foot

2011-08-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Whether you're eagerly jumping into the school year with both feet, or just wondering where your summer went, good study habits can make all the difference. From writing an English paper to reviewing algebra problems, there are a few key elements every successful student needs to include in a study plan.

Make-a-difference study tips:

1. Develop a time management plan. It is not the amount of time you spend studying that matters. It's what you accomplish during that time. Spending 40 hours to prepare for and exam and only earning a C clearly was a waste of your time. Develop a study plan and learn how to manage your time effectively to maximize results.

2. Be self-motivated. If your are not motivated or have a poor attitude, our study session will not be as productive. Pick a time of day where you can get motivated to prepare for tests, write essays, or solve problems.

3. Focus, focus,focus. The ability to concentrate is one of the more important study skills you need to develop. Learn how to overcome distractions so you can focus all your attention on your studies.

4.When in doubt, ask. If you aren't sure about a particular topic, don't be shy. Ask your instructor, family, or friend for help. It is important to address the problem area as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will end up having to spend even more time studying to catch up.

What study tip works best for you?

Tweet, tweet! 5 ways Twitter has changed education

2011-08-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that Twitter turned 5 earlier this year. Billions of tweets later, the microblogging platform has changed the way many of us communicate and get information online. The real-time communication provided by Twitter has had profound implications for education, and while it may not be fully integrated into everyone’s academic toolbox yet, it is finding a place there more and more.

Here’s a list of the 5 ways in which Twitter has changed (and probably still can change) education:

1. BRINGS THE WORLD INTO THE CLASSROOM: Internet resources like Twitter give students access to information — more importantly, perhaps — to people beyond the classroom walls. Students can post inquiries online and receive responses in real- or near real-time.

2. HELPS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME: A Twitter account for a school or a teacher can be another means (and a paperless one at that) to communicate information to parents on things like events, school closures, and deadlines.

3. GIVES EDUCATORS REAL-TIME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Rather than waiting for school-sanctioned events and rather than having to locate experts on their own, Twitter gives educators access to a vast social network of other like-minded professionals

4. CREATES CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL NETWORK: It isn’t just educators that are using Twitter to expand their access to experts. Twitter has become a key tool for creating personal learning networks, enabling anyone to build their own connections with other Twitter users, sharing learning resources and support.

5. CAPTURES CONVERSATIONS: The twitters in the back of the classroom used to be seen as distractions and disruptions. By using Twitter, many educators are finding ways to capture these “backchannel” conversations, harnessing rather than silencing conversations that occur during lectures and presentations by taking instant polls and asking for feedback through Twitter.

Has Twitter changed anything about your life at school?

Back to school: Top iPhone apps for students

2011-08-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

The new school year is just around the corner and that means the smell of erasers and chalk dust will soon be filling classrooms everywhere. But that’s so old school. A rapidly growing number of web and mobile applications are helping students tackle the tasks of obtaining an education. Check out some of these useful apps for students.

5 must-have iPhone applications for students headed back to school

iStudiez Pro. This application keeps track of your entire class schedule and assignments. From detailed, color-coded class schedules (the color coding makes the whole thing very easy to scan) to the ability to attach assignments to each course that shows up on the calendar and when they’re due, iStudiez Pro is a must-have companion to busy students.

Evernote. If you plan at all on using your iPhone for taking notes in class, you’ll want to utilize Evernote. The free application supports text, photo, and voice notes, and syncs to an online account, as well as Mac and PC versions of the app so you can have access to your notes anywhere. Evernote has some really nifty features, such as Twitter integration, geo-location, and the ability to search text within photos.

Cram. Got a big test coming up? You’ll want to check out Cram. Cram is a study tool on which users can create flash cards and multiple choice tests (with automatically randomized answers). These study aids can be shared with friends and synced to the offline Mac OS version.

Wikipedia. This application provides on-the-go, mobile optimized access to Wikipedia articles. Though Wikipedia should probably not be used as a primary source in any academic paper, it is a great starting point for deeper research, and the Wikipedia iPhone app lets you search the encyclopedia whenever an idea strikes you.

myHomework. The free myHomework app is a visually stunning iPhone application that helps students stay organized by creating a calendar of assignments and when they’re due. Assignments are color coded, so you’ll know when due dates are coming and when they’re late. The app doesn’t do much more than that, but it is helpful for keeping overloaded students on top of their work.

What other iPhone applications are helpful to you at school?

Strange items in America’s ‘attic’

2011-08-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

It's been 165 years since Congress passed an act to establish the Smithsonian Institution. Dubbed the 'Nation's Attic' (or 'America's Attic'), it has since become a prolific entity. We decided to go looking for some of the more eccentric items collected by the Smithsonian, many of which are currently on view. You may get to see some of these when you visit Washington, D.C., with Discovery Student Adventures.

5 cool, albeit odd things you can see at the Smithsonian.

Crash-test dummies. Vince and Larry endured countless crashes and made some funny commercials to get people to wear their seatbelts. The gear from the famous duo was donated to this museum.
Dorothy’s ruby slippers. There's no place like home, at the Smithsonian. The iconic shoes from 'The Wizard of Oz', are one of this museum's main attractions. The glittering red slippers are worn around the edges, a reminder of all the clicking and dancing they endured.
Teddy Roosevelt’s teddy bear. This prized possession is the original teddy bear, given to this president after a particular bear-hunting story made its way around. The incident also inspired a popular political cartoon.
Harry Truman’s bowling pin. President Harry Truman had a two-lane bowling alley installed in the White House and helped create a White House bowling league.
‘Star Trek’ phaser. Trekkies will delight in seeing weaponry from the classic '60s TV show at this museum.

5 ways the London 2012 Olympics is going green

2011-08-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

It’s being celebrated as the “greenest” Olympics ever, and organizers are beaming about innovations that will cut the carbon footprint of the entire project by 50 percent. Everything is being designed for low carbon emissions, low waste and green transportation. Discovery Student Adventures will be in London next year and our travelers will help make history by assisting in a conservation project for the Olympics.

In a nutshell, here are the environmentally friendly schemes organizers have planned:

• At the Olympic village, carbon emissions will be cut down by 50% and the entire project will be 25% more energy-efficient, compared to current building regulations
• 20% of the required energy for the Olympic Village and Park will be provided by renewable energy
• 20% of the construction materials, and around 90% of the demolished buildings will be recycled or reused
• Water used at the Olympic village will be 20% less than average
• 10 miles of new routes for walking and 30 miles of new cycling tracks will be built

What conservation methods to you practice to help keep our world green?

Bizarre sea life lurking in our oceans

2011-07-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

They're weird in good ways, and they're weird in bad ways. But most importantly, they're just WEIRD. And frankly, it would be totally selfish not sharing them. So put on your snorkel, goggles, and flippers, and hit the water with us to check out the absolute weirdest (but coolest!) sea creatures.

Blobfish. This fish is the weirdest looking sea creature ever. What's worse is that this animal is just as lazy as it looks and sounds; it barely expends any energy even eating, making sure it gobbles up whatever just happens to be floating by at the moment.

Axoloti. Axolotls are like the cute anime pet you never had but always wanted, because you saw it on a deck of Pokémon cards. Tack onto that the ability to completely regenerate any dangling limb, and you've got yourself a real live Tamigachi!

Frilled shark. The frilled shark is not your typical shark, judging by looks alone. It closely resembles an eel—so much so that it's mistaken for an eel quite often, and the only real distinguishing features are its signature six gill slits.

Anglefish. We'll say it, and we'll say it without fear: anglefishes are ugly. There, we said it. They are disgusting bottom-dwellers, and if that isn't the lowest of the low, they also have a spine that doubles as bait for prey.

Leafy sea dragon. The Leafy Sea Dragon is one of the few sea creatures with its own built-in camouflage. The tiny fins that are used to propel our leafy friend forward are impossible to see, giving the illusion that you are merely watching seaweed lazily float by.

What’s the strangest sea creature you’ve ever encountered?

5 fabulous world-famous attractions

2011-07-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

The world is full of extraordinary places that many of us will never get to visit. Some of these attractions would undoubtedly create a lifetime of memories. So what are the world’s most famous attractions? While this may be a subjective question, we decided to name a few of our favorites. Fans of Discovery Student Adventures will see some familiar places and iconic landmarks.

1) The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
This place is a collection of three temples portraying the Greek Goddess Athena. Construction took 9 years and was completed in 439BC. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

2) The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower has been France’s greatest symbol ever and will be the most visited structures in the world. It features an incredible observation wing that gives such a beautiful view of Paris.

3) The Peak Tram, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
The Peak Tram is a wonderful ride which takes passengers through the spectacular view of the whole city. This railway has been running since its opening in 1881.

4) The London Dungeon, London, England
The London Dungeon is one of the most popular attractions in the UK. It features gruesome and scenes that travel through the history of the UK, including the Great Fire of London and the awful acts that were committed by Jack the Ripper.

5) L’Aquarium De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
L’Aquarium De Barcelona is Europe’s largest aquarium. It contains some of the best Mediterranean sea life. It is both fascinating and entertaining for people of all ages.

What global attraction not listed here would you most like to see in person?

The 5 weirdest things ever flown on the Space Shuttle

2011-07-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

When NASA's space shuttles launch into orbit, they don't just carry astronauts and supplies into the final frontier. There's a lot of other weird stuff that makes the out-of-this-world journey, too. NASA's final space shuttle mission launched July 8. The mission was the 135th and last flight for the program, which began in 1981. Read on for 9 space oddities carried into orbit on NASA shuttles.

1. Cans of Coca-Cola & Pepsi In 1985, special modified cans of Coca-Cola and Pepsi soda rode aboard the space shuttle Challenger on its STS-51F mission. The trip added more fuel to the so-called "Cola Wars" between the Coca-Cola Company and Pepsi, Co.

2. The New York Mets' Home Plate In 2009, as the New York Mets organization prepared to move its baseball team into the new Citi Field in Queens, N.Y., a piece of hardware from the team's old home, Shea Stadium, made a special trip into space. On May 11, 2009, the home plate from Shea Stadium launched into orbit on the space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission— the last trip to the Hubble Space Telescope.

3. Buzz Lightyear – To Infinity and Beyond!
As part of an educational and public outreach mission, NASA teamed up with Disney to launch an action figure of the beloved character Buzz Lightyear, from Disney-Pixar's film "Toy Story," into space. A 12-inch-tall Buzz flew to the International Space Station on Discovery's STS-124 mission in May 2008.

4. Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber
Fans of the iconic "'Star Wars" films celebrated a moment where fiction met reality, when a lightsaber prop from the sci-fi movies flew on the space shuttle Discovery's STS-120 mission. The lightsaber's flight was of particular interest to one STS-120 crew member, a self-described big 'Star Wars' fan who also woke during the mission to the theme from the movies.

5. Dirt from Yankee StadiumA vial of dirt from the pitcher's mound at Yankee Stadium, the home of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees, flew on the space shuttle Endeavour's STS-123 mission in 2008. Astronaut Garrett Reisman , a fervent Yankee fan, brought the small container of dirt with him, along with other mementos of his favorite team, including a banner and hat autographed by George Steinbrenner, who was the principal owner of the team for 37 years, from 1973 to his death in July 2010.

What do you think the future holds for our space program. Perhaps a journey to Mars?

Still thriving after all these years: The world’s oldest cities

2011-07-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

At 498 years old, St Augustine, Florida, is the oldest continuously settled city in the U.S. In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon took possession of the territory. Compared with other cities around the world, however, St. Augustine is just a baby. Paris, for example, celebrates its 2060th birthday in July. Let's take a look at some of the oldest cities worldwide.

Paris, France. Earliest inhabitation: 250 B.C.

While this modern-day city celebrates its birthday this month, it was actually inhabited many years earlier by the Celtic tribe Parisii.

Athens, Greece. Earliest inhabitation: 1400 B.C.

Considered the cradle of Western civilization, this history-rich metropolis is the birthplace of a modern form of government and hosted the inaugural modern-day Olympics in 1896.

Cadiz, Spain. Earliest inhabitation: 1100 B.C.

Located on a land spit in the south of Spain, this ancient city was the principal trading post for its founding tribe, Phoenicia. Currently this seaside city is home to a Spanish military branch.

Jurusalem, Israel. Earliest in habitation: 2800 B.C.

The spiritual center for believers of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, this holy city has been captured 44 times and destroyed twice throughout its tumultuous history.

Libson, Portugal. Earliest in habitation: 1200 B.C.

This densely populated capital city boasts a rich history and is recognized as the wealthiest region in Portugal.

Which of these cities would you most like to visit? Why?

Endangered animals we should worry most about

2011-07-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Throughout history, many species of animals have gradually disappeared from the Earth. Unfortunately, this process of extinction seems to be accelerating, as there are many endangered species today than ever before and experts give warning that their number is on the rise. Several manmade factors are pushing animals towards extinction; climate change, hunting and poaching, loss of habitat, pollution and a changing environment are among the most common.

5 animals closest to extinction

Tigers
Believe it or not, this fearsome predator, revered by man for its power and beauty, is threatened with extinction. Apparently there are only about 3,200 tigers left in the entire world. Three subspecies are already extinct and the other 6 are all facing the same danger. Why? Poaching is one major factor and destruction of their habitat by deforestation is the other.

Polar Bears
If the climate continues to warm at the current rate, the polar bear, one of the most beloved species in the world, will soon face extinction. Although at present the population of polar bears is relatively stable, it will soon start decreasing if the trend of global warming is not reversed.

The Pacific Walrus
In the same boat (if only they had boats) as the Polar Bear, the melting of ice in the Arctic poses a threat to the habitat of this species
and places it in danger of extinction.

Magellanic Penguin
Climate change is again the reason why this species is threatened to disappear. The migration of fish caused by warming currents makes it harder for them to find food and could result in the extinction of the magellanic penguin.

Leatherback Turtle
Although the species has survived for over 100 million years, these marine turtles, which live in the Pacific, are now on the brink of extinction. This is because, having to face numerous threats, many of their offspring won't be able to reach maturity.

Are you surprised any of these animals made the list?

Modern engineering marvels

2011-06-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

You've read about or (if you're lucky enough) seen the Great Wall of China, the pyramids of Egypt and Machu Picchu. Let’s shift our attention from the classic depictions of man-made marvels to more modern engineering feats. You can experience two of these marvels—the Channel Tunnel and National Stadium—on a journey with Discovery Student Adventures. Come explore!

The Channel Tunnel
Also called the Chunnel, this massive throughway connects Folkestone, England, with Conquelles, France, via 31.4 miles of undersea rail. At its lowest point, it is 250 feet deep. The Channel Tunnel possesses the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world, although the Seikan Tunnel in Japan is both longer overall at 33.46 mles and deeper at 790 feet below sea level.

National Stadium
This modern architectural feat was designed as a football (soccer, to Americans) and track & field venue for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Dubbed the "Bird's Nest" for its likeness, the stadium can seat a whopping 91,000 spectators. The design for the stadium was based on Chinese ceramics.

Oasis of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas is the largest passenger ship in the world. At 1,181 feet, Oasis is 69 feet longer than the prior largest passenger ship, the Independence of the Seas and classmates. Oasis also is 28 feet wider, and with a gross tonnage of 225,286, is almost 45% larger. The ship cost $1.24 billion to build.

Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge
The longest suspension bridge in the world, Akashi Kaikyo isn't just massive; it's also visually stunning. Also known as the Pearl Bridge, it has the longest central span of any suspension bridge, at 6,532 feet. The bridge links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshū to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. It carries part of the Honshū-Shikoku Highway.

San Alofonso del Mar
San Alfonso del Mar is a private resort located in Algarrobo, Chile, about 60 miles west of the capital Santiago. It is notable for having the Guinness world record for the largest and deepest swimming pool in the world. The pool covers nearly 20 acres and has as much water as 6,000 regular swimming pools.

America's most endangered historic places

2011-06-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

A Civil War fort, a Colonial-era farm and a 1,000-square-mile swath of northwestern New Mexico. What could such disparate destinations have in common? Sadly, their one shared characteristic is that they all made the latest edition of America’s Most Endangered Places.

This year’s Endangered Historic Places include:

•Bear Butte, Meade County, S.D.: Considered sacred ground by as many as 17 Native American tribes, this 4,426-foot mountain is threatened by proposed energy-development projects that officials say “will negatively impact the sacred site and further degrade the cultural landscape.”
•Belmead-on-the-James, Powhatan County, Va.: This one-time slave-holding plantation became a school for African-American boys in 1893. Closed in 1970, the Gothic Revival manor house and other buildings are in need of emergency repair.
•China Alley, Hanford, Calif.: Brick facades and Asian detailing create a unique atmosphere in this once-bustling Chinatown, which dates back to 1877. Today, it suffers from disuse, deterioration and insensitive development.
•Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Ala.: Established in 1821, this fort played a major role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. Today, it’s under siege by tides and currents, which are eroding its shoreline by as much as 50 feet per year.
•Greater Chaco Landscape, N.M.: This 1,000-square-mile swath of northwestern New Mexico is home to hundreds of Native American cultural and archeological sites. It’s threatened by increased oil and gas exploration in the area.

Is there any place in America that would make your endangered historic places list?

Green travel really taking off

2011-06-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Travelers around the world are increasingly taking "eco-friendliness" into consideration when they hit the road or take to the skies. A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. hoteliers showed that 70% plan to reduce their impact on the environment this year as a way to attract travelers. Another study found that 47% of travelers now take eco-friendly factors into account when making travel plans.

A study in the U.K. showed travelers place the highest priorities on these green factors:

1. Separating and reducing waste 77.9%
2. Saving water and energy 77.5%
3. Increased use of public transport 66.7%
4. Booking of environmentally friendly accommodation 53.6%
5. Traveling via the most eco-friendly mode of transport 45.3%

Do you "Think Green" when you travel?

Ahhhh ... Australia welcomes nation's first home-born Galapagos tortoise

2011-06-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

This little guy's got a lot of growing up to do! Galapagos tortoises are known for their massive size. Males can grow up to six feet long from head to tail and weigh more than 500 pounds. At one month old, this hatchling is a mere three inches long and weighs just three ounces.

It takes between 20 and 25 years for the species to reach full size and sexual maturity. Adult tortoises have been known to live more than 150 years, according to the San Diego Zoo.

Galapagos tortoises rose to fame through Charles Darwin, who identified that each subspecies of Galapagos tortoise has unique physical traits that helps it thrive, depending on the climate and conditions on the different Galapagos Islands.

The giant, slow-moving tortoises were food for early explorers and sailors to the islands. This custom combined with the introduction of non-native species, such as dogs and cats, that prey on turtle eggs contributed to a decline in population, according to the San Diego Zoo, which has one of the largest breeding programs in the world for the Galapagos tortoise.

There are between 10,000 to 15,000 Galapagos tortoises living in the wild. Thanks to recent conservation efforts, there has been an increase in the population. They are listed as a "vulnerable species" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Name game: What do you think is the perfect name for this baby tortoise?

10 top inventions for 2011

2011-06-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

Year after year, we see a lot of remarkable things come out of people’s garages. Some are designed to treat the sick or save the planet. Others are simply fun to play with. But no matter what the purpose, the brilliance of the inventions and the dedication of the individuals behind them are always inspiring. Read on for a look at this year’s coolest inventions.

The Stark Hand
Created by Mark Stark, The Stark Hand prototype provides an ingenious, comfortable, and very inexpensive alternative to the hook his friend Dave Vogt had worn all his life. With the new hand, Dave can now catch balls and grip wine glasses.

The BodyGuard
David Brown designed The BodyGuard, a crime-fighting armored glove, as built-in self protection. The demo model has a camera, a wrist mounted stunner and lots of room for future improvements. The idea came to David while talking to his friend, Kevin Costner.

The PrintBrush
Weighing in at less than a pound, Alex Breton's PrintBrush easily fits in a laptop bag and prints on any flat surface, from wood to fabric to plastic. Alex worked on the project for 11 years, but a version with a bonus built-in camera comes out early next year.

The Katal Landing Pad
Aaron Coret and his friend Stephen Slen came up with the Katal Landing Pad after Aaron had a nasty snowboarding accident. The board, which was used during the 2010 Winter Olympics, provides a giant cushioned landing for snowboarders and helps make the sport safer.

Dynamic Eye Sunglasses
Unlike regular sunglasses, Chris Mullin's glasses block glare instantly with liquid crystal lenses that darken the most where the sun's light is the brightest. A particularly sunny commute inspired Mullin's invention.

The Bed Bug Detective Science Built to imitate a dog's nose, the Bed Bug Detective sniffs out bedbugs quickly. Chris Goggin plans to create a model that can detect other pests, too, including mice and cockroaches.

A Prenatal Marker to Screen for Pregnancy Complications
Designed by a college student and his classmates, the Prenatal Screening Kit, or safety pen, helps detect complications in pregnancies at an early stage. The pen will be quite cheap, costing only a third of a cent per use, making it a perfect tool for hospitals in developing nations.

The Zero Liquid Discharge
With a pleasant name for a gross procedure, the Zero Liquid Discharge, or ZLD, completely oxidizes and evaporates sewage from boats, airplanes and RVs. After flash evaporation, the waste leaves as a harmless, odorless aerosol.

Kymera Motorized Body Board
The lightweight Kymera Body Board is Jason Woods's solution for a timeless problem (for lucky people): how to have fun at the lake without the hassle of lugging a boat around. The latest version of his motorized body board hits speeds of 25 mph.

The Medical Mirror
While it can't tell you if you're the fairest of them all, the Medical Mirror can tell you your heart rate, which is probably more valuable in the long run anyway. A webcam behind the mirror captures variations in reflected light on your face, and an algorithm translates that into heartbeats.

What do you think is the coolest invention ever?

10 most photographed places on Earth

2011-06-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

There’s truth to the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. But when you’re talking about the world’s most scenic hot spots to shoot, how can you put a new twist on an iconic subject? Read on for a list of the most photographed spots on Earth, and tips on what you can do as a picture-taker to breathe new life into an age-old subject.

No. 10: Amsterdam
Landmark: Dam Square
Created in the 13th century as a dam around the Amstel River, this expansive plaza is now flooded with street performers and tourists (and pigeons). It's hard to capture the frenzied feeling in a wide shot.

Standard shot: Wide, with buildings and lots of space

Tip: Try keeping other people in the frame. There's a natural temptation to shy away from shooting photos of strangers, but including people can give viewers a contextual clue about the relative size of the subject you're photographing. Plus families and groups of travelers can make a space seem more alive.

No. 9: Rome
Landmark: Colosseum
This ancient site is filled with the ghosts of dueling gladiators, tormented prisoners, and slaughtered animals, contained, centuries after the fact, within a stunning framework of Corinthian, Doric, and Ionic columns. It's a gorgeous dichotomy indeed, and it's hard to not want to capture it all.

Standard shot: The structure, in its entirety.

Tip: Take advantage of a natural "frame." The archways at Rome's Colosseum give shape to the photo. Shooting through windows, courtyards, doorways, and other openings can create an appealing inside/outside dynamic.

No. 8: Seattle
Landmark: Space Needle
What began as the symbol of the World's Fair in 1962 has now become the symbol of this supercool city. The 360-degree view from the top is expansive, taking in sights from the Puget Sound to Mount Rainier.

Standard shot: From directly below.

Tip: Create a mirror image. Reflective surfaces are common in urban areas. For a unique take on a classic monument, look around for how an object might be mirrored in a car window, a building's glass front, or the surface of a fountain.

No. 7: Washington, D.C.
Landmark: Lincoln Memorial
This marble memorial to the 16th president—featuring Ionic columns, oil-paint murals, and a 120-ton statue of Abe himself—is a striking part of the National Mall.

Standard shot: The full building, from a distance.

Tip: Put things in "perspective." A straight-on shot is the most obvious one to take of the Lincoln Memorial, as it puts the main subject front and center. But including other objects in the picture, like this $5 bill, adds a creative element of whimsy to what might otherwise be a dime-a-dozen postcard image.

No. 6: Chicago
Landmark: Cloud Gate sculpture
Anish Kapoor's 110-ton bean of stainless steel is the shiny centerpiece of Millennium Park's AT&T Plaza and makes for a striking photo in just about any composition.

Standard shot: A direct shot of the bean, taken from the side.

Tip: Avoid the obvious. Whether it's a sculpture, a person, or a building, you can always walk around your subject to get a different view. In this case, the photographer went underneath the bean sculpture—made of highly polished steel and inspired by liquid mercury—and shot upward for a truly unique view.

No. 5: Los Angeles
Landmark: Hollywood Walk of Fame
Begun in 1960 as a Hollywood marketing tool (with filmmaker Stanley Kramer the first honoree), the series of coral-colored stars was at 2,441 in May 2011 and continues to grow.

Standard shot: One star, shot from above.

Tip: Use distance as a frame of reference. Rather than rush in and snap away, pre-visualize your image, thinking about how to photograph a subject from different directions.

No. 4: Paris
Landmark: Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel's 1889 masterpiece, constructed in celebration of the French Revolution's 100th anniversary, is magnificent at any angle; but why choose one that you can easily find on a postcard?

Standard shot: Full-on, from far away.

Tip: Keep an eye out for unexpected patterns. Most pictures of the Eiffel Tower are taken from a distance. But its detailed iron latticework also captures attention. In general, close-up shots of patterns in architecture help a viewer see iconic attractions with fresh eyes.

No. 3: San Francisco
Landmark: Union SquareThe main downtown plaza—used as a rallying site to support troops during the Civil War—is now a mecca for hardcore shopping and people-watching. It's also a great place to hop aboard a cable car.

Standard shot: A wide-angle view of Union Square from the Macy's Building.

Tip: Less is more. A close-up photo can sometimes be as powerful as a wide-angle one. As Belgian fashion designer Dries Van Noten once said: "It's more interesting to have just a picture of a small detail. Then you can dream all the rest around it." Here, a tight shot of a sculpture in the square takes that advice to heart.

No. 2: London
Landmark: Trafalgar Square
John Nash designed and developed this former palace courtyard into a public space in the early 1800s; it has since been further transformed with sculptures, fountains, and staircases, and has become a local hotspot for protests—all worthy subjects for your lens.

Standard shot: A wide-angle shot of the National Gallery and St. Martin-in-the-Fields church.

Tip: Shift direction. Tilt your lens down to get some surprising texture in the foreground of your shot. Here, the photographer juxtaposed an urban icon, St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, with the surface of a Trafalgar Square fountain.

No. 1: New York
Landmark: Empire State Building
Built in one year and 45 days in the midst of the Great Depression, this iconic skyscraper draws about 3.5 million visitors a year to its observatories. On a clear day, you can see as far as Massachusetts, but backward glances at the soaring architecture are pretty seductive, too.

Standard shot: The view of the Empire State Building from the street below.

Tip: Broaden your perspective. Photographing an expected sight from an unexpected place can add a lot to your photo. To get this shot, head 16 blocks north and up 70 floors to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck in Rockefeller Center, where you'll get the best view of the Empire State Building—along with a 360-degree panorama of the city.

What on Earth would be your favorite subject to photograph?

Got the travel bug? Consider these cool getaways

2011-05-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when the travel bug strikes, the only cure is to pack your bags and go. But where to? Here is a list of favorite spots from across the globe. This list includes the most popular places, but we know we can’t include everything, so don't worry if your favorite spot didn't make the cut. Whatever destination you choose, just do this: Dream … and go!

Paris
Year after year, the magnetic city of lights draws new travelers to its Eiffel Tower, the Louver, and Notre Dame. So rich in culture. So many unforgettable memories to be made.

Barcelona
Barcelona is one of those unique places that has most everything, from an engaging culture of siestas, Spanish guitar and tapas to an outrageous landscapes.

London
Bursting with a multiplicity of things to do—touring the Tower of London circling ‘round London Eye, to the Queen outside Buckingham Palace, or enjoying fish'n'chip. Something for everybody.

Washington, D.C.
The country's capital is filled with a huge number of postcard-worthy monuments and buildings. The White House and the Lincoln Memorial are here, and so much more.

What are your summer travel plans?

Simple tips for going green when you travel

2011-05-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Discovery Student Adventures is committed to preserving resources on our trips. With this in mind, we’d like to provide you with some tips to protect the environment and cultures of the places you visit—whether you’re traveling with us, or on your own. Read on for responsible tips to become a sustainable (green) traveler.

Get involved in the local culture and its traditions. Learn and respect the region’s way of life to protect the areas you visit.
Save water during your trip: Tell hotel staff you don’t need linens changed every day, take short showers, don’t leave water running while brushing your teeth.
Save energy: Turn off all lights and appliances, turn down heat or air conditioning when not in your room.
Use environmentally friendly products to generate less waste. For example, try not to use plastic bags; try instead to use reusable bags. Avoid using environmentally hazardous products. Choose recyclable products.
Avoid feeding wild animals. Food processed for human consumption contains ingredients that may cause health problems and make them dependent on food.

Keeping cool in the heat

2011-05-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat-related issues. We are not invincible when it comes to exposing ourselves to heat. This is especially true for summer travelers who may be headed to a climate that’s much warmer than they’re acclimated to. To help prevent heat-related distress, follow these simple tips.

Allow time for heat acclimatization. Gradually increase the duration or intensity of physical activity prior to travel. This process can take up to 14 days to complete.
Take breaks. Be sure to include adequate rest between activities.
Hydrate. Drink plenty of water before, during and after outdoor activities.
Know when to rest. If you’re feeling the symptoms of the heat, listen to your body and slow down.

How do you plan to beat the heat this summer?

31 years later: remembering an angry volcano

2011-05-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

When Mount St. Helens exploded into life on May 18, 1980, it was one of the greatest eruptions ever recorded in North America. Superheated ash, gas and lava devastated the surrounding area and claimed many lives. Since then, scientists have been closely monitoring activity around the volcano, waiting for disaster to strike again. So, what other volcanoes around the world have etched their place in history?

World's largest volcanoes
1. Mount Mazama, Crater Lake, Oregon—Over 6,000 years ago Mount Mazama erupted. Before the explosion the mountain was 12,000 feet high; when it was over it had been replaced by a 1,900-foot deep crater. Crater Lake, famed for its intense blue waters, was made a National Park in 1902.
2. Mount Etna, Sicily—Although Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, its renown comes from its role in Greek legends. According to Greco-Roman mythology, the giants—the enemies of the gods—were buried beneath Mount Etna. In their efforts to break free, the Giants caused frequent earthquakes around the mountain.
3. Mount Vesuvius, Italy—Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 A.D. covered the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserving them for generations to come. The volcano is still active and has had several eruptions—the most deadly being in 1631.
4. Mount Tambora, Indonesia—The largest eruption during the last two centuries, as well as the deadliest volcano in recorded history, Mount Tambora exploded April 10-11, 1815. It killed an estimated 92,000 people. Almost 80,000 of the victims died of starvation brought on by the agricultural devastation in the volcano's wake.
5. Mount Krakatau, Indonesia—On August 27, 1883, Mount Krakatau exploded with such force that it was heard in Australia, over 2,000 miles away. The force of the eruption triggered a series of tsunamis that reached the Hawaiian islands and the coast of South America, killing more than 36,000 people.
Do you recall what you were doing when St.Helens blew its top?

Human “wings” no longer science fiction

2011-05-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Imagine getting up in the morning, strapping on a super-powered jetpack and whisking yourself into the sky and away to your work, school, or play. No traffic lights. No speed limits. No tailgaters. It may not be as far-fetched as you think. A Swiss man recently brought humans a step closer to flying like birds when he soared over the Grand Canyon with a jetpack at speeds of up to 190 mph. That got us thinking. What aerial views could you capture on a Discovery Student Adventure if equipped with a jetpack? We dreamed some up.

Picture these 5 jetpack vistas
Bird’s-eye view of a Costa Rican rainforest. Sure, you can take in some awesome views on a zipline, but this gives a whole new meaning to “insanely cool adventure.”
Rising above the Eiffel Tower. We take you to the top of this iconic landmark, but with wings, you don’t have to scale hundreds of stairs for the awesome views of Paris.
Soaring over the Washington Monument. No crick in your neck from gazing skyward. Just be sure to steer clear of the no-fly zone around the White House.
Peering into the crater of Mt. Vesuvius. Hiking this active volcano on a Discovery Student Adventure in Italy is one thing. Looking down its throat would be simply magic.
Going beyond the Andean Highlands Ecuador. Towering an invigorating altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level, the air at the summit is thin. Better just cruise the perimeter.

Where in the world would you fly to?

Pack smart for your summer adventure

2011-05-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

Summer’s rapidly approaching and for a majority of Americans, that means vacation time. It’s estimated that nearly 60 percent of us will travel in the coming months, up from 51 percent last summer. Most travelers over pack and spend their vacation lugging around clothes and other items that are never used. For 5 smart packing tips, read on.

1. Tightly roll your clothes, don’t fold. This will save space and minimize wrinkles.
2. Pack shoes first, along the edges of your bag; then pack clothes to form a bottom layer.
3. Pack your lightest clothing on top.
4. Pack toiletries last for easy access.
5. Pack light. If in doubt, you probably won’t need it. Leave it behind.

Where will your summer travels take you?

How much rain can a cloud hold? We'll see ...

2011-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Why do some clouds produce lots of rain, while others do not? By flying an aircraft into rain clouds, NASA scientists are on a mission to find out. The mission will reveal the inner workings of rainmaking clouds and is unprecedented in scope, said mission team members. Scientists will combine data gathered by instruments on the ground with measurements taken by high-tech instruments installed on aircraft flying above and into rain clouds. The data should further the team's goal of forecasting and measuring rainfall from satellites. What's your favorite rainy day activity? Board games? Movies? A good book?

Celebrate educators during Teacher Appreciation Week May 2-6, 2011

2011-05-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

If you appreciate the knowledge you have acquired over the years thanks to your teachers, Teacher Appreciation Week is a great time to show your gratitude. Dedicated to the celebration of our favorite educators worldwide, Teacher Appreciation Week is not only a way for students to celebrate their teachers, but also for people to learn more about teaching as a profession and its merits worldwide since teaching is done differently in each country. Teacher Appreciation Week allows teachers to discover why their teaching is appreciated. Tell us about your favorite teacher!

Human terrarium, Biosphere 2, looking good at 20

2011-04-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

In the 1990s, eight scientists agreed to spend two years sealed inside a 3-acre terrarium in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. Their mission was to see whether humans might someday be able to create self-sustaining colonies in outer space. Two decades later, scientists are still using the 7.2-million-square-foot Biosphere 2, only now the focus is figuring out how we'll survive on our own warming planet. Researchers say Biosphere 2 may be even more relevant today than when those first people passed through the airlocks on Sept. 26, 1991. Experience Biosphere 2 for yourself when you travel to the Grand Canyon with Discovery Student Adventures.

Yellowstone supervolcano's size exceeds expectations

2011-04-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Beneath Yellowstone National Park lurks a partially molten plume rising from the Earth's mantle, fueling the park's famous geysers and hot springs, and causing the crust above to bulge and recede in response to its forces. Now, researchers report that the source beneath the surface may be even more massive than previously thought. Using a new technique, they have created an image of the plume beneath Yellowstone showing the cyclone shape stretching at a 40-degree angle to the west at a depth of 200 miles for 400 miles east to west, as far as the new technique can reach. Witness extraordinary geologic features on a journey to Yellowstone with Discovery Student Adventures.

Stellar celebration: 50 years in space

2011-04-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Celebrations rang out in Russia and around the world to mark the 50th anniversary of humankind's first-ever space mission. On Tuesday, April 12, 1961, a Russian air force pilot named Yuri Gagarin became the first human to venture into space. Meantime, there was also reason for celestial celebration in the U.S. as we recognized the 30-year anniversary of the space shuttle program.

Arctic adventure: North Pole “discovered” 102 years ago

2011-04-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

On April 6, 1909, explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson, along with a team of Inuit, became the first to reach the North Pole. The journey began with an entourage of 23 men, 133 dogs, and 19 sleds. But as the team traveled further north, they lightened their loads and reduced the size of the party. Only six men, including Peary and Henson, were left to step foot on the North Pole.

Helping to preserve Saguaro cacti in the Arizona desert

2011-03-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

During their spring adventure to the Grand Canyon, our students ventured into the Saguaro National Park with U.S. park rangers to compile a comprehensive inventory on the Giant Saguaro Cactus, which can grow up to 80 feet. Data collected by the students will be used to determine environmental impacts on the growth patterns of the cactus, an important part of the desert ecosystem. "The desert landscape was amazing; we couldn't believe the size of this huge Saguaro cacti!" posted Jessi.

Students become film editors during Discovery Channel visit

2011-03-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Talk about exclusive access! During their spring trip to Washington, D.C., our students went behind the scenes at the Discovery Channel, touring the network’s technical center and rubbing elbows with executive producers from “MythBusters” and “Frozen Planet.” The Discovery Student Adventures group even had an opportunity to edit their own promo video for a new TV series. “With assistance from a professional editing director, we made an excellent video set to music,” says Discovery Student Adventures program manager Chris Osborne. “It was surreal!”

Discovery students explore the National Aquarium

2011-03-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Jumpin’ jellyfish! Leapin’ Lizards! Diving Dolphins! On their recent journey to Washington, D.C., our students and teachers were immersed in sea life—660 species to be exact—at the famed National Aquarium in Baltimore. Housing more than 16,000 creatures, the aquarium exhibits a variety of species in their naturalistic habitats. They discovered animals such as stingrays, sharks, sea turtles, bullfrogs, phytoplankton, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, puffins and thousands more. Our group was even treated to overnight access at the aquarium, sleeping with the sea life!

Follow our spring travel blogs!

2011-03-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Sleeping with sharks near the nation’s capital. Mountain biking the magnificent Grand Canyon. Rescuing endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica. Our students and teachers are having the times of their lives exploring destinations on their spring journeys. Check out their adventures on our student blogs.

Look, up in the sky! It's a floating house!

2011-03-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

When children watch cartoons, they love to pretend what it would be like to actually experience the adventure. Whether they wanted to be Bugs Bunny being chased by Elmer Fudd or Batman chasing after the Joker. Now group of scientists has made fiction a reality. Taking a cue from the Pixar movie UP! scientist built a custom home in order to see if they could make it fly. It worked. The 16' x 16' x 18' house only needed 300 balloons, each filled with an entire tank of helium, to take off. Each weather balloon measured eight feet tall. The house soared to an altitude of 10,000 feet over the desert east of Los Angeles.

We’re headed to the ultimate science symposium

2011-03-07T16:52:00.001-08:00

What does Discovery Student Adventures have in common with thousands of dedicated science educators across the United States? A passion for excellence in science education. We’re on our way to San Francisco for the National Science Teachers Association conference March 10-13. The NSTA is a perfect match for Discovery because our educational journeys take students beyond the classroom to explore life science with field experts—from marine biologists to paleoanthropologists to archeologists. It’s the ultimate science experience!

They're back! Check out our teachers' Costa Rica pictures

2011-02-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

Our teachers recently returned from an amazing 5-day adventure in paradise where they received expert training from Discovery experts on their upcoming student trips. They've posted tons of great photos from their whirlwind trip on our Facebook page. Vote for your favorite by clicking the "Like" button. Be sure to leave your comments, too.

Our teachers have arrived in sunny Costa Rica!

2011-02-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

It didn't take long for the welcome wagon to greet our group at the beautiful Barcelo Langosta Beach Resort. Shortly after their arrival on Thursday, scores of Holwer monkeys appeared in the treetops surrounding the pool as teachers settled in for 5 fabulous days in Costa Rica. Follow their blog!

Fewer cubs for polar bear mothers

2011-02-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

The Arctic can be a harsh and unforgiving environment. It can be particularly tough on polar bear mothers, which fast for at least four months while they give birth to and suckle their cubs in dens they have hollowed out of snowdrifts. Accordingly, in the time before they enter those dens, they gorge, packing on the pounds to see them through the lean times ahead.

And when they emerge, they are understandably keen to replenish themselves, and encourage their occasionally recalcitrant youngsters to pick up the pace on their way to the sea ice.

Sometimes, a polar bear will give birth to one cub, sometimes three, most often two. Sometimes, however, the demands are just too great: Lacking the energy to see the pregnancy to its conclusion, a mother's body may reabsorb the fetus or fetuses, allowing her to emerge, resume feeding and, come spring, mate once more; on occasion - how frequently is unknown--she may give birth but be so malnourished that she is forced to eat one or more of her offspring.

A new study in the journal Nature Communications has shown that the size of a litter--and the likelihood of reproductive success--is strongly correlated to the amount of weight that a pregnant female is able to accumulate prior to entering the den. The greater the amount of fat, the larger the energy store to sustain her and her cubs. Of course, the less time the female has to eat, the less opportunity she has to build up that energy store--and, in parts of their range, polar bears have less time to eat than in the past.

Bound for beautiful Costa Rica

2011-02-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

Our Educator Professional Development Trip to Costa Rica is just around the corner and qualifying teachers are preparing for 5 unforgettable days immersed in luxury at an oceanfront resort. During their stay in paradise, Discovery teachers will soar above the tree tops on a zip line, stroll white sandy beaches of the Pacific, explore a lush rainforest on horseback, and experience unique cultures. Most importantly, they’ll receive expert training from Discovery staff on how to ensure they have the times of their lives exploring a new part of the world with their students later this year. Follow their adventure on our Costa Rica blog.

New spaceships should be safer than the space shuttle

2011-01-28T16:29:00.000-08:00

NASA says private-sector spaceships will have to satisfy safety standards that the space shuttle can’t meet — and the companies building those spaceships say they'll rise to the challenge. January 28 was the 25th anniversary of the Challenger shuttle explosion and it has space enthusiasts focusing fresh attention on the issue of spaceflight safety -- with good reason.

The loss of the shuttle and its crew of seven, including educator-astronaut Christa McAuliffe, dramatically highlighted the risks associated with the world's most complex flying machine.

Those risks were brought home again with the catastrophic breakup of the shuttle Columbia in 2003. Once again, seven astronauts were lost, due to inherent problems with the space shuttle's design as well as lapses in NASA's "safety culture."

The Challenger and Columbia disasters led risk analysts to estimate that flying the space shuttle carried a roughly 1-in-100 chance that the crew and the spaceship would be lost during a given mission. In the wake of the Columbia tragedy, NASA and the White House decided to retire the shuttle fleet and move on to a simpler, safer launch system.

When NASA was working on plans for its own crew launch system to replace the shuttle and service the International Space Station, the agency set standards that lowered the chance of crew loss to 1-in-1,000.

"Neither the shuttle nor the Russian Soyuz could meet these standards," said John Logsdon, former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University and a member of the NASA Advisory Council's Exploration Committee.

Over the past year, the White House and NASA decided to go with a different approach, with the space agency purchasing services from commercial spaceship ventures. NASA is paying out hundreds of millions of dollars for the development of cargo ships such as SpaceX's Dragon capsule, which passed its first flight test last month. If the spaceships work as advertised, commercial companies would be in line for billions of dollars worth of contracts.

NASA eventually hopes to use commercial craft to ferry astronauts back and forth to the space station as well.

Fish can count … up to three

2011-01-19T10:24:00.001-08:00

Fish can distinguish between larger and smaller quantities, with an additional ability to “count” up to three, according to research on tropical angelfish. Angelfish are regarded as being one of the world’s most intelligent fish, but scientists believe other fish species also possess the math-related skills outlined in a new Animal Cognition paper.

Doing something akin to counting up to three might sound underwhelming, but math itself is a very human-centric concept that may need reconsideration if comparisons are to be made with the abilities of non-human species.

“We all think we know what we mean by 'counting,' but do we really?” asked co-author Robert Gerlai. “Is recounting a series of 1 to 100 counting? Is 2+3=5 counting? Is calculating the square root of a number counting, or perhaps is the mathematics necessary for quantum physics counting?”

Gerlai and Luis Gomez-Laplaza of the University of Oviedo in Spain exploited the previously determined tendency of angelfish to seek protection in unfamiliar environments by joining the largest possible fish group, called a shoal. To rule out possible confounding effects arising from sexual interactions, the researchers only used juvenile angelfish for their experiments.

Test fish placed in special compartmentalized tanks were given a simultaneous choice between shoals containing different numbers of fish. The angelfish were always able to select the larger of two groups so long as the ratio between the shoals was 2:1 or above. Below that ratio, their choices were less predictable, suggesting a limit to their quantity estimation abilities.

After the findings were published, the researchers, according to Gerlai, “have already collected new data suggesting that angelfish can discriminate much more precisely than this. That is, angelfish can tell the difference between 3 and 2, for example.”

What’s inside the moon?

2011-01-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

Scientists have taken their first, vicarious journey to the center of the moon, thanks to a fresh look at 30-year-old moonquake data from the Apollo era. What the researchers found deep in the lunar interior: a solid iron ball 300 miles across, wrapped in molten iron another 56 miles thick, topped with a 93-mile layer of partially molten material.

The effort represents the first direct observation of the moon's core and the depths of its various layers, says Renee Weber, a lunar scientist at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Ala., who headed a international team of scientists on the project.

The notion that the moon has an iron core with a layer of molten iron surrounding it isn't new. But evidence so far has been indirect.

The new look confirms that picture. But also appears to be breathing new life into data once thought to be poorly suited for detailed studies of the deepest portions of the lunar interior.

“I think there's a lot more that can be done with these data,” Dr. Weber says.

During the Apollo program, astronauts left four seismographs on the lunar surface. The instruments returned their last data to Earth in 1977, five years after the Apollo program ended.

The goal was to use seismic waves generated by moonquakes to probe the moon's structure, just as geologists on Earth use earthquakes to study Earth's interior structure and astrophysicists use acoustic waves from “star quakes” to study the interiors of stars.

But the heavy pummeling the moon has taken throughout its history has severely fractured the region between the crust and core, meaning that seismic waves were degraded, making them too difficult to interpret.

But new ways of analyzing less-than-ideal seismic data, developed for use on Earth, plus the rapid increase in computing power since the days of Apollo, prompted Weber and her collaborators to give the Apollo data a fresh look.

Eiffel Tower gets a high-tech tribute

2011-01-13T15:35:00.001-08:00

Arguably the most widely recognized structure in the world, the Eiffel Tower was designed to stand for only 20 years—and some predicted it would collapse long before then. Even as it was being built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, a professor of mathematics sagely calculated that when the tower was two-thirds complete, its legs would buckle and the whole thing would come tumbling down, crushing workers and houses alike.

Today, the Eiffel Tower is not only standing but remains in rude health, testifying to the soundness of Gustave Eiffel's design and the strength of “puddle iron,” the hand-made wrought iron of the late 19th century, say engineers.

Specialists at the Technical Centre for Mechanical Industries have put together a high-powered computer model based on the 18,000 pieces that comprise the world's greatest iron edifice and the emblem of Paris.

On screen, the tower has been exposed to hurricane-force winds, lashing rain, extreme heat, cold and thick snow, and each time emerges unbowed, they say.

“We have applied the most demanding test standards currently set in Europe and have found that the tower is in excellent shape,” said Stephane Roussin, a former French naval officer in charge of structural safety at Eiffel Tower Operating Co. “We have even doubled its weight to see what happens. The tower moves but is not destroyed.”

Spacecraft reaches edge of solar system

2010-12-15T10:19:00.001-08:00

A NASA space probe dispatched 33 years ago for the first close-up studies of Jupiter and Saturn has entered the tail of the solar system, a place where the constant stream of charged particles flowing from the sun ebbs. This final phase of solar system exploration should last another four years, computer models show, though scientists overseeing the two Voyager spacecraft really don't know what to expect.

Voyager 1 is now about 10.8 billion miles from the sun, traveling in a region of space known as the heliosheath, a turbulent area between the sphere of space influenced by the sun and magnetic forces from interstellar space that lies beyond.

In June, Voyager 1 relayed data that showed it was no longer traveling amongst the outward flow of solar wind particles. Instead, the solar stream has turned a corner, literally, as it sweeps, like an exhaust, into the tail of the heliosheath.

Flying along at about 38,000 mph, Voyager 1 is continuing its beeline toward interstellar space. It is so far from Earth that radio signals, traveling at the speed of light, take 16 hours to reach the spacecraft.

Its twin, Voyager 2, is traveling at a more leisurely 35,000 mph and will leave the solar system in a southerly direction a few years after Voyager 1, traveling in a northerly path, becomes the first human-made object in interstellar space.

Scientists hope to have five years for studies beyond the solar system before Voyager 1's plutonium power source is depleted.

Time for South Beach diet for blue whales?

2010-12-09T12:18:00.001-08:00

The filter-feeding strategy of blue whales, the largest animals on Earth, may explain their enormous size, according to a study that determined a single mouthful of food can contain 457,000 calories, or 240 times as much energy as they burn when grabbing that mouthful.

Blue and some other whale species eat by taking enormous mouthfuls of water and filtering out their meals, often tiny crustaceans called krill, using plates of baleen made of keratin, a protein found in hair, fingernails and feathers. A team of researchers led by Jeremy Goldbogen, who is now at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, calculated the efficiency of eating this way.

Their math supports the long-standing assumption that baleen whales are much more efficient feeders than their smaller relatives, the toothed whales, which hunt down individual prey. The finding is detailed in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Although the finding isn't a surprise, the baleen whales' efficiency is unprecedented in the animal kingdom, said study researcher Robert Shadwick, who studies animal biomechanics at the University of British Columbia.

"When they take a gulp of water, they are filling their mouths with the amount of water equal to their own body mass, so there is nothing that comes close to doing that," Shadwick told LiveScience.

These whales may eat an enormous quantity of food in a single gulp, but the effort is taxing. As the animals dive, they lunge into a school of krill and their mouths open to 80 degrees and inflate like a parachute as water gushes in. This creates a drag, slowing the whale. Whales can make up to six lunges in a dive, according to the researchers.

New rubber could cushion sneakers, spaceships

2010-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

You might not run faster or jump higher with shoes soled in new super rubber, but they could save your knees and eventually power your iPod. Japanese scientists have created a new kind of carbon-based rubber that can withstand extreme temperatures. This new super rubber could be used in everything from electricity-generating sneaker soles to spaceships traveling to distant moons.

"These properties are totally new and unique and have not previously been shown by any materials," said Ming Xu, a scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan.

Like foam earplugs or ordinary rubber, the new carbon nanotube rubber is part of a class of materials known as viscoelastic materials. These are materials that can be twisted, punched, rolled, kicked, stretched and bent—yet return to their original shape.

Under everyday conditions these materials work just fine; they protect delicate eardrums from loud noises and help keep cars on the road. But if you freeze materials like foam ear plugs or rubber with liquid nitrogen or expose them to high heat, like the Japanese researchers did with their new super rubber, these everyday materials will either shatter on contact or melt away.

The new material doesn't shatter or melt, even under temperatures far, far beyond what rubber could endure.

The same goes for extremely cold temperatures. "Any rubber or polymer in general will become brittle" under very cold conditions and could break, said Gogotsi, "but the nanotube rubber will keep bouncing."

Electricity around the world: it’s not a perfect science

2010-11-30T16:21:00.000-08:00

When it comes to the simple task of plugging an electrical appliance in to make it work, there is no global standard for voltage or wattage. And that’s not to mention the different plug shapes, plug holes, plug sizes and sockets that vary vastly from country to country. Most appliances bought overseas simply cannot be connected to the wall outlets at home. There are only two ways to solve this problem: you just cut off the original plug and replace it with the one that is standard in your country, or you buy an unhandy and ugly adapter.

While it is easy to buy a plug adapter or a new “local” plug for your “foreign” appliances, in many cases this only solves half the problem—because it doesn't address the possible voltage disparity.

A 240-volt electrical appliance designed for use in Europe will provide a nice fireworks display—complete with sparks and smoke—if plugged into a U.S. socket.

The lack of a single voltage, frequency and globally standardized plugs results in extra costs for manufacturers and increase the burden on the environment.

Read the full article.

1,000 mph car ‘on track’ to break record

2010-11-29T10:48:00.000-08:00

British officials say they’re set to break the world land speed record in 2012 with a car that can reach 1,000 mph. Construction on the Bloodhound vehicle's rear should begin in January.

"We've got companies all over the world wanting to sponsor the car," project director Richard Noble of Bloodhound SSC Engineering Adventure told BBC News. "We've actually got more people who want to financially back this thing than we've got space for them."

To snag the world record, the Bloodhound will need to beat out the current record of 763 mph set by the Thrust SuperSonic Car in 1997.

The British car will be powered by a hybrid rocket and a jet engine from a Eurofighter-Typhoon, according to Bloodhound SSC.

Once built and ready to go, the car is expected to race across what is now a dried-up lake bed in Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

When snakes fly

2010-11-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

The worst nightmare of ophidiophobes—people with a phobia of snakes—may have just been realized. Scientists have captured footage of “flying” snakes, explaining how five related snake species stay airborne for up to 79 feet. The acrobatic arboreal snakes, all in the genus Chrysopelea, use what's known as gliding flight to sail from tree to tree in their Southeast and South Asia habitats.

The new research, presented by the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics, explains how the snakes accomplish their seemingly improbable feat.

“The snake isn’t defying gravity or doing something out of the blue,” project leader Jake Socha told Discovery News. “It's the magnitude of the forces that are somewhat surprising. Given that this is a snake, and its cross-sectional body shape is more like a blunt shape than a typical streamlined wing, we wouldn’t have expected such good aerodynamic performance.”

Chocolate supply threatened by cocoa crisis

2010-11-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

Chocolate was once the drink of Mayan and Aztec kings. Now a cocoa shortage may make chocolate an exclusive luxury again. Chocolate could become as rare as caviar, said John Mason of the Ghana-based Nature Conservation Research Council. That means chocolate treats may become unaffordable for the average person.

The price of cocoa, the raw ingredient for chocolate, has been skyrocketing in international markets. Demand for chocolate, especially for dark chocolate which uses more cocoa, has helped fuel price increases.

But unfair trade and environmental problems have resulted in supply not keeping pace with demand. West Africa leads the world in cocoa production. But the profits don't come back to many of the farmers there, and that is one of the main causes of the shortage.

In the Ivory Coast, cocoa farmers often earn less than $1 a day, and in many cases the land they farm has lost its fertility, said Tony Lass, chairman of the Cocoa Research Association in the UK Independent. Ivory Coast farmers are leaving behind unprofitable, failing cocoa orchards for the cities.

Glowing squid found in Indian Ocean’s depths

2010-11-15T16:32:00.001-08:00

A new large species of squid has been found among 70 types gathered during an exploration of the depths of the Indian Ocean, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The 27-inche-long species is part of the "chiroteuthid" family. Its light-emitting organs attract prey in the darkness thousands of feet down, close to the craggy seabed, the IUCN said. The six-week "Seamounts cruise" last year trawled about 7,000 samples of life forms in the southern Indian Ocean from depths of up to 3,936 feet.

“For 10 days now, 21 scientists armed with microscopes have been working through intimidating rows of jars containing fishes, squids, zooplankton and other interesting creatures,” said Alex Rogers, marine biologist at the Zoological Society of London.

World’s oldest dinosaur embryos found in South Africa

2010-11-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

Paleontologists recently identified the world's oldest known dinosaur embryos, according to researchers. The embryos, found in their still well-preserved eggs, date to the early Jurassic Period 190 million years ago. Researchers say they are the oldest known embryos for any land-dwelling vertebrate. They belong to Massospondylus, a member of a group of dinosaurs called prosauropods that were ancestors to the giant, plant-eating sauropods. Sauropods are the iconic four-legged dinosaurs known for their long necks and long tails.

Professor Robert Reisz of the University of Toronto Mississauga and his colleagues made the discovery while analyzing the fossilized eggs, originally found in South Africa. Reisz’s research assistant, Diane Scott, prepared the delicate fossils under high-powered microscopes and compiled the illustrations.

The embryos are so remarkably well preserved that they permitted a complete reconstruction of the skeleton and detailed interpretations of the anatomy.

Yellowstone tourism records continue

2010-11-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Snow may be on the horizon, but tourists taking advantage of mild fall weather are adding to the already record number of people who have visited Yellowstone National Park this year. The park had a record number of visitors in October. That's on top of the record number of visitors to Yellowstone in June, July, August and September.

Tourism in Yellowstone so far this year is up more than 10 percent compared to this time last year. More than 3.5 million people have visited the park this year, already topping the record 3.3 million who visited Yellowstone all last year.

More than 189,000 people visited the park in October. That broke a 22-year-old record. Park officials say unusually mild weather and less road construction compared to autumns past may be encouraging people to visit Yellowstone.

Penguin 'condos' built along Galapagos Islands

2010-11-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

“Condo” developers have built beachfront homes along the world-famous coastline of the Galapagos Islands—but it’s all for a good cause. Built into the volcanic shoreline, the condos are actually tiny breeding caves for Galapagos penguins—a species listed as endangered.

The 120 caves were recently dug by researchers with the University of Washington in the hopes of giving the penguins a fighting chance against predators and the beating sun. The local penguin population has also seen older nests disappear due to erosion and volcanic activity on the islands off Ecuador made famous by Charles Darwin.

“Our whole goal is to increase the population of Galapagos penguins, and the way to do that is to make sure that when conditions are good, when they’re not food challenged, that all of them will be able to breed,” lead researcher Dee Boersma said.

Boersma began studying the species 40 years ago and has seen the population decline steadily—fewer than 2,000 might be all that are left.

Behold: 1,200 new species discovered in the Amazon

2010-10-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

From bald parrots to translucent frogs—the Amazon is getting even more exotic. The World Wildlife Federation recently released a report revealing that a new species was discovered every three days from 1999-2009.

Joining the jungle are 637 plants, 257 fish, 216 amphibians, 55 reptiles, 16 birds and 39 mammals. One of the most visually bizarre is the so called “Glass Frog,” with skin so thin and delicate that you can see its heart beat. The phrase “blind as a bat,” is so last century; a new species of blind ants have been discovered dating back 120 million years. And taking flower power to a whole new level (literally), tiny predatory flowers were discovered that lure insects to their death with a murderous fragrance. Spider haters beware; the WWF report also introduces a new species of brightly colored tarantulas that can propel excrement at enemies up to one meter away.

Endangered butterfly spreads its wings in England

2010-10-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

A butterfly that is endangered in Britain has recently made some unexpected gains, conservationists said. The wet and cold British weather means the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly normally reproduces once a year and is confined to the country's southern coast.

But conservationists have found evidence that the brown-and-orange butterfly has reproduced twice this year. Matthew Oates, a conservation adviser with the National Trust, said a second brood of the declining species has only been recorded three times since 1893. Oates said warmer temperatures in Britain—closer to those found in southern Europe, where the Duke of Burgundy is also found—have allowed the butterfly to flourish. The butterfly has been spotted in the county of Gloucestershire, much farther north than its usual habitat.

Astronomers discover the granddaddy of all galaxy clusters

2010-10-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

The most massive conglomeration of galaxies ever spotted in the early universe has been found, astronomers say. This behemoth galaxy cluster contains about 800 trillion suns packed inside hundreds of galaxies.

And it's not even finished growing. The newfound cluster, called SPT-CL J0546-5345, is about 7 billion light-years from Earth, meaning that its light has taken that long to reach us. Thus, astronomers are seeing this clump as it was 7 billion years ago. By now, it likely will have quadrupled in size, researchers said. The galaxy cluster was spotted by a new, huge 33-foot telescope at the South Pole, where the observatory benefits from an exceptionally clear, dry and stable atmosphere that enables extremely crisp high-resolution photos.

Microscopic wonders from a "Small World"

2010-10-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine anything trickier than cutting the heart out of a mosquito? How about making an award-winning picture of that heart? A graduate student from Vanderbilt University has managed to pull off both of those tricks.

The image of the mosquito's tublar heart, supported by thin webs of muscles, was judged the first-place winner in this year's Nikon Small World photomicrophay competition--one of the world's most prestigious contests for aesthetically pleasing pictures of microscopic subjects. "We weren't really sure how well it was going to work," said photographer Jonas King, who worked on the project with his professor. "We were both just amazed at how cool it looked."

New planet discovered: Could humans live there?

2010-10-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Scientists have discovered an earth-like planet found in a region where temperatures could sustain life. If confirmed, the exoplanet, named Gliese 581g, would be the first Earth-like world residing in a star's habitable zone. Found in the “Goldilocks zone”—not too hot, not too cold to sustain life—researchers said it is highly probable that life exists on the planet. “My own personal feeling is that the chances of life on this planet are 100 percent," said Steven Vogt, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "I have almost no doubt about it." Reaching the planet, however, would be no easy task. Gliese 581g is 20 light-years from Earth—that’s about 120 trillion miles away!

Check out the amazing photos from our 2010 trips!

2010-09-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

Voting is now open for the Discovery Student Adventures 2010 Photo Contest. We’ve posted the best pictures from last summer’s travel season on our Facebook page. Now it’s up to you to the pick your favorites in 5 different categories. We’ll choose our winners based on your selections, but you’ve got to be a Discovery Student Adventures Facebook fan to vote. To cast your vote, simply click on the “Wall” tab on our Facebook page and click on the posts Adventure, Iconic Landmark/Landscape, Cultural Interaction, Service Learning, or Student/Teacher. Voting will run through Thursday, September 30, and we’ll announce the winners on our Facebook page Friday, October 1. Best of luck to our photo finalists!

New volcano probes: Journey to the center of the Earth?

2010-09-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

Super-heat-resistant radio transmitters could soon be dropped into volcanoes to provide early warnings of eruptions. Conventional electronics are made with silicon, but such technology fails to function at about 660 degrees F. The new electronics are made of silicon carbide, and can theoretically withstand up to 1,650 degrees F, the kind of heat found inside jet engines. The researchers are now working to integrate components made from the silicon-carbon compound into devices about the size of an iPhone. Scientists could drop such gadgets into the depths of the earth to help measure subtle changes in the levels of key volcanic gases, such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. They could then wirelessly feed back real-time data to the surface, providing vital details regarding volcanic activity and potential eruptions.

Does the Loch Ness Monster have English relatives?

2010-09-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

The hunt is on for a new lake monster -- not at Scotland's Loch Ness, home of the fabled "Nessie," but this time in nearby England. Ever since 2006, when the first report emerged from England's biggest lake of a 20-foot-long creature in Lake Windermere, a new lake monster legend has gained strength on the sightings of something dubbed "Bow-Nessie." Lake Windermere, located in the northern part of England, is bordered by two towns, Ambleside and Bownesson-Windermere -- hence the clever monster nickname Bow-Nessie. Monster hunters are now using sonar to try to find the elusive animal that reportedly lurks in the 220-foot-deep lake.

2010 Photo Contest: Win up to $1,500 in travel vouchers!

2010-09-13T10:58:00.001-07:00

Did you shoot amazing photos on your Discovery Student Adventures journey last summer? Share them with us and you could be rewarded with travel money to use toward a 2011 journey with Discovery Student Adventures. We will award 5 travel vouchers in 5 categories worth $500 each, plus a $1,000 to the best overall photo. That means our grand prize winner will receive travel money totaling $1,500. Send us as many pictures as you want through September 20. Click here to enter.

Mars not "dead" afterall?

2010-09-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

If new results from the now-defunct Mars Phoenix mission are any indication, the red planet is not dead yet. Data from the Mars Phoenix lander indicate that water has been weathering the planet's surface throughout its history, even into recent geological times. The data also suggest that geologically recent volcanic eruptions have replenished the planet's carbon-dioxide atmosphere in what could be an ongoing activity. The evidence comes in the form of intricate measurements the lander took of the planet's atmosphere--specifically, the relative abundance of different forms of carbon and oxygen in atmospheric CO2.

Green gym generates electricity from bikers

2010-09-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

With row after row of exercise machines, most gyms burn far more electrical power than calories. But by equipping stationary bikes and elliptical machines with generators, a San Diego gym has become as healthy for the Earth as it is for its patrons. The gym, named the Greenasium, uses a special bike called the visCycle. The visCycle generates enough electricity to offset the box fan that the Greenasium uses to cool down the room. That fan constitutes most of the gym's electricity use, as there is no air conditioning. When more than one person uses a visCycle or similarly equipped elliptical, the cardio machines put out enough power to offset the music, computer and lights as well.

Twins boost China's panda baby boom

2010-09-07T11:09:00.001-07:00

The birth of twin pandas at a research center brought the number of the endangered species born in captivity this year in China to a record 25. The twins, both weighing about 5.5 ounces, were born September 6 at the Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The as-yet-unnamed cubs were the first for their 8-year-old mother Youyou, the report said. The bears are the sixth set of twins born to captive pandas this year—a sign of the growing success of China’s extensive breeding program, which relies heavily on artificial insemination, Chinese researchers say.

Human-like brain found in worm

2010-09-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Brain structures directly related to the human brain have been identified in a marine ragworm, according to a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Cell. The discovery means that the origins of the human brain can now be traced back at least 600 million years, when we last shared a common ancestor with this species, Platynereis dumerilii, a relative of the common earthworm. “This worm lives in self-made tubes, explores its environment actively for food, and shows signs of learning behavior,” lead author Raju Tomer told Discovery News.

Seeing the moon in a whole new light

2010-08-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

International Observe the Moon Night is September 18, 2010. The goal of this event is to engage the local public and amateur astronomers to raise awareness of NASA's involvement in lunar research and exploration. Share the excitement of future exploration and host your own International Observe the Moon Night!

Man to attempt skydive from 23 miles up

2010-08-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

A daredevil will soon attempt to break the world record for the highest skydive—set 50 years ago—and be the first human to freefall faster than the speed of sound, and from near the edge of space. Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner is slated to attempt a jump from some 120,000 feet above the ground later this year. To attain this stratospheric height, Baumgartner will take a three-hour trip in a pressurized capsule raised aloft by a giant helium balloon. The record-setting skydive should help inform escape plans for astronauts and space tourists alike by extending the "safety zone" where making a bailout is still in the cards.

Scientists discover new monkey species near Ecuador

2010-08-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

A scientific expedition to the Colombian Amazon has revealed a new species of titi monkey. The cat-size creature is critically endangered because of rapid habitat loss and its small population. Research from 30 years ago hinted that a previously unknown primate species might be living in Colombia's Caquetá region, near the Ecuadorian and Peruvian border, but violence and insurgent fighting kept the area off limits for decades.

It was only recently that scientists of the National University of Colombia proved the rumors true when they discovered the new species.

Robot fish check water quality off the coast of Spain

2010-08-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

In the wake of the oil-gushing environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, these peculiar fish may soon be very, very popular around the world. Scientists are building a school of robot fish to be let loose off the northern Spanish port of Gijon next year to check on the quality of the water. Modeled to resemble carp and costing about $29,000 each to make, the fish are lifelike in appearance and swimming behavior so they will not alarm their fellow marine inhabitants.

The robots, the first of their kind, are equipped with tiny chemical sensors capable of detecting pollutants in the water. These let the fish hone in on the sources of hazardous pollutants, such as leaks from vessels or undersea pipelines, and transmit the data via wireless technology to expedite clean-up efforts.

Summer Travel in Full Swing

2010-07-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Live vicariously through our student travelers, and check out their latest blogs. Summer travel is in full swing. Students and Teachers alike are having the times of their lives from the rainforests of Costa Rica, the heart of the of the Mediterranean, to the Andean Highlands of Ecuador.

Like what you're seeing? Bring new meaning to 'summer vacation' by going on a Discovery Student Adventure next summer! Check out the fantastic destinations we're offering in summer 2011.

July 9th: Temple of Zeus

2010-07-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Talk about a time warp. In just two days, Discovery students and teachers have traveled back in time 2,800 years to explore Greek history, scouted locations to do their part to protect the future of endangered sea turtles, and learned firsthand that the ancient Greeks probably don't get nearly enough credit for their ingenious inventions.

It's a journey that keeps picking up speed as the days pass!

Yesterday, we visited the ancient town of Olympia, home of the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. We got a guided tour of this historic monument, walking through its ruins and we even included a spontaneous sprint-to-the-finish-line run (check out the cool video)!

We also saw the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, as well as a 3rd century athletic museum. And we are just getting warmed up.

Follow their adventures at http://dsaitalygreece.blogspot.com/

Could The Mighty Mississippi Fight The Gulf Oil Spill?

2010-06-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

Shifting some of the Mississippi River's flow from its southernmost branch, the Atchafalaya River, to the main river body could create a strong current of fresh water that would act as a barrier against the oil. This invisible boom of sorts would keep the oil out of sensitive marshes for several weeks, according to the National Audubon Society.

Do you have any clever ideas to alleviate the environmental damage being done by the oil spill?

World marks marine pioneer Jacques Cousteau's 100th birthday

2010-06-11T14:10:00.001-07:00

Ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, who captured the earliest images of life deep beneath the sea, would have turned 100 years old June 11.

Sailing around the world on his iconic ship Calypso, Cousteau captivated audiences as he explored the unknown ocean and inspired future generations of ocean explorers.

Although Cousteau died in 1997, the anniversary of his birth attracted worldwide attention and served as a reminded the importance of protecting our world’s oceans—an especially important message in the wake of the oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

And They're Off!

2010-06-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

Discovery Student Adventures’ 2010 travel season arrives.
Costa Rica, here they come! Our first group of travelers is jetting away on June 8 for an action-packed eight-day adventure in paradise. And one thing’s for certain: their whirlwind journey will not offer much down time! We’ll keep our students and teachers on their toes as they rappel down a stunning waterfall, fly through the jungle on a zip line, visit with a primitive Bribri tribe in the rainforest, explore a spectacular wildlife refuge, and a whole lot more!

Bring the adventure to life! Follow our 2010 Travel Blog as our travelers experience life-altering journeys. You’ll get daily accounts of their activities, thrilling pictures and awe-inspiring videos. And remember, we’ll have EVERY Discovery Student Adventure covered.

Flood of Frogs Invades Greece

2010-05-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here’s a slippery sight you certainly don’t expect to see in Greece: A horde of frogs recently forced the closure of a key highway in the northern part of the country.

Police said “millions” of the amphibians covered the road near Thessaloniki. Has the “home of the Gods” turned into the “home of the frogs?” Not likely. It is believed the jumpy critters were probably leaving a nearby lake in search of food.

Our Italy/Greece travelers begin their 15-day adventure on July 5. We’re happy to spread the word that there’s no longer any reason steer clear of this beautiful country. Last we heard, the frogs had cleared the scene and traffic was flowing smoothly.

May 18, 2010

2010-05-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the eruption of Washington State's Mt. St. Helens. Seismologists, scientists who study earthquakes, recorded significant activity in the months prior to the eruption.

The lateral blast was recorded at a velocity of over 300 mph, and damaged enough trees to build 300,000 two-bedroom homes. The ash cloud resulting from the eruption spread across the U.S. in only three days, and spanned the globe in 15. For more facts, visit http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov.

May 3-7 is Teacher Appreciation Week!

2010-05-04T08:25:00.001-07:00

Want to know the secret behind a great student? That’s easy, a great teacher! As we recognize National Teacher Day today, it’s the perfect time to salute the teachers who made a difference in our lives. Think about it. Besides our parents, teachers were among the most influential people in our lives growing up. One thing is for certain: Discovery Student Adventures would be lost without our forward-thinking, creative teachers who dream of opening the eyes of their students to the world. A big tip of the hat to all of our teachers!

Did one of your favorite teachers take you on an eye-opening field trip? If so, where did you go?

Check out our new updated look!

2010-05-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Here it is! Check out Discovery Student Adventures' new website. Cool new photos, feel-the-experience videos and eye-popping details about our incredible adventures. Don't you just love the new look?! Take a few minutes and explore the world of Discovery-from your computer. It's the next best thing to actually traveling with us.
We've got tons of exciting things going on with our 2010 travel season just around the corner ... and we're already gearing up for an incredible summer in 2011 with 14 destinations to choose from.

Check our website frequently and see what we're up to -- the Discovery Student Adventures' blog will keep you posted!

Explore the Wildlife Down Under

2010-02-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

On the Australia Discovery Student Adventure, your itinerary will take you on a headfirst dive into local biology. Australia is rich in diverse specimens, making for exciting encounters on your Discovery Student Adventure.

Some destinations are made all the more great by that which dwells there – the fauna. Australia is one of the places best known for the wide variety of creatures that call it home, from the iconic koala and kangaroo to the more intimidating crocodile. All Australian animals are fascinating. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the excitement of coming across a few local critters on your adventure. Here are a few interesting points about the wild inhabitants of Australia:

The flying fox is a large fruit bat that you can find roosting in the trees of Queensland — it truly looks like its name describes. In Australia, its closest genetic relative is actually the human. We have more than 95% of the same genetic makeup!

The saltwater crocodile, with its very impressive smile, has blood with an amazing resistance to infection. Even if wounded and in stagnant waters, the crocodile can fight off infection, thanks to the incredible antibiotic properties of its blood. This quality has made crocodiles figure prominently in recent HIV and other medical research.

Koalas smell like cough drops from spending their lives in eucalyptus trees.

Kangaroos can become impregnated and delay the pregnancy for months until environmental conditions are more favorable, essentially keeping the fetus in stasis.