ACES, MR. G, AND A WORD FROM THE HISTORIAN

As always ACES was a blast.  We learned how and where different animals live in the winter. Some animals hibernate and some migrate.  The animals that stay in snowy Aspen, however, have to carefully build a home.  Mice live in the Subnivean Zone under the snow where its warmer. Beavers use wood to make dams.  Snakes burrow into holes.  Magpies make nests in trees. Snowshoe Hares burrow and camouflage with their white fur.  All of these animals have to stay warm and fed in the cold winter months.  Building a home near a food source is a priority.

Can you guess what (or who) made these footprints?

Our favorite scientist also came for a visit today.  We examined the properties of gravity and air pressure.  Can you make a ping pong ball float (or remain SUSPENDED) in the air?  Ask us how. We equalized the forces of gravity pulling down and air pressure pushing up.

First with a straw...

Then with a hair dryer...

Birds May Have Sensed Severe Storms Days in Advance

This week Avery shared her article about some pretty smart birds.  Scientists have been tracking Golden Winged Warblers to study their migration patterns.  Then by accident they noticed one day that the Warblers were all gone.  Turns out the birds took off from their home in Tennessee to take a 900 mile round trip journey to Florida (and some even went to Cuba) and back.  Why?  The birds knew a tornado was coming and got out of the way.  We discussed how birds don't build tornado shelters like we have (as in the Denver airport) so leaving is their safest option. Scientists think that the birds can detect Earth's Magnetic Field and that's how they get their advanced warning. Thanks for the information Avery!  Those Warblers are clever!