Summer Science Fun: The Moon
The summer is a great time to observe the moon. Learn about the moon, some of its history, and how lunar eclipses occur.
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Author: Helene McLaughlin
Star Wars Workbooks – “Much to learn you still have.”
Make reviewing academics before school starts fun for your little jedi or siths! Workman Publishing has created a set of 12 affordable academic workbooks for preschool through second grade. This GeekMom loves them!
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Explore Space With LittleBits
This week littleBits announced the results of their partnership with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center when they announced the latest in their line of product kits.
Continue ReadingGeekMom Holiday Traditions: Ornaments with Meaning
GeekMom Helene’s family Christmas tree tree tells the family history one ornament at a time.
Continue ReadingGovernment Shutdown: Frozen Scientific Research
The government shutdown, from a GeekMom point of view.
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Hangout with Astronauts Today
Today, May 23rd, from 3-4 PM EDT, you can join a NASA hosted Google+ hangout with three of the former International Space Station (ISS) astronauts. NASA astronauts Kevin Ford and Tom Marshburn and Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency are back home in Houston, Texas, and undergoing physical rehabilitation after their recent return from their extended time in the nearly weightless environment.
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Anakin Skywalker’s New Shoes
When Anakin was a young boy, he must have been outfitted with shoes from the Stride Rite on Tatooine. These children’s shoes are the latest in the Star Wars collection offered by Stride Rite. This latest collection was designed especially for the youngling that isn’t sure wether they are destined to be a Jedi or a Sith. The shoes are designed with color morphing lightsabers! Younglings can explore both sides of the force equally before they must choose.
Continue ReadingFinally, a Smaller, More Affordable Cricut Product: A Cricut Mini Review
The Cricut Mini is a great cutting unit for those of you who are curious about precision die cutters, but aren’t sure about paying for a more expensive system. It’s a great tool for anyone that needs to make bulletin boards on a regular basis. However, the Cricut brand is unlikely to be the right fit for anyone looking for a die cutting machine that allows true creative freedom.
Continue ReadingThe Sky is Falling! Asteroids and Meteors on the Same Day!
So maybe the sky isn’t falling, but it’s quite the coincidence that an asteroid and a meteor both descended upon our little plot of the universe within about 15 hours of one another. While many skywatchers have been anxiously awaiting the close approach of Asteroid 2012 DA14, they were completely taken by surprise when a 500-ton meteor that streaked across the Russian Ural sky earlier the same day.
Continue ReadingThe Birth of Doctor Who for A New Generation
Yesterday BBC America announced details of a Doctor Who made-for-tv movie that it is filming this year in celebration of the famous shows 50th anniversary. As was commissioned in August of 2012, An Adventure in Time and Space will detail the earliest years of the Doctor Who empire from its creation through its initial filming with William Hartnell. The movie is a co-production by BBC America and BBC Cymru Wales. The script was written by Mark Gatiss, co-creator of hit BBC show Sherlock.
Continue ReadingDoctor Who 50th Anniversary Script Has ALL Eleven Doctors
As of today Steven Moffat has confirmed that he is completing a script that will feature the current Doctor, Matt Smith, facing a foe so great that he will need assistance from all ten of the previous TARDIS inhabitants. Roumors suggest, Eccelston is in!!! The producers have gotten agreements from all living actors who have ever played the Doctor; Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith. With some studio special effects they have even resurrected William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee.
Continue ReadingGeeking Out My Photography Business
When I decided to pick up my camera to earn a few extra bucks to pay bills while I stayed at home with my boys, I always wanted to focus on geeks. I wanted to set-up photo booths at geek conventions for folks to get pics of their costuming at conventions. I wanted to get pictures of little kids geeking out over a comic book or their favorite superhero. I wanted to find a pregnant geek who wanted to paint Chuthlu (or pie charts) on their belly. I wanted to be a geeky photographer for geeks. Well, in an effort to pay bills, wants changed to needs and I didn’t turn away any potential client, but I was always on the lookout for that amazing geeky shoot. Last week, I finally got a chance to do exactly what I wanted in a Doctor Who themed shoot and I was ecstatic!
Continue ReadingAppCrayon: Fine Motor Skills Technology
The AppCrayon by DanoToys is the first stylus I’ve ever seen with a triangular shaft designed by teachers and therapists for use by kindergarteners still working on their tripod writing grips. The stylus is plastic, slightly over sized and has a bit larger tip then most styluses making it perfect for kids. This stylus feels very much like a triangular crayon, but looks different enough that a child should confuse a real crayon for the stylus on the screen. Its designed with a small loop on the back to attach to a lanyard or hook if there are worries about misplacing it. The stylus is completely universal so even though it was designed in conjunction with an Apple app, the stylus can be used with over 300,000 apps and is compatible with nearly every touchscreen device.
I’d highly recommend the AppCrayon for any child with a touchscreen device, especially for young ones still practicing a proper pencil grip.
Continue ReadingThrough a Geek Lens: Not Your Typical Christmas Tree!
When thinking about Christmas, its pretty typical to think about a lovely evergreens filled with ornaments you have collected throughout the years. However, sometimes some of the most beautiful “trees” aren’t trees at all.
Continue ReadingHolding Our Children Closer Tonight
Mourning the loss of life in Connecticut and holding our own children close tonight.
Continue ReadingHave you registered for the 19th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race?
Dreaming of being an astronaut is a phase just about everyone goes through at one point in their lives. It’s a much smaller amount of people who decide to peruse that dream when they grow-up. While not everyone might go into space, everyone has the opportunity to race on the moon…. well almost. For the last 19 years, NASA has given high school and college teams from across the globe a chance to compete against each other for the title of “Greatest Moonbuggy of the Year”.
Continue ReadingPlastic Found on Mars… And Five Other Famous Hoaxes
Have you heard, Mardi Gras has made it to Mars!!! Yesterday there were rumors flying about the internet about a massive discovery of plastic found on Mars. With only a quick glance it seemed to be a legit press release from Jet Propulsion Lab in California. However, for anyone that looked at the article for more then 30 seconds it was obvious that this was a nicely executed hoax. Phil Plait from Bad Astronomer wrote a great post last night listing all of the ways that this hoax outed itself. The prankster obviously wanted to take advantage of the “earthshaking” announcement from last week that something was found on Mars. Its been later determined that even that previous press release was an over exaggeration by a reporter after an interview with a Curiosity team member.
Massive scientific hoaxes aren’t new, they have been around for ages. Sometimes they are a lot harder to spot then this one, and cause a lot more confusion then this little prank. One of the greatest achievements of the scientific method is the ability for correction over time. No matter how elaborate the hoax, science will be able to eventually prove or disprove a skeptic. There are times that hoaxes almost get by without detection, and as a reminder to stay ever vigilant to the proof here are five of the greatest scientific hoaxes of all time.
Continue ReadingPhotography Snapshot: Exposure Triangle
In the last couple months my Photography Snapshot series has focused on the theory of light and how it behaves as it created images in an optical system. I’m planning to shift my focus now from the theoretical side of photography to the practical components of taking magnificent photos. This snapshot will focus on creating the perfectly exposed image and the three most important elements in determining exposure. So pick up your camera, its time to play.
Continue ReadingMattel Goes to Mars With Its 2012 Collection
This weekend my boys and I happened through the toy aisles where I spotted this amazing little gem, just sitting on a shelf. Mattel has cast a die model of the awe-inspiring NASA Mars Curiosity rover. These little rovers are likely going to be extremely collectible and won’t be in stores long.
Continue ReadingTruncated Icosahedron: Maker Faire NYC Most Memorable for Kids
While attending World Maker Faire in New York earlier this month, I was surrounded by hundreds of DIY projects that had been dreamt up by hackers and makers around the world. The projects were magnificent! From the moment I walked through the gates for set-up on Friday till we had to leave to drive home on Sunday, there was one display that I was magnetized to. From afar it imply looked like a large wooden sculpture of an soccer ball. I had to know more. I immediately went up and started taking pictures, it was massive and very impressive. The structure was a truncated icosahedron and I hadn’t even seen the best part of the sculpture at that point. Rob Marshall, owner of Hamlet Construction, had turned this ancient design into what he calls the “Happy Fun Ball.”
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