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The Milky Way—Exploring Our Galactic Home
Greetings, young astronomers, and cosmic adventurers! Get ready to embark on an awe-inspiring journey through the vast expanse of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Today we’ll delve into the mysteries that lie beyond our Earthly borders, where billions of stars twinkle in the darkness, and captivating wonders await. The Milky Way isn’t just a band of faint light across the night sky; it’s our galactic home, a place where countless celestial marvels reside. So, strap on your imaginary spacesuits, grab your telescopes, and join us as we set out to explore the wonders of our galaxy. From dazzling star clusters to swirling spiral arms, we’ll unravel the secrets of the Milky Way and expand our understanding of the magnificent universe that surrounds us. Get ready to be dazzled as we embark on a cosmic adventure through the extraordinary realm of the Milky Way!
The Milky Way Galaxy is a large spiral system comprising several hundred billion stars, one of which is the Sun. It takes its name from the Milky Way, the irregular luminous band of stars and gas clouds that stretches across the sky as seen from Earth. Astronomers don’t have a full grasp of the Milky Way Galaxy, unlike some other star systems. Interstellar dust hides much of the Galaxy, but radio and infrared telescopes can detect radiation to reveal its structure.
Like early explorers mapping the continents of our globe, astronomers are busy charting the spiral structure of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Using infrared images from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have discovered that the Milky Way’s elegant spiral structure is dominated by just two arms wrapping off the ends of a central bar of stars. Scientists previously thought that our galaxy had four major arms.
Scientific advances have changed our perception of the galaxy to two major and two minor arms, rather than the old four major arms. The galaxy’s two major arms (Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus) are attached to the ends of a thick central bar, while the two now-demoted minor arms (Norma and Sagittarius) are less distinct and located between the major arms. The major arms consist of the highest densities of both young and old stars; the minor arms are primarily filled with gas and pockets of star-forming activity.
American astronomer Harlow Shapley made the first reliable measurement of the size of the Milky Way Galaxy in 1917. He determined it has a diameter of about 100,000 light-years. His values have held up remarkably well over the years.
For a long time, it was thought that Earth was the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Today we know better. Our Sun lies near a small, partial arm called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur, located between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms. Our solar system is about 30,000 light-years from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The Galaxy itself is thought to be about 100,000 light-years in diameter.
Although most stars in the Galaxy exist either as single stars like the Sun or as double stars, there are many conspicuous groups and clusters of stars that contain tens to thousands of members. These objects can be divided into three types: globular clusters, open clusters, and stellar associations. They differ primarily in age and in the number of member stars.
The largest and most massive star clusters are the globular clusters, so called because of their roughly spherical appearance. The Galaxy contains over 150 globular clusters (the exact number is uncertain because of obscuration by dust in the Milky Way band, which probably prevents some globular clusters from being seen). A conspicuous component of the Galaxy is the collection of large, bright, diffuse gaseous objects called nebulae. The brightest of these cloudlike objects are the emission nebulae, large complexes of interstellar gas and stars in which the gas exists in an ionized and excited state. This condition is produced by the powerful ultraviolet light emitted from the very luminous, hot stars embedded in the gas. Because emission nebulae consist almost entirely of ionized hydrogen, they are usually referred to as H II regions.
The Milky Way is a dynamic and exciting place to explore. There is much known about it. But there is still much more to be discovered.
Maybe you will be part of the team of scientists doing that discovery someday!
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Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
How far would you go to find something that might not even exist?
All her life, Cricket’s mama has told her stories about a secret room painted by a mysterious artist. Now Mama’s run off, and Cricket thinks the room might be the answer to getting her to come back. If it exists. And if she can find it.
Cricket’s first clue is a coin from a grown-over ghost town in the woods. So with her daddy’s old guidebook and a coat full of snacks stolen from the Cash ‘n’ Carry, Cricket runs away to find the room. Surviving in the woods isn’t easy. While Cricket camps out in an old tree house and looks for clues, she meets the last resident of the ghost town, encounters a poetry-loving dog (who just might hold a key to part of the puzzle), and discovers that sometimes you have to get a little lost . . . to really find your way.
For Readers 9-12 from author Jo Watson Hackl.
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The History of Pizza
Hey there, young foodies, and pizza lovers! Are you ready to embark on a mouthwatering adventure that will take you back in time to discover the fascinating origins of everyone’s favorite cheesy delight? Today we’ll dig into the tantalizing history of pizza, a culinary masterpiece that has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of people around the world. From its humble beginnings as a simple flatbread to the mouthwatering creations we know and love today, pizza has a rich and flavorful story to tell. So, grab a napkin, loosen your belts, and get ready to sink your teeth into the captivating history of this beloved dish that has become a global sensation. Let’s follow the tantalizing trail of dough, sauce, and toppings as we unravel the delectable journey of pizza!
Pizza has been around for centuries. An ancestor of pizza probably was the focaccia, a flat bread known to the Romans as Latin panis focacius, to which they added toppings. Modern pizza evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or early 19th century.
The word pizza was first documented in A.D. 997 in Gaeta and successively in different parts of Central and Southern Italy. Pizza was mainly eaten in Italy and by emigrants from there. This changed after World War II when Allied troops stationed in Italy came to enjoy pizza along with other Italian foods.
Just so you know—Gaeta is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. It is set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, and it is 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Rome and 50 mi (80 km) from Naples. Gaeta has a long history dating back to ancient times, when it was a Roman port and resort town. It has many historical and artistic attractions, such as the megalithic walls, the Roman mausoleums of Lucius Munatius Plancus and Lucius Sempronius Atratinus, the medieval castle and the churches of Annunziata and San Francesco. Gaeta is also famous for its beautiful beaches and its delicious food, especially the tiella, a savory pie stuffed with various ingredients.
In Sardinia, French and Italian archaeologists have found bread baked over 7,000 years ago. Foods similar to pizza have been made since antiquity. Records of people adding other ingredients to bread to make it more flavorful can be found throughout ancient history.
- In the 6th century BC, Persian soldiers serving under Darius the Great baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields.
- In Ancient Greece, citizens made a flat bread called plakous, which was flavored with toppings like herbs, onion, cheese, and garlic.
- An early reference to a pizza-like food occurs in the Aeneid (ca. 19 BC), when Celaeno, the Harpy queen, foretells that the Trojans would not find peace until they are forced by hunger to eat their tables (Book III). In Book VII, Aeneas and his men are served a meal that includes round cakes (like pita bread) topped with cooked vegetables. When they eat the bread, they realize that these are the “tables” prophesied by Celaeno.
Focaccia is one of the flatbreads that still exists today from ancient Mediterranean times. Foods similar to flatbreads in other parts of the world include Chinese bing (a wheat flour-based Chinese food with a flattened or disk-like shape); the Indian paratha (in which fat is incorporated); the Central and South Asian naan (leavened) and roti (unleavened); the Sardinian carasau, spianata, guttiau, pistoccu; and Finnish rieska.
In 16th-century Naples, a galette flatbread was referred to as a pizza. Known as the dish for poor people, it was sold in the street and was not considered a kitchen recipe for a long time. This was later replaced by oil, tomatoes (after Europeans came into contact with the Americas) or fish. A popular story states that on June 11, 1889, Raffaele Esposito made the “Pizza Margherita” in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy. The pizza was garnished with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, symbolizing the Italian flag. Pizza grew into a type of bread and tomato dish, often served with cheese. Until the late 19th or early 20th century, the dish was a sweet flat bread, similar to schiacciata.
Today people around the world are still enjoying pizza! Are you one of them?
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Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life (Middle School, 1)
In the hilarious and awkward start to this #1 mega-bestselling sixteen-book series, beloved misfit Rafe Khatchadorian takes on his first year of middle school…by breaking all the rules!
Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he’s got a foolproof plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe will break every rule in his school’s oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class—5,000 points! Running in the hallway—10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm—50,000 points! But when Rafe’s game starts to catch up with him, he’ll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he’s finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he’s been avoiding.
#1 bestselling author James Patterson’s debut middle-grade novel addresses some of middle schoolers’ biggest issues: bullies, first crushes, and finding out what makes each of us special.
For Readers 9-12 from best-selling author James Patterson.
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Exploring the Enchanting World of Leprechauns!
Greetings, curious adventurers, and seekers of magical wonders! Are you ready to journey into the enchanting realm of leprechauns, those mischievous beings from Irish folklore? Today, we’ll dive into the captivating world of these pint-sized tricksters and uncover the legends and lore that surround them. Leprechauns have fascinated generations with their pots of gold, colorful attire, and a knack for playing pranks. So, put on your imaginary green hats, grab a four-leaf clover for luck, and let’s follow the rainbow as we unravel the secrets and stories behind these whimsical creatures known as leprechauns!
Leprechauns are a type of fairy, gnome, or elf-like creature. They are small in size and usually have a grouchy disposition. According to legend, leprechauns dance the Irish jig so much they wear out their shoes. Some stories say they are mischievous while others say they are harmless creatures that keep to themselves. Some people claim to have seen a leprechaun and say they are real, while others believe they are just a myth and are not real.
According to some sources, leprechauns live only in Ireland, which is also known as The Emerald Isle. They are a type of male fairy and are a class of fairy folk that live near Fairy Rings, which are ancient Celtic earthworks. They prefer isolation and solitude and often choose dismal and lonely places to make their homes. Some places where leprechauns may live are:
- caves
- caverns
- clover fields
- county lanes
- fairy forts and rings
- glens
- grassy hills
- hollowed fallen logs
- hollowed oak or hawthorn tree trunks
- meadows
- mountains
- mushroom patches
- rocky areas
- shamrock fields or patches
- tree roots
Some leprechaun homes are secret and sacred spaces that lead to fairylands, where time and space operate differently. Leprechauns can also travel through an intricate network of deep underground caves and tunnels. Leprechauns are often neighbor with other fairies in the thousands of fairy forts sprawled within the Irish landscape.
Leprechauns can look different depending on the stories and legends, but they are usually small and round, with red hair and red skin. They often wear green coat and trousers with gold buttons, a black or green hat with a buckle, and shiny black shoes. They also have a beard and pointy ears. Some people think they are cute, while others think they are ugly.
According to some sources, leprechauns make gold by making shoes for fairies, who pay for them in gold. They also trick others into giving them gold or discover it for themselves by living underground. Leprechauns are very good at hiding their gold and keeping it safe from anyone who might try to steal it.
Leprechauns have a varied diet that depends on what they can find in the forest. They like to eat sweet things like candy and cake, as well as savory dishes like potatoes and bacon. They also love to drink, and their favorite beverages include beer, whiskey, and green tea. Leprechauns are also fond of wildflowers, especially dandelions, which they used to make tea and salads. They also snack on nuts and other vegetables and fruits that grow in the forest.
People have mixed feelings about leprechauns. Some like them because they are a fairy or elf, and they consider seeing one as good luck. On the other hand, since leprechauns like to trick people into giving them gold, other people think it could be bad luck to encounter a leprechaun. But if you are the one who can trick them into giving up their gold to you. Then, encountering one can turn out to be lucky for you.
What do you think? Have you ever been lucky enough to see a leprechaun?
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Fearless: A Middle Grade Adventure Story
Jessie wants to be fearless, like her deployed Army mom.
So, when she and her friends stumble onto a barn with terrified dogs inside, she steals one.
But how will she help a scared dog when Jessie herself feels anything but fearless?
For Readers 8-12 from author Kristin F. Johnson.
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Dinosaurs in Hollywood
In the past, Hollywood has made a lot of movies about dinosaurs. Especially about dinosaurs living far from the hills of Hollywood. But did you know that 75 million years ago armored dinosaurs once roamed the hills and flatlands where today’s Hollywood tourists now roam? Along with the armored dinosaurs, known as Aletopeltas, saber-tooth tigers hunted their prey in the same area 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. While dire wolves competed for the same food sources 125,000 to 9,500 years ago.
Aletopelta is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaurs that lived in Southern California about 75.5-million-years ago. It is the only dinosaur ever to be found in southern California, and one of the few dinosaurs to be found in the entire state. The name Aletopelta means “wanderer shield,” because it was carried northward by plate tectonics from its original location near Mexico. Aletopelta was about 16 feet long and weighed about 2 tons (4,409 lbs.). It had a bony tail club and a pelvic shield made of osteoderms, which are bony plates embedded in the skin.
Ankylosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur that was the largest of its family of dinosaurs called ankylosaurs. This family of dinosaurs had short, heavy bodies and were protected from head to tail with bony plates and spikes. The plates acted like armor, to help protect the animal against meat-eating dinosaurs (carnivores).
Aletopelta was discovered completely by accident in 1987; a road crew was doing construction work near Carlsbad, (115 miles south of Los Angeles) and the fossil of an Aletopelta was recovered from a ditch that had been excavated for a sewer pipe.
The Saber-Tooth Tiger is far and away the most famous (and most common) prehistoric mammal of California. This is known thanks to the recovery of literally thousands of complete skeletons from the famous La Brea Tar Pits of downtown Los Angeles. This predator was smart, but clearly not quite smart enough, as entire packs of saber-tooths got trapped in the muck when they attempted to feast on already-mired prey.
The saber-tooth tiger had a pair of elongated canine teeth in its upper jaw that were over 7 inches in length. These teeth were probably used for stabbing and slashing prey, such as bison, horses, mastodons, and ground sloths. The saber-tooth tiger was not closely related to the modern tiger or other modern cats. These ancient animals could weigh up to 880 pounds and had a muscular body and short limbs.
The dire wolf, Aenocyon dirus, is an extinct canine that lived in North America and eastern Asia 125,000 to 9,500 years ago. It was about the same size as the largest modern gray wolves, but had a more massive skull, a smaller brain, and relatively light limbs. It was a different species from the modern gray wolf. It is probably the most common mammal species to be found in Los Angeles’s famous La Brea Tar Pits.
Off the coast of Santa Monica, California—which is next door to Hollywood—lurked one of the largest and most powerful predators to have ever lived. It was the 67 foot long, 228,000-pound megalodon, an extinct species of shark. It had a massive skull with enormous jaws and giant teeth that could grow to over 7 inches. These teeth were used for stabbing and slashing prey, such as whales, seals, dolphins, fish, and other sharks. Megalodon fossils have been located in shallow coastal areas around the world, excluding Antarctica.
In 1980, Cuban-born physicist Luis Alvarez — along with his physicist son, Walter, concluded that the Earth was struck 65 million years ago by an iridium-rich meteorite or comet (the Chicxulub comet). The iridium residue from the impact object, along with millions of tons of debris from the impact crater, would have quickly spread all over the globe; the massive amounts of dust blotted out the sun, and thus killed the vegetation eaten by herbivorous dinosaurs, and this led to the demise of the carnivores.
A global catastrophe occurred 250 million years ago, resulting in the extinction of most land and marine animals. Ironically, it was this extinction that cleared the field for the rise of the dinosaurs—after which they managed to hold the world stage for a whopping 150 million years, until that unfortunate visit from the Chicxulub comet.
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A Good Kind of Trouble
From debut author Lisa Moore Ramée comes this funny and big-hearted debut middle grade novel about friendship, family, and standing up for what’s right, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and the novels of Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds.
Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to do is to follow the rules. (Oh, and she’d also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead.)
But in junior high, it’s like all the rules have changed. Now she’s suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she’s not black enough. Wait, what?
Shay’s sister, Hana, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn’t think that’s for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides some rules are worth breaking. She starts wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives movement. Soon everyone is taking sides. And she is given an ultimatum.
Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn’t face her fear, she’ll be forever tripping over the next hurdle. Now that’s trouble, for real.
For Readers 10-12.
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Ziplines — Unraveling the Secrets of Motion
Hey there, young scientists, and curious minds! Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of zippiness and uncover the secrets behind the exhilarating motion of objects? We’ll embark on an exciting journey into the realm of physics, where we’ll unravel the principles that make things zoom, zoom, zoom! Zippiness isn’t just about speed; it’s about understanding the forces, energy, and interactions that shape the way objects move. Fasten your seatbelts and join us to explore the science of zippiness. Get ready to zoom into the world of physics and discover the fascinating science behind zippiness for explorers like you!
Ziplines are pulleys suspended on a cable that allow people to glide from one point to another. They are often used for recreational or educational purposes and can be found in various locations around the world. Some of the best zipline and aerial adventure parks in the United States are Jungle Zipline Maui in Hawaii, Brainerd Zip Line Tour in Minnesota, and Green Pleasure Pier in California. Some of the most thrilling ziplines in Europe are Zip World Velocity 2in Wales, Flying Fox XXL in Austria, and Volo dell’ Angelo in Italy.
What is the science of motion called? The branch of physics describing the motion of objects without reference to its cause is kinematics; the branch studying forces and their effect on motion is dynamics. In the world of mechanics, there are four basic types of motion. These four are rotary, oscillating, linear and reciprocating. The examples of motion include running, cycling, jumping, swimming, eating, drinking, playing, writing, typing, moving cars, and throwing a ball.
You can describe the motion of an object by its position, speed, direction, and acceleration. An object is moving if its position relative to a fixed point is changing.
Motion is caused by forces. Once an object is moving, it carries on at the same speed and in the same direction unless a force makes it speed up, change direction, or slow down and stop.
There are many examples of motion. Here are some common ones:
- Pulling a drawer, throwing a ball are all examples of linear motion.
- Earth’s revolution around the sun, electrons’ motion around the nucleus are examples of circular motion.
- Spinning wheel, rotating fan, motion of the steering wheel of a car, motion of the earth on its own axis are examples of rotatory motion.
- Sliding is an example of rectilinear motion.
- Bowling is an example of rotational motion.
A zipline is a pulley suspended on a cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on a slope. It enables cargo, or a person propelled by gravity, to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or being attached to, the freely moving pulley. Its use is not confined to adventure sport, recreation, or tourism, although modern-day usage tends to favor those meanings.
Ropeways have been used for transport for over 2,000 years. A type of pulley with a grooved wheel known as a sheave is used in ziplines, and the pulley turns as it travels along, thus reducing friction and enabling greater speed than would otherwise be possible.
Ziplines may be designed for children’s play and found on some adventure playgrounds. Inclines are fairly shallow and so the speeds kept relatively low, negating the need for a means of stopping. The pulleys are connected to the cable on playground equipment, and the user will usually hold on to a handgrip below. Occasionally, a seat or safety strap is included. Users usually return the grip or seat to the top of the hill by pushing or pulling it via a short wire on foot.
Zipline tours are now popular vacation activities, where they may be an element on a larger challenge such as a hike or ropes course.
Now that you know about ziplines, are you interested in trying them out?
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Wish
Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is, until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.
From award-winning author Barbara O’Connor comes a middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places.
From author Barbara O’Connor for Readers 8-11.
