Wailele 2016

You got your green eyes from your mother, and your freckles from your father. But where did you get your thrill-seeking personality and talent for singing? Did you learn these from your parents or was it predetermined by your genes? While it’s clear that physical characteristics are hereditary, the genetic waters get a bit more murky when it comes to an individual’s behavior, intelligence, and personality. Ultimately, the old argument of nature vs. nurture has never really been won. We do not yet know how much of what we are is determined by our DNA and how much by our life experience. But we do know that both play a part.

Which do you think is more influential in how a person is?

Which is more important, good genes or good upbringing?

An ecosystem is made up of plants, animals and other forms of life as well as the environment in which they live. Ecosystems are self-sustaining, which means everything that each living member of the ecosystem needs can be found within the ecosystem and that all of the functions of the ecosystem are continuous.

Ecosystems rely on natural balance. A wetland ecosystem is not only made up of the living creatures in the ecosystem, but it also includes the water and the chemicals in the water (for example: whether the water is fresh, salty or brackish), the soil and the air. All of these factors are necessary for maintaining the health of the ecosystem. If the water is drained from an area, the removal of that important component of the ecosystem will have an effect on everything else in that environment. Likewise, if something is introduced, like pollutants or excess salt water it will also become a problem for the ecosystem.

How can change in one part of an ecosystem affect change in other parts of an ecosystem? Give an example.

What impact do humans have on the ecosystem? How do humans have an impact on the diversity and stability of ecosystems?

How can you personally help to preserve Hawaiian stream life?

Topic: Clouds
In The Complete Sailor: Learning the Art of Sailing, David Seidman writes, “Clouds are the harbingers of weather. Their shape, height, color, and sequence foretell coming events.”

Question
How can the shape, height, and color of clouds help an ocean navigator to predict oncoming weather?

Hi Explorers All,

Just a reminder that the end of the star tracking activity is this Saturday, November 16. Any evening between now and then, and between the hour of 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, you are invited to track the star Enif and compare your results with others participants in this challenge. This activity can prepare you for navigating your canoe to Rapa Nui.

To this point, we have not received nearly enough responses to do a real comparison (especially in the Northern U.S.) and wouldn’t it be fun to get results from around the globe as well? The weather doesn’t always cooperate,
so don’t wait to the last minute!

All the directions you need are at:
http://quest.nasa.gov/challenges/lcross2/Star_Tracking_Enif.pdf
Parents and teachers are aloud to help. Please submit your information to me by Tuesday, November 18.

Happy Star Gazing,
Linda

Welcome to the NASA Quest Navigation Challenge! the purpose of this Challenge is to connect students in the USA to NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission while teaching them about different methods of Earth-based and space-based navigation. Please click on links on right under NASA to learn about this project.

Why is it important to learn about your ancestor’s voyages around the Pacific Ocean?

Why is NASA so interested in Polynesian wayfinding?

Why do humans explore?

Teach the class two things you learned from your research about NASA and Polynesian wayfinding.

Arctic ice is melting sea levels are rising and glaciers are shrinking at alarming rates. And the Earth is getting unmistakably warmer. But is this vast potentially catastrophic climate change the result of human behavior? Or is it simply the Earth’s natural cycle of warming and cooling periods that have occurred since the planet formed?

What are your thoughts on global warming?

In a recent survey, 52% said the U.S. should spend more.

“NASA has paid for itself many times over by leading to the development of things likd GPS and weather satellites. It’s such a good investment that its budget should be increased.”—-Craig Chrisco, Petaluma, Calif.

“U.S. leadership in space is critical. China, Russia and others will launch weapons into space that are aimed at the earth. Funding NASA is needed to protect our country.”–S.H., League City, Tex.

41% said the U.S. should spend less.

“NASA funds could be put to better use for things on earth, like health care and education. We have no need to go to the moon again or other planets.”–J.D., Blue Springs, Missouri

“NASA should concentrate on robot missions, which have been successful in the past. Space station programs should be moved to the commercial sector; this would cut costs and promote competition.”–R.N., Baltimore, Md.

7% said the current U.S. spending is fine.

What do you think?