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Grades 9-12

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Types of Compound Leaves

Is your compound leaf pinnate or palmate? And if it's pinnate, is it pinnate odd, pinnate even, or twice pinnate? Find the answers easily with this illustrated guide.

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Photo Gallery

Arthropod Morphology

From metamorphosis and types of antennae to the parts of a spider and a grasshopper, take an illustrated look at arthropod morphology with this collection of guides.

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Activity

Living & Working in Antarctica

What gear would you pack to travel to Antarctica, and what permits would you need before you can travel? Get a taste for how scientists prepare for an excursion to Antarctica's Palmer Station.

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Antarctic Hazards

Dehydration, hypothermia, frostbite, sunburn of the eyes, trench foot ... there's no shortage of hazards in the Antarctic. When it comes to packing your gear, light is definitely not the way to go!

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Article

Maps

Why are there over 100 types of map projections? Because translating a globe onto a flat surface usually requires some compromise—cartographers must distort some features in order to preserve others.

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Article

Katabatic Winds

While out at sea, Shipp's ship hit a windstorm that was nasty by anyone's definition—wind speeds of 80 knots (70 mph). Learn why it's not uncommon for wind speeds to reach 200 mph in Antarctica.

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Day & Night Cycles

In Antarctica, the Sun never sets during the summer or rises during the winter. But do you know why? Learn the answer from a researcher who summers in the land of constant daylight.

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Article

The Worst Journey in the World

Why in the world would anyone spend five weeks trekking into the dark Antarctic winter to bring back a few penguin eggs? Find out, and learn just how harsh the journey was for this three-person team.

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Letter from Stephanie: Keeping a Journal

"Keeping a good journal is kind of like having an extra brain," says this glacial geologist. Find out what Shipp records in her second brain when she's conducting field research in Antarctica. 

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Some Background on Antarctica

Despite extremely harsh conditions, about 3,500 people go to work in Antarctica each year. And the number of research applications is on the rise. What, exactly, is so alluring about Antarctica?