Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Ask Science and Arts Magazine for Kids and Children

Gorillas Sing for Supper Nummy, num, num...does your little brother make little yummy sounds when he’s eating? So do 400-pound gorillas! Researchers studying gorilla behavior have discovered that gorillas often hum and chirp to themselves as they eat. And like us, they hum more when they’re eating something they like. In zoos, all the gorillas hummed. But in the wild, often only the leader of the group rumbled out a food song. A gorilla group is led by the b iggest, toughest male. He’s the b oss, and the rest of the group watch him to know what they should be doing. Researchers think that the boss’s humming may let the rest of the group know, “time for eating now, don’t bug me.” The Glowing Ocean The deepest parts of…

People elect leaders to represent them in making rules for their towns, their states, and the whole country. Ilhan Omar is a state representative in Minnesota. She speaks for her neighbors from one area of Minneapolis when laws are decided for for the the whole state state.. Omar was born in the country of Somalia, in Africa. When she was eight, her family fled from a civil war and spent several years in a refugee camp. Then they came to the United States. Omar became an American citizen and now works to help her community as a lawmaker. We sent Plush to ask her about her work. What made you want to become a lawmaker? I wanted to become a politician because I like problem solving. Working in politics helps…

If you were king or queen, would you be known as The Clever? The Generous? The Lover of Pranks? For this month’s contest, we invite you to begin your magnificent reign by giving yourself a royal nickname and drawing a portrait of yourself as king, queen, president, empress, or czar. Send us your vision of the regal you, and we’ll host a procession of the most prestigious in an upcoming issue of Ask. Contest Rules: 1. Your contest entry must be your very own work. Ideas and words should not be copied. 2. Be sure to include your name, age, and address on your entry. 3. Only one entry per person, please. 4. If you want your work returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 5. Your entry must be signed…

Growing up in Joliet, Illinois, in the 1930s, George Mikan often felt everyone was staring at him. Tall and awkward, with thick glasses, he tried to hide by slumping in his seat and hunching his shoulders when he walked. But someday, everyone would know his name. The Tall Kid Though he was the tallest kid in the school, Mikan couldn’t always control his muscles. In gym class, he was more likely to stumble than score. Yet he loved basketball. In the privacy of his backyard, he shot at a homemade hoop whenever he was not busy with school work, chores, or piano lessons. When he was 14, Mikan joined a local youth basketball team. He was especially good at shooting baskets. The years of piano practice had given him strong…

Hey, Jimmy! Witten B. in Texas wants to know. why do whales jump out of the water? Why do kids jump into the water? When whales leap out of the ocean, twist in mid-air, and land with a giant splash, it’s called “breaching.” No one knows exactly why they do it. Looks like fun. Is it a way to play? Could be. Or it could be like scratching, helping whales get rid of barnacles and lice. Whale lice are shrimp-like creatures that feed on skin. Some whales carry around several hundred pounds of these tiny hitchhikers—slapping the water can help shake them off. Gross. I thought fleas were bad! Ah, that’s better! Whales also breach to signal other whales. During mating season, males may leap to attract females—their high jumps…

Good Kings Charlemagne the Great, France (742–814) Charlemagne was an energetic king who united Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire. He made peace among warring nobles and encouraged trade with the East. He passed fair laws, built schools, and filled his palace with poets and musicians. And he hired scholars to invent a new style of writing that was easier to read. Good Queen Bess, England (1533–1603) As the king’s third child, and a girl, no one ever expected Elizabeth to be queen. But she became a great one. Smart, sensible, and strong-willed, Queen Elizabeth I hired talented people to run the country, tried to stop religious fighting, and inspired a new age of discovery and art. She reigned for 45 years and never married, declaring that…