Month:
Is it possible to measure an animal’s behavior?
- September 9
Animals have a wide varieties of behaviors, many of which can be difficult to analyze. To make animal behavior research easier, scientists use ethograms - tables of possible behaviors that they can check off as the observation goes on. The ethogram used by zoo employees to study their elephants is discussed, and ways of making use of and presenting that data investigated. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings... CONTINUE READING
Do animals all walk with the same pattern, or are there different walk patterns?
- September 9
Quadrupeds – animals that walk on four legs – move their limbs in many different patterns as they travel. These walking patterns are known as gaits, and each type of gait can be described mathematically and compared to gain insight into animal locomotion! This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily r... CONTINUE READING
Is there a mathematical pattern to the way that penguins use their nests in South Africa?
- September 9
The guano that African penguins use as a nesting resource has depleted in recent years; alternate nesting methods, including man-made artificial nests, are being tested out at Dallas Zoo. To track how well these nests work, the amount of eggs laid month by month must be compared to that of natural nests. Analysis of these patterns is valuable information for helping these penguins continue to survive! This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2... CONTINUE READING
Is there anything mathematical about a visual pattern like the giraffe coat pattern?
- September 9
The spots on a giraffe's coat are made up of various geometric patterns,. Each giraffe has their own unique pattern of spots; additionally, each type of giraffe has their own pattern-determining rules. Properties of these patterns, and differences between them, are discussed, as well as how these differences can be used to identify different types of giraffe. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings, and conclus... CONTINUE READING
What determines where leaves are positioned on branches?
- September 9
Leaves are what plants use to gather sunlight, necessary for plants to grow and thrive. This means that it is to a plant's advantage if their leaves' position is such that all leaves receive the most possible sunlight - minimizing overlaps and shadow wherever possible! Different plants use different strategies and arrangements to make this happen, though there are some common trends across many different species. By using a protractor to measure the angles between leaves, we can tease out some o... CONTINUE READING
What geometric patterns can we identify on a leaf?
- September 9
A mathematical pattern is any sort of repeated property - something occurs frequently in nature! Taking a look at magnolias in particular, we identify branching patterns in leaf veins, and their degree of sub-level repetition. This allows us to understand various geometric concepts. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s)... CONTINUE READING
What is the pattern in the climbing wall?
- September 9
Join these young scholars from Girls Inc. Metropolitan of Dallas as they explore their playground. This content was made by community members from Girls Inc Metropolitan of Dallas - we invite all interested groups to reach out and find more information on creating content of their own with us at talkstem.org/create-your-own-walkstem !... CONTINUE READING
What patterns can you find?
- September 9
Patterns can be found everywhere, including the hallway! talkSTEM joins faculty at St. Philips Academy in exploring the patterns in these colorful tiles. This video was supported by City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Thanks to our partnership with Mathigon, you can enjoy this walkSTEM stop using learning extensions in the Polypad interactive virtual whiteboard. You can visit this stop's Polypad here: Polypad #1... CONTINUE READING
What’s the Mathematical Pattern?
- September 9
The floor tiles used to make Untitled (Love Field) by Lane Banks only come in four colors, but never allow two rings of the same color to touch. With that in mind, methods of calculating how many permutations – specific, ordered arrangements – of these segments are possible are discussed. This uses the mathematical concept of factorials to practice combinatorics – the study of combinations and permutations. This video was supported by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Suppleme... CONTINUE READING