Super Moon Saturday Tonight

The moon on May 5 and 6 will be larger and brighter than a typical full moon. Credit MedEvac71

Fairlawn-Bath Patch.com
by Megan Rosza

Tonight, on May 5, 2012 at 11:34 p.m. ET, the moon will reach it’s full moon status—when the earth, moon and sun are all in alignment. One minute later, at 11:35 p.m., “perigee” will occur. Tonight’s full moon will be the closest to Earth in nearly 20 years. The moon will appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons this year, according to NASA. It will be 17,053 miles closer than normal.

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Also, if you have family participating in the Science Fair Convention today, or are curious about entering a project in the future, or just flat out love science (like the rest of us) please come on over. The adult science fair entry presentations are open to the public to observe and the winning adult will also give their presentation again in the evening at the seven o’clock awards ceremony.

Today’s Schedule:

Our Blog Has a New Name!

We thought our old blog name “Museum Blog” was just too nondescript so we’ve renamed it “Akron Fossils & Science Center Blog.” Yeah it’s a mouthful but now everyone will know without a doubt who owns and runs the blog! We’ve also changed our tagline. It’s now ”Breaking News. Behind the Scenes Stories.” Please let us know what you think of the new names. Any suggestions, comments, criticisms? We’re open to your ideas.

Summer Schedule

Click on the flyer to download it, print it, or save it and send it to a friend!

To help you stay abreast of all of the great activities and events we have planned for this summer we have updated our Programs & Events flyer, ran a radio advertisement to feature our expanded Summer Day Camps, finalized the information for the May 12th Kids Science Bash during the Annual Science Fair Convention (May 5, 8-12th), and opened up registration for our summer Adventure Trips; a field trip to Niagara Falls on June 16th, the five day long Wilderness Canoe Trip at the end of July, and the annual Hocking Hills Rappelling Trip on August 18th.

Front Page Article on AkronNewsOnline.com

AkronNewsOnline.com front page article 4/19/2012

AKRON DINOSAUR MUSEUM: HEAR BANNED RESEARCH

Posted on 19 April 2012 on AkronNewsOnline.com by Peter

Authors of a scientific abstract that has been banned for discussion at meetings of the Geological Society of America are holding two news conferences next week to release their banned research on dinosaur carbon-dating, and a new book, Giants Against Evolution. As they can’t present at the Geological Society of America 46th annual North-Central Section meeting [...] Continue reading

Blind Dating a Dinosaur

Upcoming Lecture: Monday, April 23, 2012

A dinosaur femur being sawed by Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum director Otis Kline of Glendive, Montana

Have you ever wondered how old dinosaur bones are? Come hear two scientist speak at the Akron Fossils & Science Center who have carbon dated dinosuar bones and found significant amounts of undecayed carbon-14 remaining!

Can these bones really be millions of years old?

Giant Salamanders

Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki visits the Japanese Giant Salamander on exhibit at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Asia Trial.

There are only two existing species of Giant Salamanders living today and both of them live in Asia. The Japanese Giant Salamander and the Chinese Giant Salamander. These creatures are massive compared to there relatives and can almost eat anything, but they do have a slow metabolism which lets them go for weeks without any food. They have poor vision but there diet is really is just based on whatever is small it. They tend to eat things from insects, to mice, to even crab. Since they lack good vision they rely on sensory organs to locate their food. Giant Salamanders also lack lungs for breathing, so they use the valerian respiration to supply oxygen for there body. To provide more oxygen, the skin has folds in it for a bigger surface area. A layer of mucus on top of the skin protects against parasites and other things. Giant Salamander habitats are mostly based in fast flowing mountain river beds. Their skin color has different brown colorations to blend in to those muddy river beds.²

Species Spotlight: Spotted Salamander

Spotted Salamander

Habitat: Moist hardwood forests across the eastern United States and Canada. The spotted salamander is a mole salamander and is usually found underground or under logs and rocks.
Diet: Insects, earthworms, slugs, spiders, and other arthropods and annelids.