The final question for the current year is answered below.  We'll pick up with the questions again in early September.   We hope you have a good summer! 

Answer:  Come back in September for more Science Questions of the Week!

Science Question of the week brought to you by Jim Foster of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center


Science Questions and Answers from past weeks:   (click on underlined text to call up the answers)

1. At this time of year, even though most all areas in the Northern Hemisphere are now experiencing more daylight each and every day, in some areas, the Sun is not setting any later. Where are these areas located? (24 May 2001)

2. Which constellation is now most conspicuous to star gazers in the Northern Hemisphere? Hint - it's observable throughout the year, but it's easier to see now. (17 May 2001) 

3. In late April, a dust veil was visible on satellite data over the Middle Atlantic region. What was the source area for this dust? (10 May 2001)

4. So far this spring, fortunately, there have been relatively few tornadoes. Why? (03 May 2001)

5. The Mississippi River is flooding in its upper reaches. How is the current flooding different than that which occurred during the terrible floods of 1993? (26 April 2001)

6. What can you tell about your location on the globe and the time of the year by observing the crescent moon? (19 April 2001)

7. Last week, Ecuador upset Brazil in soccer. Name an earth science-related phenomena that likely contributed to the upset? (12 April 2001)

8. How do astronauts survive travel through the potentially lethal Van Allen Radiation Belts? (05 April 2001)

9. Let's stay in Africa but move north to Chad. What has been happening to Lake Chad in recent years and why? (29 March 2001)

10. Not only is the political environment a mess in the Congo, but the physical environment is uneasy as well. What's one important current concern? (22 March 2001)

11. Maybe some of you are lucky enough to be taking a vacation or are going on Spring Break to a tropical isle. You may get rained on, and in some places it may rain some each day. However, why is rain less likely to spoil your vacation on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, for example, than at a resort on the mainland? (15 March 2001)

12. The Mir space station is scheduled to be brought back to Earth in about 10 days or so. Where will Mir fall, and why was this area chosen? (08 March 2001)

13. Of the world's 15 largest cities (having more than 10 million people each), 4 are located within 1,500 miles of each other. In what region of the world are they located, and how is this region able to support so many people?  (01 March 01, 2001)

14. This is a great month for viewing Venus. By next Wednesday (February 21), it'll be about as bright as it ever gets when viewed from Earth. Will it be possible then to detect your shadow from the light cast by Venus?  (22 February 2001)

15. Has the minimum daily temperature, for any day of the year, ever failed to reach zero degree F somewhere on the Earth's surface? How about if Antarctica is not included? (15 February 2001)

16. In recent weeks, parts of both El Salvador and India have been ravaged by earthquakes. What are some of the similarities and differences between the quakes that rocked these two countries? (08 February 2001)

17. We all know it's dangerous to look directly at the Sun. How far away would we need to be in order to look at the Sun without causing damage to our eyes; on Mars, on one of Jupiter's moons, on one of Saturn's moons, on Pluto?  (01 February 2001)

18. The inauguration of our 43rd president happens this Saturday, the 20th of January. How many times since George Washington's inauguration has the oath of office been forced indoors due to inclement weather (for which presidents) ?  (25 January 2001)

19. Last winter (1999-2000) was one of the warmest in the US in the last 200 years. In contrast, this past November and December were the coldest nationwide since 1895. How could such tremendous temperature changes occur in just one year? (18 January 2001)

20. The Mexican volcano, Popocatepetl, erupted in mid-December more forcefully than perhaps any time in the last 1,000 years.  Fortunately, thus far there have been few casualties. What makes "Popo" so dangerous? (11 January 2001)

21. The source of the Amazon River was just recently discovered. Why did it take so long?  (04 January 2001)

22. There will be a partial solar eclipse over much of the US on Christmas Day. When was the last time a solar eclipse (either partial or total) occurred on Christmas Day in the US?  (21 December 2000)
    
    A. within the last 10 years
    B. within the last 50 years
    C. within the last 100 years
    D. within the last 500 years
    E. within the last 1000 years

23. For this week's question, we'll move from Europa to Eurasia. Central Asia has been rocked by several powerful quakes in recent days, including a 7.2 magnitude shaker that hit near the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan on December 6. In the year 2000, where on Earth have the greatest number of major (7.0 or greater magnitude) earthquakes occurred, and what was different about the quake on December 6?  (14 December 2000)

24. Other than on our old planet, where else in our solar system is it likely that liquid water may be found? (07 December 2000)

25. While the water level in the Great Lakes has dropped the past few years, the level of Devils Lake, in North Dakota, has risen dramatically. Why? (30 November 2000)

26. How likely is it that the Earth will be hit by an asteroid in the next hundred years; it will very likely happen, there's a 50/50 chance we'll be hit, it's very unlikely that it will happen?  (17 November 2000)

27. Where on our planet do the greatest temperature gradients exist - over a distance of less than a meter? (09 November 2000)

28. The weather across much of eastern and mid-western states this summer and fall has been to the liking of most of us - cool in the summer and sunny and dry so far this fall. How was the weather in terms of crop production, and has it been a good year for farmers? (02 November 2000)

29. We have another week before we have to set the clocks back an hour as we leave daylight savings time and go back to standard time. When we cross one time zone and move into another, normally, one hour is gained or lost. However, in some time zones, only 1/2 hour is gained or lost. Why is this the case? (27 October 2000)

30. Which of the following is true?
    A. Not including Antarctica, Australia is the snowiest place in the Southern
    Hemisphere.
    B. It snowed in Brazil this past July.
    C. It snowed in South Africa this past February (19 October 2000)

31. Has a hurricane ever hit South America? (12 October 2000)

32. Let's stay in the Southern Hemisphere a bit longer. The night sky looks different "down under" than it does in the states. Are there more bright stars and interesting visible deep sky objects as seen from the the Northern or Southern Hemisphere? (05 October 2000)

33. The Olympics begin this Friday (September 15) in Sydney, Australia. Have the summer games ever been held closer to the equator than Sydney? (21 September 2000)

34. There has been some confusion recently as to whether or not the Arctic sea ice melting. Is the ice in the Arctic Ocean melting, and was there really ice free waters near the North Pole this summer?  (14 September 2000)

35. This natural disaster was the worst in U.S. history in terms of lives lost.   It occurred 100 years ago this Friday (September 8, 1900). What was it, and where did it occur? (07 September 2000)

Previous Years Questions:
[1995] [1996]    [1997]    [1998]   [1999] 

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Last Revised:  24 May 2000