+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Huffin With Asthma

For Students 9th - 10th
The Why? Files have provided information that supports the role of cleanliness in combating asthma.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Aids Running Amok

For Students 9th - 10th
The Why? Files have provided information discussing the rampant AIDS epidemic. The article explores hopes for a vaccine and improvement in treatment.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Caloric Restriction and Aging

For Students 9th - 10th
The Why Files uncover information pertaining to the link between caloric intake and longevity.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Mice Eat High Fat Diet and Stay Thin

For Students 9th - 10th
A new study has found that by removing a certain gene in mice allows them to stay thin despite diet.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: New American Food Guide Pyramid

For Students 9th - 10th
The science team investigators at the Why Files published this critique of the government-sponsored food pyramid introduced with the intention of helping Americans learn how to eat nutritionally balanced meals in 1992.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Positive Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
A novel idea for converting solar energy to electrical energy. A brief discussion of solar energy collection in space via satellites.
+
Primary
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Batteries Not Included

For Students 9th - 10th
A good online article from The Why? Files about an inventor who is perfecting a fuel cell to operate (what else?) a cell phone. Interesting, with enough technical stuff to give it some body.
+
Article
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Sputnik's Legacy

For Students 9th - 10th
Easy-to-read history of the Soviet satellite launch that began the race for space between the Soviet Union and United States. Click on "next" at the bottom to advance to the next page.
+
Handout
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Bolt on Brain Repairs

For Students 9th - 10th
A general discussion of nervous system stem cells that lead to the neurons that make up the central nervous system. Decent site that is barely tangential to neurons in general.
+
Activity
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Mosquito Bytes

For Students 9th - 10th
A general description of the life cycle of the mosquito. Includes inforation on why they need blood and how they breed.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Spacy Mechanical Masterpiece

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting article describing repairs which were completed on the Hubble telescope in 1993 and 1997. Also contains links to pictures taken by the telescope.
+
Handout
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Things That Go Bump in Space

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains an introduction to x-ray astronomy, describing how x-rays are being used by scientists to learn about the universe. Also contains links to sites describing black holes, dark matter, neutron stars, and how they are investigated...
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Infra Red Eye Special

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the ways in which infra-red is used in astronomy, including an extended example describing how infra-red was used to learn about Pluto's moon, Charon. There are also links to other sites of astronomical interest.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Cosmic Consummation

For Students 9th - 10th
After a dramatic introduction to the "Love affair," between Earth and Theia, this site gives support to the claim that the moon was created by a collision between these two planets. Also contains a brief bibliography.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Time for Nukes?

For Students 9th - 10th
The Why? Files article features the alternative energy source nuclear power and discusses the benefits and hazards of nuclear power plants. Also contains additional links for further study.
+
Handout
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Got Bacterial Genes?

For Students 9th - 10th
Weird Why? Files article (posted May 17, 2001) unravels the notion that bacteria that once infected our ancestors stuck their genes into our chromosomes.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Of Mice and Men: Positive Signs for Cancer Treatment

For Students 9th - 10th
Why Files article dated May 29, 1998 highlights a possible cancer cure that finally might be at hand for mice and hopefully for people.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Dealing With Diabetes

For Students 9th - 10th
The Why? Files article provides information about diabetes and what it does to the body as well as highlights some scientific strides that have been made to find a cure.
+
Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Do Elephants Run?

For Students 9th - 10th
The Why? Files article posted on April 17, 2003 explores the puzzling riddle into whether or not elephants can really run.