Explore

How does the heart pump blood?

The heart pumps blood by contracting (squeezing), the way you could squirt water from a water balloon. Over and over, the heart relaxes to let blood flow into its hollow chambers, then squeezes to push the blood out to the body. This action keeps blood moving to carry oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body and to haul away waste.

How does a star blow up?

A hot, bright star blows up when it runs out of fuel. Here's why that happens. The force of gravity is always pulling the matter in the star toward the center. But in that center, small bits of matter called atoms are always fusing together, making bigger atoms and releasing huge amounts of energy. That energy pushes outward and works against the gravity during the star's life. After many millions of years, the star runs out of small atoms. Then it has no more energy to push outward. The star collapses, and when the matter collides in the center, it explodes.

Why don’t clouds and rain form indoors?

To form clouds and rain, water vapor (water that has evaporated into the air) needs both cool temperatures and a surface on which to condense (turn back into a liquid).

As warm, moist air rises outdoors, it carries water vapor high into the atmosphere where there is less air pressure. The air expands, causing it to cool. Its water vapor condenses on atmospheric dust and may form a cloud.

Indoors, warm, moist air can’t rise high because of ceilings. It can cool by meeting up with cold surfaces like windows. But any drops that form on airborne dust don’t get large enough to fall as rain.

How do straws work?

We live at the bottom of an ocean of air that’s held close to Earth by gravity. This layer of air is more than 60 miles deep, and the weight of the air above us is always pushing down on us. We don’t feel the pressure because we have always lived under it, but we can see its effects.

When you drink from a straw, you create a little space of low pressure inside your mouth and in the top of the straw. Then the air outside the straw pushes down on the surface of the drink and forces the liquid up through the straw and into your mouth.

What is ear cartilage?

Cartilage is a tough tissue made almost entirely of a protein called collagen. Most of the tissues in the body have at least a little collagen, which holds things together when its mole-

. PAWS FOR A CAUSE Lodge 142, Houston gives to local animal shelter

Lodge 142, Houston May 21 meeting & bingo social

BINGO ANYONE? The May social was bingo! Come on out next month, and see what our surprise social will be! You never know if you will be a winner so come on out. Just a reminder: the meeting was set for the second Sunday, June 11, due to Father’s Day falling on the usual third Sunday meeting date. —Pat Schleider, FAC

Many generous donations were given by Lodge 142, Houston members to the Paws for a Cause drive at the May 21, 2023, meeting. June will be the last month to be collecting items for our furry friends! Thanks to all for their kind support.

We can’t forget to recognize our great cooks! Thanks to Dorothy

—Pat Schleider, FAC

Lodge 187, Round Rock member receives scholarship

eggs couldn’t be much bigger than a soccer ball. A bigger egg would either crack from its own weight or have a shell so thick that it would stop fresh air from seeping through to the developing baby.

Why do we yawn?

For years, researchers thought a yawn was just a deep breath that took in a rush of oxygen and flushed out carbon dioxide. They dropped that idea after some experiments showed that breathing extra oxygen didn’t reduce yawning, and having extra carbon dioxide didn’t increase it.

. PAWS FOR A CAUSE Lodge 180, Burleson gives to Burleson animal shelter

Congratulations to Raelynn Marie Johnson of Lodge 187, Round Rock for earning an SPJST Scholarship in 2023. She is pictured with Lodge 187, Round Rock President Linda Johnson, who presented the scholarship to Raelynn.

cules link up into long, stretchy fibers. But the structures inside some body parts, such as the ears, nose, and joints, contain cartilage, which is more flexible than bone.

How big were dinosaur eggs?

Dinosaur eggs came in many sizes. The smallest known dinosaur— crow-sized Microraptor (MY-krohRAP-tur) - probably had small eggs. As for big dinosaurs, scientists say

Now researchers have an idea that because yawning is “contagious” (seeing someone yawn can make you yawn, too), it may help a group of people or animals go to sleep or wake up at the same time. Yawning might help wolf pups settle down to rest together or help human families wake up to start the day.

There is more to learn about yawning. For example, do researchers feel sleepy while they’re studying it? ZZzzzzzz.

What are the northern lights?

The northern lights - called the aurora borealis - and the southern lights - aurora australis - appear when tiny particles stream out from the Sun and hit Earth’s atmosphere. The particles give some of their energy to atoms and molecules of gases in the upper atmosphere. But the atoms and molecules cannot hold the energy. They quickly give it off as another

Lodge 202, Jourdanton members celebrate anniversary in june

Lodge 202, Jourdanton members James and Regina House will celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary on June 13, 2023. James serves as president of District Seven and Lodge 202, and Regina is District Seven Director and Lodge 202 Youth Leader. Happy anniversary to you both!

—Valerie Barta Lodge 202 Secretary kind of energy—the colors of light that we call the aurora. These lights occur most often around the North Pole and South Pole because the incoming particles have an electric charge. As the particles arrive, Earth’s magnetic field guides them toward the poles.

On Saturday, May 20, 2023, several members of Lodge 180, Burleson participated in the Paws for a Cause project by visiting the Burleson Animal Shelter in Burleson. Members donated gently used towels, dog and cat food, and other items to be used by the staff and volunteers on the current occupants of the shelter. Members are, left to right, Rhonda Hurtik, Patricia Sill, Robert Sill (guest), Joe Hurtik (in back), staff member with friendly canine, Dylan Bowden, Dena Bowden, and Sandy Almonte. Members toured the facility, and Lodge 180 also made a cash donation to the Burleson Animal Shelter.

Why is soda fizzy once shaken?

Shaking the container makes harmless little particles at the bottom of the

—Robert Sill container mix throughout the soda. Edges and rough spots on those little bits are places where bubbles can form. So the carbon dioxide gas that was dissolved into the soda to give it fizz comes out of the soda fast, as lots of tiny bubbles. https://www.highlightskids.com/explore/science-questions/

Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point members gather for noon luncheon

Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point members, left to right, Melanie Zavodny, Ricki Dixon, Frances McBride, and David Nauert enjoyed a noon lunch together at Bella Blue Cafe in Temple on Monday, May 22, 2023. The next noon luncheon will be Monday, July 10 at Oscar Store.