Ocean Ecosystem for Kids

Print this articleRelated Searches:Eighty percent of life in the planet happens in the ocean.Five oceans make up 71 percent of the earth’s surface, and they teem with life. National Geographic reports that 80 percent of life on earth resides in the ocean. The plant and animal ocean dwellers are diverse, with coral growing in tropical temperatures and seals feeding in the Antarctic Southern Ocean.

What Happens When I Max Out the Education Savings Account?

Print this articleRelated Searches:With the rising cost of education, parents will need a larger piggybank.Parents with children born in 2010 will be facing four-year college average projected tuition costs of $95,000 for in-state public universities and nearly $341,000 for private colleges by the year 2028,

Does Yeast Affect the Decomposition of Apples and Bananas?

Print this articleRelated Searches:Apples and bananas are often used in school science experiments about decomposition.

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Decomposition is one of nature's dominant forces. Everything decomposes naturally, through bacteria, fungi, insects and other forces, including temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. During decomposition, which is nature's recycling process, decomposing organisms are converted to fuel and fertilizer, benefiting the environment. The decomposition process can be delayed, or increased, by adding or subtracting certain elements, including yeast, which acts as a catalyst in the decomposition process.


Yeast

Yeast is a simple, one-celled organism, that is a member of the fungus family. Although there are more than 1,000 different types of yeast, the most widely used is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, common in baking and alcohol fermentation. Often used to break down sugars into carbon dioxide, yeast is a mover and shaker in the decomposition process because it is a catalyst, speeding decomposition's chemical reactions.
Apple and Banana Decomposition
Apples and bananas decompose at different rates. Normally, when yeast is added, fruits with higher sugar contents decompose faster. Apples have 32 grams of sugar, versus a banana's 17 grams. However, bananas decompose faster because apples are slightly acidic, with the acid slowing the decomposition rate.

The Experiment

A school science experiment can test yeast's effect on apples, bananas or different fruit juices. The experiment places apple and banana slices into separate plastic bags, some containing 1/2 teaspoon of dry yeast and others without. The bags are then sealed, labelled and allowed to sit. Some experiments vary temperature, placing bags in the refrigerator, outside or on a counter. Results are usually obtained within four days, and the apples and bananas with yeast added decomposed quicker than those without. Similarly, those in warmer locations decomposed faster than those placed in cooler settings, as temperature affects yeast's productivity.

The Results

The apples and bananas with yeast added decompose faster, because yeast feeds on them. According to "The Yeast Beast," by Liane D'Allesandro of Haverford College, "The reason that the banana with yeast decomposes (ripens) much more quickly than the control banana is that yeast is an organism classified in the fungi group. Since this group of organisms does not contain chlorophyll, as green plants do, they cannot make their own food. Therefore, they rely on other sources for their food." As yeast feeds on the sugars contained within the fruit, the yeast causes fermentation, converting sugar into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

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How to Germinate Mushrooms

There are 3,000 edible mushroom species. They are low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals such as selenium, niacin, potassium and riboflavin. Some 700 of these species have medical benefits. Many people grow their own mushrooms at home. Germinating mushrooms from spores is difficult. For this reason, they are usually grown from mycelium spawn, which is made up of mushroom roots and nutrients. However, spore germination is still used to find the best strains of mushroom to grow from spawn.

How to Have a Pond Without the Mosquitoes

Mosquito larvae need standing water to mature.A pond can be a peaceful and attractive addition to your back yard landscape but not if it's home to a horde of hungry mosquitoes. While it can be difficult to eliminate these blood-suckers from your outdoor life completely, you can reduce their numbers significantly with a bit of planning. And if you don't mind engaging in a little manipulation of Mother Nature, you can have your pond and avoid the insects, too.

How to Leach Soil of Salt Buildup

Print this articleRelated Searches:Salt buildup in your soil may be caused by poor drainage.All soil contains salt, but it is usually in a low level. Too much salt in the soil can be dangerous to plant growth, resulting in effects from poorly developed leaves and blossoms to plant death. Too much fertilizing or watering in poorly draining soils can cause the buildup of saline in the soil. This may create a white crust on the topsoil. Properly modifying the soil by removing salt from the plant root area will help your plants grow again.

Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedShovel1

Remove a sample of soil from the garden and send the sample to your local university extension service for salinity testing. The soil salinity test will tell you the amount of salt in your soil and how much water is necessary to leach the salt from the soil.

2

Till the soil to increase drainage and relieve compaction.

3

Apply a soil amendment such as compost to the soil as recommended by your local university extension service.

4

Add 10 to 12 inches of water to the soil, or the recommended amount from the soil test, to dissolve the salt.

5

Test the soil several months later to a depth of 4 feet. Apply water again to disperse the salt if necessary.

ReferencesColorado State University Extension; Managing Saline Soil; G.E. Cardon et al.; May 2007Government of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development; High Salt Content in Garden SoilTexas A & M University; Managing Soil Salinity; Tony Provin et al.; July 2001Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images;Read Next:

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How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants in a Fridge

Print this articleRelated Searches:Get rid of sugar ants in the fridge with a few simple steps.Having ants in your fridge can ruin many meals. Sugar ants can take over a kitchen and refrigerator quickly and can be difficult to remove once established. Although sugar ants don't bite or sting, having them in your food can raise health concerns and at best is just unpleasant. Get sugar ants out of your refrigerator and enjoy your food again.

Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedBroomMop and pailSoap for cleaningAirtight containers for foodBorax1Clean your house to get rid of sugar ants in the fridge.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Keep your house, especially your kitchen, clean to deter sugar ants. The best way to get rid of sugar ants is to make your home as unattractive to them as possible. Wipe all counters down and mop the floors. Clean up any old, stuck-on food that may be on tables or the bottom of chairs. Sugar ants flock to food stains on clothing, so keep your laundry caught up as well. Don't forget to wash out all of your trash cans.

2

Clean your refrigerator thoroughly from top to bottom. Wipe down all surfaces in the refrigerator. Take out crisper drawers and wash them with soap and warm water. Wipe out the inside of the butter cooler and egg holders if your refrigerator has them. Use a butter knife to scrape up old, dried-up food or spills if necessary. Defrost your freezer if needed and clean all surfaces. Wipe down the outside of your refrigerator. When you are finished, the refrigerator should be spotless inside and out. Wipe any cabinets where you store nonrefrigerated foods and make sure they are crumb-free.

3

Store all refrigerated food in airtight containers, especially sweets; if possible avoid storing sweets at all until the infestation is gone. Close all jars, cartons and bottles tightly. Wipe down the outsides of jars and bottles to remove any of the food product that might have spilled or dripped out. Also store nonrefrigerated foods that have been opened in airtight containers to avoid attracting sugar ants to other places in your kitchen..

4

Clean up spills immediately. Wiping up spills is especially important in the fridge if you want to get rid of sugar ants. However, don't neglect spills in any part of the kitchen or pantry.

5

Use borax to get rid of sugar ants in your refrigerator. Mix one tablespoon of borax with some water in a small container. Make sure the container is clearly labeled so no one will accidentally drink it -- this mixture is toxic and should be used with caution. Place the container by the refrigerator in the place the sugar ants use most to enter the fridge. This method has the best chance of killing the queen sugar ant, which will stop the infestation.

Tips & Warnings

Use only slow-acting baits, such as borax. Fast-acting baits will make sugar-ant infestations worse instead of better -- the ants will breed more in response.

ReferencesOrkin: Sugar AntsHousehold Pests: How to Get Rid of Sugar AntsPhoto Credit PhotoObjects.net/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images;Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images;Read Next:

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