Virtual science

Science World, May 12, 2008 by Andrew Klein

A new computer program has hopped its way into classrooms across the country. The program, called V-Frog, gives a virtual simulation of frog anatomy. Students can learn a lot about the internal structure of their own bodies by dissecting the digital animals.

To dissect V-Frog, students use their computer's mouse to manipulate a virtual scalpel, so they can simulate cutting through the frog's skin, and exposing realistic muscles, bones, and organs. The designers, from Tactus Technologies, in New York, observed photos and videos of real frogs to help them construct the most realistic computer model yet.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Unlike real frogs that have been dissected, the computer-frog's organs still work. Students can see magnified 3-D views of how blood pumps through the heart and even follow the pathway of food digestion.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2008 CONTROLLED FLOODING OF
THE GRAND CANYON

For several days, beginning on March 4th, officials
unleashed a surge of water through the Grand
Canyon. About how many times the normal amount
of water flowed into the canyon during the flood?

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]