Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Section 1: Preserved Evidence of Past Life.

1. What Fossils Have to Say: Fossil secrets.

2. Long-Ago Life Forms Multicellular organisms.

3. Footprints from the Past: Fossil imprints.

4. Early Wings: Bird-dinosaur–link mystery.

5. Two Steps Ahead of the Rest: New lizard discovery.

6. Dinosaur-Snacking Crocodile: Super Croc.

7. Awesome Dinosaur: The Apatosaurus.

8. Even More Dinosaurs: Two massive ancient reptiles.

9. Mast from the Past: Protecting fossil bones.

10. North American Mammal Mystery: Disappearing mammals.

11. Fossils on Hold: Fossils alive and well.

12. Let’s Ban Man: Human causes of extinction.

Challenge Activities (10 items).

Section 2: Early Human Life on Earth.

13. New Face from an Old Skull: Oldest human ancestor(?).

14. Who Ate My Kangaroo? Early human appetites.

15. Early Artists Show Their Skill: Art from the start.

16. Egyptian Cave Art: Real or fake?

17. Early Man Appears: Iceman and Kennewick Man.

18. Keeping the Past Alive: Ancient ruins’ preservation.

Challenge Activities (7 items).

Section 3: Getting to Know the Lithosphere.

19. Leaving the Lava Behind 1: Mayon volcano (Philippines).

20. Leaving the Lava Behind 2: Mt. Nyiragongo (Rwanda).

21. Volcano Secrets: Volcanics (Baja California).

22. Earthquakes 1: Earthquake news.

23. Earthquakes 2: More earthquake data.

24. Nature’s Quake Predictors: Geyser mystery.

25. Glacier Alert 1: All about glaciers.

26. Glacier Alert 2: More glacier information.

27. Inner Space Travel: From erosion to caves.

28. Mapping in Outer and Inner Space: Mapping techniques.

29. Global Positioning System: Satellite Navigation Network.

Challenge Activities (11 items).

Section 4: Listening to the Environment.

30. Chromium 6 on Trial: A most harmful chemical.

31. Mercury Menace: Mercury poisoning.

32. Global Warming Warning 1: Global warming trends.

33. Global Warming Warning 2: Global warming trends.

34. Ocean Currents and Weather: El Niño/La Niña.

35. Pollution Problem: Air pollution.

36. Pollution Solution: Technology advancements.

37. Forever Organisms: Preventing extinction.

Challenge Activities (9 items).

Section 5: Ocean Features and Related Creatures.

38. Save the Coral: Coral reef restoration.

39. Lost City Found: Hydrothermal vents.

40. Island Under Water: Submerged island.

41. Don’t Go Near the Water: Beach pollution.

42. Fate of the Fish: Pollution/Overfishing.

43. Microbes from Across the Sea: Ballast water microbes.

44. Cormorants Under Siege: A fisheries pest.

45. The No-Wimp Shrimp: Mantis shrimp.

46. Jellyfish on the Rocks: Fossilized jellyfish.

47. Anemone by the Sea: Sea anemone.

48. Squid Freak from Down Deep: New discovery.

49. Stingless Stingrays: De-barbing stingrays.

50. Plight of the Sturgeon: Sturgeon problem.

51. Predator Challenge: Predator cautions.

52. The Sea Otter’s Dilemma: Endangered species.

53. Sea Lions Take Charge: Nuisance at sea.

54. A Whale of a Tale: Ancient swimmers.

Challenge Activities (11 items).

Section 6: What’s Happening in Space?

55. Taking on the Universe: Examining the universe.

56. New Planets in Town: Recent finds.

57. Mars: A Watery World? Search for water.

58. Asteroid Probes Coming Up: Asteroid data.

59. Eros: Space Mountain Asteroid: Asteroid study.

60. Paranoid Rhymes with Asteroid: Asteroid fears.

61. Twenty-Two and Counting: Saturn surprise.

62. The Moons of Jupiter: Recent discoveries.

63. Meteor Trails and Comet Tales: Meteors/Comets.

64. Meteorite Mysteries: Meteorite information.

65. From Stars to Galaxies: Star data.

66. Telescopes and Beyond: MAXIM/SOFIA.

Challenge Activities (12 items).

Section 7: Life on Land and Water.

67. As the Worm Turns: Worm discoveries.

68. It’s All About Ants: Ant stories.

69. Insects Two: Grasshopper/Cricket.

70. Where Have All the Froggies Gone? 1: Vanishing amphibians.

71. Where Have All the Froggies Gone? 2: Vanishing amphibians.

72. The California Condor Comeback 1: Condor rescue.

73. The California Condor Comeback 2: Condor rescue.

74. Rodent Roundup 1: Mostly rats.

75. Rodent Roundup 2: Meet meadow mouse.

76. The Smallest of Critters: Mouse lemurs.

Challenge Activities (10 items).

Section 8: What’s Up in Genetic Science?

77. Genetic Review: Genetic terms.

78. From One Gene to Another 1: A look at genes.

79. From One Gene to Another 2: A look at genes.

80. Designer Catfish: “Customized” catfish.

81. Biotech Foods: Genetically modified organisms.

82. Human Stem Cells: Stem cell concerns.

83. Human Genome: A chromosome gathering.

84. What About Cloning? Cloning issues.

Challenge Activities (8 items).

Section 9: Timely Real-Life Topics of Concern.

85. Environmental Pollution 1: Student comments.

86. Environmental Pollution 2: Student comments.

87. The Decreasing Fish Population: Student comments.

88. Whale Concerns 1: Student comments.

89. Whale Concerns 2: Student comments.

90. Dealing with Dolphins: Student comments.

91. The Cold Facts About Cryonics: Student comments.

Riddles for the Asking.

Answer Key.

Riddles Answer Key.