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For more information on these science news and feature story tips, please contact the public information officer at the end of each item at (703) 292-8070. Editor: Bill Noxon Contents of this News Tip:
HAWAIIAN UNDERSEA VOLCANO TURNS UP THE HEATLoihi, the Hawaiian undersea volcano, turned up the heat again recently, with significant roaring and hissing, although scientists have yet to locate the precise eruption site. Researchers funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) discovered the activity after installing the Hawaiian Undersea Geo-Observatory (HUGO) on the summit of Loihi in October, 1997. The observatory array included a main cable and a junction box, a hydrophone and temperature and pressure sensors, all placed at a depth of some 1,200 meters (or more than 3,600 feet). It became obvious during the deployment that Loihi was very active, according to scientist Fred Dunnebier of the University of Hawaii. "Acoustic transects indicated explosive venting of some sort, and repeated popping sounds suggesting venting of steam at the ocean floor," he said. Continuous real-time monitoring is now in progress, and Loihi again appears to be erupting, based on acoustic signals recorded on the hydrophone. The signals vary in duration, says Dunnebier, from seconds to minutes. "One type of signal begins with a low-frequency roar followed by a high-frequency hiss that lasts for several minutes." As of now, the location of the eruption site is unknown, but is less than a few miles from the HUGO junction box, scientists believe. The research vessel Maurice Ewing is currently in the area. With its help, scientists may be able to locate Loihi's exact eruption site. [Cheryl Dybas] MOST STATES' MATH AND SCIENCE PERFORMANCE IS UPStudents are performing at higher levels in mathematics and are taking more higher-level math and science courses in the majority of 40 states participating in a recent study of U.S. mathematics and science education. The findings come from the State Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education 1997, the fourth in a biennial series on the condition of K-12 science and math education. The report was funded by NSF and prepared by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) with cooperation from the state departments of education and the National Center for Education Statistics. The CCSSO study focused on student achievement, course enrollments, teacher supply, preparation and instructional practices. Other study findings include: between 1990 and 1996, the percentage of all high school students taking three years of high school math is up; in several states, more than 75 percent of students are taking three years of high school math; in several states, a majority of students take three years of high school science. The study also disclosed that nationwide shortages of well-prepared or certified teachers persist. Also, the number of minority teachers of high school math and science has increased only minimally. On a positive note, the percentage of female math and science teachers, is growing and more math teachers are participating in professional development. The entire report can be viewed at: http://www.ccsso.org. [Lee Herring] NEXT TIMSS COMPARISONS LOOK AT 12TH GRADERSThe much-anticipated math and science performance results for U.S. high school seniors in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are scheduled to release on February 24. The data from this third and final age cohort (12th graders) represents the culmination of a three-year study that has tested some 500,000 students in 41 countries, involving some 30 languages. TIMSS data released in 1996 and 1997 covered 8th and 4th graders, respectively. The final TIMSS volume is a three-set series, titled Pursuing Excellence, and compares U.S. secondary school students' performance to their international counterparts. The students were tested on general mathematics and science knowledge, but the report also compares students who have taken advanced mathematics and science courses. TIMSS is the largest and most comprehensive study ever undertaken to compare academic performance in science and math across countries. It is coordinated by the International Association for the Evaluation of Education Achievement and funded by the National Center for Education Statistics and NSF. The full text of this report will be available when released on the world wide web at: http://nces.ed.gov. [Lee Herring]
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