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Nature Study: Why Skunks Are Good For Gardens!

As parents, we often teach our children to avoid certain creatures in the garden, like skunks, due to their pungent odor and reputation for mischief. However, what if I told you that these striped critters are actually unsung heroes in the garden ecosystem?  In this blog, we'll explore why skunks are beneficial for your garden and why they deserve our appreciation. Skunks as Gardeners 1. Natural Pest Control Skunks have a voracious appetite for many garden pests that can wreak havoc on your plants. They are especially fond of insects like beetles, grubs, caterpillars, and even small rodents like mice and voles. By preying on these pests, skunks help keep their populations in check, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides. 2. Soil Aeration Believe it or not, skunks are great gardeners! Their habit of digging for food helps aerate the soil, allowing oxygen and nutrients to penetrate deeper, which promotes healthier plant growth. Additionally, their digging can help expose a
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29 Black Figures in STEM!

Black History Month may be coming to an end but here's to another 300+ days of learning about Black History and Black Contributions.


For your reading/research, history projects and field trip planning. Here are 29 black individuals who have made significant contributions to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) historically:

  


1. Alice Ball - Chemist known for her work on isolating compounds from plants for the treatment of leprosy.







2. Mae Jemison - The first African American woman astronaut. 

3. Neil deGrasse Tyson - Astrophysicist and science communicator.

4. Katherine Johnson - Mathematician whose calculations were critical to NASA's early space missions.

5. Lewis Howard Latimer - Inventor and draftsman who worked with Thomas Edison and helped develop the carbon filament for the electric light bulb. Learn more

6. Gawrrett Morgan - Inventor of the traffic signal and gas mask.


Dr. Charles Richard Drew


7. Charles Richard Drew - Pioneer in blood transfusion research and the development of blood banks.





Dr. Patricia Bath -
Scientist & Inventor


8. Patricia Bath - Ophthalmologist known for inventing the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment.






9. Ernest Everett Just - Biologist known for his work in cell biology and fertilization.

10. Marie M. Daly - Biochemist known for her groundbreaking work on cholesterol and hypertension.

11. Otis Boykin- Electrical engineer and inventor known for his work on resistors used in devices like pacemakers and computers.

12. Shirley Ann Jackson - Physicist and the first African American woman to earn a doctorate from MIT. She also made contributions to telecommunications research.

13. Elijah McCoy - Engineer and inventor known for his automatic lubrication system for steam engines, earning him the nickname "The Real McCoy."

14. David Harold Blackwell- Mathematician known for his contributions to probability theory and game theory.

15. Mark Dean - Computer scientist and engineer who helped develop the IBM PC and color PC monitor.

16. Jessie L. Ternberg - Surgeon and educator known for her work in pediatric surgery and organ transplantation.

17. Percy Lavon Julian - Chemist known for his synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.

18. Lonnie G. Johnson - Inventor known for creating the Super Soaker water gun and for his work in thermodynamics and energy conversion.

19. Gladys West - Mathematician whose work led to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

20. James West - Electrical engineer known for co-inventing the electret microphone used in most modern microphones and telephones.

21. Mary Jackson - Mathematician and aerospace engineer at NASA, portrayed in the movie "Hidden Figures."

22. Percy Julian - Chemist known for his synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.

23. Rebecca Lee Crumpler - The first African American woman to become a physician in the United States.


Interior of Benjamin Banneker Museum in Oella,
Maryland. A drop-leaf table that Banneker used
is in the background. (2017


24. Benjamin Banneker - Mathematician, astronomer, and inventor known for his almanacs and work on surveying and clockmaking.

25. Roger Arliner Young - Zoologist and biologist who conducted pioneering research on cell division.


26. Walter S. McAfee - Mathematician and physicist known for his contributions to radar technology and his work on Project Diana, the first successful attempt to bounce radar signals off the Moon.

27. Roger Arliner Young - Zoologist and biologist known for her research on marine biology, particularly on paramecium and radiation.

28. George R. Carruthers - Physicist and inventor known for his work on ultraviolet astronomy and the development of the ultraviolet camera/spectograph for NASA.

29. Edward Bouchet - Physicist who was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from an American university and the sixth person of any race to earn a Ph.D. in physics in the United States.

These are just some of the individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields and have helped shape the landscape of STEM throughout history. Who else would you add to the list?


*All biographical images obtained  from Wikipedia

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