ChemQuest Official Newsletter: Week of 02/17/2025
Happy Sunday! On this fantastic long weekend, let’s head on a journey to explore incredible scientific discoveries both here on Earth 🌍 and out in the cosmos 🌌! After that, we’ll dive into exciting coding competitions and programs to help budding scientists unlock the world of programming and computer science 💻✨.
"Coding is today's language of creativity. All our children deserve a chance to become creators instead of just consumers." – Maria Klawe
STEM News 📰
Bringing the Tasmanian Tiger Back to Life
A well-preserved thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) head, stored in ethanol for over a century, is helping scientists unlock the extinct species’ genetic code. Here’s how this discovery is shaping de-extinction efforts:
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Genetic Breakthrough: Researchers extracted long RNA molecules, providing insights into the thylacine’s sense of smell, vision, taste, and brain function—the first time such data has been recovered from an extinct animal.
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De-Extinction Efforts: Colossal Biosciences, a company working on woolly mammoth and dodo revival, is using gene editing and marsupial stem cells to create a thylacine-like species.
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Scientific Challenges: While researchers aim to bring back a thylacine-like organism within 3–5 years, challenges remain in replicating behavioral traits and ecological adaptation.
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Conservation Impact: The project’s advancements in artificial reproductive technology for marsupials could aid the conservation of endangered species.
This discovery brings science one step closer to reviving a lost species, raising both excitement and ethical questions about de-extinction!
Coding Competitions & Tech Opportunities 💻
Scratch Olympiad
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Description: A global coding competition where students use Scratch to create animations, games, and interactive projects. The competition challenges creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
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Age Range: 7–17 years old
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Dates: Typically held annually, with registration opening in early spring and final submissions due by summer.
CodeMonkey Challenges
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Description: A series of beginner-friendly coding challenges designed for young learners to develop programming skills using block-based coding and CoffeeScript. Challenges often involve problem-solving through fun, game-based learning.
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Age Range: 6–14 years old
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Dates: Varies by challenge; seasonal competitions are often hosted throughout the year.
eCYBERMISSION
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Description: A virtual STEM competition where students identify real-world problems in their communities and use scientific methods or engineering solutions to address them.
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Age Range: 6th–9th grade (11–15 years old)
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Dates: Registration runs from fall to early winter, with projects due in the spring.
CS First by Google
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Description: A free program that offers coding lessons and activities using Scratch. Students can explore topics like storytelling, game design, and animation while learning foundational coding skills.
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Age Range: 9–14 years old (recommended for grades 4–8)
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Dates: Available year-round as a self-paced program with periodic live events and coding challenges.
Tynker Coding Contests
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Description: Seasonal competitions that encourage kids to create coding projects using Tynker’s block-based and Python programming platforms. Contest themes vary, including game design, storytelling, and interactive animations.
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Age Range: 7–14 years old
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Dates: Held multiple times per year, with special challenges around major holidays and STEM awareness events.
