The effect of Gamma Rays on...

[Sarah Dalton]

Monarchs in Space.... Has anyone else noticed the rainbow effect on the caterpillars in the downloaded photos at the bottom of the first page? Monarch1-Flt_Whole 2009-11-18_22-37-10 really shows it. I know it's just a photographic artifact of light being refracted through the camera lens but it looks pretty funny! Rainbow monarch caterpillars!!!

[TeacherAnn]

When we looked at the photos of the caterpillars, my kindergarten class observed the rainbow effect and cheered. Who knew?! Monarch caterpillars turn rainbow-colored in space! Our caterpillars in space set up are only yellow, white, and black striped

Seriously though, is the rainbow caterpillar effect something to do with the layers of plastic/glass and/or light from the camera or light source...

Is this something that introducing prisms to the kids would help to explain?

Please help!

[Sarah Dalton]

Absolutely! A GREAT opportunity to branch out into "light-bending" - what fun!!! Prisms, fancy glass beads, rainbows, there are plastic light benders out there too (try Edmund Scientific on the Web), and don't forget calcite crystals (from which you can get a "seeing double effect"), then try polarizing lenses*, magnifying glasses, so many ways to go. You sound like a great teacher, looking for a connection into another topic! Keep it up!

*Two polarized lenses with one turned around gives neat effects, then try putting various thicknesses of clear scotch tape on one lens.

Sarah