Claire J.

Week of September 18th

This week I worked on my Inquirer pitch. I developed an idea which is: the physics of cats and found a source on it: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-025-00824-6.

This is what I wrote for my pitch:

I want to write my inquiry article on the physics of cats. I would like to determine whether cats defy the laws of physics, whether they can be considered a liquid and why, and how they use their bodies differently than we do. This topic is important because learning how and why things happen in the world can help us make connections and discover new things that we haven’t considered before. In my opinion, as a human, cats are very interesting animals, both psychologically and physically. I will get my information from both second-hand and firsthand sources. Since I own two cats, I can observe them, conduct safe experiments, and analyze how they act and move. I will also use information and data already available online to further my research. I think I am the right person to write this article because I have a lot of experience with cats. Throughout my lifetime, I have owned about 15 cats, so I am very familiar with their behavior. I also really enjoy physics because, to me, it is one of the most important subjects to learn when trying to understand how the world works.

Week of September 4th

This week I looked at the store to see all the different frogs:

I also found some new links/research stuff:

Dendrobates auratus

• https://exo-terra.com/explore/care-guides/frogs-toads/dendrobates-auratus/

• https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dendrobates_auratus/

• https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-crime/responsible-pet-guide/assessed-exotic-species/green-and-black-poison-dart-frog/

Dendrobates tinctorius

• https://exo-terra.com/explore/care-guides/frogs-toads/dendrobates-tinctorius/

• https://www.zoonewengland.org/stone-zoo/animals/reptiles-amphibians/dyeing-poison-dart-frog/

• https://www.neherpetoculture.com/tinctoriuscaresheet

Week of August 28th

This week I worked on finding what I was going to do for my project. Phoebe and I decided that we wanted to do something relating to animals. At first, we wanted to work on bunnies or hamsters and test on them humanely; after talking with Megan, we realized that wasn’t an option, so we decided to work on frogs instead. We researched them and found that the best frogs for us would be Poison Dart Frogs, either Dendrobates auratus or Dendrobates tinctorius; we still haven't decided. This is what we have researched so far:

Poison dart frogs

Amount: idk yet 

Food: Ants

Breeding conditions:

Habitat:

Dendrobates auratus vs Dendrobates tinctorius  

Dendrobates auratus 

• Smaller - around 1-1.6 inches

• Peaceful and can easily be kept in groups or trios

• More agile and semi-arboreal.

• Skittish, reclusive, or shy 

Pros for auratus 

• Peaceful and can easily be kept in groups or trios

• prettier(for the most part)

Cons for auratus 

• Skittish, reclusive, or shy 

• May eat the eggs

• Smaller and could escape more easily

We still need to find out what we are going to use the frogs for

First Week/Couple of Days of WISRD

This week I have not decided what I want to do yet. I have learned about other people’s projects and have somewhat of an idea of what I would want to do, maybe. I would like to do something with animals, and I realized that we can work with people outside our Block, so I will probably work with Phoebe. I can’t wait to start this journey. I think it will be very fun and exciting!