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Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Robbi Rodriguez and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
We’re now halfway through Nightwing’s visit to Gotham and the Fear State arc in Nightwing #85, and while Nightwing was a prominent figure in this issue, it was actually Batgirl who was the point of reference.
In search of an ultra-hacker named Seer who has taken over all of Oracle’s systems, it’s actually Batgirl who we follow internally. It’s her narration we read instead of Nightwing’s. I found that to be an interesting choice.
This is the second issue where Taylor does something that grabs my attention in a crossover story. I think he gets that it’s hard for the reader sometimes to have to navigate these stories, especially when they’re sandwiched between other narratives, but he really does a good job at making them feel fresh, and he really keeps us engaged.
The action in Nightwing #85 does a good job of that as well. We get smoke bombs, Magistrate punches to the face and the gut, and an incredible fear toxin sequence that you know can’t really be happening, but you still can’t believe what you’re seeing. Shoutout to Rodriguez for creating a really captivating moment.
Due to the Magistrate taking over the security of Gotham, the city’s bright lights have been turned all the way up. It’s so weird seeing Gotham like this. We’ve seen it during the day despite its staple being the dark red and dingy skies, but now it’s bright at night. It feels so off. It’s like the unsettling feeling you get with the bright white hospital lights. Whenever these guys defeat the Magistrate, that light bill is gonna be crazy.
I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I’m looking forward to how this crossover ends. Seer is an interesting villain, and I’ll honestly read anything Taylor writes. So, I’ll see you next month to talk about the conclusion.
9 Fear Toxin Nightmares out of 10
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The post Nightwing #85 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Robbi Rodriguez and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
We’re now halfway through Nightwing’s visit to Gotham and the Fear State arc in Nightwing #85, and while Nightwing was a prominent figure in this issue, it was actually Batgirl who was the point of reference.
In search of an ultra-hacker named Seer who has taken over all of Oracle’s systems, it’s actually Batgirl who we follow internally. It’s her narration we read instead of Nightwing’s. I found that to be an interesting choice.
This is the second issue where Taylor does something that grabs my attention in a crossover story. I think he gets that it’s hard for the reader sometimes to have to navigate these stories, especially when they’re sandwiched between other narratives, but he really does a good job at making them feel fresh, and he really keeps us engaged.
The action in Nightwing #85 does a good job of that as well. We get smoke bombs, Magistrate punches to the face and the gut, and an incredible fear toxin sequence that you know can’t really be happening, but you still can’t believe what you’re seeing. Shoutout to Rodriguez for creating a really captivating moment.
Due to the Magistrate taking over the security of Gotham, the city’s bright lights have been turned all the way up. It’s so weird seeing Gotham like this. We’ve seen it during the day despite its staple being the dark red and dingy skies, but now it’s bright at night. It feels so off. It’s like the unsettling feeling you get with the bright white hospital lights. Whenever these guys defeat the Magistrate, that light bill is gonna be crazy.
I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I’m looking forward to how this crossover ends. Seer is an interesting villain, and I’ll honestly read anything Taylor writes. So, I’ll see you next month to talk about the conclusion.
9 Fear Toxin Nightmares out of 10
Enjoying Nightwing #85? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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The post Nightwing #85 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Skottie Young / Artist: Jorge Corona / Image
Since it’s been a while since we’ve talked about The Me You Love in the Dark, let’s just do a quick recap of the first and second issue. Ro had moved out to a clearly haunted house in the middle of nowhere in an attempt to reset her vibe and get back to being an artist (as many creative types have always dreamed of doing). But the entity that is clearly haunting this house is something much more eldritch than your typical ghost, although it does seem to be a good conversationalist if nothing else.
The Me You Love in the Dark #3 continues the story and Ro and the entity that resides in the house have become close (which as the issue progresses becomes more and more of an massive understatement). Skottie Young takes the middle issue to flesh out the intimate relationship between the two principle characters, and it’s a subtle pivot from what I was expecting, but one that certainly makes for a more interesting narrative.
There is a certain type of fascination watching Ro and the Entity interact so intimately, further compiled by the haunting artwork that Jorge Corona supplies to the story. The playfulness of the shadows in this wonderful set piece of an old house, the glimpses into the entity’s true visage, the way that time passes, and how the existential stress about creativity somehow manages to manifest in a very physical way. This is a visually engrossing book that captivates you as you progress through the pages, and even though by all accords, there are very evident horror aesthetics and elements in play, there is also an odd sort of kindness and care that emanates through the page.
Young and Corona skillfully tinker with the tropes of haunted houses and creative endeavors beautifully and as a midpoint issue of the five-issue series, I am fully vested in seeing how all of this plays out. Ro and the not-ghost that inhabit her house have an weirdly undeniable chemistry, as equally undeniable by the fact that the not-ghost has not shown their full hand of cards just yet. It’s a fascinating read that I’m excited to see conclude over the next two issues.
9.0 “Encounters” out of 10
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The post The Me You Love in the Dark #3 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Science is for everyone, young and old, but what is science for kids? Read on to discover the answer!
Every kid starts out a scientist. Intensely curious about the world around them, kids learn to experiment before they learn how to walk. Like any interest though, kids’ interest in science has to be fed and encouraged. What are some ways that we can encourage our kids’ interest in science? What are some things we can do together with them to light the fire of curiosity? We put together a list of science books, toys, and activities, categorized by age and scientific discipline, that might help you and your kids continue down the path of scientific inquiry. As always, these categories are guidelines—there’s nothing stopping you from using a resource listed under middle school with your elementary school aged kids.
This page is only a doorway into the much wider world of introducing your kids to science. For more resources, check out Best Science Books for Kids by Age, Best Science Toys for Kids by Age, and Best Science Experiment Kits for Kids by Age!
Physical Sciences (for example, Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics) 
Elementary School
The Stars: A New Way to See Them
How many astronomers got their start with Curious George creator H.A. Rey’s terrific guide to the constellations? Rey’s draftsmanship was so impeccable that his diagrams of the constellations have been reused in other books.
Middle School
Laser Chess
It’s chess! With lasers! Arrange your laser, mirrors and other pieces on the board and take aim at your opponent’s pieces. When you strike your opponent’s un-mirrored piece with your laser, they have to remove it. There’s a lot of geometry involved in crushing your opponents, seeing them driven before you, and hearing their lamentations.
High School
“Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!”: Adventures of a Curious Character
Richard Feynman is a nerd’s nerd. One of the greatest physicists of all time, this book is a great introduction to thinking, learning, and questioning authority like a scientist.
Life Sciences (for example, Agronomy, Biology, Medicine) 
Elementary School
First Animal Encyclopedia (DK First Reference)
Every kid should have a book about animals, and this colorful book fits the bill perfectly. It’s part of the excellent DK First Reference series, which has several other science titles for elementary school students.
Human Body Activity Book for Kids: Hands-On Fun for Grades K-3
Help your kids learn about their innards with crosswords, mazes, and dot-to-dots! This engaging book presents facts about the human body, which, fair warning, you may start hearing about from your kids at strange times.
Nature Bound Bug Catcher Critter Barn
Every naturalist starts by playing “What’s Under That Rock?” This critter barn is a sturdy, ventilated container for whatever bugs, worms, frogs, or other critters that are living under that rock. It has a ruler on the side for scale, and has its own light for your kids to examine their finds more closely.
Middle School
Dissect-It Simulated Synthetic Lab
This is a simulated salamander made out of a gelatin-like substance that kids can dissect. It has a full simulated skeletal and muscular system and comes with tools to dissect it with. It also has two gel refill packets so that your kids can dissect it again. Seriously, what self-respecting middle school kid is going to resist this?
High School
The Human Body Coloring Book: The Ultimate Anatomy Study Guide
High school is stressful for anyone, but for people of a certain frame of mind, meticulously coloring in the different systems of the body is a good way to chill. This is a high level coloring book—medical students and personal trainers use it to educate themselves about the bodies that they’ll one day heal.
Engineering (for example, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering) 
Elementary School
GoldieBlox: Arts and Crafts
GoldieBlox is a series of activity kits, books, and toys that use a STEAM plus fun formula to engage with kids and cultivate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. There are lots of different kits to build, including a “cloud dream lamp” and a working zoetrope.
Middle School
4M KidzRobotix Kits
I, for one, am ready to accept our robotic overlords, so why not help your kids get a head start on building a legion of unfeeling robot henchmen with these budget-friendly kits? They’ll also pick up some basic mechanical principles making things like the dragon robot, the doodling robot, or, my favorite, the tin can robot.
High School
Sphero RVR: All-Terrain Programmable Coding Robot
This highly programmable, highly customizable robot is packed with sensors and ready for some serious hacking. It can zip around on all-terrain rubber treads, and makes a great platform for mechanical arms and cameras.
Math 
Elementary School
You Can Count on Monsters
This book is a friendly introduction to prime numbers and factoring. The first one hundred numbers are drawn as monsters, and following the monsters’ adventures tees readers up to learn about multiplication. This book is a great way to show kids that math is fun, and that there’s always more to learn!
Middle School
Hidden Figures Young Readers’ Edition
Hidden Figures is about a group of African-American mathematicians who worked at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory during the 1950s and 60s, performing the calculations necessary to send people to space. These women worked hard at their mathematics in the face of systems that didn’t value their knowledge or hard work. If your middle school aged kids are strong readers, you can send them straight to the adult version of Hidden Figures. There’s also a picture book edition for younger people illustrated by Laura Freeman, and an excellent movie.
High School
The Cartoon Introduction to Calculus
Cartoonist Grady Klein and Yoram Bauman, Ph.D., the world’s first and only stand-up economist (yes, really), team up to explain key concepts in calculus, as well as show how calculus is related to the rest of math, physics, and economics. It’s a great book for high school aged kids who are wondering what the point of calculus is. This book is funny and approachable, just like my long-ago college classmate Dr. Bauman.
Movies and TV Shows To Inspire Young Scientists 
Elementary School
The Aquarium
The Aquarium is a TV series that goes behind the scenes at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta to show all the hard work that goes into taking care of whale sharks, manta rays, sea lions and other marine life. This series is a joy to watch, as the animals all have big, unique personalities—my daughter and I enjoyed rooting for the sea lion to learn how to get on the elevator.
Middle School
Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series
This 12-part documentary is beautiful. Every episode covers a different environment, ranging from caves and mountains to the deep ocean. Planet Earth captures very rarely seen phenomena, from Birds of Paradise doing their crazy dance to a dead whale settling to the bottom of the ocean. Plus, the Caves episode has a gigantic pile of bat guano which never, ever fails to get kids’ attention. You can also stream the series here. And if you love the first one, be sure to check out the equally brilliant Planet Earth II!
High School
Science Fair
Science Fair is a National Geographic documentary that follows a group of high school students who are competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The competitors are a diverse group of very relatable kids—your high schooler might see themselves in the young scientists who are profiled in the movie.
The post What is Science for Kids? appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
Well there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is we might be dooming our entire species by refusing to take meaningful action on climate change. The good news is at least we’re not responsible for the extinction of another species. A new study says humans are not the reason woolly mammoths went kaput. Instead those great beasts succumbed to—oh c’mon!—climate change.
PBS Eons
A new decade-long DNA study (which we first learned about at Gizmodo) published in Nature says the real culprit behind the demise of elephants’ furry cousins was not mankind as previously thought. The project, led by Professor Eske Willerslev, a Fellow of St John’s College, University of Cambridge, examined prehistoric DNA with cutting-edge technology and sequencing to identify what wiped out those majestic animals. As part of their “large-scale environmental DNA metagenomic study of ancient plant and mammal communities,” researchers analyzed “535 permafrost and lake sediment samples from across the Arctic spanning the past 50,000 years.”
The samples came from a 20 year collection in that region where woolly mammoth remains have been found. While the study gets deep into the scientific weeds, the conclusion is far too accessible for all of us. The genetic evidence points to melting icebergs as the leading cause of the animals extinction 4,000 years ago. The increase in water all but eliminated the vegetation they survived on. That was enough to kill them off after they survived for nearly five million years on this planet.
General wisdom has always blamed humans for woolly mammoth’s fate. It wasn’t an absurd assumption though. Our ancestors hunted them and used their bodies for countless reasons. And those impressive animals had done really well before we showed up. But in the end it was nature itself who did them in as the planet naturally warmed.
If a species that roamed Earth for millions of years couldn’t handle a natural climate change, we might want to do something about artificially warming up our home. Otherwise, some day, another species might be trying to figure out what happened us.
The post Study Says Climate Change Killed Off Woolly Mammoths, Not Humans appeared first on Nerdist.