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Welcome to the Iowa Science Phenomena website! The goal of this website and service is to create, curate, collect and share a growing collection of user-generated, media-based, standards aligned, science phenomena resources for use in Iowa classrooms, as well as support Iowa teachers as they continue to implement phenomena-based and place-based teaching practices.

There are several ways you can be involved in this project:

Questions? Please contact us at phenomena@iowapbs.org.

Tree Girdling

Tree girdling is used to remove trees without cutting the tree down.

Visible Northern Lights

The northern lights have been frequently visible further south of the poles.

Tree Destruction from Tornado at Hacklebarney Park

Many trees in Montgomery County were left damaged after an EF-3 tornado in May 2024.

Boreal Chorus Frog Calling

Boreal chorus frog songs are an excellent first sign of spring’s arrival.

Bee Covered in Pollen

This bee is covered in plant pollen.

Fawn Hiding

Parents teach their offspring a number of skills for survival, including hiding from predetors.

Mating Pair of Barred Owls

Owls only tend to interact together in a coupling and are territorial in order to protect their hunting grounds and their young.

Cat Steps in the Loess Hills

The Loess Hills of western Iowa are a unique landform, the formation of which has resulted in characteristic "steps" in the hills.

Pink Rock Roads

Distinct differences road surfaces across Iowa are connected to geologic processes over time and location.

Assessing Water Quality Through Macroinvertebrates

Macroinvertebrates can help limnologists assess water quality when looking at the biodiversity of a stream

Dissolved Oxygen Levels at F.W. Kent Lake

Data show the changes in dissolved oxygen levels from various test locations over the summer months.

Reed Canary Grass on the Banks of the Mississippi River

Reed canary grass grows natively in Europe and Asia, but in taking over in some Iowa locations.

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