STEM Chapters

Science, technology, engineering and math are key subjects to study in today's rapidly changing, technology-based society. They are also great subjects for interesting stories.

During Chicago's Great Fire of 1871, people are not able to escape death even when seeking safety in Lake Michigan.

Although Chicago has modern equipment, the city has far-too-few firefighters in 1871.

Child miners suffer from horrible conditions and have health problems including stunted growth.

Today child miners still work in some countries, but laws now protect them in the U.S. and the U.K.

The country comes to the aid of Chicago, but no one pays any attention to the other Midwest cities which also burn on October 8.

Clara Barton raises money for the homeless and sends strawberry plants to farmers.

Albert Nieman discovers how to separate the alkaloid base of the coca plant. Thereafter, many products now contain small amounts of cocaine.

Cocaine and chocolate are from different plants; cocaine is from the coca plant, chocolate is from the cacao plant.

See color pictures from the space telescope.

On 1 Feb 2003, the crew dies and parts of Columbia are scattered as the shuttle disintegrates over a large area.

The Columbia carries a well-trained crew of seven when it launches in 2003.

Columbia's first mission, in 1981, proved that a space shuttle could lift-off, travel in space and return to earth.

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