The North Carolina Atlas of Phenomena is a resource to support science teachers throughout the state to develop their own understanding of different phenomena and the disciplinary core ideas needed to explain them.
Phenomenon Description: The shells of Eastern box turtles exhibit a wide variety of color and pattern variations within the same species. The Eastern box turtle is our state reptile and is found throughout the state.
Location: Eno River State Park, Durham, NC
Grade Level or Course: Grade 7
Phenomenon Description: Blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata) emit their unique nighttime glow
Location: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
Grade Level or Course: Biology
Question: Why do ghost fireflies glow continuously instead of blinking like other species?
Phenomenon Description: In the fall, the green color in the leaves goes away, and we start to see the bright reds, oranges, and yellows that were hiding inside all along.
Location: Wake County, Wake Forest
Grade Level or Course: Kindergarten
Phenomenon Description: Sea turtles come to North Carolina beaches in the summer (May to August) to lay their eggs.
Location: Dare County, Outer Banks
Grade Level or Course: Grade 4
Question: Why do sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach instead of in the ocean?
Phenomenon Description: A chicken with speckled (“checkered”) black and white plumage
Location: Harnett County, Angier
Grade Level or Course: Biology
Question: Why do some chickens look like they’re wearing a checkerboard while others are solid black or white?
Phenomenon Description: The Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) has specialized leaves that snap shut to capture and digest insects, which the plant uses for nutrients.
Location: Found in the subtropical wetlands of NC and SC, Carolina Beach State Park, Wilmington, NC
Grade Level or Course: Grade 6
Phenomenon Description: The fall line is a geologic boundary between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain.
Location: Cumberland, Harnett and surrounding Counties, Raven Rock State Park
Grade Level or Course: Earth and Environmental Science
Phenomenon Description: Waste vapor is released from Harris Nuclear Power Plant's cooling tower.
Location: Wake, Harris Nuclear Power Plant
Grade Level or Course: Physical Science
Question: Why does a nuclear power plant need a cooling tower?
Phenomenon Description: North Carolina often experiences minor earthquakes, but the state is not located near a tectonic plate boundary.
Location: North Carolina
Grade Level or Course: Earth and Environmental Science
Question: Why does NC experience earthquakes?
Phenomenon Description: The Shadow of the Bear is a seasonal optical illusion observed around sunset in mid-October through early November and late winter.
Location: Jackson County, near Cashiers, NC, Whiteside Mountain
Grade Level or Course: Grade 3
Phenomenon Description: A large boulder looks as if it has been bent and folded.
Location: Buncombe County
Grade Level or Course: Grade 4
Question: Why does this boulder appear to be bent and folded?
Crosscutting Concept: Cause and Effect: Mechanism & Explanation
Phenomenon Description: Variations in water quality in the Neuse River Basin
Location: Wake County, Raleigh
Grade Level or Course: 8th grade
Question: Why does water quality vary along the Neuse River from Raleigh to New Bern?