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: Leaves with different sizes, shapes and colors.
Location: Wake County, Wake Forest
Question: Are all leaves the same?
Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Other related questions:
Why are some leaves smooth and others are bumpy or jagged?
Phenomenon Description: Once only native to Central and South America, the nine-banded armadillo has slowly migrated to the southeastern US. The first confirmed observations in North Carolina occurred in the late 2000s.
Location: See NC Wildlife Resources Map for locations in the state
Question: Why are armadillos being seen in NC?
Phenomenon Description: The North Carolina mountains are home to several species of fireflies, most notably the synchronous and blue ghost fireflies, which put on stunning light shows in late spring and early summer.
Location: Graham
Question: How and why do fireflies create light?
Phenomenon Description: Solar panel farm in Robeson County, NC
Location: Robeson County
Question: How can a panel made of glass and silicon turn invisible sunlight into usable electricity?
Crosscutting Concepts: Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles and Conservation
Phenomenon Description: Kudzu growing along the road
Location: Wake County
Question: How can a single plant grow up to a foot per day and what powers that kind of speed?
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect: Mechanism & Exploration
Phenomenon Description: Yellow dandelion plant in the middle of a grassy downtown area.
Location: Halifax Mall, Raleigh, North Carolina
Question: How did the dandelions get there?
Science Domain: Life Science
Grade Level: Grade 3
Phenomenon Description: Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic Coast.
Location: Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head
Question: How did the Sand Dunes get to Jockey's Ridge State Park?
Science Domain: Life Science
Grade Level: Grade 4
Phenomenon Description: Commissioning ceremony of the USS North Carolina - SSN 777 (US Navy - Virginia Class Attack Submarine) in Wilmington, NC on May 3, 2008.
Location: New Hanover County, Ocean
Question: How do submarines like the USS North Carolina-SSN 777 generate and use nuclear energy?
Phenomenon Description: Adults and children alike enjoy the summer thrill of racing down waterslides like the ones at Carolina Harbor Waterpark in Charlotte.
Location: Mecklenburg County, Amusement Park
Question: What are the physics behind waterslides?
Phenomenon Description: Unusual orange growth on an Eastern Red Cedar.
Location: North Carolina
Question: What is that strange orange growth on this tree?
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Science Domain: Life Science
Grade Level: 8
Phenomenon Description: Tilled vs Non-tilled Soil
Location: Rockingham County, Reidsville
Question: What is the difference between a tilled field and a no-till field after a heavy rain?
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect: Mechanism & Exploration
Phenomenon Description: Blue Hue of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
Question: Why are the Blue Ridge Mountains Blue?
Science Domain: Physical Science
Grade Level: 6
Phenomenon Description: A big swarm of 200 dragonflies (a mix of common green darners and wandering gliders) flying over a grassland at an environm
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
Phenomenon Description: Blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata) emit their unique nighttime glow
Location: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
Question: Why do ghost fireflies glow continuously instead of blinking like other species?