According to the notes at the bottom of the article, Dantowitz runs an observatory that is shared by two schools. NASA contacted him about using the observatory, and he then talked them into using his students. I would guess that he also had to submit their research before final approval.
I'm glad to have the name explained. When I was in first grade or so, I referred to these shorts as "Our Gang", and the other kids laughed and told me I was stupid and wrong and the name was "Little Rascals". But "Our Gang" is what my parents called them.
I would have scored better if I had waited for the quiz to be ready for publishing. The last question is "What vegetable is this?" and when I took it, the answers to select from were YES and NO. Whichever I guessed was wrong.
http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/rascals.asp
http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/17/blind-woman-can-see-again-after-a-tooth-is-implanted-in-her-eye/
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/07/17/cat-adopts-rabbit/
or here:
http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/27/cat-adopts-a-bunny/