Topics

Chemistry

illustration of Rudolph covered with snow and with his nose lit up

Rudolph’s red nose could glow through bioluminescence

Simple chemistry could give the reindeer his iconic red snout. But physics would make it look different colors to anyone who spied Rudolph from the ground.

By Maria TemmingDecember 3, 2025

A jar of milk is photographed from above. Four small ants with black bodies are floating in the milk amid bubbles. The ants' abdomens are brownish red.

Microbes

Ants are the secret ingredient to this tasty yogurt

By Erin Garcia de JesúsNovember 24, 2025

Chemistry

Let’s learn about surprising uses for human waste

By Maria TemmingNovember 4, 2025

Earth

Scientists Say: Van Allen belts

Astronomers have detected these radiation belts around Earth and beyond. Jupiter’s belt is thousands of times as intense as Earth’s.

By Katie Grace CarpenterDecember 1, 2025

A supermoon rises over a lighthouse on Kidston Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada

Earth

Scientists Say: Supermoon

By Katie Grace CarpenterNovember 10, 2025

a man and a woman are staring intently at a funnel of pitch under a glass case

Earth

These ultra-long experiments outlive their scientists — on purpose

By Stephen OrnesNovember 6, 2025

Humans

How to invent a language — like that of Avatar’s Na’vi

Linguists can choose to follow, mix or break the rules of real-world languages to create interesting fictional ones.

By Maria Temming16 hours ago

An artist rendering of a translucent purple cell with bright orange chromosomes going through meiosis.

Genetics

Scientists created human egg cells from skin cells

By Tina Hesman SaeyDecember 1, 2025

Brain

Big moments can help you remember little things, too

By Sujata GuptaNovember 18, 2025

Life

Humans

How to invent a language — like that of Avatar’s Na’vi

Linguists can choose to follow, mix or break the rules of real-world languages to create interesting fictional ones.

By Maria Temming16 hours ago

Animals

Rudolph’s red nose could glow through bioluminescence

By Maria TemmingDecember 3, 2025

two teen girls stand side by side with their arms crossed in front of a science fair project poster

Animals

Liquid from African tulip trees may protect honeybees from pests

By Maria TemmingDecember 2, 2025

Math

black and white image of a Paratuposa placentis beetle

Physics

Comb-like wings help the tiniest insects swim through ‘syrupy’ air

When you're the size of a grain of sand, flying through air is like swimming through a syrup. Bristled wings help the tiniest insects manage this.

By Larissa G. CapellaOctober 8, 2025

a photo of a red rose against a black background

Plants

Physics explains how rose petals get their iconic shape

By Sarah WellsSeptember 15, 2025

Math

Scientists Say: Quantitative and Qualitative

By Katie Grace CarpenterSeptember 15, 2025

Physics

Animals

Rudolph’s red nose could glow through bioluminescence

Simple chemistry could give the reindeer his iconic red snout. But physics would make it look different colors to anyone who spied Rudolph from the ground.

By Maria TemmingDecember 3, 2025