All Stories

  1. Physics

    A powerful laser can control the paths that lightning takes

    In a mountaintop experiment, a laser beamed at the sky created a virtual lightning rod that snagged several bolts.

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  2. Psychology

    There’s a real upside to knowing you could be wrong

    We’re often certain that what we believe is true. But questioning those beliefs, as Galileo did, can help us learn better — and even perform better on tests.

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  3. Animals

    When it’s hot, echidnas blow snot bubbles to cool off

    These spiky Australian mammals have a trick to moisten their noses, allowing them to survive hot temperatures that should kill them.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Let’s learn about allergies

    Allergies are caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to harmless substances.

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  5. Brain

    Scientists Say: Anxiety

    Some nervousness, or anxiety, is normal. Too much can be harmful.

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  6. Planets

    Planets like Star Wars’ Tatooine could be fit for life

    Like Luke Skywalker’s home, planets orbiting two stars may be plentiful. A new computer model suggests that many of those worlds could sustain life.

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  7. Space

    The next astronauts to walk the moon will be more diverse than the last

    Space agencies are preparing to send the next generation of astronauts to the moon and beyond. Here’s how future crews will differ from the last.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    New brain scans may show if a concussion has not yet healed

    Concussions change certain brain waves, and delta waves may be the best signs of when teens can return to competitive sports.

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  9. Tech

    Think of this new tech as sunglasses for our windows

    Keeping buildings cool can use a lot of energy. Thanks to quantum computing, engineers designed a coating to cut the warming light that enters windows.

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  10. Earth

    Scientists Say: Equinox and Solstice

    Equinoxes and solstices mark the maximums, minimums and mediums of hours spent in daylight.

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  11. Archaeology

    Minding your mummies: The science of mummification

    In this science project, you will learn about the rituals and science of mummification by mummifying a hot dog.

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  12. Space

    Spacecraft traveling through a wormhole could send messages home

    A probe going through a wormhole should be able to send messages home before such a tunnel forever closes, a new computer model finds.

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