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Chemistry

Scientists Say: Electron

Electrons are negatively charged particles. They are attracted to the positively charged particles in the center, or nucleus, of an atom.

Health & Medicine

A single vape session can harm immune cells in the body

Vaping creates molecules in the body that can attack cells and cause damage.

Animals

What biologists call a species is becoming more than just a name

The tree of life — evolution — has been reshaping how scientists name and classify organisms. Some want naming to reflect evolutionary groups even more.

Genetics

Explainer: What is RNA?

A partner to DNA, cells use this molecule to translate the instructions for making all of the many proteins that your body needs to function.

Space

Here’s an easier new way to weigh a black hole

The timing of flickers in the gas and dust of a black hole’s accretion disk correlates to its mass, a new study finds.

Earth

Let’s learn about meteor showers

Meteor showers happen when Earth’s orbit passes through trails of debris left behind by comets or asteroids.

Animals

A spider’s feet hold a hairy, sticky secret

Their widespread stickiness traces to the shape of hairs on its feet, scientists now find.

Earth

Scientists Say: Magma and lava

The word magma refers to molten rock deep inside Earth. That rock is called lava when it reaches Earth’s surface.

Planets

Jupiter’s intense auroras heat up its atmosphere

Jupiter’s hotter-than-expected upper atmosphere may be warmed by charged particles slamming into the air above the poles.

Earth

Explainer: How auroras light up the sky

The northern and southern lights are considered natural wonders of the world. Here’s how these and related splendid sky glows form.

Chemistry

Chemists win Nobel Prize for faster, cleaner way of making molecules

Both scientists independently came up with new process — asymmetric organocatalysis. That name may be a mouthful, but it’s not that hard to understand.