All Stories
- Earth
Dry sand can bubble like the blobs in a lava lamp
Put two types of sand grains together in a chamber and they can flow like fluids. All it takes is a jiggle and some gas.
- Physics
Scientists Say: Light pollution
Light pollution is when artificial light shines into places that are normally dark. It can disrupt the lives of plants, animals and people.
- Physics
Dying stars can make gold as they collapse into black holes
There are spinning stars in space. Some of them collapse into black holes. Along the way, they may generate a lot of heavy elements — including gold.
- Math
For these artists, math is their muse
Artists around the world are finding inspiration in the curves, equations and patterns of mathematics. Here are some of their stories.
- Health & Medicine
New risk from too much screentime
Americans of all ages are sitting more, according to a new national survey. And health experts find that worrisome.
- Planets
Was that a Marsquake?
‘Marsquakes’ could help scientists learn more about the Red Planet’s inner activity.
- Computing
This robot’s parts are helpless alone, but turn smart as they team up
In a new system called “particle robotics,” many small, simple helpless units can seemingly come to life and start moving when amassed into a team.
- Health & Medicine
Scientists Say: Myopia
Myopia is nearsightedness, where people have trouble seeing far away objects. This happens if someone’s eyes are slightly oval, instead of perfect spheres.
- Earth
A million tiny quakes shook Southern California — and no one knew
By putting millions of tiny quakes on record, scientists hope to learn more about what triggers the big ones.
- Earth
Ocean energy could be the wave of the future
Energy systems that turn the power of ocean waves into electrical energy could be on the horizon — or pumping away near the sea floor.
- Climate
Students can sway how their parents view climate change
Teens and tweens can sway their parents’ views about climate change if they talk about it, sharing what they learned in school, a new study finds.
- Animals
Slimy fish could aid the search for new drugs
Fish slime could teach scientists about bacteria that live on fish and aid in the hunt for new kinds of antibiotics.
