All Stories

  1. Materials Science

    How to turn a greenhouse into a powerhouse

    See-through solar cells could turn greenhouses into solar power plants.

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  2. Scientists Say: Gyroscope

    Gyroscopes are devices that measure the three-dimensional orientation of an object. They can be found in objects as varied as smartphones and space telescopes.

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  3. Climate

    Earth’s permafrost is heating up

    Climate change is warming Earth’s permafrost — and in some places thawing it. This could lead to massive releases of planet-warming greenhouse gases.

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  4. Computing

    Rise of the botnets

    Botnets are armies of connected, infected computers that attack websites and other online businesses. Some scientists have found ways to use connected computers for good, too.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    For coughing up phlegm, water is key

    Patients with diseases like cystic fibrosis get lungs filled with sticky mucus. Adding water could be the key to getting that phlegm out.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: The benefits of phlegm, mucus and snot

    There are many types of mucus in the body. They might seem gross, but these gloppy goos are the first line of defense against infection.

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  7. Animals

    Some male hummingbirds wield their bills as weapons

    The shape of some hummingbird bills may reflect a trade-off between drinking nectar and fighting off the competition.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Friendly adults help teens stand up against bullies

    In the movies, kid heroes often intervene to stop bullies. What makes that happen in reality? A good family life and trustworthy teachers can help.

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  9. Scientists Say: Petrichor

    There is no smell quite like that of fresh soil after a rainstorm. That smell has a name — petrichor — and scientists even know how it’s made.

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  10. Fossils

    This robot shows how an ancient creature might have walked

    Scientists used fossils, footprints, a computer models and a life-sized walking robot to find out how an ancient creature moved.

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  11. Climate

    The many faces of snowstorms

    There are many different types of winter storms. How do they work?

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  12. Climate

    Explainer: The making of a snowflake

    Have you ever wondered how a snowflake gets its shape?

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