All Stories
- Physics
Filter lets in only the right light
Scientists have built a light filter that only permits light coming from one desired angle to pass through. Built from alternating layers of transparent materials, it could help minimize the glare in telescopes and cameras or boost the efficiency of solar cells.
- Animals
Sea otters picked up swine flu
A new study finds that large numbers of sea otters off of the U.S. Pacific coast have been exposed to the ‘pandemic’ type of this killer virus.
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NOAA takes the Internet on a deep-sea tour
From April 12 to 30, the U.S. government is offering free live video and educational materials to explore the Gulf of Mexico’s deep realm.
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Brewing a cup of chemistry
Andrew West and Aaron Sickel wanted to help teachers combine engineering and chemistry in the classroom. They developed an experimental approach using the power of coffee.
- Space
A ‘wedding ring’ in space
An unusually circular gas remnant of a dead star appears behind a star that’s still burning bright. When viewed from Earth, the pair resembles a sparkling diamond ring.
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Students compete to stop cyber crime
The Air Force Association’s yearly CyberPatriot competition trains middle and high school students to defeat cyber bad guys trying to get in to their computer systems.
- Animals
When a species can’t stand the heat
When temperatures rise, New Zealand’s tuatara produce more males. With global warming, that could leave the ancient reptile species with too few females to avoid going extinct.
- Animals
Explainer: How invasive species ratted out the tuatara
The introduction of rats to New Zealand led to huge population losses of the ancient tuatara. These uncommon reptiles vanished from the mainland. This left isolated populations to survive on several dozen isolated islands.
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A hand-held, crank operated chemistry set
A new competition hoped to find a chemistry set for a new generation. And the winner looks nothing like the sets your parents played with.
- Environment
Poisonings linked to e-cigarettes
A federal survey finds electronic cigarettes and the chemicals they burn are an increasing cause of reports of harm made to poison-control centers. Young children are often the victims.
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Mayim Bialik shares her STEM inspiration
The Big Bang Theory’s neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler is played by a real neuroscientist. Mayim Bialik told educators at the National Science Teachers Association meeting what inspired her to go into science: an inspiring biology tutor.
- Health & Medicine
The nose knows a trillion scents
There's a long-standing claim that people can identify 10,000 different odors. But a new study suggests that people can actually identify at least 10,000 times that many scents.
