All Stories
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ClimateThis umbrella ‘listens’ to rain — for science
Scientists have developed an umbrella that ‘listens’ to falling raindrops. One day, a fleet of such simple rain gauges may help scientists better map weather patterns and changes in Earth’s water supplies.
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PlanetsDistant planet may boast the longest year
On a planet far, far away, a single pass around its sun may seem to last forever.
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EarthNifty science
Inspired research put select high school seniors on the path to the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search finals.
By Sid Perkins -
PlantsTaking a long look at lichen
Lichens may not look like much, but they play a vital role in our ecosystems. ISEF finalist Madeline Handley decided learn more about the lichens in her native Alaska.
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EarthThirst for water moves and shakes California
Here’s a scary cost to pumping up groundwater to slake the thirst of crops in California’s Central Valley: It may uplift nearby mountains and trigger tiny earthquakes, experts find.
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Young researchers take over the White House
Yesterday’s White House Science Fair brought students from around the country to the White House to meet the President and to be recognized for their science and engineering projects. Several were veterans of competitions run by Society for Science & the Public.
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AnimalsMosquitoes, be gone!
An extract of local seeds in Puerto Rico may be the key to keeping mosquitoes away. It kills the larval insects and repels the biting adults.
By Sid Perkins -
BrainFootball hits the brain hard
The brain’s hippocampus helps store memories. It is smaller in college football players — especially if they have suffered concussions.
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AnimalsKilling mosquitoes with cashews
When dengue fever came to his hometown, Gabriel Galdino looked for ways to stop its carrier, the mosquito. His findings got him a spot at the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
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TechSaving vanishing ‘tongues’
More than 3,000 world languages face extinction. Linguists are turning to mobile apps and other tech tools to preserve these endangered languages.
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High school student studies slime mold smarts
Are slime molds “smart,” and what does that mean? Hannah McShea ran experiments to find out more about how slime molds behave and what it means for intelligence.
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MicrobesConvincing bacteria they’re alone
Caffeine may be the trick to confusing some bacteria into thinking they’ve not yet summoned enough troops to launch a successful attack on their host. It could prove an alternative to antibiotics for certain infections.
By Sid Perkins