Uncategorized

Agriculture

Learning what stresses queen bees could save their hives

Beehives often die off after the queen gets too stressed to make enough babies. New tests could identify what stressed her — and point to solutions.

Animals

Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound

High-speed cameras, fancy microphones and slick software are helping scientists get the best look yet at what bats perceive through echolocation.

Materials Science

‘Frozen smoke’ could protect electronics from annoying static

A fluffy material made from cellulose nanofibers and silver nanowires can protect electronic devices by blocking more than 99.99 percent of disrupting interference, a new study reveals.

Chemistry

Explainer: How photosynthesis works

Plants can take in light, water and carbon dioxide, and send out sugar and oxygen. Here’s how it works.

Physics

Here’s how giant pumpkins get so big

Cinderella took a ride in a pumpkin coach. Though real pumpkins do get big enough, here’s why their ride would be uncomfortable at best.

Climate

Let’s learn about solar power

Solar power is a way to harness energy from the sun, and lessen our reliance on fossil fuels.

Health & Medicine

COVID-19 risk linked to vaping, but addicted kids find it hard to stop

Coronavirus risk offers a good reason to quit smoking e-cigarettes, except that’s really hard. And lots of kids were trying even before the pandemic hit.

Health & Medicine

These free programs can help teens seeking to quit vaping

Most kids don’t know where to find help to stop using e-cigarettes. But new teen-friendly programs are emerging.

Animals

One hummingbird survives cold nights by nearly freezing stiff

To survive a freezing night, hummingbirds in the Andes mountains go very still, slow their heart rate and let their body temperature plummet.

Brain

Scientists Say: Narcotic

Scientists refer to a narcotic as a drug that stops pain, but the word can be used in other ways as well.

Genetics

Gene editing can alter body fat and may fight diabetes

Researchers have long dreamed of using brown fat to fight obesity and diabetes. Work in animals shows they’re closing in on achieving that dream.

Health & Medicine

Surviving Mars missions will take planning and lots of innovation

Astronauts that go to Mars will need protection from microgravity and radiation, plus mini-medical devices to diagnose problems and manage emergencies.