Maria Temming

Assistant Editor, Science News Explores

Maria Temming is the assistant editor at Science News Explores. Maria has undergraduate degrees in physics and English from Elon University and a master's degree in science writing from MIT. She has written for Scientific American, Sky & Telescope and NOVA Next. She’s also a former staff writer at Science News.

All Stories by Maria Temming

  1. Oceans

    Scientists Say: Atoll

    Atolls form when coral reefs build up around underwater volcanoes.

  2. Materials Science

    These colorful butterflies were printed with transparent ink

    Clear ink creates a whole rainbow of colors when printed in precise, microscopic patterns. This phenomenon is known as structural color.

  3. Physics

    Scientists Say: Convection

    Convection is a process that transfers heat through the movement of liquid or gas.

  4. Plants

    Scientists Say: Phloem

    Phloem is tissue that delivers food, made in leaves during photosynthesis, to the rest of a plant.

  5. Animals

    Let’s learn about the creatures of Halloween

    Check out the real-life vampires and zombies of the animal kingdom, and learn why people think ghosts and mummy curses are real.

  6. Animals

    Scientists Say: Marsupial

    These mammals are known for riding around in a pouch on their mother’s belly, where they continue developing after they’re born.

  7. Health & Medicine

    Gender-affirming care improves the mental health of transgender youth

    Several states have tried to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. That goes against medical guidelines.

  8. Agriculture

    Potty-trained cows could help reduce pollution

    About a dozen calves have been trained to pee in a stall. Toilet training cows on a large scale could cut down on pollution, scientists say.

  9. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Electron

    Electrons are negatively charged particles. They are attracted to the positively charged particles in the center, or nucleus, of an atom.

  10. Earth

    Let’s learn about meteor showers

    Meteor showers happen when Earth’s orbit passes through trails of debris left behind by comets or asteroids.

  11. Earth

    Scientists Say: Magma and lava

    The word magma refers to molten rock deep inside Earth. That rock is called lava when it reaches Earth’s surface.

  12. Space

    Explainer: How auroras light up the sky

    The northern and southern lights are considered natural wonders of the world. Here’s how these and related splendid sky glows form.