
Maria Temming
Assistant Managing Editor, Science News Explores
Maria Temming is the Assistant Managing 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
- Physics
Let’s learn about ‘ghost particles’
Ghostly particles called neutrinos are so lightweight that for a long time, they were thought to have no mass at all.
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- Tech
NASA’s DART spacecraft crashed into an asteroid — on purpose
This mission could provide a blueprint for how to deflect a killer asteroid, if one is ever found headed for Earth.
- Space
Scientists Say: Telescope
Almost everything we know about the universe around us, we know thanks to telescopes.
- Space
Let’s learn about gravitational waves
Gravitational waves offer scientists a new way to view extreme objects such as black holes and neutron stars.
- Life
Scientists Say: Fungi
Although some fungi can cause diseases, others can be eaten, used to make medicines or serve other useful functions.
- Animals
How boa constrictors squeeze their prey without strangling themselves
Tracking boas’ ribs in X-ray videos revealed the snakes’ squeezing secrets. It’s the latest Wild Things cartoon from Science News Explores.
- Fossils
Ancient ‘ManBearPig’ mammal lived fast — and died young
Developing in the womb for a while — but being born ready to take on the world — may have helped post-dinosaur mammals rise to dominance.
- Physics
Scientists Say: Force
When an object experiences a force, its change in motion — or acceleration — depends on its mass.
- Math
Let’s learn about dealing with math anxiety
Writing about math anxiety and maintaining a “growth mindset” can help soothe stress about the subject.
- Tech
Scientists Say: LED
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, light up TV screens, traffic lights and many other devices used in daily life.
- Brain
Scientists Say: Cognition
Cognition is involved in all conscious mental activity, from thinking and reasoning to remembering.