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 AmericanSky & Telescope and NOVA Next. She’s also a former staff writer at Science News.

All Stories by Maria Temming

  1. Materials Science

    Scientists Say: Goldene

    Making this metallic, two-dimensional (2-D) material is difficult — but super-thin sheets of gold could have uses in electronics and chemistry.

  2. Animals

    Scientists Say: Beakiation

    Parrots use this clever sidestepping motion to maneuver along thin branches.

  3. Space

    Scientists Say: Astronomical interferometry

    This technique links up many telescopes to see the universe in finer detail than any single telescope could alone.

  4. Animals

    Scientists Say: Endotherm and Ectotherm

    Endotherms use their own energy to maintain their internal temperature. Ectotherms use external heat sources to control their body temperature.

  5. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Menstruation

    Menstruation is part of a roughly monthly cycle that helps a person’s body prepare for possible pregnancy.

  6. Space

    Scientists Say: Cosmic microwave background

    The cosmic microwave background is the afterglow of the Big Bang.

  7. Plants

    Let’s learn about photosynthesis

    Thank photosynthesis for the existence of all complex life on Earth — including us.

  8. Animals

    See how hummingbirds sneak through small spaces

    Anna’s hummingbirds can use a couple of different techniques to get through gaps smaller than their wingspan.

  9. Animals

    Scientists Say: Compound Eye

    Compound eyes made up of many smaller visual structures may not produce crisp images, but they offer a great field of view.

  10. Physics

    Let’s learn about particles that help us peer inside objects

    Particles such as muons, X-rays and neutrons help scientists peer inside fossils, mummies, pyramids, volcanoes and the human body.

  11. Genetics

    Scientists Say: Genetic Engineering

    Genetic engineering involves adding, changing or removing certain pieces of DNA from a living thing to give it desired traits.

  12. Artificial Intelligence

    Here’s why AI like ChatGPT probably won’t reach humanlike understanding

    Unlike people, this type of artificial intelligence isn’t good at learning concepts that it can apply to new situations.