HS-PS1-1

Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.

  1. Animals

    Orb-weaving spiders use their webs like external eardrums

    Scientists discover that orb-weaving spiders listen with their legs, detecting sound vibrations that travel through their silken webs.

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  2. Materials Science

    Scientists Say: Silicone

    Silicone is a generic term for a whole slew of humanmade polymers with many different forms and applications.

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  3. Environment

    Widely used pesticides may threaten Earth’s ozone layer

    Data show a major class of long-used “eco-friendly” copper chemicals unexpectedly react with soil, making gases harmful to Earth’s protective ozone layer.

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  4. Chemistry

    Snail slime + gold could boost the power of sunscreens and more

    These two strange ingredients could make skin-care products that are better for both our skin and the environment.

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  5. Chemistry

    Explainer: What is a metal?

    Metals can bend and pull without snapping, and conduct electricity. The reason: Their atoms tend to lose electrons to neighboring atoms.

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  6. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Silicon

    The chemical element silicon is used to make everything from bricks to cookware to electronics.

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  7. 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.

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  8. Plants

    Well-known wildflower turns out to be a secret meat-eater

    Look closely at Triantha occidentalis, and you’ll see gluey hairs — and a trail of insect corpses on its stem.

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  9. Physics

    Scientists Say: Plasma

    In physics, plasma refers to one of the four states of matter. In medicine, plasma describes the part of blood that ferries cells, nutrients and more throughout the body.

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  10. Materials Science

    Scientists Say: Aerosol

    Aerosols are tiny bits of solids or drops of liquids suspended in gas. Aerosols include mist, fog and soot, as well as pollution from fossil fuels.

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  11. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Bond

    In chemistry, this attachment between atoms forms because of the power of attraction. Chemical bonds make up every solid object on Earth.

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  12. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Metal

    Metals are substances that can be elements, alloys or compounds. They all conduct heat and electricity and can be formed into different shapes.

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