MS-LS1-5

Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.

  1. Climate

    Heat waves appear more life-threatening than scientists once thought

    This is bad news as a warming planet leads to growing numbers of excessive heat waves — and millions more people facing potentially deadly temperatures.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Teen arm wrestlers face risk of an unusual elbow break

    The pointy part of the inner elbow can break in arm wrestling, especially among teens whose bones are still growing.

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  3. Space

    The first plants ever grown in moon dirt have sprouted

    This tiny garden shows farming on the moon may be difficult, although not impossible.

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  4. Animals

    Monstrous mammals would break the body rules

    Giant mammals and people thunder through our movies and books. But real mammals can only get so large before they can’t take the heat.

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  5. Plants

    Electric shocks act like vaccines to protect plants from viruses

    To protect crops against viruses in their home country of Taiwan, two teens invented a novel approach to fight blights.

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  6. Environment

    We all unknowingly eat plastic, which may host toxic pollutants

    In the environment, plastics attract all types of toxic chemicals. If ingested, new data show, chemicals on those plastic bits may harm the gut.

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  7. Health & Medicine

    Sickle-cell gene therapies offer hope — and challenges

    Doctor Erica Esrick discusses existing treatments and an ongoing clinical trial for a gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease.

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  8. Life

    Explainer: What is an endangered species?

    Threats such as climate change and habitat loss can put species at risk of going extinct. Different words describe that risk.

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  9. Animals

    A new drug mix helps frogs regrow amputated legs

    The treatment helped frogs grow working limbs useful for swimming, standing and kicking. It’ll be a while before people can do that.

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  10. Life

    Living mysteries: Why teeny-weeny tardigrades are tough as nails

    Tardigrades often live in cool, damp moss. Their cushy life has somehow prepared them to survive the lethal radiation of outer space.

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  11. Environment

    Recycling a climate-warming gas could make ‘greener’ farmed fish

    Instead of warming the climate, methane gas can be collected to help farmers. Along the way, it may also save some fish.

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  12. Life

    In blazing heat, some plants open leaf pores — and risk death

    When heat waves and droughts collide, water is precious. Some thirsty plants try to cool off by opening tiny pores — only to lose water even faster.

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