MS-LS2-2
Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
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EnvironmentTo limit pollution, new recipe makes plastic a treat for microbes
Microplastics made from fossil fuels take centuries to disappear. But the plant- and algae-based plastic can break down in weeks to months.
By Skyler Ware -
Health & MedicineWith measles outbreaks in 49 countries, should you worry?
By March, the United States had more measles cases than in all of 2023. It was part of a global trend. The way to halt measles’ spread: vaccinations.
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AnimalsDancing spiders inspired this biologist to teach others
Inspired by his research in animal communication, Echeverri began exploring ways to teach others about science while finishing his Ph.D. Today, he shares his passion for spiders as a science communicator.
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Health & MedicineA new type of immune cell may cause lifelong allergies
These special memory cells were present in people with allergies and absent in those without.
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PlantsRampaging vines are slowly strangling tropical forests
Called lianas,these vines are growing out of control. They may cause tropical forests to absorb less carbon dioxide — worsening climate change.
By Douglas Fox -
AnimalsAnalyze This: Marsupial gliders may avoid the ground to dodge predators
It has been unclear why gliding evolved in marsupials. To search for clues, researchers strapped activity trackers to some of these cryptic creatures.
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AnimalsHere’s why thousands of octopuses gather at the ‘Octopus Garden’
Underwater cameras and other instruments investigated why so many pearl octopuses gather here to mate and nest.
By Maria Temming and JoAnna Wendel -
AnimalsPollen-seeking honeybees sometimes turn to theft
Observations of honeybee pollen theft from bumblebees suggest it may be a crime of convenience, based on ease of access to the prized food.
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AnimalsCats play fetch — but only when they feel like it
Most cats that play fetch pick up the behavior on their own, a study finds. And those felines tend to dictate when fetching sessions begin and end.
By Meghan Rosen -
AnimalsWhich way is up? Insects may lose track near artificial lights
Flying insects may use light to figure out where the sky is. But artificial lights can send them veering off course, high-speed video suggests.
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PlantsScientists Say: Marcescence
Autumn turns to winter, yet some trees' dead leaves keep hanging on.
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EcosystemsA weird upside-down world lurks beneath Antarctica’s ice
A vast swath of ocean surrounds Antarctica, hidden under the ice. Here, strange creatures burrow into the dark underbelly of a floating glacier.
By Douglas Fox