This is a drawing of Maria Temming a white female with blue eyes and smiling. Behind her is a space-themed background.

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

  1. Health & Medicine

    Surviving Mars missions will take planning and lots of innovation

    Astronauts that go to Mars will need protection from microgravity and radiation, plus mini-medical devices to diagnose problems and manage emergencies.

  2. Environment

    Batteries not included: This Game Boy look-alike doesn’t need them

    Game Boy revolutionized the gaming industry. A newer version could help slow the rate of climate change.

  3. Animals

    This ancient reptile’s last meal may have truly been a killer

    An ichthyosaur’s eyes were too big for its stomach. And that may have led to this ancient reptile’s death.

  4. Physics

    How physics lets a toy boat float upside down

    Buoyancy’s upward force keeps objects afloat even in unusual conditions.

  5. Physics

    Strange but true: White dwarfs shrink as they gain mass

    Telescope observations of thousands of these stars now confirm a decades-old theory on how their masses relate to their waistline.

  6. Chemistry

    Australian wildfires pumped smoke to record heights

    Wildfires in Australia in late December and early January spurred an unusual smoke plume that still hasn’t fully dispersed.

  7. Planets

    Wiggly wheels might help rovers plow through loose lunar soils

    New design lets wheels ascend hills too steep for regular robots and paddle through loose soils without getting stuck.

  8. Animals

    Traces from nuclear-weapons tests offer clues to whale sharks’ ages

    Traces left by nuclear-bomb testing in the 1950s and ‘60s can help researchers learn how old a whale shark is.

  9. Environment

    Legos could last a disturbingly long time in the ocean

    By looking at toys washed up on beaches, scientists have estimated how long it takes hard plastics to break down in the oceans. And it’s a long time.

  10. Earth

    Newfound ‘dunes’ is among weirdest of northern lights

    There’s a new aurora dubbed the 'dunes.' It’s weird and joins the ranks of black auroras, STEVE and other odd natural light shows.

  11. Archaeology

    3-D printing helps resurrect an ancient Egyptian mummy’s voice

    A 3-D printed mold of a mummy’s vocal tract reveals what the mummy may sound like today.

  12. Chemistry

    Help for a world drowning in microplastics

    Microplastic pollution in our oceans and lakes is a problem. Scientists are testing solutions — from more biodegradable recipes to nanotechnology.