Earth

Animals

Honeybees fend off deadly hornets by decorating hives with poop

Bees usually collect pollen and nectar. Scientists were surprised to find that Asian honeybees also gather animal dung to defend their hives.

Agriculture

Dew collector brings water to thirsty plants

This invention grabs water from the air at night. All it needs is the sun’s warmth the next day to release that moisture to growing plants.

Environment

Camels have been dying after mistaking plastic for food

Plastic waste has been building up in the guts of some camels. It may now be killing off one percent of them in the United Arab Emirates each year.

Environment

Analyze this: Microplastics are showing up in Mount Everest’s snow

Microplastics have made their way to the snow on Earth’s tallest peak. Most of the plastic likely comes from climbers’ equipment and clothes.

Animals

Utah mink is first known case of the coronavirus in a wild animal

A wild mink appears to have picked up the novel coronavirus from farmed animals. Such spread in the wild does not appear common.

Animals

Let’s learn about sharks

This ancient group of fish can use scent and even electricity to detect their prey. And they fill an important niche in the ocean.

Environment

Why today’s ‘fast fashions’ can be bad for the planet

The constant buy-wear-toss cycle of fast fashion isn’t sustainable. It hurts the environment and takes a toll on our wallets, too.

Environment

Old clothes soon may be recycled, not trashed

One day, clothes may be recycled almost as much as plastics and glass are now. See how chemists are moving us in that direction.

Plants

How to grow your own science experiment

Does fertilizer help plants grow better? You might expect it to, but how can you know? This experiment will help you test it yourself.

Chemistry

Here’s how to make flip-flops biodegradable

Innovative flip-flops made from an algae-based plastic decompose in soil or compost. The comfy shoes also avoid use of fossil fuels.

Oceans

Analyze This: Shipwrecks provide a home for bottom-dwelling fish

Fish have found a habitat in a submarine and freighter that sunk to the seafloor during World War II.

Earth

Explainer: Our atmosphere — layer by layer

Earth’s five layers extend from the ground up and into outer space. Each has its own distinct features and serves as the site of different activities and phenomena.