Life

Animals

Teens work to keep giant water bugs on the menu

Many culinary cultures around the world prize these nutritious and flavorful insects. New approaches may help giant water bug farming efforts.

Tech

This squirrel-like robot has some serious hops

Salto the jumping robot has a claw-like gripper. Like a squirrel, it can adjust its movement to help it stay balanced to stick a landing on "branches."

Animals

The ‘bone collector’ caterpillar wears its prey as camouflage

For months, the caterpillar scavenges spider webs for scrapped insect body parts to cover its protective case. Later, that case will serve as its cocoon.

Life

Research without lab animals? New tech is making it possible

For decades, scientists have worked to phase out the use of animals in research. AI, ‘lungs’ on a chip and more are bringing that goal closer.

Environment

Eco-friendly sunscreen? That’s bananas!

Bananas make their own natural sunscreens. A teen thinks these could work to protect our skin as well, while being safe for aquatic life.

Animals

Tick, tick, tick. In a first, a shark is heard making noise

The undersea world can host a symphony of fish grunts, hums and growls. Now add tooth-clacking sharks to the score.

Health & Medicine

Three U.S tick species may trigger a mysterious red-meat allergy

This little-known allergy, known as alpha-gal syndrome, is potentially deadly. Here’s what we know about it — and how to avoid the tick bites that seem to cause it.

Plants

Magnets mimic gravity’s guiding hand for plants growing in space

Without constant gravity, plants waste energy twisting and coiling, trying to reach toward the sun. Teen ISEF finalists might have found a solution.

Brain

Brain cells that make you feel full also make you crave dessert

If you want a sweet treat when you feel full after a big meal, blame your brain. Tests in mice and people suggest that the same cells signal satiety and a hunger for sugar.

Animals

Sheep, llamas and goats fall for optical illusions too

These findings could help reveal when and why falling for optical illusions evolved in animals.

Brain

Parakeets talk using brain areas similar to ours

Brain activity during vocalizing in small parrots — called budgerigars or parakeets — shows a similar pattern to what’s seen in people.

Animals

Freshwater fish are in trouble: Here’s how we can help them

Human activities threaten the survival of many freshwater fish species. Research is now pointing to how we can best overcome those threats.