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Award-winning micro-photos depict stunning details of nature

Through the lens of a microscope, even a dirty windowsill can hold treasures. The rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) is a pest that devours grains and seeds. Seen atop a grain…

Why are skis so long?

Key concepts: Weight, pressure, force, balance, center of mass Credits: Sabine De Brabandere, PhD, Science Buddies While watching the Olympic Winter Games, you might wonder why skis, which are featured…

Let’s learn about autumn leaves

For many trees, autumn is a spectacular grand finale. Their summer greenery gives way to a rich display of gold, crimson and even purple leaves. But those splashes of color…

Ants are the secret ingredient to this tasty yogurt

In parts of Eurasia, the key to a tangy yogurt treat scurries along the forest floor. The secret ingredient is ants! Scientists Say: Fermentation A once-popular yogurt-making technique uses ants…

Scientists Say: Blue whirl

Blue whirl (noun, “BLOO WURL”) A blue whirl is a kind of flame that most often occurs when fuel burns while floating on the surface of water. There are many…

Scientists shrink 3-D printing so it can work inside cells

For the first time, scientists have 3-D printed objects within living cells. They included a mini elephant and tiny barcodes that could help track individual cells. Remarkably, many of the…

How do cuttlefish trick their prey?

Abstract Predators and prey are in conflict with each other. Predators try to catch prey, while prey try to avoid predators. Predators can blend into their surroundings and wait for…

Fast, mysterious clouds swarm around our galaxy

Beyond the bright swirling arms of our Milky Way galaxy, something enormous, mysterious and shadowy barrels toward us. It’s called Smith’s Cloud. And it isn’t like any cloud you’ve seen…

This microphone picks up sounds by watching them

Sound travels in waves of vibrating air molecules that bump into each other. Microphones work by picking up these vibrations. Scientists had wondered if they could make microphones that see…

Big moments can help you remember little things, too

Chenyang (Leo) Lin grew up in a city along China’s south coast. It was far from any woods. So the large trees and darting squirrels he saw while hiking in…