The Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley, is largely a murder mystery. But when Ava Cummings, 18, read the book, she was most intrigued by the main character’s interest in ethnobotany.…

Bumblebees are quite charming little critters. In the spring and summer, these round, fuzzy insects can be seen buzzing from flower to flower. While collecting nectar and pollen to eat,…

Nucleosynthesis (noun, “NOO-kuh-lee-oh-SIN-this-is”) Nucleosynthesis is a process by which new atomic nuclei are made. This process created all the elements that make up our universe. Synthesis is a fancy word…

Artificial intelligence could take the bite out of some snake venoms. Using AI, scientists have designed proteins that say not so fassst to toxins wielded by cobras and some other…

Someday, doctors might be able to see inside patients without using fancy imaging machines or cutting through the skin. A new solution temporarily turns skin transparent. The secret ingredient is…

A major outbreak of measles has emerged in Texas. It started in late January and has already left two dead, one of them a child. Few if any of the…

Have you tried out DeepSeek? Released on January 20, this new artificial intelligence tool quickly became the world’s most downloaded free app. It held that spot for several days. More…

Hate waiting in line for the bathroom? Chimpanzees have a social solution: Everyone go at once. A study now shows that among chimps, peeing is contagious. It’s “the first study…

Dark lightning (noun, “Dark LITE-ning”) Dark lightning refers to bursts of gamma radiation that can occur during thunderstorms. Gamma radiation — made up of gamma rays — is a kind…