When you’re feeling sad, angry or stressed, it might be tempting to ask a chatbot for help. In fact, a new survey of 12- to 21-year-olds showed that nearly 1…

Amphisbaenian (noun, “am-fis-BEE-nee-un”) Amphisbaenians are a group of mostly legless reptiles also known as “worm lizards.” More than 200 species of them live around the world. They’re found in North…

A pair of newly found planets are the puffiest worlds ever seen. They’re both about the size of Jupiter but with less than 6 percent of its mass. In terms of…

With the help of 3-D printers, even hobbyists can make model rockets or gaming accessories out of seemingly nothing. What if that printer could make new body parts, such as…

For the first time, scientists have used an atomic nucleus as a clock. Clocks need to keep a steady rhythm. (Think of the swinging pendulum in a grandfather clock.) The…

Like many parents, zebra finches sing to their young. But some parental songs seem to prepare the baby birds for hot weather, even before they leave the egg. Zebra finches…

Alloy (noun, “AL-oy”) An alloy is a metal-based mixture. Familiar examples of alloys include steel, bronze and brass. Some alloys are metal-metal mixtures. Others mix metals with nonmetals. Alloys offer…

A bank of fog might seem gloomy. But that mist may carry an unexpected community of environmental helpers. Ground-dwelling clouds can house bacteria that clean the air, a new study…

Glowy oils, tinted creams, misty sprays, chalky sticks, lightweight gels. Like many people, my pool bag is filled with many types of sunscreen. But all use the same sun-shielding chemicals.…