In the Know

Are you wondering what happened to these trees? No—they haven’t been painted. This is the rainbow eucalyptus tree, or Mindanao gum (Eucalyptus deglupta). Its bark has natural stripes of brilliant colors. The rainbow eucalyptus is … Read more

Have you ever noticed that your eyes hurt or get tired after looking at screens for a long time? Some eyeglasses claim to protect our eyes from damaging light coming from these screens. Are these … Read more

Often called “water bears,” tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates [animals without backbones] with a real-life superpower. These tiny creatures are nearly indestructible.  Tardigrades live in both water and land environments. They are considered aquatic because they … Read more

After Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, scientists turned to gophers to help restore the devastated ecosystem.  Mount St. Helens is a volcano located in southwest Washington state. Its eruption was so explosive that it … Read more

This month we explore some fun facts about snow. Snow is NOT frozen rain. While it is true that snow is frozen water, it does not form from rain. Sleet is frozen rain. Snow is … Read more

Think about your traits (characteristics of living things). What color are your eyes and hair? How tall are you? What shape is your nose? You might share some traits with your mom, dad, sisters, or … Read more

If you live in the Midwest, you might have recently heard the term “corn sweat.” Some meteorologists used this term to explain why late summer humidity levels were so high and why it felt so … Read more

Have you ever laid on the ground and looked for shapes in the clouds. You might have seen different animals, hearts, or racecars. But have you ever seen one that looks like a flying saucer? … Read more

Have you ever been playing outside on a hot day when you notice your face and hair are all wet? What happened? Don’t sweat it—it’s just sweat! You don’t even notice it is happening, but … Read more

Did you know that ice pops were invented by an 11-year-old boy? In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson accidentally left a soda mixture out in the cold all night. It froze, and in the morning he … Read more