In the Know

Octopuses are found in oceans worldwide, from shallow coasts to the darkest depths. The only hard part of their body is their beak, which they use to crack open crabs and clams for lunch. To … Read more

You see a complicated circular web that glows golden in the sunlight. A golden orb weaving spider has woven another masterpiece. You accidentally walk through it. The strands break and feel sticky. For a horsefly … Read more

Can you wiggle your ears? About one in five people can. New research shows that even if you can’t, you have ear muscles that automatically kick into action when you are straining to hear sounds. … Read more

Can you spin a toy hoop? A toy hoop is a plastic ring that you twirl around your waist. Some people can even use their arms or legs. The motion of your body keeps the … Read more

You might have seen these types of lighted signs hanging outside of businesses or on walls in your town. They are often called neon lights. They are named after one of the gases used to … Read more

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