In the Know

Have you ever used a compass? A map? Or do you usually ask your parents for directions? Imagine being in the middle of the ocean and voyaging to islands that are hundreds of miles away—without … Read more

Have you ever heard the flowers in a field whispering to each other? Probably not. But plants—trees, flowers, and bushes—respond instinctively to light, water, and sometimes to touch. What’s more amazing is that they can … Read more

Light bulbs. Record players. Motion pictures. These are some of the many inventions made by Thomas Edison. His curious, intellectual spirit led to numerous life-changing discoveries. Thomas Edison was born in Ohio in 1847. He … Read more

Imagine you are on your way home from a friend’s house and can’t remember which way to go. Your GPS can help you. When Dr. Gladys West was growing up GPS did not exist. Dr. … Read more

When there is a lot of rain in a short time, puddles form on pavements and roads. Riding your bike through deep water on a street can be fun! Sometimes, though, there is too much … Read more

Robots may seem like something that only appears in books and movies. In fact, scientists and engineers have been building and testing robots for many years. The history of robots has many examples from vacuum … Read more

Every year there is an amazing competition to see who can grow the heaviest pumpkin. The world record for heaviest pumpkin is more than 2,600 pounds. Growing record-breaking pumpkins is no laughing matter. It takes … Read more

Ever since she was a child, Wanda Díaz-Merced knew she wanted to be a scientist. While growing up in a small town in Puerto Rico, she and her sister took imaginary trips to faraway galaxies. … Read more

Have you ever seen streaks of light in the night sky? Do you call them shooting stars or falling stars? Did you know that shooting stars, also called falling stars by some, aren’t stars? They … Read more