In the Know

Can you imagine living and working in a science lab as large as a football field with five other people? Now imagine not leaving the lab for six months and orbiting Earth 16 times a … Read more

There are 8.7 million species of animals in the world! A species is a group of similar living things. A species is considered endangered if there are so few left alive that they might go … Read more

Have you ever heard of a black hole? Black holes are objects in space that have so much mass, not even light can escape their gravity. Scientists have spent years looking for black holes and recently found a very special one. They found … Read more

Have you ever roasted a marshmallow around a campfire? You weren’t just roasting a marshmallow, though. There is real science behind that ooey-gooey treat! Roasting a marshmallow causes the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction that … Read more

Thrill-seekers are people who enjoy thrills and do well in stressful situations. They also have a sensation-seeking personality trait [a characteristic]. Psychologists can now administer a test and find out who has this trait. In … Read more

When you hear the word concrete, what do you think of? Concrete is the most commonly used human-made material. It is used to build roads, bridges, and buildings. Félix Candela Outeriño used concrete to make … Read more

Did you know that birds inspired the first airplanes? Scientists often get ideas from nature. Scientist Emmett Chappelle got some of his ideas from fireflies. He noticed a firefly’s ability to make light, or bioluminescence. … Read more

Fireworks are a spectacular show of art and science. With brilliant bursts of color accompanied by a whoosh, sizzle, and boom, fireworks have become a staple of summer celebrations. Have you ever stopped to think … Read more

Welcome to one of the biggest light shows nature has to offer! In late May or early June, something spectacular happens in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each night for about two weeks, thousands of … Read more

Lasers use mirrors to concentrate light energy into a thin, powerful beam. You might be surprised by how often people use lasers. In fact, you may have a laser at home. A DVD player uses a laser to … Read more