In the News

Today, skyscrapers can be found in nearly every major city. In fact, cities seem to compete to see who can build the tallest building. Though buildings keep getting taller, engineers have faced many challenges along … Read more

Some call them lightning bugs. Others call them fireflies. Both names refer to the beetles that light up our summer evenings. Adults and children alike delight in observing these fascinating creatures, but most do not … Read more

When cicadas emerge, they molt, or shed their nymph exoskeleton. This spring and summer, some parts of the United States will be overwhelmed with cicadas as two different broods emerge at the same time. A … Read more

Recent evidence collected by the Perseverance rover confirmed the presence of an ancient lake on Mars. This news is building excitement among scientists. The Perseverance rover [vehicle that lands on other planets or the Moon … Read more

On April 8, 2024 many North Americans experienced a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon—a total solar eclipse. A total eclipse is a rare event—they happen in the same location about once every 375 years. The Sun’s activity and … Read more

The world’s oceans are in trouble. Millions of tons of plastic pollution enter the oceans each year. Winds and currents concentrate most of this trash into “garbage patches” such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch … Read more

What do whales and aliens have in common? This might sound like the start of a joke, but this is a question that scientists are seriously thinking about. In a recent study, scientists at the … Read more

Have you ever tried to walk in deep snow? It is nearly impossible. Every step you take, you sink down into the snow. This might not seem like a big problem now. When it snows, … Read more

Most people think of Earth as a sphere, but that is not exactly accurate. Experts describe its shape as more of a “lumpy potato.” It is flatter at the poles and bulges around the equator. … Read more

In August, Tropical Storm Hilary moved across southern California, causing mudslides and devasting flooding. Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit this part of the United States since 1997. The first ever tropical storm … Read more