After a Nuclear Disaster: Scientists Study the Wild Dogs of Chernobyl

by John Agbo, age 15

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, at that time in Russia but now located in northern Ukraine exploded in April of 1986. The environmental damage was so great that 40 years later, the Chernobyl area is still uninhabitable by humans.

Animals in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which is about four times the size of New York City, are being studied by scientists and biologists to see how years of radiation exposure might have changed their anatomy. [Read More]

This Strange House in Milton, Wisconsin Was an Underground Railroad 'Station'

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 10

Many people are familiar with the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman, but few are aware of the Milton House. The Milton House was created by Joseph Goodrich, who is often credited with founding the whole town of Milton, Wisconsin.

Goodrich ran an inn and a store in two separate framed buildings before they eventually combined in 1844. The structure consisted of a hexagonal, two-story building that served as a stagecoach inn and a five-unit, two-story structure named the Block. One of the three outer buildings contains a secret tunnel about 45 feet long. [Read More]

Wisconsin Werewolf: The Terrifying Legend of the Beast of Bray Road

by Aarosh Subedi, age 14

It all started in 1936 when a watchman on duty at a school in Jefferson County caught a glimpse of a shadow and tried to get a better look at it. As he squinted, he saw a canine-like creature on four legs that was digging. After its first sighting, it would not be seen for decades.

In 1999, an 18 year old driving around the same Bray Road where it was first seen in 1936 claimed that her “right tire hit something.” She got out of the car after hearing this, and all of a sudden, a wolf-human hybrid with the same muscular and masculine features appeared right in front of her eyes. [Read More]

The Soviet Satellite that Launched the Space Race

by Neil Raikar, age 13

In 1957, a decade after the Cold War began, an unknown satellite was launched by the Soviet Union, striking fear into the hearts of Americans. This mysterious satellite was named “Sputnik.”

The satellite was created under the dynamics of the Cold War, the competition for human advancement, and as a top-secret project for the International Geophysics Year. Sputnik weighed approximately 185 pounds, the weight of an average human for reference. This was considered huge for American standards at the time. It was developed in what is now modern-day Kazakhstan, and it was also launched on a ballistic missile. [Read More]

A New Look at the Tyrannosaurus Rex

by Edwin Torres, age 14

Recent scientific research has reimagined the appearance of the Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex), moving away from the classic scaly, snarl-toothed image.

New findings suggest that the T. rex likely possessed soft, fleshy lips that covered rather than exposed its crocodile-like teeth. Other studies had suggested a feathered appearance. [Read More]

The Trailblazing Life of Amelia Earhart

by Carley Baker, age 14

Amelia Earhart accomplished something that men could not achieve. She was a national heroine because she was the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane. She even made solo trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights. [Read More]

Ancient Footprints Reveal How Humans Migrated out of Africa

by Dulce Vazquez, age 18

In 2017, human footprints were identified in a lakebed region of northern Saudi Arabia. Seven discrete footprints were spotted and identified as hominin.

Over 115,000 years ago, footprints were left behind by unknown individuals (humans) and prehistoric animals. Similar human footprints were found in other states. A special type of mud called ancient mud has helped observe non-hominin mammal tracks as it captures these footprints and preserves them for years to come.

In their research, scientists have identified a few factors that led to prehistoric human travel. No tool marks, knives, or animal bones used for hunting were found. When both human and animal footprints were found, scientists believe that humans and animals gathered together for sources, such as food and water. Homo sapiens (early humans) likely prioritized access to portable water over hunting. [Read More]

How Florida Makes Room for Panthers to Roam

by Bridgett McPark, age 13

A designated natural area in Florida is helping protect Florida panthers, an apex predator that is almost extinct.

Historically, Florida panthers ranged in the southeastern United States, but because of modern development like habitat fragmentation and increased infrastructure, it badly affected their habitat. As a result, panthers became isolated and are deeply endangered. The key to survival for Florida panthers is room to roam. [Read More]

Colorado at High Risk for Wildfires

by Oliver Zink, age 15

Ski resorts in Colorado are wrapping up one of the worst ski seasons that anyone can remember due to historically low snowfall. The most obvious effects are slushy skiing and barren hills, and officials are very concerned about the wildfire risk.

The American West is experiencing a historic snow drought. The snowpack has been the lowest ever recorded going back 40 years. Jennifer Morse, a scientist at the University of Colorado, studies snow and lives in the town of Nederland, Colorado. In the past 20 years she has lived there, she has never seen so little snow. [Read More]

Why Are Pumas Hunting Penguins in Patagonia?

by Brooklyn Miller, age 12

Pumas are elusive wild cats, who can easily adapt to a variety of different climates, ecosystems, and prey. While these pumas are located in Patagonia, a region found in South America, pumas can be found generally around South America. However, the behavior of these Patagonian pumas seemed unusual, leading the scientists to conduct further research. [Read More]

Lalibela: The Churches in Ethiopia Carved from Solid Rock

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 10

Lalibela, a town known among Ethiopians, is located in the mountainous terrains of the heart of Ethiopia. It is 645 kilometers from its capital, Addis Ababa, where 11 churches were carved by hand into a monolithic rock. One of the churches, Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George), was famously carved in the shape of a cross. [Read More]

Ancient Egyptian Fortress Uncovered in the Sinai Desert

by Ruben Becerril, age 13

Recently, a large military fortress was uncovered in the Sinai Desert, near the town of Sheikh Zuweid in Egypt.

The fortress included defensive towers and traces of ancient ovens. Its thick curving walls were constructed around 3,500 years ago, likely during Pharaoh Thutmose I’s reign. It spans about 8,600 square feet, making it among the largest defensive structures ever discovered in eastern Egypt. Studies show the fortress went through several phases of repair and redesign. The southern wall of the structure is almost 350 feet long and eight feet thick. [Read More]

The Bald Eagle Population Is Recovering in Wisconsin

by Theodore Morrison, age 18

Bald eagles, perhaps the most significant symbol of the United States, have had a resurgence in Wisconsin, with numbers reaching a modern state record.

Within the 20th century, the population of bald eagles dropped to less than 1,000 in the whole U.S., devastated by hunting, use of chemicals, and poisoning, reaching record lows in Wisconsin within the 1970s. For purposes of preservation, the Endangered Species Act was passed in the 1970s as federal law, and the ban of a particularly harmful chemical, DDT, was enacted in the state of Wisconsin. [Read More]

Groundswell Conservancy Preserves Wetlands in Wisconsin

by Ayelen Flores, age 15

Groundswell Conservancy is an organization dedicated to creating more green places in Wisconsin. This is an anticipated mission given that climate change is affecting animals, people, and land.

Groundswell Conservancy was founded in 1983 as the Dane County Natural Heritage Foundation; however, its name was changed in 2017 to reflect its efforts to create more green spaces. The organization has thrived for over 40 years, operating in Dane County and the surrounding areas of south central Wisconsin. They currently have a total of 157 projects ranging from wildlife habitat restoration to equitable access to open space. Much of the land the group has protected is open to the public for recreation and in some cases, hunting. [Read More]

How Did Wisconsin Get Its Name?

by Daniel Li, age 17

Few details about Wisconsin’s past have caused as much confusion or speculation as the origin and meaning of its name. Folklore and rumors have persisted for centuries. But it wasn't until recently that the source of the name was discovered.

In short, the name 'Wisconsin' is the English spelling of a French typo of an explorer's interpretation of a phrase from the Miami Native American tribe, which describes the Wisconsin River and its surrounding landscapes. But like the river itself, the word had a long and winding journey to reach its final form. [Read More]

New Ancient Human Species Discovered

by Dayanara Flores, age 17

A group of scientists has discovered an ancient human species while digging for fossils in East Asia. This newly discovered species is called ‘Homo juluensis.’

The species name Homo juluensis, meaning ‘big head,’ was chosen due to the notably large skulls of this hominin. [Read More]

New Research Shows Ancient Clovis Hunters Were “Megafaunal Specialists”

by Elim Eyobed, age 14

Imagine stalking mammoths across frozen tundras. This is how the Clovis people survived the Ice Age, hunting mammoths, bison, and other animals to thrive in a harsh, frozen world.

The Clovis people who originated in Siberia and crossed the Bering Land Bridge to the Americas during the last Ice Age. Clovis is a term used to represent a whole culture known primarily for their stone tools, one of which was a weapon called the Clovis Point. This culture hunted large animals such as mammoths, but they also consumed other creatures such as bison and small animals. Research shows that they had an average of 12,800 calories per day, consisting of 21% bison and 79% mammoths and other small to medium animals. [Read More]

Sheep Leaf Sea Slug Uses Photosynthesis to Survive

by Dulce Vazquez, age 16

The sheep leaf sea slug was discovered on Kurashima Island, in Japan, back in 1993. It can also be found in the marine environments of the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. It has a unique feature only found in a few other animals.

Sea slugs have many small features. They can be a variety of different colors, including yellow, red, blue, green, white, and purple. Sheep leaf sea slugs typically have white faces with black eyes. A unique feature they have is their two rhinophores that look like ears. Rhinophores are organs that help find food and detect chemicals in water, such as algae. These slugs have green cerata (leaf-like appendages) around their upper bodies, which are used to help with respiration and defense. [Read More]

The Oldest Mummies Are Not Egyptian

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

When you think of mummies, you probably picture an Egyptian pharaoh wrapped in strips of cloth. It might surprise you to learn that the world’s oldest mummies are actually thousands of years older and found thousands of miles away.

The Chinchorro mummies of modern-day Chile were preserved more than 7,000 years ago, and are still being found to this day. The Chinchorro people began mummifying and preparing the dead for the afterlife in a harsh environment, with the driest place in the world located in Northern Chile or the Pacific coast of South America. [Read More]

UW-Madison Physics Professor Inspires Generations of Students

by Kaleab Afeworki, age, 13

Dr. Dan McCammon is a real-life rocket scientist. He studies x-rays, launches sensors into space, and somehow still finds the time to open the doors of his lab to students with an interest in science.

That’s how a group of students from Simpson Street Free Press got an up-close look at Dr. McCammon’s work. Each year, during the UW-Madison’s annual Physics Fair, Simpson Street reporters visit his lab. This year, several of us sat down with him afterwards for an interview.

A physics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. McCammon is known for his research on x-ray astronomy through his X-ray Astrophysics Group laboratory. He uses his expertise and research experience to help undergraduate students find their way in the field of physics and build their careers. [Read More]

When O’Keeffe’s World Went Dark, She Still Saw Art

by Edwin Torres, age 13

Georgia Totto O’Keeffe is known as one of the most famous and remarkable artists of the 20th century. Throughout her life, O’Keeffe explored various artistic styles.

O’Keeffe was born on November 15, 1887, on a farm near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She was the second of seven children. O’Keeffe and her sisters took art lessons with a local watercolor painter. In 1905, when O’Keeffe graduated from high school, she already had plans of being an artist. She studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago, but her studies were interrupted when she fell ill from typhoid fever. [Read More]

New Dinosaur Discovered!

UW Researchers Find North America's Oldest Dinosaur

By Camila Cruz, age 17

Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum announced the finding of a brand new species of dinosaur – one that lived 10 million years earlier than when researchers thought the oldest dinosaurs roamed in North America.

The team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, co-led by Dr. David Lovelace and graduate student Aaron Kufner, discovered an ankle bone in a Wyoming excavation back in 2013. The bone belonged to a dinosaur the team later named Ahvaytum bahndooiveche. Their findings over the past 12 years were published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society on Jan. 8, 2025.

When dinosaurs emerged has always been a subject of scientific debate. The announcement of this new dinosaur species makes scientists question their understanding of prehistoric life. [Read More]

Book Review: Voices & Votes: How Government Works in Wisconsin

by Sandy Flores, age 18

The Wisconsin Historical Society recently published the latest edition of Voices & Votes: How Government Works in Wisconsin. This book is aimed at younger readers in grades 3-5, introducing children to the fundamental concepts of voting, democratic society, and the importance of civic engagement – even for those who are not yet eligible to vote.

The book has seven chapters, each offering a lesson about Wisconsin’s government and the broader national political system. Topics include the different levels of government, the history of voting in Wisconsin, and the relationships between state, tribal, and federal governments. [Read More]

What Kids Should Know About the Legacy of Jack Lussier

by Sylvia Hoks, age 12

The Henry Vilas Zoo, Olbrich Gardens, the YMCA, Goodman Community Center, and the Salvation Army are a few of many organizations Jack Lussier supported and funded. For many years, his generous donations contributed to important projects in and around Madison. Without the help of Jack Lussier, our city would not be the same. [Read More]

How Emperor Penguins Survive the Coldest Place on Earth

by Bhumi Periwal, age 9

Did you know that the male emperor penguin can survive without food for up to 115 days? Antarctica, the coldest place on Earth, is where you can find emperor penguins. These types of birds cannot fly but use their wings to swim. On the slippery ice, they often sled on their fronts. [Read More]

Scientists Discover that Jupiter Is Smaller than we Thought

by Oliver Zink, age 15

In 2011, NASA launched the Juno spacecraft to expand our knowledge of Jupiter. The information gathered has helped scientists develop new theories about the gas giant's atmospheric patterns. [Read More]

It Looks Like a Jellyfish, but it's Actually a Group of Zooids

by Amayah Henderson, age 12

A common misconception is that the Portuguese man o’ war (physalia physalis) is a type of jellyfish. The man o’ war, a siphonophore, is a group of organisms closely related to jellyfish but is not actually jellyfish. Siphonophores are interesting because they are colonies of genetically specialized individuals called zooids, with various forms and functions that work together as one. [Read More]

Strange Landscapes Discovered Beneath the Ice in Antarctica

by Owen Ayite Atayi, age 18

Antarctica is Earth's coldest and driest continent and is 98% covered by sheets of ice, containing 70% of the planet’s fresh water. Although it holds most of the fresh water on Earth, there are giant hidden basins beneath East Antarctica which have not been investigated. [Read More]

Nature's Master Carpenter: the Woodpecker

by Celestia McPark, age 8

Woodpeckers come in vivid colors and look like a bird with two toes pointed. The tail feather helps balance when pecking. Woodpeckers are colorful birds that live all across North America, and they might even live in your backyard. [Read More]

Was the Shackleton Expedition Doomed from the Start?

by Theodore Morrison, age 18

The Endurance was hailed to be the “strongest polar ship of its time.” The negligence of its captain, as well as design flaws, unfortunately led to the sinking of the virgin ship. Beginning in January 1914, the expedition was intended to span the Antarctic continent for the first time in human history. [Read More]

Has Cleopatra's Lost Tomb Finally Been Found?

by Gerard Sanchez Ramirez, age 11

Cleopatra's tomb has remained undiscovered for over 2,000 years. Explorer Kathleen Martinez, has become close to cracking the mystery. She suspects that Cleopatra's tomb is a sunken port. [Read More]

Malaysia Bans Social Media for Kids Under 16

by Ayelen Flores, age 16

To protect young children from online harm, Malaysia is limiting access to social media for children under 16 years old in 2026. All over the world social media has increased the risks of cyberbullying, exploitation of children, and various scams according to the communication minister, Fahani Fadzil. [Read More]

The Arctic Fox Changes Color to Survive the Seasons

by Yemariam Bekele, age 10

Did you know arctic foxes are the only foxes that change colors every season? This keeps the arctic fox from overheating and freezing to death. During the summer, they turn blueish grey and turn white over the winter. [Read More]

Previously Unknown Moai Statue Found on Easter Island

by Niko Sayu, age 12

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is an iconic landmass about 2,000 miles off the South Pacific coast of Chile, and is widely known for its massive ancient Moai statues. Scientists and researchers thought they had logged every statue on the island, but another has now been discovered in an unexpected place. [Read More]

What Caused The Great Depression?

by Thea Kaufman, age 10

The Great Depression started in 1929 and ended with the onset of World War II in 1939. The Great Depression was a 12-year period in history marked by mass unemployment, poverty, and the stock market crash. [Read More]

The Busy Lives of Bees

by Dessa Sayu, age 7

Bees are fascinating insects that are essential to our ecosystem. They help with pollination. Bees make honey by passing the nectar from mouth to mouth until the sugar breaks down into honey. There are three main types of bees: bumblebees, stingless bees, and honeybees. [Read More]

New Moon Discovered Orbiting Planet Uranus

by Sofia Zapata, age 16

The number of known moons of planet Uranus recently increased to 29. A moon orbiting Uranus was found by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) during an observation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. [Read More]

The Clever Tricks Flowers Use to Attract Pollinators

by Delia Moreno, age 7

Flowers have adapted in many unique ways to attract pollinators. Some of these characteristics include landing platforms for insects, brightly colored petals, and leaves or structures with special shapes to make sure insects are covered in pollen. [Read More]

Endangered Sea Turtles Fill Key Role in Aquatic Ecosystems

by Layla Calahan, age 12

Sea turtles are very important to ocean ecosystems, and they have lived for 100 million years. Unfortunately, some species of sea turtles are critically endangered. [Read More]

Pheasant Branch Project Aims to Tame Madison’s Floodwaters

by Ayelen Flores, age 15

Since Madison experienced large floods in 2018, city leaders have been searching for a solution. They’ve landed on the Pheasant Branch Project, a series of improvements to solve the flooding events on the far west side of Madison. Engineers and planners have put immense work into the project, and construction is just beginning. [Read More]

The Unique Colors of the Lilac-Breasted Roller

by Sessina Zerezghi, age 8

Lilac Breasted roller, also known scientifically as Coracias Caudatus, was given its name in 1766 by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist. [Read More]

The Great Pyramid of Giza Is an Ancient Wonder

by Layla Calahan, age 12

In Giza, the Great Pyramid stands on the edge of the Egyptian desert, west of the Nile River. In the 26th century BC, when the Great Pyramid was built, it was believed it was for Pharaoh Khufu. In the 4th Dynasty, other kings built their own pyramids near the Great Pyramid. The three pyramids form the world’s best-known buildings. [Read More]

Sand Boa’s Hunting Skills and Goofy Eyes Go Viral

by Lincoln Roos, age 12

An unusual creature thrives in the deserts of Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, this amazing creature is called the Arabian Sand Boa. Its name represents where it is from and the way it makes burrows deep in the sand. Being a nocturnal creature this snake hunts from dusk to dawn. [Read More]

Madison Public Library Celebrates 150 Years of Community and Books

by Theodore Morrison, age 17

“It was a pleasure to burn.” This is the opening line of the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In this world, the main character lives in a dystopian society where firefighters start the fires, not put them out. It is these worlds that the Madison Public Library brings to our community by circulating all kinds of books, ranging from steamy romances to horror & suspense, and everything in between. These books empower Madisonians to access new worlds and challenge everyone to appreciate newer and more unique perspectives. These are the things we are celebrating - access to these amazing stories - as we honor the Madison Public Library’s 150-year legacy. [Read More]

Invasive Mussels Threaten Lake Ecosystems

by Will DeFour, age 15

A close relative of the highly invasive zebra mussel, known as the quagga mussel, has spread across the Great Lakes, removed valuable nutrients from the water, and even begun moving into smaller lakes across Wisconsin. [Read More]

Discover UW-Madison’s Zoological Museum

by Kevin Chen, age 16

Who would’ve guessed that you can find a 13,000-year-old giant beaver skull right here in Madison? It is among the 750,000 different species of animals in the UW-Madison Zoological Museum. [Read More]

How Ice Age Hunters Used Clovis Point Technology

by John Agbo, age 14

Archaeologists have discovered intriguing evidence regarding hunting civilizations from 13,000 years ago during the Ice Age. The discovery showcased the hunting techniques of the Clovis people, offering a captivating glimpse into their resourceful ways of survival. Early humans, known as hominids, often hunted large prey like mammoths by surrounding them and attacking them with spears. However, research indicates this method was inefficient, as even a powerful thrust with a spear would likely only pierce a mammoth’s thick skin superficially. [Read More]

Study Says Wisconsin’s School Report Card System Is Hard for the Public to Understand

by Daniel Li, age 17

Wisconsin’s school report card system is difficult for the public to understand. A recent study conducted by Arizona State University was highlighted in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and revealed that parents and the general public often struggle to access clear information about how students and schools are performing. Without this information, it's hard for parents to properly judge how well their child has performed in school. [Read More]