Megalodon: Ancient Terror of the Seas

by Lincoln Roos, age 12

Most people have probably heard of a megalodon. If you have not, a megalodonis an extinct shark and was the apex predator of its time. Megalodons roamed the ocean about 3.6 million years ago. The megalodon’s appearance was that of a massive shark with an elongated and slender body. It had large pectoral fins and was as long as two school buses, weighing about 203,000 pounds. This shark moved around the ocean at two miles per hour.

Hollywood likes to envision megalodons as big great white sharks because of their similar-looking teeth. However, they have many differences: great whites have a more torpedo-like body with a thicker middle. They do not look the same, and they are not in the same lineage. Instead, it would look like a lemon shark; it has the same look as the megoladon but is much smaller.

A megalodon would typically live in tropical and subtropical areas around the world because it is much harder for them to live in areas with colder climates. Megalodons needed to eat an even larger amount of food. Megalodons ate prey such as whales, large fish, and even other sharks. A megalodon's pups grew up in shallow waters near the shore, and when mature, they moved into deeper water. [Read More]

Why the Wisconsin River Flows Backward?

by Kevin Chen, age 17

One of Wisconsin’s most familiar rivers may have once flowed in the opposite direction. According to recent geological studies, the Lower Wisconsin River might have originally flowed eastward, not westward toward the Mississippi as it does today. This surprising possibility is changing how geologists interpret the area’s geologic past and reveals how thoroughly rivers can be shaped by natural forces over time. To understand this dramatic shift, researchers have turned to focus on what lies beneath the wider Wisconsin River Valley.

There are numerous signs of a much older landscape throughout the Lower Wisconsin River Valley. A flat layer of rock at the bottom of the valley suggests that a different river once shaped this area. The unusual slope of the buried valley floor points to a flow that moves eastward. Although much of the original surface has been worn away or buried, these underground clues give researchers important insight into the river’s ancient path and larger system. However, the river didn’t change course on its own—something much larger shaped its direction.

During the Ice Age, large glaciers moved across parts of the Midwest and reshaped the land. These massive sheets of ice could block rivers, change their flow, or create entirely new channels. In this region, glaciation likely reversed a river that once moved East to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. As ice covered and reshaped the land, drainage systems were disrupted, and new routes opened, forming parts of the modern Mississippi River Basin. Though the shift happened gradually, the effects are still visible in the landscape today. To better understand how the river valley formed, scientists needed tools that could look beneath the surface and into the past. [Read More]

Stephen Hawking’s Brilliant Life Despite the Odds

by Nae McNeail, age

Professor Stephen Hawking unfortunately passed away at the age of 76 in 2018. He was amazing in his academics and an outstanding mathematician before he passed.

Hawking was a hard-working, active man before he was diagnosed at age 21 with motor-neurone disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, from which he suffered for almost all of his adult life.

Stephen met his first wife, Jane, a few years before he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Jane and Stephen would have fallen in love with or without his disease. [Read More]

New Report Says Milwaukee’s Air Pollution Is Getting Worse

by Edwin Torres, age 13

Milwaukee was rated once again as one of the worst metropolitan areas in the nation for ozone-polluted air, according to the latest American Lung Association (ALA) report.

Ground-level ozone, also known as smog, happens when heat and sunlight mix with gases from smokestacks, cars, and other pollutants. Milwaukee was ranked as the 26th worst of 228 cities for ozone pollution, placed second amongst Wisconsin cities, only behind Sheboygan, which was ranked the 24th worst. The annual report compared metro areas throughout the country by using air quality data gathered between 2021 and 2023. It was discovered that 46% of Americans, equivalent to more than 156 million people, live in places with high levels of particle or ozone pollution. That’s almost 25 million more people compared to last year’s report.

Similar to prior years, people of color had a higher chance of being exposed to unhealthy air or were more likely to have illnesses, such as heart disease or asthma, that make them more vulnerable to polluted air. Although people of color comprise around 41% of the U.S. population, they make up more than 50% of individuals living in counties that the ALA ranked “failing” for the poor quality of the air. [Read More]

Recycling Turns Waste Into New Possibilities

by Dellany Onyango, age 10

Every year, Americans generate millions of tons of garbage, which slowly decomposes in landfills and causes pollution of land, water, and air. Recycling is a way to reduce that problem.

Recycling is a process that turns certain household items into new products. Many things can be recycled, including paper, glass, aluminum, and certain plastics. It is cost-effective because the materials can be reused for future products. Recycling also helps preserve natural resources. Composting is a process similar to recycling, as it gives food scraps a second life by turning them into fertilizer that improves soil health.

Items that can be recycled are usually made of metal, plastic, or glass, provided they are clean. For the safety of the workers, recycling facilities encourage the public to avoid putting broken glass in recycling bins. Some unrecyclable items include coated paper products, most Styrofoam, food wrappers, and food-soiled products. [Read More]

What Happens When Galaxies Collide?

Kevin Chen, age 17

For years, scientists believed the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies were on a direct collision course. However, new research suggests that their future is far more uncertain. Several factors could influence the outcome in unexpected ways.

Currently, the galaxies are approximately 2.5 million light-years apart and approaching each other at a speed of 223,694 miles per hour. Earlier estimates predicted a collision in 4.5 billion years, but with improved data and updated computer simulations, results now vary widely. A team of astronomers ran 100,000 simulations and discovered that in just over half of the scenarios, the galaxies come close and merge gradually over eight to ten billion years. According to a study published in Nature Astronomy, about 2% of the outcomes suggest a collision could happen as soon as four to five billion years. In many other cases, however, the galaxies never collide at all.

This uncertainty largely stems from gravitational influences within the Local Group—our corner of the universe, containing around 100 smaller galaxies. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a smaller galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, moves mostly sideways relative to Andromeda and could tug the Milky Way slightly off course, reducing the chance of a direct collision. Meanwhile, another galaxy, M33, applies a weaker pull that nudges the Milky Way toward Andromeda. These forces are enough to shift future trajectories and cause a range of possible outcomes. [Read More]

Flying Fish Use Fins to Soar Over Oceans

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 10

Some people might think that flying fish can fly after hearing their name. However, they actually glide through the air! They do this by speeding underwater, at a speed of up to 35 miles per hour, and then launching themselves with their pectoral fins up to 650 feet in the air.

There are approximately 40 different species of flying fish. They live in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, and sometimes are found on the outside of coral reefs. Clear, open oceans make great habitats for these tropical flying fish.

Flying fish primarily consume plankton as well as small crustaceans. Although they don’t have a wide variety of food, they have a lot of predators. Their predators are tuna, swordfish, mackerel, marlin, bigger fish, and fishermen. The fish willingly hand themselves over by jumping into fishermen’s nets and boats as they are drawn to well-lit boats. [Read More]

Turn Food Scraps Into Soil, Not Methane

by Sofia Zapata, age 16

Methane is a gas worse than carbon dioxide when it comes to its negative effects on the environment. However, there is an easy way to reduce its production: composting.

Carbon dioxide is a clear gas composed of one carbon atom and two atoms of oxygen. It is mainly produced from human activities such as burning oil or natural gas. Methane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas, and it is the main component of natural gas. Methane traps 25 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide due to its strong ability to absorb infrared radiation, even though it degrades more quickly in the atmosphere.

Decomposition of organic waste, such as food scraps, without oxygen releases methane gas. Microorganisms called methanogens grow in oxygen-deficient environments and allow for the breakdown of organic matter into methane. Microorganisms and germs in waste are not always harmful, as they can play important roles in food production and environmental sustainability. However, appropriate composting is helpful to reduce this methane production, which ultimately has negative consequences for the environment. [Read More]

Engineers Build Air Powered Robot for Hazardous Exploration

by Niko Sayu, age 11

A team of mechanical engineers from the University of California, San Diego, has just created a robot that runs on air. It is made from a singular 3D printed piece. The fact that it can be printed cheaply and easily makes it advantageous in exploring dangerous places like Chernobyl or small mountain caves.

The team is led by engineer Yichen Zhai, who, along with a team of colleagues, created a machine that may revolutionize the exploration of hazardous environments forever. The robot is a six-legged crawler made from a type of flexible plastic used in hoses and shoe soles. It can be 3D printed in one piece, yet it is soft, sturdy, and durable. The robot took two and a half days for the engineers to print. Its flexibility and sturdiness, as well as the fact that it can be printed in almost any size, would make it an incredibly useful tool for any work on flooded or dangerous sites. Its electronics-free design can be helpful in places where flammable objects could be at risk as well.

The robot waddles with three of its legs at a time to avoid tipping over. It uses a can of pressurized air that flows in tubes and through chambers to power its “limbs ”so it can waddle. The crawler moves at a slow 1.6 inches (four centimeters) per second, which is faster than a snail, but still not quite as fast as a turtle. [Read More]

The Science Behind the Spin: How Aerodynamics Control Baseball

by Max Moreno, age 13

As a baseball flies through the air, it is governed by Newton's laws of motion. Newton's first law tells us that a moving object, such as a baseball, will continue moving in a straight line unless another force acts upon it.

A force can be thought of as a push or pull in a certain direction. Three main forces affect a baseball: weight, drag, and lift. Weight is the pull of gravity that makes the ball fall toward the Earth. Drag is the air pushing against the ball, slowing it down. Lift is a force caused by differences in air pressure above and below the ball, which can make it move in different directions.

Most baseballs weigh about five ounces and are made of a solid cork-and-rubber center wrapped in yarn. A white leather cover is stitched on the outside. Because of how the ball is built, the weight is spread evenly. The way the ball spins affects its movement, as spin alters the air pressure on each side of the ball. This effect is called the Magnus effect. For example, if you give a baseball a side-spin, it will curve to the side. This doesn’t just happen with baseballs; it can also occur with soccer balls, tennis balls, and golf balls, which also curve and affect how they spin. [Read More]

Why Fish Owners Should Watch for Fin Rot

by Lucas Abiy, age 8

Pet fish owners may want to dive in and learn about fin rot. It is one of the most common diseases in fish.

Fin rot is a disease that both saltwater and freshwater fish can catch. It is caused by different types of bacteria, most commonly Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio. Fish can develop fin rot when bacteria enter through a tear or injury in their fins or tail. A fish is more likely to catch fin rot when it experiences stress. Stress weakens the fish's immune system and allows bacteria to more easily take over. Fish can become stressed when their tank is overcrowded, when water quality is poor, or when they are bitten by an aggressive fish.

The symptoms of fin rot include frayed or ragged fins, often with black, white, or even red edges. In more advanced cases, the rot can spread toward the body. Other symptoms can include changes in behavior, such as lethargy or lack of movement. [Read More]

De los desiertos a los bosques, los animales se adaptan a los hábitats

Por Gerard Sanchez, edad 11

Los hábitats son entornos que proporcionan a los animales agua, refugio, alimento y espacio para vivir.

Existen diferentes hábitats, como los casquetes polares, las sabanas, los desiertos y las selvas tropicales. A veces, los hábitats no cuentan con todo lo que los animales necesitan, lo que puede provocar su muerte.

Los animales a veces evolucionan o se adaptan para sobrevivir en sus hábitats. Por ejemplo, los osos polares tienen gruesas capas de pelaje y grasa para sobrevivir al frío polar. Los puercoespines tienen largas púas para defenderse de otros animales en su hábitat. [Read More]

How Guinea Pigs Became Beloved Pets Around the World

by Sylvia Hoks, age 11

Many people own little furry potatoes, also known as guinea pigs. Not many think about how these rodents became household pets worldwide. How did they get their strange name, and what is their backstory?

Guinea pigs are normally looked at as fuzzy, large, hamster-like creatures. They have no relationship to pigs, so their name doesn’t exactly reflect their appearance. Their ancestors are actually part of the rodent and Cervidae family.

There are various assumptions about how these animals got their name. One thought is that they got their name from being transported on ships leaving either Guiana, South America, or Guinea, West Africa. Others say that the squeaking noise they make is similar to the sound pigs make. However, researchers still have not determined how they got this peculiar name. [Read More]

Scientists Discover Two 7,000-year-old Mummies Deep in the Sahara Desert

by Elim Eyobed, age 14

After a recent discovery by various scientists, archeologists and researchers, two of the world's oldest mummies were found buried deep in the Sahara desert.

Located in the Tadrart Acacus Mountains of Southwestern Libya by the middle of the Sahara lies the Takarkon rock shelter, archeologists found fifteen mummies at this location. Out of the 15, two seem to have naturally mummified.

Natural mummification is a process where a body is preserved without intentional intervention primarily due to environmental conditions, especially dryness and lack of oxygen. This phenomenon helped with the overall preservation of their DNA. Researchers used the DNA to try to determine the mummies’ origins. Their genes indicated the people likely came from sub-Saharan Africa; however, they also contained neanderthal DNA. [Read More]

Australia Is Home to the World’s Deadliest Creatures

by John Agbo, age 14

Though it’s the world's smallest continent, Australia contains more dangerous creatures than any other continent. This island is home to a diverse array of unique and fascinating animals and plants, each with their own level of severe danger and eeriness.

The Stonefish has spines that contain a neurotoxin that will kill you in under 60 minutes. It is found in the Red Sea, French Polynesia, and Queensland, Australia. Their camouflage skills are so good that if they stay still, whether in the sand or a cluster of coral, they are nearly invisible. There are two types of Stonefish, and their eyes easily identify them: the Estuarine Stonefish’s eyes are relatively small and are slightly elevated on their heads within a pit, while the eyes of the Reef Stonefish are on top of their heads. They are known to hide in coral reefs, under rocks, and in the shallows under the sand. If you are not careful, it is very easy to step on one of their 13 highly toxic spines. [Read More]

From Deserts to Forests, Animals Adapt to Habitats

by Gerard Sanchez, age 11

Habitats are environments that provide animals with water, shelter, food, and space to live.

There are different habitats such as ice caps, savannas, deserts, and rainforests. Sometimes habitats do not have everything animals need, which can result in their death.

Animals sometimes evolve or adapt to help them survive in their habitats. For example, polar bears have thick layers of fur and fat to survive frigid polar air. Porcupines have long quills to defend themselves from other animals in their habitat. [Read More]

The Science and Shapes of Clouds

by Semaia Zerzghi, age 10

What are clouds to you? Most people would maybe say, “clouds are puffs of white floating around in the sky, and sometimes, rain or snow falls from them.” Well, that's the short version, but there’s much more to clouds than meets the eye.

A cloud is a mass of water drops or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. They form when water vapor condenses in the sky. This process is called “condensation,” which allows us to see the water vapor. Sometimes the water evaporates from the ground and rises up to condense into clouds. The word “evaporate” means to change from a liquid to a gas at a temperature below the boiling point.

Clouds are separated into two major factors: location and shape. High clouds form several kilometers up in the sky. Middle clouds form between high and low clouds. Low clouds form within about a kilometer of Earth's surface. [Read More]

How the Brain Stores and Retrieves Memories

by Dellany Onyango, age 9

A memory is a record of information that your brain considers important and saves. Memories can last five seconds or five years. Three parts of the brain help with memory: the amygdala, the cerebral cortex, and the hippocampus.

The hippocampus, located in the cerebral cortex, is the part of the brain that stores memories. An undamaged memory gathers information like the current day or time and retains it for later use. When the brain receives data, it decides which pieces are important. This process involves three steps: encoding, storage, and retrieval.

Encoding is when your brain takes in information from your environment and converts it into a form that can be stored. Then, your brain stores that encoded information for future use, which is called storage. The final part of memory is retrieval, which brings stored information back out of storage in three ways: recall, recognition, and relearning. Recall involves actively remembering something without environmental cues. Recognition occurs when your surroundings trigger your memory. Relearning happens when you remember information faster and more easily the second time you learn it. [Read More]

Did You Know Red Pandas Are Not Actually Pandas?

by Arsema Biruk, age 8

In contrast to their name, red pandas are in fact not pandas. It may come as a surprise what animals they are actually related to.

Scientists were confused for a long time about what other animals red pandas were related to. Today it is known that red pandas belong to their own unique family, called Ailuridae, within the Order Carnivora. They share more distant connections to raccoons, skunks, and mustelids like weasels and otters, but they are not closely related to giant pandas or bears.

Most species in the Order Carnivora are carnivores, meaning they eat meat. Red pandas, however, are mostly herbivores. They eat fruits, flowers, bamboo leaves, and bamboo shoots, though sometimes they also eat eggs and small animals. Ironically, red pandas and giant pandas eat mostly the same things, but they aren’t related. An animal often compared to the red panda is the binturong, but they are not in the same genus. Both, however, are arboreal mammals that share some similarities. [Read More]

The Mystery of Brain Fog and How to Beat It

by Niko Sayu, age 11

You’ve probably heard of it — brain fog. It’s often thought of as something that only affects older adults, but that is not the whole story.

Brain fog is a term for a large collection of symptoms that many people experience in their lifetime. For example, you could be working, exercising, or just relaxing, and then you get a strange feeling. You are tired, fatigued, forgetful, and possibly even dizzy. Sound familiar?

It is perfectly reasonable if brain fog is not the first thing that jumps to mind. After all, brain fog has recently been associated with long COVID and the aftereffects of anesthesia. There are many factors that can contribute to brain fog. A common factor is lack of sleep. This happens because sleep loss inhibits proper communication between brain cells. This, in turn, leads to side effects such as fatigue, exhaustion, confusion, and a slow thought process. This can be extremely dangerous depending on the individual’s performed task. Another cause of brain fog is dehydration. Dehydration lowers blood volume and reduces the amount of oxygen and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and calcium in the body. [Read More]

Animals That Scare to Survive

by Edna Torres, age 6

Some animals will often make themselves appear intimidating to protect their lives. For example, some animals will roar or enlarge their bodies to defend themselves.

One creature that does this is the male stag beetle. These beetles have large, impressive jaws, but can’t actually bite with them. Instead, they use their jaws to fight other males for mating rights.

Another creature with daunting features is the frilled lizard. This lizard is not harmful but can be intimidating when it is threatened. This lizard spreads its frills wide, creating a large, frightening appearance to scare off predators. [Read More]

Parrots and People Share Surprising Similarities

by Bruno Torres, age 9

Parrots and humans have more in common than many might think. From being able to talk to living for decades, and even using tools, these birds are one of a kind.

Most parrots live in Australia, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Some species migrate within these continents to places like Mexico and New Zealand. Parrots can be between three and tand39 inches in height. This range is wide due to their extensive diversity, with over 400 species of parrots known to exist.

Most male and female parrots are almost identical, and it is hard to tell them apart. However, some species look very different, such as the Eclectus Parrot. Males from this species have green feathers, while the females have crimson and royal blue feathers; their beaks are black, and they have scarlet colored heads. [Read More]

The Ferret That Almost Disappeared

by Delia Moreno, age 8

The color of a black-footed ferret helps them blend in the wild and hide from predators.

Ferrets weigh from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. Black-footed ferrets are characterized by their size. They are typically skinny with black fur on their face, feet, and tail. Male ferrets tend to be larger than females.

Ferrets used to roam from Southern Canada to Northern Mexico, but they are now mostly found in Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and Arizona. Black-footed ferrets can live up to three or four years in the wild. [Read More]

What Is a Binturong?

by Lincoln Roos, age 12

The binturong is a unique-looking creature that is often described as having the physical aspects of a bear, cat, and monkey.

The binturong lives in the forests of eastern Asia, high up in the trees. It uses its thick, padded tail to climb these trees and hang from them. However, as these creatures age and get heavier, adult binturongs will also need to use their arms to hold on to branches, not solely their tails like young ones. Along with its tail, the binturong also uses its claws to climb and grip trees.

A binturong can come in many colors, including brown, black, white, and silver, as well as having brown on the tips of its fur. Binturongs also have long ear hairs and brown, reddish eyes, which many think gives them a cute appearance. [Read More]

The Forces That Keep Planes Aloft

by Max Moreno, age 13

To many, flight seems inexplicable as humans aren’t biologically built to defy gravity, yet inventors found a way to send thousands of tons of metal carrying hundreds of people soaring through the sky.

Despite flying on planes being a normal occurrence, many don’t know the science behind plane flight or the forces at play. Lift is what allows planes to fly. It is a force generated when air flows over and under their wings. As planes move through the air, the pressure above their wings becomes lower than the pressure below them, creating an upward force. However, lift isn’t only generated by the wings; every part of the plane contributes, thanks to its aerodynamic shape.

Planes experience other forces as they fly, such as drag, which is the wind and air resistance slowing the plane down as it moves. Another force is thrust, which pushes the plane forward with the help of its engines. The last force is gravity, which constantly tries to pull the plane down. [Read More]

The Strange Arctic Landscape of Devon Island

by Kaleab Afeworki, age 13

Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world. It is more than five times the size of Hawaii. This island is located in the Canadian Arctic.

Devon Island has two environments that are vastly different. The first environment, the polar desert, has a harsh climate that animals are unable to adapt to. However, there are tiny parts of this biome where there are richer ecosystems, more plants covering the area, and accessible water. The temperature on the island ranges from -16°C (3.2°F) in the winter to 8°C (46.4°F) in the summer. These rare areas, while typically dry, contain moisture throughout the summer.

The other environment on Devon Island is called Truelove Lowland. This polar oasis is located on the north coast of Devon Island. This biome contains a large variety of plants, a more diverse ecosystem than the polar desert, and has a rich habitat that different species can live in. During the summer, this biome rarely exceeds temperatures over 10°C (50°F) in a span of under two months. [Read More]

Appendix Cancer Has Rise Among Millennials and Gen X

by Ayelen Flores, age 15

Doctors and researchers have identified differences in the rates of appendix cancer depending on age group. Older age groups have significantly lower rates of developing appendix cancer: people born in the 1940s have rates of appendix cancer two to four times lower than people born in the 1960s to 1980s.

The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. Appendicitis is a very common infection that causes inflammation of the appendix. To treat appendicitis, most go through surgery.

Appendix cancer has been a prevalent topic in recent medical conversations. There is also a gap in knowledge on appendix cancer that causes it to be misinterpreted as colon or ovarian cancer. Doctors can identify appendix cancer with symptoms such as stomach pain or bloating; these symptoms are different from appendicitis because they are unbearable and last longer. [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.

Sheep leaf sea slugs absorb chloroplasts from algae. During this process, photosynthesis takes place, which is the process of turning light into food. They collect chloroplasts in their tissue. The chloroplast is gathered in their tissue for no more than ten days. Chloroplasts absorbed by the sheep leaf sea slugs help camouflage and create food. Due to the amount of chloroplasts in their bodies, the sheep leaf sea slug’s body has a green pigment. The chloroplast produces sugar, which can be used for extra fuel. This fuel can be used in egg production. Their eggs are shaped into spiral coils, and each coil contains 15-20 eggs. [Read More]

How a Meteorite Helped Create One of North America’s Largest Lakes

by Sofia Zapata, age 16

An asteroid created one of North America's biggest lakes, known today as Lake Manicouagan. This 214 million-year-old circular lake is visible on any map of Canada and is known as the “Eye of Quebec.”

About 214 million years ago, a meteorite crashed into Earth, creating a big crater in northern Quebec, Canada. At the time, it was part of the ancient continent of Pangaea. The meteorite was three miles wide and traveled over 30,000 miles per hour, causing a 350-meter-deep hole. It’s only in very recent history that this massive crater became a lake.

The reservoir was created in 1968, when humans constructed the Daniel-Johnson Dam to produce energy. After the dam was built, it blocked the Manicouagan and Outardes Rivers, which filled the crater. [Read More]

Doomsday Clock Ticks to 89 Seconds as Global Threats Grow

by Sofia Zapata, age 15

Doomsday Clock was set to 89 seconds until “midnight”– the lowest it's ever been. This clock is a warning to humanity to take control over threats that could lead the world to its end.

The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 to represent how close humans are to destroying the world with dangerous technologies. The placement of the clock is controlled by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist and Security Board, a group of 18 experts with diverse backgrounds. They meet twice a year to discuss events, policies, and trends. In 1947 they considered the threat posed by nuclear weapons to be the greatest danger to humanity, which they used to set the clock. However, in 2007 they started including catastrophic disruptions from climate change in their decisions.

In 1947 the clock was first set to seven minutes, but within two years it dropped to three minutes, due to the dangerous arms race. As years passed, more events started worrying scientists. This led them to continue the countdown and consider more factors. This year, the clock was moved to 89 seconds. Big threats to humanity are causing the clock to continue getting closer to midnight, these include nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence. [Read More]

Scientists Clone 13,000-year-old Wolf Species

by Will DeFour, age 15

Thousands of years ago, dire wolves were the apex predators of North America. With white fur and a large, muscular build, they could take down the behemoths of the Ice Age. They went extinct long ago, but scientists at Colossal Biosciences are using gene editing technology to recreate something not seen in over 13,000 years, a species they call “dire wolves.”

Colossal was founded in Dallas in 2021, with grand plans to “de-extinct” the Tasmanian tiger, dodo bird, and legendary woolly mammoth. Colossal uses a gene editing technology called CRISPR to make this possible. Their co-founder and head of genetics, George Church, developed the first genomic sequencing technique and helped innovate stem cell engineering and genome editing. He is now a professor at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Colossal employs over 130 scientists and is valued at $10.2 billion. This value is mainly due to their first great scientific leap, the de-extinction of the dire wolf. [Read More]

Lilac-Breasted Roller Wows With Its Colorful Feathers and Striking Appearance

by Sessina Zerezghi, age 8

The Lilac-breasted Roller, also known scientifically as Coracias Caudatus, was given its name in 1766 by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist.

The Lilac-breasted Roller is a colorful bird that is characterized by its green, white, black, yellow, turquoise, dark blue, and lilac plumage. Its legs are small and greenish yellow. While they are colorful at maturity, when they are first born, they are simply grey. These birds have strong beaks, short necks, and narrow tails. The Lilac-breasted Roller lives in eastern and southern Africa.

The Lilac-breasted Roller’s diet consists of grasshoppers, beetles, lizards, crabs, and small amphibians. This bird takes prey from underground. The Lilac-breasted roller is about 14.5 inches, and its tail can be around eight to nine centimeters long. Its wingspan is between 50 and 58 centimeters. The bird lays up to white white eggs, which are incubated for around 24 days. [Read More]

Invasive Mussels Threaten Great Lakes but New Methods Offer Hope

by Will DeFour, age 15

As invasive mussels devastate the Great Lakes, scientists are looking into new ways to combat the threat and protect important parts of the local ecosystem, such as spawning grounds for native fish.

Ten years ago, a group of divers led by Harvey Bootsma researched algae growth and its connection to the invasive zebra and quagga mussels. In their study, they scraped the mussels off a portion of the lakebed near Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan. As the scientists returned over the years, they noticed something odd: the mussels did not grow back. After a decade, there are still a few mussels that have been able to regrow. The mussels struggle to return because an invasive fish, the Round Goby, eats the mussels before they grow big enough to become a problem.

With the help of the Round Goby, marine biologists across the Midwest are trying to push back against the mussel invasion. A team led by Bootsma has cleared a 540-square-foot area by towing a 1,100-pound plate behind a boat to destroy the mussels. Last year, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one of the key players in the fight against the mussels, created a tank-like machine to crawl across the lake bed and clear mussels in a 2,000-square-foot area. These projects, if targeted in spawning grounds and other important areas, can greatly benefit native species. However, this federally funded project is facing new threats as the Trump administration's budget cuts are taking funding away from marine organizations, including NOAA. [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.

This animal is carnivorous which means it only eats meat. This boa preyed upon geckos, smaller snakes, and worm lizards. This animal's hunting strategy involves it sleeping in its burrow for the entire day. When the cool air of the night falls, the snake senses a change in the sand’s temperature. Then in turn it goes higher in the sand with those strange eyes peeking out slightly. When prey gets close its head and fangs lunges out lightning fast and drag its prey deep into its burrow. Never to be seen again. This animal is also an egg layer, which is very strange for a boa because only two species of boa lay eggs. After mating this snake can lay up to five eggs.

The Sand Boa is also very interesting due to the placement of its eyes on the top of its head. This is useful when hunting. It also looks very cute in the process but don't let its eyes fool you because this animal has a very strong bite. The Arabian Sand Boa has to have a powerful bite because it has to kill its prey in one swift move or face the consequences of the prey running away, another predator stealing the kill, or another predator eating both it and its prey. Don't worry about the Arabian sand boa hurting you, because they are very friendly towards humans. Some people even keep them as pets. [Read More]

The Science Behind Spring Bird Migration

by Ayelen Flores, age 15

It is the time of year when birds are flying miles and miles: spring migration has started. Birds undergo a huge transformation to prepare for anything on their journey.

To prepare for migration, some birds gain weight by eating excessive amounts of food, like high-energy berries and fruits with carbohydrates. With the fat from the fruits, birds gain energy, and their internal organs shrink or grow to make room for energy-rich fat. Bar-tailed Godwits, a bird species, also increase the size of their heart and chest muscles. This improves the distribution of energy and oxygen mid-flight. A type of songbird, the Blackpoll Warbler, expands its digestive tract to process more food, then shrinks it during migration to reduce the need to refuel.

As seasons change, birds have to adapt to new habits and sleep less. While birds fly, half of their brain is asleep while the other half is awake to react to any danger. Swainson’s Thrushes sleep for nine seconds at a time. This bird also burns muscles to create energy, traveling up to 200 miles during migration in a single stretch. Burning muscles help it fly for a longer time and reduce the need to stop. [Read More]

High Up in the Mountains Pikas Make Their Home

by Isabella Flores, age 7

The American Pika, or the Ochotona princeps, is a rodent-like mammal. This animal lives in North America. Their habitat is located in alpine terrain, high up in caves and cliffs, west of the Rocky Mountains.

Pikas have black and brown fur, which helps them camouflage among objects of similar colors, such as rocks. Their ears are shaped like half a heart, and they have a thick layer of fur covering their tails.

Pikas collect flowers, grass, and weeds to survive during the winter. During summer, they lay plants in the sun to dry out before storing them in their dens so they don’t rot during the winter. Pikas live in groups inside caves to protect each other. They alert one another of predators such as hawks, weasels, and coyotes by making a high-pitched squeak. [Read More]

Why Does Blobfish Looks So Strange?

by Yemariam Bekele, age 9

True to their name, blobfish are bulbous, squishy creatures with weak bones. Deep underwater, they are unrecognizable due to the intense water pressure helping them hold their shape together. Their shocking appearance outside of the water has caused some people to coin the blobfish “the ugliest fish in the world.”

The blobfish lives deep in the Pacific Ocean. They can be found in dark and cold environments between 1,970 and 3,940 feet below the surface. Giant squids and angler fish also live in the deep ocean with the blobfish.

The blobfish keeps itself alive by eating crustaceans, which can include crab, shrimp, lobster, starfish, and even dead fish. Blobfish relax at the bottom of the ocean and wait for their prey to come to them. [Read More]

Cave Explorers Discover Underground Forest in China

by Estefania Garcia-Fox, age 12

In a giant sinkhole in Central China, a team of scientists has discovered a mysterious underground forest. This sinkhole turned out to be 630 feet deep. A team of speleologists, people who study and explore caves, rappelled into the sinkhole in 2022 and discovered three cave entrances and a forest of ancient trees that grew to be more than 131 feet tall, seeking the sunlight that came through the sinkhole entrance.

Zhang Yuanhaui, senior engineer at the Institute of Karst Geology, measured the sinkhole interior. The bottom is 1004 feet long and 492 feet wide. In Mandarin Chinese, the word for forested sinkholes such as this one is “tiankeng,” or “heavenly pit.”

“The bottom of the sinkhole did indeed seem like another world!” Yuanhaui said. [Read More]

Might a Modified Mouse Make a Mammoth?

by John Agbo, age 14

Researchers have taken a preliminary step toward the potential revival of the prehistoric woolly mammoth. However, one must consider whether this endeavor signals a promising future for Earth, a misuse of advanced technology, or humanity's attempt to intervene in natural processes, essentially trying to play God, as mentioned by a professor at the University of Arizona (U of A).

Based in Dallas, Texas, Colossal Biosciences has successfully developed the first genetically modified “colossal woolly mouse.” This mouse features attributes such as thick fur and body fat typically found in woolly mammoths, representing the first step toward the company's goal to “de-extinct” prehistoric creatures.

To achieve this step, they made eight edits across a spectrum of seven genes, focusing on enhancing traits similar to those of woolly mammoths, particularly traits related to cold resistance, which they believe were crucial for the mammoth's survival in the tundra. They hoped for at least one mouse to exhibit characteristics akin to a mammoth, such as golden hair. The final product, however, was just a regular mouse with a few changes. [Read More]

The Rare "Walking Fish" of Mexico’s Lakes

by Edna Torres, age 7

The axolotl is a type of salamander native to Mexico. They are commonly found in the freshwater lakes of Xochimilco and Chalco. This fascinating creature is not only rare and protected, but it also has biological abilities that continue to amaze scientists and nature lovers.

The scientific name for the axolotl is Ambystoma mexicanum. Despite these creatures being amphibians they don't develop in the same way as other amphibians such as frogs. Typically, amphibians start as eggs and hatch into a larval stage, such as tadpoles, and then grow into creatures such as frogs. However, due to their genetics, axolotls physically stay in their larval stage through adulthood.

Axolotls are usually brown, black-grey, or light pink. They can grow between six inches and 18 inches long and weigh approximately eight to 11 ounces. These creatures have a long tail, a flat head, and four lizard-like limbs. Axolotls spend most of their lives underwater water and have gills however they are not fish. Due to their aquatic habitats and lizard-like features, axolotls are often referred to as "walking fish". [Read More]

Henry Vilas Zoo Helps Save the Red Panda

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

With their unique anatomy and small size, red pandas look a little different than their giant black and white cousins. This furry animal is endangered and Madison’s local zoo is trying to help them. Some of the reasons these animals are endangered are because of habitat loss, human interference, and poachers that kill them for their fur.

These small pandas are native to several countries including Nepal, China, and India. They are also native to one of Asia’s well-known high forests, the Himalayan Mountains. Their scientific name is Ailurus Fulgens, which means “fire cat.”

These furry animals are classified as carnivores by scientists even though they rarely eat meat. Because of this, they are widely considered herbivores as they mostly eat bamboo. Their habitats are home to about 40 different kinds of bamboo. However, they only choose one or two different species that have the most nutrients for the rest of their lives as their main food source. [Read More]

Feathers, Fur, and Farmwork: The Role of Domesticated Animals

by Arsema Biruk, age 8

Domesticated animals are animals that humans have tamed. These animals provide essential resources for humans. They can be kept as pets, used as work animals, or serve as a food source.

Many domesticated animals are raised on farms, including cows, horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep, and llamas. Other creatures include various fish, reptiles, and some invertebrates, such as snails and clams. Some are kept for their ability to work, like large workhorses that pull heavy equipment or herding dogs that ensure sheep stay together. Others are raised on farms to produce milk, meat, eggs, hair, or skin. The most common domesticated animal is the chicken, with 25 billion kept worldwide for their eggs and meat.

Domesticated animals can also be wonderful companions. Dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans, about 15,000 years ago. They are descended from wolves. Dogs assist humans emotionally, physically, and socially. This could be why dogs are the most popular pets globally. Some dogs help on farms, like herding dogs, but they can do much more. There are rescue dogs working for police and rescue teams. Guide dogs also assist people with disabilities. [Read More]

April 7th Is International Beaver Day

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

Beavers are very important, so important, in fact, there is a worldwide celebration for them. These creatures make the environment better by making wetlands and watersheds cleaner.

Beavers are native to North America, Asia, and Europe. They are the second largest rodent, right behind capybaras. Beavers can be found throughout almost all of North America, including Wisconsin.

These creatures live in places like marshes, streams, and other wetlands. They sometimes build their homes partially underwater. They do this so they can be safe from predators because of the underwater entrance. [Read More]

Asteroid “Mini Moon” Follows Earth, Spins Away Toward the Sun

by Siheon Park, age 12

The mini-moon was an asteroid that only stayed in Earth’s orbit for two months. This extraordinary asteroid caught scientists’ eyes, even though it was not visible from Earth without specialized telescopes.

The mini-moon was first spotted last August, but it orbited Earth in late September 2024. It was 33 feet long and is said to come back in the year 2055, exactly three decades from now–however, just like last year, it will only stay temporarily.

The mini moon’s discovery was made by two brothers, Raul and Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, and their team of astronomers. They work for Complutense University of Madrid in Spain. Some scientists say it is possible that the mini-moon was a part of the real moon that broke away. They made hundreds of observations of this “moon” in 2024. [Read More]

White Holes Could Be the Opposites of Black Holes but No One Knows if They Exist

by Kevin Chen, age 17

Black holes are among the most mysterious objects in the universe, pulling in everything that goes near them. But what if there were cosmic objects that did the exact opposite– expelling matter instead of capturing it? The concept of white holes emerges from the same set of equations that describe black holes, yet they remain purely theoretical. While nothing can escape a black hole, nothing could enter a white hole. Some physicists believe white holes might exist, while others argue they are not possible.

They were first proposed as a solution to Einstein's general relativity equations by physicist Karl Schwarzschild in 1916, just a year after Einstein’s theory was published. Schwarzschild’s calculations describe black holes as completely collapsed objects, but since general relativity does not dictate a fixed direction for time, the equations also allowed for a similar object – a white hole.

Physicists describe white holes as a “time reversal” of black holes. Unlike black holes, which trap matter inside, white holes would constantly eject material into the universe. However, no known event or process in the universe seems to create white holes, which is why they are purely theoretical. [Read More]

Understanding the Impact and Differences of Generations

by Aarosh Subedi, age 12

Generations are groups of people born within a specific time period. Each generation is given a name, and these names serve to categorize different age groups based on common experiences, social trends, and historical events. Sociologists and researchers assign these names to help analyze generational differences in values, behaviors, and cultural shifts.

The Lost Generation refers to those born between 1883 and 1900 and was named by author Gertrude Stein. The name describes individuals who came of age during World War I, experiencing unimaginable losses due to the war and significant global migration. Many of them struggled to find meaning in life after witnessing the horrors of war.

The Greatest Generation, born between 1901 and 1927, was also known as the “Government Issue” or the “General Issue” (GI) Generation due to their involvement in World War II. These individuals endured the Great Depression and were known for their resilience, patriotism, and sense of duty. The term was popularized by news broadcaster Tom Brokaw in the late 1990s, who praised this generation for their sacrifices and moral outlook. [Read More]

Elephants Are Gentle Giants That Need Protection

by Dellany Onyango, age 9

The world's largest land animal is the elephant. It can weigh up to eight tons and grow as tall as 16 feet.

The elephant's trunk is its most noticeable feature. The trunk is made of its nose and upper lip. It is incredibly strong, allowing elephants to dig for roots, spray water, and even wrestle with other elephants. Their trunk can reach up to ten feet in length.

Elephants live in Africa and Asia, where their habitats include grasslands and forests. Their diet consists of tree roots, fruit, bark, grass, and twigs. Elephants also use their tusks to help gather food. Tusks are elongated front teeth in the upper jaw, and they are used for digging, fighting, and stripping tree bark. [Read More]

Sandhill Cranes Have Flocked the Sky for Millions of Years

by Arsema Biruk, age 8

Sandhill Cranes draw attention as they fly through the sky in large flocks, called sedges. These large birds have been around for 2.5 million years and can be found in open areas around Canada, as well as northern and southeastern states in the U.S. During the summer, they are seen in bogs, marshes and prairies. During the winter, the cranes migrate in towards the south of the United States.

Sandhill Cranes can stand up to four feet tall, with a wingspan of six to seven feet. They have gray feathers covering their bodies and are known for their distinctive red heads. Many people think these birds are very elegant, especially when they dance. They can also be heard from a long distance. Many describe their calls as bugling and rattling.

These cranes mate for life. They have courting rituals, which include energetic dances. Adult cranes start breeding between the ages of two and seven, and their young stay with their parents for about nine months. Sandhill Cranes usually live for around 20 years. The oldest Sandhill Crane was found in Wisconsin and was 37 years old. [Read More]

Stars Light Up the Night Sky With Color, Power, and Patterns

by Aloniab Gezae, age 10

Stars are massive spheres of hydrogen gas that are visible in the night sky. They are primarily made of hydrogen, which is compressed by gravity into helium. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy and causes the stars to shine.

Stars differ in size, temperature, brightness, and color. A star’s core is extremely hot, with blue stars being hotter than red ones. The Sun falls in between blue and red stars in terms of temperature and is a part of the Milky Way galaxy. Galaxies are made up of billions of stars, along with gas and dust.

When a massive star's life comes to an end, it burns out and explodes in a dramatic event called a supernova. After a supernova, the remaining core may collapse into a black hole, which has such a strong gravitational pull that even light cannot escape it. [Read More]

Hyraxes Are Small Mammals Closely Related to Elephants

by Sessina Zerezghi, age 8

Hyraxes are mistaken for rodents, but they are ungulates. People think they look like large guinea pigs with flattened hoof-like nails. Hyraxes are agile creatures that scamper and leap on steep rocks and branches. They are also gregarious which means they live in colonies of up to 60 hyraxes.

Although hyraxes share ancestry with elephants, they are very small. They range from four to 12 pounds and can measure up to 12 to 22 inches. Hyraxes have a black patch on their back that covers a gland. When they are angered or startled, this specific patch of hair will rise. Another unique feature of hyraxes is their moist rubber-like feet that form a structure similar to a suction cup at the bottom of their soles. This allows them to have great agility and climbing skills.

Rock hyraxes live up to nine to 12 years. They are widely found in rocky areas. They can be specifically found in East Africa and the Middle East. Hyraxes are animals that are active in the day. These animals cannot control their own body heat so they cuddle up with one another to stay warm. They are also herbivorous which means they do not eat meat and instead eat plants. These animals travel up to a mile looking for food on trees and on the ground. [Read More]

Birders Flock to See Rare Jaegers at Wisconsin’s Jaeger Fest

by Allison Torres, age 16

The Parasitic Jaeger is a bird that spends most of its time at sea, except for breeding season in the arctic tundra. What makes them special are their rare sightings, which have mostly occurred around the Great Lakes in the winter. A group of birders in Wisconsin have created a tradition of looking out for these birds in their annual “Jaeger Fest.”

The Parasitic Jaeger is a lean and powerful bird, with a slim bill and an elongated, pointed tail. For both sexes, their body length is usually between 15 to 21 inches. They weigh about 11 to 21 ounces and their wingspan can be 43 to 47 inches long. This type of jaeger is one of three jaeger species. The others are the Pomarine Jaeger and the Long-tailed Jaeger, the largest and smallest of the three, respectively.

Parasitic Jaegers have dark brown feathers covering their back, wings, and head, while white feathers envelop their stomach and neck. They have distinctive white lines, or shafts, on some of their outer wing feathers, helping birders distinguish between the Parasitic Jaeger and other Jaeger species. [Read More]

Exploring Pluto, the Largest of Dwarf Planets

by Sessina Zerezghi, 8

Pluto is a dwarf planet that orbits the sun, but it is much smaller than the other planets. While Pluto isn’t very large, it is the largest known dwarf planet in our solar system. Pluto has a volume of about 1.5 billion cubic miles (or 6.4 billion cubic kilometers). Its diameter is 1,473 miles (2,370 kilometers), and it weighs approximately 1.31 × 10²² kilograms.

Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, an American astronomer (not an astronaut). That same year, Venetia Burney, an 11-year-old girl from England, suggested the name “Pluto,” which was later officially adopted.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet, placing it in the same category as Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris. [Read More]

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog Listed as Endangered in Wisconsin

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

A tiny frog that is native to Wisconsin is getting closer to extinction. This frog is called the Blanchard's cricket frog, and it’s only an inch long!

The Blanchard’s cricket frog typically lives near ponds, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water. You can find these amphibians in the southwest area of Wisconsin. They live in mud flats, marshes, meadows, and other wetlands.

This amphibian can’t dig its holes during winter, so it goes into other existing dwellings. It will go into crayfish burrows, rotted root channels, and tiny mammal burrows. Blanchard’s cricket frogs need to find a dwelling that is at least 33 degrees Fahrenheit because they can’t withstand freezing temperatures. [Read More]

Golden Gaze: All About the Common Goldeneye

by Isabella Flores, age 7

The Common Goldeneye is a unique bird that is known for its bright yellow eyes.

The golden eye bird primarily resides near large bodies of water like lakes and rivers, they also live in boreal forest. They nest in trees located in North America in regions across Canada and Alaska. The best time to see these birds is during the winter.

Along with its mesmerizing eyes, the Common Goldeneye has colorful features across its body. The male Goldeneye has a green-black head and a black-and-white body. The female has a brown head and eyes of the same color. [Read More]

NASA Finds Black Hole Growing Faster Than Expected

by Estefania Garcia-Fox, age 13

A “rapidly feeding black hole” was found earlier this year by a NASA telescope. This discovery holds many important clues to the evolution of supermassive black holes.

A black hole is an immense object with a gravitation pull so strong that it can pull everything towards it, including light. Supermassive black holes exist at the center of most galaxies, and modern telescopes continue to observe them at surprisingly early times in the universe's evolution.

The newly discovered black hole, LID-568, is pulling at a massive amount, 40 times the limit scientists thought was possible. It was difficult to understand how these black holes were growing massively in a short amount of time. However, the recent discovery of the supermassive black hole consuming matter at an extraordinary rate shortly after the universe's birth has provided astronomers with valuable insight into the mechanisms of rapidly growing black holes in the early universe. [Read More]

The Aye-Aye Lemur Is Feared by Some but Needed by Nature

by Lucas Abiy, age 8

The aye-aye lemur looks scary as it has rounded eyes, rat-like teeth, and a big bushy squirrel-like tail. The lemur eats fruits, larvae, fungi, nectar, and insects such as wood boring beetles, clear-winged moths, wood wasp, and the green-headed flush head. This interesting Lemur lives in the jungles of Madagascar.

The aye-aye lemur has amazing senses of smell and touch, which helps when looking for prey. This creature eats uniquely; it taps on hollow branches and uses its four muscular fingers to extract its meals from trees. The aye-aye lemur can measure up to one meter in length, and weigh up to about two kilograms.

This lemur spends most of its life in the treetops and rarely goes down to the forest floor. Their circular nest is found resting in between tree branches in the rainforest and is cuddled in leaves and vines. [Read More]

The Little Bird With a Big Talent

by Edna Torres, age 6

The Rufous Hornero, also known as an ovenbird, is a small bird that builds very unique-looking nests. Their nest resembles an outdoor clay oven!

Ovenbirds build their nests using straw, hair, and mud. These birds work hard to construct their nests, but they typically use each nest only once. The nest is primarily used to lay and incubate their eggs. However, ovenbird nests can last for many years, and other birds often reuse them once the original builders have left. Inside the nest, there is a designated chamber where the female lays her eggs.

Ovenbird eggs are white with dark brown spots, and the female may lay three to four eggs at a time. Rufous Horneros are about the size of a human hand. Their diet includes insects, fruits, seeds, and spiders. These birds are commonly found across South America, especially in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. [Read More]

Penguins Are Birds That Swim Instead of Fly

by Bruno Torres, age 9

Penguins look similar to each other, but there are actually a total of 18 species of Penguins. While the physical features of these birds make them look like they can fly, Penguins are actually flightless birds. Their feathers and bodies have adapted to swim underwater.

Penguins have black feathers on their back and white feathers on their belly that help them camouflage and stay safe from predators while underwater. The largest penguin to exist was about the size of a human being! Scientists discovered this after studying penguin fossils from millions of years ago. These studies have provided scientists insight into the appearance of ancient penguins.

It may be hard to differentiate between a male and female penguin, however, male penguins are taller and heavier than their female counterparts. When penguins lay eggs, both of the parents stay until the eggs have hatched. Most penguins have a life span between 15 and 20 years. [Read More]

White-Nose Syndrome Threatens Bat Populations Across North America

by Aubrey Bevenue, age 13

White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that is killing bats across North America, leading to the endangerment of multiple bat species. This disease was found in New York in 2006 and has spread to most of the U.S. and Canadian Provinces.

The white-nosed syndrome (WNS) is a disease found on bats' noses, which causes them to have difficulties throughout life. It affects the way they hibernate, fly, exchange heat and maintain blood circulation.

Typically, bats hibernate all winter long and do not need to eat during this time. However, with the disease, bats tend to wake up more frequently and may need to consume more food. Bats primarily eat insects, but during winter, these food sources become scarce leading to starvation or unnecessary energy expenditure for hunting. Over time, their fat reserves are used up, which causes them to starve to death before spring. [Read More]

How Ancient Egyptians Made Mummies

by Marco Flores, age 10

The mummification process was a type of ritual performed in ancient Egypt to preserve a deceased body for the afterlife. While many may have heard about mummies, few know about their significance in ancient Egyptian culture or the process of mummification.

Mummies are deceased Egyptians covered in wrappings and put in a yellow or red shroud. Many types of mummies existed in ancient Egypt, each with its purpose. For instance, Ushabti was a mummy that was tasked with things to do in the afterlife. The Egyptians would also mummify dogs, cats, food, and birds for them to experience the afterlife. The food was preserved in this fashion with the idea that people could enjoy it in the afterlife – it was known as a “virtual mummy.”

If one were to be an emperor, king, or ruler, they would be buried in the Valley of the Kings. There, they were buried in shrines and glass cases covered in ancient art. Today, the Valley of the Kings is located at the Great Pyramids of Egypt. [Read More]

Scientists Say Elephants Have Names for Each Other, Just Like Humans

by Oliver Zink Age, 14

A new study shows elephants have names for each other just like people do. Scientists discovered this by using the sounds that elephants call each other, and the elephants reacted.

West African elephants call each other by name-like calls, a rare ability in non-human animals. Researchers recorded calls of the elephant's name being communicated by another elephant. Then, they played the recording to the elephant and it responded by calling back or walking toward the speaker. A mother elephant would also react to their child’s name, though not as much as their child. The researcher’s experiment confirmed that elephants use a name-like component that distinguishes each elephant from each other. When scientists played the recording for other elephants there was little to no reaction, confirming their hypothesis.

In another study, Micheal Pardo, a researcher at CSU and Save the Elephants, tested the hypothesis on dolphins and parrots. He found that dolphins and parrots called one another by “name” by imitating the call used by the addressee. In contrast, the elephants do not imitate the receiver's call to address one another, which is very similar to humans. The ability to learn to produce new sounds is uncommon in nonhuman mammals, but it is necessary for identifying individuals by name. Arbitrary communication, where a sound represents an idea rather than an imitation, greatly expands communication capability and is considered a next-level cognitive ability. [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.

The museum started collecting specimens as early as 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state. The Zoological Museum is also a national center for research and education. Its goal is to study animals, not just in Wisconsin but also from around the world. UW biology students study skeletons of “finch” birds, which were also studied by Charles Darwin. They learn about Darwin and natural selection during class and examine the skeletons in labs.

What makes this museum stand out even more is associate director and curator Laura Monohan’s time spent on the museum’s upkeep. “She is the core – the heart – of the museum,” said Jason Miszaniec, a research associate and museum scientist. Monohan has raised more than $800,000 from donors and grant agencies to supply equipment and fund operations. “Most museums are probably only ever going to put 5-10% of their collections on display. But behind the scenes, there’s 95% of what they have…that’s really what I love,” Monohan says. She always puts enormous effort into maintaining the museum. Monohan has worked at the museum for over 17 years. She enjoys collecting specimens and teaching students about the importance of zoology. Emily Halverson, a collections manager for the museum, said, “People come into the museum, in part, to see her.” Monohan’s contributions to the museum led to her being awarded the 2023 Academic Staff Excellence Award. [Read More]

New Wisconsin Center of Origins Explores Life Beyond Earth

by John Agbo, age 14

The question that has captivated humanity for centuries—“Is there life beyond Earth?”—is now at the forefront of research and exploration at the newly established Wisconsin Center of Origins, known as WiCOR.

This center combines seven fields of study: integrative biology, geoscience, astronomy, chemistry, bacteriology, botany, along with atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Each discipline offers a unique perspective and builds on the others to provide a comprehensive examination of the origins of life, both on Earth and beyond.

Eric Wilcots, the Dean of the College of Letters and Science and a professor of astronomy, envisioned WiCOR. The center's broad array of specialties has attracted significant interest from researchers worldwide, who are eager to explore the rich possibilities the program offers. Notably, the center's groundbreaking inaugural project, [Read More]

Sugar Gliders Are Tiny Flyers With a Sweet Tooth

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

This creature glides through the night sky but it's not a bat or owl. It is often mistaken for a flying squirrel. It's the sugar glider, a fascinating animal with a sweet tooth!

Sugar gliders get their name from their diet which mostly consists of sugar. Sugar gliders' sharp incisor teeth are very useful. The teeth allow them to bite into trees, and rip off the bark, which reveals juicy sap. They eat larvae, insects, gum, sap, fruit, pollen, and nectar. Since larvae and insects are considered meat, sugar gliders are omnivores. They are also marsupials, which means females develop their offspring outside the body in a pouch.

Sugar gliders can glide due to their patagium, which is the gliding membrane that stretches from the rear feet to their front feet. The patagium makes their limbs contiguous. When the animal is gliding, the membranes stretch out with the tail as it directs the sugar glider to land. The marsupial steers by changing the tension of each part of the patagium. [Read More]

James Webb Telescope Proves Our Universe Is Expanding Faster Than Science Can Explain

by Will DeFour, age 15

Recent observations from the James Webb Telescope confirm earlier findings that the universe is expanding up to 8% faster than previously believed. However, this old observation was never due to miscalculations and could be associated with dark energy.

The rate of expansion of the universe is called the Hubble constant. It is measured in kilometers per second per megaparsec. However, the Hubble constant is faster than it was after the Big Bang when the universe was formed. The difference is called the Hubble Tension and has been a mystery to physicists for nearly a century. The New findings from the James Webb Telescope have just proved its existence.

Over the billions of years since the Big Bang, the expansion of the universe has been speeding up. This is due to a Mysterious Force called dark energy. It is a repulsive substance that counteracts the force of gravity. It currently makes up 68% of the universe's total energy density and could be the solution to the Hubble Constant. [Read More]

Whitetip Reef Sharks Help Keep Reef Ecosystems Balanced

by Isabella Flores Gonzales, age 7

Did you know that whitetip reef sharks are one of 85 species that make up the family of requiem sharks? These sharks have a habit of resting in shaded areas while motionless.

Whitetip reef sharks are between five to seven feet long. These sharks weigh up to 176.4 pounds and can live up to 25 years. They live in the warmer zones of the Indian and the Pacific oceans. These sharks have up to five offspring after breeding.

When it comes to their appearance, their most notable feature is their front and upper dorsal fins which are tipped white, giving them their name. However, for some sharks, this white tip is not present. Along with their white-tipped fins, they have a gray top and pale white belly. [Read More]

Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Sets New World Speed Records

by Juan Esteban Palma, age 12

The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is the fastest car in the world. This car can go up to 330 miles per hour! This is impressive because the previous top speed was 200 mph. The Jesko Absolut is a great model for future cars that want to achieve high speeds.

The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut has already broken four world records with its speed and performance. The Koenigsegg set one record by going from 0 to 250 and back to 0 in 27.83 seconds. Only 125 Jesko Absoluts were ever made. This amazing car was sold for the price of $3 million.

The car’s speed is rooted in its 5.0 liter V8 engine. This engine is outfitted with two turbochargers to give it even more power. The Jesko Absolut’s jet-like design gives low air resistance letting the car go much faster. [Read More]

The Ocean Helps Clean Up CO2 From the Atmosphere

by Will DeFour, age 14

Nine hundred and fifty billion tons. That is the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere right now. This number is only growing due to the burning of fossil fuels releasing greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide. Consequently, ice caps are melting, coastal cities are being flooded, and coral reefs that will not grow back for hundreds of years are being destroyed.

Carbon emissions threaten life on Earth, but just stopping the burning of them is not enough. To truly stop the Earth's warming, carbon must be removed from the atmosphere. The removal of carbon dioxide is not an easy endeavor as it requires space, money, and highly advanced technology. One potential location to capture and store carbon dioxide is in the ocean. Already absorbing a quarter of the carbon dioxide that people use, the ocean can essentially work as a carbon dioxide sponge, sequestering carbon for possibly thousands of years. There are many ways to remove carbon, all of which could positively impact the environment.

One of the ways that the ocean already captures carbon dioxide is by absorbing it through seaweed. Each year, the ocean absorbs 200 million tons of carbon dioxide through seaweed. By propagating large amounts of this plant, an additional billion tons could be captured. The subsequent seaweed could be used as a food source, allowing large amounts of land currently used for farming to turn back into ecosystems like forests, prairies, and swamps. This method is one of the cheapest and has uses beyond carbon absorption. However, it is not as effective. For more impactful options, other possibilities must be explored. [Read More]

Toucans Are More Than Just Big Bills and Bright Feathers

by Kai Shade-Adamus, age 8

There are roughly 10,000 species of birds always moving around the world. Birds, in general, are the descendants of feathered dinosaurs from long ago, and their limbs turned into wings over time. There are two types of feathers. One is the strong-stalked “contour.” where are the outer feathers. Beneath the contour feather are fluffier “down” feathers, which keep birds warm.

Toucans are a very friendly and fun species of birds. Toucans primarily eat fruit and use their large beaks to pluck these fruits from tree branches. While their beaks are very large – even bigger than their heads – they are very lightweight and not made of solid bone. Instead, these beaks are filled with spongy tissue.

There are over 40 species of toucans that live in forest and woodland habitats. Toucans live in tree holes that are made naturally or made by other animals, like woodpeckers. Toucans usually lay about two to three eggs in their nest at a time. The eggs take two to three weeks to hatch. Newborn toucans are usually featherless and blind. [Read More]

Frogs Around the World Show Amazing Ways to Survive

by Isabella Flores, age 7

Frogs come from all over the world, living in dry environments such as deserts and very wet ecosystems like rainforests. While there are some poisonous frogs, many are harmless. Frogs eat various small insects, worms, and even larger species like mice and snakes.

One well-known frog is the red-eyed tree frog. These frogs specifically camouflage themselves in rainforest trees to hide from predators. They hide all their bright colors by shutting their eyes, covering their blue sides with their legs, and tucking in their bright orange feet beneath their bellies. The red-eyed tree frog has sticky pads on its feet for climbing and its long strong legs help it jump between branches.

The Uakari poison frog is also another well-known species. The glands on its body produce poison and the bright stripes across its back lure in prey. While this frog is only 1.5 centimeters long, they can be dangerous to mess with. [Read More]

Sea Turtles Are Gentle Giants of the Ocean

by Semaia Zeregezhi, age 10

Sea turtles are tranquil, loving reptiles, and they can range in size from small to absolutely massive. The largest sea turtles can weigh more than eight people combined! Their shells consist of an upper part called a “carapace” and a lower section called a “plastron.” Hard scales, also known as “scutes,” cover all species of turtles except leatherback turtles.

There are six different species of sea turtles. The Olive Ridley turtle normally weighs less than 100 pounds. The leatherback usually ranges from 650 to 1,300 pounds. The carapace of each turtle ranges in color, length, shape, and arrangement of scales. The plastron is located beneath the sea turtle's stomach.

Because sea turtles do not have teeth, their jaws have modified “beaks” suited to their diet. They also do not have visible ears, but they have eardrums covered by their skin. Sea turtles hear low frequencies best, and they have an excellent sense of smell. Their vision in water is decent, but sea turtles are nearsighted out of water. [Read More]

How Deep Sea Fish Use Light to Survive in the Dark

by Edna Torres, age 6

Many deep sea fish use light-producing organs to survive since the sun cannot reach the deeper level of the sea.

There are many fish that live in the deep sea, like lanternfish, hatcherfish, and anglerfish. These fish are intriguing and interesting because they don’t act like typical fish.

Deep sea fish obtain food by using their organs to make light, these are called photophores. This ability is called bioluminescence. Angler fish have a small bioluminescent lure to attract prey. Some fish don’t have eyes, so they use their other sense, like their ears, to hunt down senses. [Read More]

How Barred Owls Threaten Spotted Owls

by Siheon Park, age 11

Spotted owls are threatened carnivores that inhabit forests, as well as wooded and rocky canyons across the American West Coast, the Southwestern United States, and western Mexico.

Male spotted owls weigh up to 1.5 pounds and grow up to 48 centimeters tall. Female spotted owls are slightly larger and taller than the males. They weigh up to 1.7 pounds and are about 48 centimeters tall.

Spotted owls are nocturnal hunters that eat small mammals like squirrels, birds, rats, voles, hares, and other small owls. These owls have competition with close relatives called Barred owls. Barred owls are larger and are more aggressive than spotted owls. Barred owls have begun to displace spotted owls in their natural habitats. [Read More]

Giraffes Are Graceful Animals of the African Grasslands

by Isabella Flores, age 7

Did you know that baby giraffes are known as calves? These calves are about six feet tall when they are born!

The scientific name for a giraffe is giraffe camelopardalis. These animals are herbivores which means their diet consists of plants, grass, leaves, and fruit. These mammals can weigh up to 1,750 to 2,800 pounds, and can grow up to 19 feet tall!

Calves commonly die due to lion attacks during the beginning of their lifespan. Adult giraffes can protect themselves due to their height. Along with their height, giraffes have long tongues, necks, and strong legs for running. For giraffes to stay safe, they need to be mindful of their surroundings when bending down to rest or drink water. [Read More]

Winter Finches Are Taking Their Time to Migrate

By John Agbo, age 14

This year’s Winter Finch Forecast released by the Finch Research Network suggests a slower year for migratory birds arriving in Wisconsin.

During the winter, many species of Wisconsin’s migratory songbirds fly South, searching for food sources and warmer temperatures. This season also usually attracts birds from farther north, from Canada, for the same reasons. The number of birds flying to Wisconsin and other states varies every year, depending on the availability of crops and berries. However, recent patterns indicate that many birds hesitate to make this journey. They have remained in their northern habitats longer than usual.

The migration patterns of finches help predict the migratory patterns of other birds and are connected to the availability of food sources in their homes in the boreal forests in Canada. The Finch Research Network has cone crop reporters on the ground who monitor the abundance of cone crops and berries in Canada. Based on their reports, the Winter Finch Forecast is created, analyzing bird movement patterns and preparing residents for roughly how many and which birds to expect. The forecast generally pertains to Ontario and nearby areas, including Wisconsin. [Read More]

Saving the Northern Bald Ibis Through Guided Migration

by Kevin Chen, age 16

Migration is crucial for birds like the northern bald ibis. Almost completely wiped out in the 17th century, the birds have been saved from extinction through breeding programs and human support over the last two decades.

Although northern bald ibises no longer face the crisis of extinction, they still lack the instincts of migration routes, which in the past were learned from older generations. They now need more external support systems to survive.

To resolve this issue, a conservation team led by Johannes Fritz, a biologist, and the Waldrapp Team based in Austria developed a unique idea. They started relocating northern bald ibises from risky areas to safer locations. However, the result was that the birds were unfamiliar with the intended routes for migration. [Read More]

Bees and Wasps Are Similar Yet Surprisingly Different

by Dellany Onyango, age 9

Bees and wasps are winged insects that share many similarities but also have distinct differences. Both insects have a proboscis, a specialized mouthpart that helps them drink water and nectar. Female bees and wasps have an organ called an ovipositor, which can be used for either laying eggs or, in some species, as a stinger. Since male bees and wasps don’t lay eggs, they do not have an ovipositor and, therefore, cannot sting.

Bees and wasps are found on all continents except Antarctica and can thrive in various environments, from deserts to grasslands. Their diets mainly consist of nectar and pollen, but some wasps are also carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates such as caterpillars and spiders.

Bees and wasps have unique body features that vary in color and size. While bees are typically hairy and stout, wasps have sleeker, longer bodies. Female and male wasps can grow up to two inches long, with some species having bright yellow and black abdomens. Although male wasps do not have stingers, some species can still inject venom into their prey or predators. Many wasps are also known to paralyze caterpillars with their sting before laying eggs inside them, a behavior common in parasitic wasps. [Read More]

Las mariposas son hermosas polinizadoras del mundo

por Sessina Zerezghi, edad 7

Las mariposas son uno de los insectos más conocidos alrededor del mundo por su belleza. Las mariposas son polinizadores y ayudan a las plantas! Muchos insectos como las abejas y mariposas, se alimentan de néctar y polen de las diferentes flores que visitan.

Las mariposas necesitan un clima caliente para vivir porque es difícil encontrar comida en lugares donde hace mucho frío. Viven en lugares donde hay mucha vegetación como selvas y bosques. El hogar de las mariposas depende de la época del año.

Existen muchas especies de mariposas en el mundo. Una de las mariposas más conocidas es la mariposa monarca. Estas mariposas tienen un ciclo migratorio muy interesante. La chupaleche es una mariposa europea y es una de las más bellas por su color. ¡Las mariposas del ocaso son una de las mariposas más grandes del mundo! Todas las mariposas son importantes y son una gran ayuda para nuestro ecosistema. [Read More]

Cómo las plantas acuáticas sobreviven en el agua

por Semaia Zerezghi, edad 9

Las plantas acuáticas son plantas que viven en el agua. Estas especies viven en el margen de estanques, ríos y pantanos. Un ejemplo de este tipo de plantas es la Vallisneria spiralis, una planta oxigenante, que suele estar en estanques y acuarios.

Muchas de las plantas acuáticas se encuentran bajo el agua, pero también hay algunas expuestas al aire. El pequeño sistema de raíces sirve para anclar la planta y para directamente absorber el dióxido de carbono y los minerales del agua. Algunas plantas que están bajo el agua contienen bolsas de aire que les ayudan a sobrevivir en estas condiciones.

Las plantas acuáticas fueron algunas de las primeras plantas en la historia. Con el paso del tiempo, se evolucionaron a plantas que viven en la tierra y en el agua. [Read More]

UW Researchers Find North America's Oldest Dinosaur

By Camila Cruz, age 17

Earlier this month, 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]

Learn About the Fat Tailed Savannah Monitor

by Lucas Abiy, age 7

The savannah monitor is a long and stocky lizard that lives in Central and West Africa, encompassing areas of Senegal to parts of Ethiopia. These lizards can live up to 30 years!

The savannah monitor has many unique physical features. A savannah monitor weighs four to ten pounds and can reach five feet in length. Their tails swell up with fat to help them during seasons when food is scarce. Their skin is thick and scaly to help with moisture retention and survival in arid environments. They also have razor-sharp teeth and claws for defense. Their strong hips and legs also allow for easy navigation on the ground.

The reptile's split tongue is used for smell, they constantly flick their tongues to pick up the scent of nearby prey. Upon catching prey, these creatures like to be left alone to feast. Their diet consists of frogs, smaller lizards, invertebrates, and other small animal. [Read More]

Matching Set of Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Africa and South America

by Sofia Zapata, age 15

Matching dinosaur footprints found in Africa and South America are helping scientists discover new things about dinosaurs that roamed the Earth 120 million years ago.

Footprints teach us a lot about dinosaurs. Experts see more than just footprints. They infer what the dinosaurs may have looked like, where they were traveling, and with whom they were walking. The footprints they found helped them discover that the dinosaurs were three-toed theropods, four-legged sauropods with long necks and tails, and ornithischians that had a bone structure similar to birds.

An international team of researchers led by Southern Methodist University paleontologist Louis L. Jacobs discovered matching sets of Early Cretaceous dinosaur footprints on what are now two different continents. They found more than 260 dinosaur footprints in Brazil and Cameroon in the late 1980s and some were identical to each other, despite being across the ocean. This led scientists to theorize that dinosaurs lived on land before the supercontinent Pangea broke apart into eleven continents. The footprints were found in mud and silt along ancient rivers that were once located on Gondwana, the southern half of Pangea, that separated because of tectonic plate movement. [Read More]

The Science Behind Fireflies and Their Glow

by Dellany Onyango, age 9

Fireflies are small insects that belong to the beetle family, Lampyridae. They are famous for their ability to produce light from specialized organs located in their hind segment. This bioluminescence is the result of a chemical reaction in their bodies, where energy is released in the form of light.

In North America, some species of female fireflies attract males by using false light patterns, a behavior unique to certain species. In parts of Asia, fireflies gather on trees and emit synchronized light patterns, creating a stunning visual effect where the trees seem to glow in unison.

Light patterns are crucial for communication among fireflies, as they use flashing signals to find mates. Fireflies have an oval, flat, and slim body shape, with light-producing organs located in their abdomen, specifically in the pygidium, the hindmost part of their body. These insects are typically brown or black, with yellow or orange markings. [Read More]

Why Snow Leopards Are Called Ghosts of the Mountains

by Sessina Zerezghi, age 7

Snow leopards, also known scientifically as Panthera uncia, are interesting animals. They are similar to lions, pumas, and other big cats. Unfortunately, these leopards are endangered.

Snow leopards live in 12 central Asian countries, some including China, India, Nepal, and Russia. Snow leopards have many abilities that help them survive extreme cold weather. These mammals have a tail that measures up to 36 inches. They weigh between 60 to 120 pounds. Snow leopards also have beige fur that helps them blend in with the rocks and terrain in their environment. The spots on their coats help them camouflage into their environment.

Snow leopards have only been seen by a few people, which is why they are known as the “ghost of the mountains.” Since these leopards are rarely spotted, researchers believe there are only about 3,500 to 37,000 snow leopards left in the wild. These cats are endangered because their food, like wild sheep and ibex, is constantly being hunted. Researchers use satellite radio collars to track where snow leopards travel. [Read More]

Sand Cats Thrive in Deserts as Tiny yet Fierce Hunters

by Chelsea Zheng, age 12

Despite being smaller than a common house cat, the sand cat is a fearsome predator. Unlike most other cats, this cat lives in the harsh desert and has accumulated various adaptations to survive in these areas.

The sand cat's large ears help it detect prey. This feature is necessary because these cats are nocturnal. Their ears are low on their head so they can stay hidden in the barren landscape. Their sandy-gray fur helps them blend in with their surroundings, which leaves them unnoticed by predators and prey. The sand cat’s fur also protects its paws from the hot sand.

Sand cats are the only cat species that primarily live in the desert. With their powerful limbs, they can dig burrows to escape the sun’s heat. These cats weigh 6.6 to 8.8 pounds, while an average house cat weighs between eight and 12 pounds. Sand cats mature in 14 months and can live up to an average lifespan of eight years. [Read More]

The Golden Eagle Is a Fierce Bird of Prey

by Lucas Abiy, age 7

The golden eagle is one of the best-known birds of prey. These eagles live in the northern hemisphere, including Eurasia, North America, the Scottish Highlands, and North Africa.

The golden eagle can weigh up to seven kilograms, and it ranges from 26-35 inches in length, while its wings measure 180-234 inches. Female goal eagles are usually larger than the males.

When a golden eagle is born, it may appear different from its mother or father. The golden eagle could have freckles or spots. Their feathers can be black, brown, and dark brown. The eagle also has a golden tint along the back of its head, which is the origin of its name. [Read More]

These Big Cats Are Often Mistaken for Otters but Are Stealthy Predators of the Americas

by Lucas Abiy, age 7

The jaguarundi cat is an amazing creature. Due to their small stature and slender-long body, these wildcats are commonly mistaken for weasels or otters.

The jaguarundi cat has sharp canines and carnassials to rip up flesh from their prey. This cat feeds on amphibians, small birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. These creatures have rough tongues with small bumps called papillae to collect the remaining flesh off bones.

The jaguarundi weighs around five to nine kilograms; its body is about 55-77 centimeters, with its tail being 33-60 centimeters. They have soft pads on their feet covered in thick hair that allow them to grip onto trees and stalk their prey silently through the dense forest. These cats have ear flaps that can focus on sounds and enhance hearing. [Read More]

A "New" Kind of Bear Appears in the Arctic

by Siwoo Park, age 12

Pizzlies or grolar bears are the offspring of grizzlies and polar bears. While it is a rare occurrence for these two kinds of bears to mate, changing climates and global warming have expanded the habitat range of some species, leading to more overlap and intermingling between these two types of bears. The Grolar bear is a representation and sign of how animals are adapting to the ever changing climates of Earth.

Grizzly and polar bears sit at the top of the food chain in North America, but grizzlies live mostly in the U.S and Canada, while polar bears live in the Arctic and northern Canada. Since the Arctic is warming up, polar bears are traveling south and crossing paths with grizzlies. When these species reproduce, their offspring is a pizzly or a grolar bear, depending on which kind of bear their father was. Grolar bears are created when the father is a grizzly bear, and pizzlies are created when the father is a polar bear.

Grolar bears were first discovered (and shot) by a hunter in 2006. Since that encounter, people have reported seeing more of these hybrids, but scientists say these crossbreeds are still a rare occurrence. Although these animals may be fascinating, there is an urgent and ominous undertone of their existence, reminding us how Earth is warming rapidly. [Read More]

Learn All About the Unicorns of the Ocean

by Reety Subedi, age 8

Narwhals are popularly known as the “unicorns of the sea.” However, they are scientifically known as Monodon monoceros.

Narwhals eat flatfish, cod, shrimp, squid, and crab. Their food is found during their long dives. Narwhals use echolocation to locate their prey and they can dive down more than one mile deep in search of their food. It is unknown if their tusk is helpful during hunting or feeding.

Narwhals have a sausage-shaped body, round head, and no beak. Babies are dark gray, adults are gray and white, and older ones are white. Instead of a dorsal fin, narwhals have ridges located on their back and tail flukes that curve backward giving them a unique appearance adapted to life in Arctic waters. A well-known feature of the narwhal is their tusks, which can grow up to ten feet long. The tusk that narwhals grow is also considered a tooth. This tooth helps them feel or taste. [Read More]

The Life and Death of Trees, How Nature Takes Its Course

by Ian Kosharek, age 12

The death of a tree is inevitable. From its initial germination to the damages it endures throughout its growth, a tree will eventually surrender at the end of its lifetime.

One of the many ways trees die is from invasion by other organisms such as honey fungus. This intruder invades the tree by spreading underground rhizomorphs, which are root-like structures that penetrate the tree’s roots and cause root rot.

Honey fungus is not the only thing that kills trees. Other fungi, like bracket fungus, also attack trees but use different methods. Bracket fungus is slow-growing, but as it expands, it decomposes the wood of the tree, weakening it over time and eventually killing it like a parasite. [Read More]

Desert Blonde Tarantula Thrives in Harsh Desert Environments

by Lincoln Roos, age 11

The Desert Blond Tarantula is a species of arachnid that lives in the Sonoran Desert, California and Mexico. It survives in these areas with little water. This creature has many other names including the Arizona desert blonde, the Mexican Blond Tarantula, and the Western Desert Tarantula.

This tarantula is an insectivore, which means its diet consists of insects; this spider eats crickets, beetles, cicadas, and caterpillars. Its predators include snakes, lizards, birds, and coyotes. Its fiercest predator is the tarantula hawk — a massive two-inch-long blue wasp with orange wings.

The Desert Blond Tarantula has adaptations that help it survive many deadly predators. It can camouflage, allowing it to blend into its environment. Additionally, it is equipped with massive fangs containing poison and uricating hairs. The hairs on its back side are flung by its leg-like arms called pedipalps. These hairs stun and disable the predator so that the tarantula can escape. [Read More]

The Basilisk Lizard Defies Gravity on Water

by Kai Shade-Adamus, age 8

The basilisk lizard is a fascinating reptile known for its ability to walk on water, thanks to its speedy, powerful legs.

This reptile is found in southern Mexico and Central America. The basilisk lizard is famous for its swift legs that create pockets of air in the water. These air pockets help the lizard stay above the surface, allowing it to travel across the water with ease.

The basilisk lizard has physical features that aid in its survival. Its long, strong legs enable it to walk on water, and its sharp claws provide protection and help it grip onto surfaces, even while it’s sleeping. [Read More]

Three Wisconsin Birds that Weigh Less than an Ounce

by Joseph Zheng, age 10

Wisconsin's smallest birds can weigh less than a pencil. The Downy woodpecker, American goldfinch, and house sparrow are all examples of small birds commonly found in the state.

The Downy woodpecker is 11 to 14 centimeters long and typically weighs around 20 grams. These woodpeckers are frequently seen at bird feeders, where they enjoy suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and even peanut butter. Downy woodpeckers are also fond of drinking sugar water. They produce high-pitched calls that are easy to recognize, along with rapid drumming sounds created by tapping their feet during mating displays, which can sound continuous due to their speed.

The American goldfinch, another small bird, is 11 to 14 centimeters long and weighs 11 to 20 grams. These bright yellow birds are common in Wisconsin and are attracted to sunflower and Nyjer seeds. However, they are often intimidated by larger birds and prefer quiet spaces to feed. Goldfinches are strict vegetarians, feeding mainly on seeds—a rarity among birds, as most feed on insects. To ensure their young have enough to eat, goldfinches breed a month later than other birds. Their call is often described as sounding like the words "potato chip" stretched out. [Read More]

Humpback Whales Are the Big Singers of the Ocean

by Isabella Flores Gonzalez, age 7

The humpback whale is a marine mammal found in oceans around the world. These massive creatures can grow as long as 50-60 feet and weigh as much as 40 tons, making them one of the largest animals in the sea.

Humpback whales have a diet that includes krill, small fish, and other small marine organisms. Instead of teeth, they have baleen, comb-like structures in their upper jaws that help them filter food from water. When feeding, a humpback whale opens its mouth wide, allowing water and small prey to enter. It then uses its tongue to push the water out through the baleen, trapping the prey inside to be swallowed.

In addition to their unique feeding technique, humpback whales are remarkable for their ability to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes during deep dives, although they typically stay submerged for around 10-20 minutes. They are also famous for their songs, which can last up to 15 minutes and are believed to be part of mating displays. [Read More]

New Study Traces Bees Back to Supercontinent Gondwana

by Jules Da Costa, age 16

Bees are vital insects for our natural world, and a recent study shows that they're much older than we previously knew and come from a supercontinent millions of years ago.

Scientists believe that long ago, the land that is now Africa and South America were joined together and formed an ancient supercontinent called Gondwana. This is apparently where bees originated, according to a 2023 study in the journal Current Biology. Researchers Silas Bessert and Eduardo Almeida claim that as the continents split up and new ones formed, the bees followed. They traveled north, spreading flowering plants.

Not only does this new understanding of the origins of bees help researchers understand the insect’s evolution, but it also helps them understand how this evolution affected plants and plant life. The diversity and spread of plants we see today is the work of those bees from long ago. By spreading plant life and collecting pollen, bees allowed plants to adapt to different geographic areas and expand outwards. [Read More]

Expired Canned Fish Led to a Breakthrough in Marine Parasite Research

by Theodore Morrison, age 16

Who would have guessed that expired canned fish could be valuable? For an ecologist and a graduate student, it was expired fish that held the key to the construction of a timeline of parasites in marine environments. Chelsea Wood and Natalie Mastick, the parasite ecologist and graduate student respectively, engineered an ingenious idea to study parasitic threats to marine life.

The cycle of life each organism experiences can vary widely from species to species, and marine life is no different. The number of parasites can help determine the number of salmons’ predators in an area because of the strong tie between these parasites and the level of predators, as the parasites are transferred when these predators, like seals, killer whales, and belugas, consume these salmon. One might wonder why this tie exists: it is because this parasite cannot breed nor enter such an environment without marine mammals. As a result, the data might be used for further scientific study.

For the study, the canned salmon was picked through and pockets of worms were extracted. These worms, called Anisakids, delve and dig into the salmon’s muscle creating a pocket in the salmon. These worms are extremely common in seafood though they are killed in the cooking process, so no worries there unless it is undercooked or someone is allergic. Infection in salmon has increased in correlation with the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, which increased populations, so one could conclude marine parasites would follow. This demonstrates a positive result of the study of salmon over time and how marine life is expanding. [Read More]

The Pink Fairy Armadillo Is One of Argentina’s Rarest Species

by Siheon Park, age 11

The pink fairy armadillo is as small as a dollar bill and incredibly mysterious, spending nearly its entire life underground. These nocturnal creatures live in central Argentina, particularly in dry deserts and shrublands.

The scientific name of the species, Chlamyphorus truncatus, refers to the smallest species of armadillo, reaching about six inches in length and weighing less than four ounces. The pink fairy armadillo has fur on its underside, while its unique shell, which covers its body from head to tail, appears pink due to blood vessels close to the surface. This rosy armor is believed to help with body temperature regulation in their underground environment.

Scientists think that millions of years ago, the ancestors of the pink fairy armadillo lived primarily above ground. Over time, as the environment grew hotter and drier, they adapted to life underground to survive. The pink fairy armadillo’s shovel-like forelimbs and larger hind feet are specialized for digging through the sandy soils where they make their home. [Read More]

New Cancer Treatment Wipes Out Rare Melanoma in Patient

by Ayelen Flores, age 14

A new cancer treatment has recently been approved and has shown positive results in some people. These types of therapies are not guaranteed to help every patient – however, one woman by the name of Toni English was a patient who saw results. The treatment has been able to completely wipe out her cancer.

The Orlando Health Cancer Institute in Florida had a medical team that tried a new cancer treatment on Toni English. In her 60s, English was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma, one of the rarest and deadliest forms of cancer. The melanoma began in English’s left lung and started to grow in other areas within her body. Typical therapies for melanoma can shrink it or keep it under control, but unfortunately, they did not work for English. She tried surgery, radiation, and drugs, but the cancer continued to grow. English lost hope until she talked with her doctor and suggested a new drug to treat her cancer.

The therapy English took is called Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. During the therapy, scientists remove parts of a patient's tumor surgically. Immune cells called T Cells from the tumor are grown in the lab and then large amounts are infused back into the patient's bloodstream. The T-cells can identify and kill cancer cells, which can sometimes eliminate the disease. Although English does not remember much from her hospital visit, she recalls feeling weak and not being able to sleep. At her 6-month check-up, she was informed that her cancer had vanished. Despite showing promising positive results, most patients’ melanoma returns or does not react to the treatment. [Read More]

The Blue Glaucus Uses Stolen Venom to Survive

by Siheon Park, age 11

Sea slugs are brightly colored to help them camouflage into their underwater environment and warn other animals to stay away. Their vibrant shades are beautiful – perhaps the most eye-catching is called the blue glaucus, also known as the “sea swallow,” blue angel,” or even “blue dragon.”

Blue glaucuses are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. A group of blue glaucuses are called “blue fleets.”

These slugs eat and steal venom from other poisonous animals like Portuguese man wars, by-the-wind sailors, and violet sea snails. The venom is used for hunting and as a defense mechanism. They store the venom and release it out of their “wings” called cerata. This painful venom can travel long distances due to heavy currents, even washing ashore and stinging animals or humans. [Read More]

St. Louis Zoo Welcomes Red Wolf Cubs, Bolstering Endangered Population

by Sofia Zapata, age 15

Red wolves have been listed as an endangered species since 1967. This species is considered the only large carnivore that is exclusively native to the U.S. It is estimated that fewer than 300 red wolves exist in captivity, with fewer than 25 remaining in the wild. In the past year, four healthy red wolf pups were born at the St. Louis Zoo.

There have been no wild sightings of red wolves in Missouri for more than 70 years. Red wolves are the world's most endangered wolf species, as their population has been drastically reduced by predator control programs and habitat degradation. In 1980, the species was declared extinct in the wild.

Red wolves are highly adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, as long as there is sufficient food, water, and cover. They typically prey on small mammals, white-tailed deer, and raccoons. Red wolves are capable of traveling up to 20 miles a day in search of food. They have broad heads and tall, pointed ears. They stand about 26 inches tall, are approximately four feet long, and weigh between 45 and 80 pounds. Red wolves are generally wary of humans and tend to avoid human interaction. They live in close-knit packs of five to eight wolves. [Read More]

Beware the King Cobra: Apex Predator of the Snake World

by Bruno Torres, age 9

The king cobra is one of the deadliest animals alive because of its venom. The king cobra’s eyes remain open, even while asleep due to the snakes not having eyelids. When the cobra feels endangered, it uses its reflexes on its neck and hood to scare away humans and any other threats. The king cobra has flexible bones that allow its jaw to open very wide to catch prey. Although its fangs are only about half an inch in length, they are strong and can bite through their prey.

King cobras are among the longest venomous snakes, reaching up to 18 feet and typically weighing around 11 pounds. They have a lifespan of about 20 years and prefer warm climates, primarily inhabiting forests and grasslands in Southern Asia, China, and the Philippines.

While king cobras are generally shy and avoid humans, they will defend their nests if disturbed. In one tragic incident, a young boy was reportedly bitten by a king cobra while near farmland, where the snake was likely protecting its nest. Although cases of fatal bites are rare, this incident highlights the danger these snakes can pose when they feel threatened. [Read More]

Bush Vipers Are Camouflaged Predators with a Venomous Bite

by Gerardo Sanchez Ramirez, age 10

Bush vipers are incredible snakes that have unique physical features and characteristics.

The scales of a bush viper are ridged and help the snake grip to surfaces. Their scales range in many colors from green and brown to yellow and black. These snakes rely on their color and scale patterns to camouflage and avoid detection. Bush vipers have large round eyes with vertical pupils. Their eyes are well adapted to help them find prey in dim lighting. Bush vipers have broad triangular heads; this head shape helps accommodate the space needed for their large salivary glands that produce and store their venom. Similar to other snakes, the bush viper uses its tongue to track its prey. It occasionally flickers its tongue to capture the scent molecules emitted from other creatures.

These snakes have an unknown lifespan however, bush viper females are typically bigger than males and can grow up to 29 inches long. The fangs of bush vipers are their biggest weapons, carrying venom that can knock out prey. They consume a variety of creatures including other snakes, snails, slugs, birds, amphibians, lizards, and rodents. They hunt by lurking in trees and dropping down to catch prey that unexpectedly pass by. [Read More]

Bizarre Discovery Off Japanese Coast Sparks Fierce Debate

by Mahalia Pearson, age 13

The Yonaguni Monument can be found under the sea, near the island of Yonaguni, Japan. The island is the westernmost part of Japan, so far west that it is only 111 km from the east shore of Taiwan and 2,000 km from Tokyo.

The person who discovered the monument was Kihachiro Aratake. The Yonaguni Monument was discovered in 1986. Before finding the monument, Aratake was already a well-known scuba diver who owned a scuba diving center called Sou Wes, located in Sonai, Japan, on the north shore. While looking for hammerhead sharks, Kihachiro stumbled across a strange structure. He called it “the underwater Machu Picchu.” The site is now called “Kaitei Iseki” (Japanese for “the Monument on the bottom of the sea”). People took an instant interest in the discovery, as its origin is unclear—nobody is sure if it was naturally formed or man-made.

A dive blogger named Florine Quirion wrote about the site. Quirion had learned about the site and wanted to visit it herself. Once she saw it, she was curious about what people thought of the monument, so she made an Instagram post to poll opinions. When the results came in, 67 percent thought the site was naturally made, while the remaining 33 percent thought the site was man-made. [Read More]

Incoming Asteroid Burns in the Atmosphere Over the Pacific Ocean

by John Agb, age 13

Earth narrowly avoided a small-scale disaster. On September 4, 2024, a small asteroid ignited in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, near the Philippines. Luckily, it burned up before causing any damage.

The European Space Agency (ESA) reported that the asteroid was only about one meter wide and was detected shortly before it entered the atmosphere. Although it didn’t pose a threat to Earth, similar objects can occasionally create bright fireballs, but they typically disintegrate due to their small size.

Researchers are actively working on ways to get an earlier warning if a larger object heads toward Earth. One example is NASA’s 2022 Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), a mission designed to see if we could alter an asteroid's path. DART collided with Dimorphos, a 160-meter-wide asteroid moonlet orbiting a larger asteroid, Didymos, successfully slowing Dimorphos in its orbit and offering insights into potential asteroid redirection. [Read More]

Unmanned Vessel Searches Lake Superior for Site of 1968 Plane Crash

by Edwin Torres, age 13

An airplane carrying three researchers unexpectedly crashed into the waters of Lake Superior on Oct. 23, 1968. Since then, parts of the plane have drifted to the surface, but little is known about what exactly happened to the crew and plane.

A team of researchers from Michigan Tech University (MTU) attempted to solve the decade-old mystery. They have used a boat with sonar and cameras to map the bottom part of Lake Superior, which is the largest freshwater lake in the world. With depths of up to 1,300 feet, the lake is home to numerous shipwrecks. Additionally, the Armada 8, an autonomous vessel, searched Lake Superior.

On that day in 1968, the pilot of the plane, Robert Carew, co-pilot Gordon Jones, and student, Velayudh Krishna were heading to Lake Superior from Madison, Wisconsin. They were gathering data on the temperature and the water radiation of the lake. [Read More]

El ciclo de vida de un bebé lobo

por Joseph Zheng, edad 9

En la primavera, las lobas hembras dan a luz a crías recién nacidas en madrigueras después de nueve semanas de gestación.

Una loba adulta encaja perfectamente en una madriguera, que se excava tres metros de largo antes de quedar preñada. Durante el primer mes después del nacimiento de los cachorros, la madre asume toda la responsabilidad de la manada de lobos.

Los cachorros permanecen en sus madrigueras durante las primeras semanas para mantenerse abrigados y protegidos, ya que inicialmente son sordos. Cada cachorro pesa alrededor de una libra. Su madre comenzará a amamantarlos hasta que tengan edad suficiente para comer carne. Después del primer mes, la responsabilidad de la supervivencia pasa únicamente de la madre a toda la manada. Este método de cuidado ayuda a formar un vínculo entre los miembros más nuevos y el resto de la manada. [Read More]

Why Light-Speed Travel Remains Beyond Human Reach

by John Agbo, age 13

People often ponder what would happen if humans traveled at the speed of light. However, it is worth asking: is this even possible?

Some problems arise when trying to reach light speed. As humans, we are not able to withstand more than four to six times the force of gravity, also known as g-force. To accelerate to the speed of light would require immense energy, and any human attempting it would experience dangerous levels of g-force, potentially causing fatal damage. Even more challenging, the closer an object gets to the speed of light, the more energy it needs to continue accelerating. Eventually, it would require an infinite amount of energy to reach light speed, which is impossible under the current laws of physics.

As an object with mass approaches light speed, its mass increases, and at the speed of light, it would theoretically have infinite mass—another impossibility. This is why only particles with zero rest mass, like photons, can travel at the speed of light. [Read More]

Why Mysterious Giants Live in the Deepest Oceans

by Samuel Garduño Martínez, age 17

When comparing spider crabs on shore to those on the ocean floor, the 13-foot-wide ocean crabs put the meager shore crabs to shame. This trend of going deeper and getting bigger seems common in nature, prompting the creation of the famous adage, “the deeper they go, the bigger they get.” There is scientific data to support this assertion, however, terrestrial animals have also been known to grow to huge sizes. Although aquatic animals aren’t the only ones who have benefited from their larger sizes, gigantism has been a key factor in the survival of creatures in the mighty oceans.

Due to the lack of food at the bottom of the ocean, resourcefulness has played a part in animals’ huge sizes. Larger organisms need less energy per mass than smaller creatures—in other words, they are more energy efficient. Kleiber’s law, a mathematical model, supports this train of thought, equating larger organisms with less food needed per unit of body mass. This is why cats, despite being one hundred times heavier than a mouse, will only need thirty times more calories. In the depths of the dark and cold sea, the ability to get the most out of sparse food, usually found as bits of debris, is essential to survival. Some animals have developed unique characteristics, such as gaping maws or extendable stomachs, to best prepare for their unanticipated mealtimes. Although Kleiber’s law has a good mathematical basis, the energy-to-mass ratio doesn’t show the entire picture. It fails to recognize other environmental and evolutionary factors contributing to such adaptations.

The exact mechanisms behind size and energy conservation are not clear, however, they could be attributed to temperature. Generally, larger creatures will retain more heat because of their size, comparatively losing less heat per unit of body mass. Additionally, their size allows them to conserve more heat from metabolism. [Read More]

Colugos: Incredible Gliders That Soar Through Southeast Asia

by Delany Onyango, age 9

Although the colugo, a creature that resembles a flying chipmunk, cannot fly, it has the remarkable ability to glide through the air. The colugo has a patagium, which is the stretchy skin that connects its limbs, allowing it to glide between trees.

When fully extended, their patagium can span up to 28 inches, helping them glide distances of up to 328 feet. The colugo can fold up its patagium to avoid getting caught in twigs or other sharp objects and uses its tail to steer while gliding.

In addition to its patagium, the colugo has other interesting physical features. These creatures are relatively small, only weighing around two to three pounds and growing up to a length of 17 inches. The colugo’s feet, equipped with sharp claws, allow it to cling to tree trunks. Colugos have specialized pectinate teeth with up to 20 comb-like slits, which they use for grooming their fur and straining food. Their fur has various spotted patterns that provide excellent camouflage in their forest environments. [Read More]

The Sungazer Lizard is a Tiny but Mighty Reptile

by Dagim Abiy, age 7

The sungazer lizard is fast and stubbornly defensive. The small lizard is covered with spikes all over its body that scare away many predators.

Sungazer lizards typically live in southern and eastern Africa. This lizard prefers dry areas and it eats bugs like spiders, beetles, and termites. There are about 20 species of the sungazer lizard.

Although most lizards lay eggs, sungazer lizards give birth to live young. Newborns have a scaly suit of armor and a soft set of spikes. The sungazer has a thick flattened body for wedging walls in their burrows. [Read More]

Black Holes Are Mysterious Giants That Shape Our Galaxy

by Aloniab Gezae, age 10

A black hole is a region in space with an extremely powerful gravitational force. Black holes aren’t holes; rather, they are composed of extremely dense material packed into a tiny space, creating a remarkable force that pulls everything inward. This gravity draws in anything that comes near, and it is so strong that even light cannot escape. Black holes are called “black” because they are invisible in space.

There are two types of black holes, a supermassive and a stellar. Supermassive black holes are the largest, with masses millions of times greater than that of the sun. The black hole at the center of our galaxy, known as Sagittarius A, is a supermassive black hole that plays a crucial role in influencing the motion of stars around the center of the Milky Way. The most common type of black hole is the stellar black hole, which forms from the collapse of a massive star and can be around 20 times the mass of the sun.

A black hole is made from an exploded star. A star is a gigantic sphere of hydrogen, which powers it through nuclear fusion. When the star runs out of fuel, it collapses, triggering a supernova. A supernova is an explosion caused by the star’s core collapsing under gravity. After the explosion, if the core's mass is high enough, a black hole is left behind. Many large galaxies have supermassive black holes at their centers, but not every galaxy necessarily has one. [Read More]

What Is Bluetooth? Exploring Its Uses and Security Tips

by Aarosh Subedi, age 11

Bluetooth is a form of technology that connects devices without the need for cables or wires. There are several interesting aspects of Bluetooth.

Through Bluetooth, multiple devices can communicate with each other. Bluetooth capability in devices is now commonly an electronic “standard,” meaning manufacturers and companies typically incorporate specific requirements to allow other devices to interact with and recognize their products via Bluetooth.

A large number of personal electronic devices (PEDs) utilize Bluetooth technology. For example, people can operate computers with a wireless keyboard or use a wireless headset for phone calls. These are just a few examples of Bluetooth technology in daily life. [Read More]

The Dual Nature of Deadly Nightshade from Poison to Medicine

by Siwoo Park, age 12

Deadly nightshade, also known as Atropa belladonna, is a highly poisonous plant that has been used for centuries in cosmetics, poison, and for its medicinal properties. The plant is also featured in witchcraft, folklore, and mythology.

Deadly Nightshade has simple leaves with flowers that grow above each of them. It produces sweet purple-black berries that children or animals might be tempted to consume. However, all parts of the plant – including the berries – are toxic, and consuming any of them is fatal. Deadly nightshades have many highly concentrated chemicals that affect the brain and the nervous system, such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Ingestion of this plant will cause convulsions, delirium, dilated pupils, hallucinations, paralysis, and death as the respiratory system fails.

Despite the toxicity of deadly nightshade, it was commonly used for cosmetic products. The most famous rendition is when Venetian women in the Renaissance used these plants as eye drops to dilate their pupils. One of the deadly nightshade’s fatal alkaloids, atropine, caused this reaction. Though it had common uses in the Renaissance, it was also a murder weapon used to poison people, including warriors, kings, and emperors. Although deadly nightshade has a gruesome history, during WWII, atropine was distilled from the nightshade to be used as an antidote to treat patients who inhaled a paralyzing gas invented by the Nazis. [Read More]

How Do Freshwater Lakes Exist Deep in the Sahara Desert?

by Oliver Zink, age 13

In the middle of Earth's harshest desert lies a group of freshwater lakes that get their water from a single underground aquifer. These lakes, known as the Lakes of Ounianga, were originally filled with water when the Sahara was a much wetter region. The lakes are located in northeastern Chad, within the Ennedi Plateau region, in a basin near the Tibesti Mountains. The site became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012.

According to UNESCO, the lakes are in a scorching and arid desert that receives less than two millimeters, or much less than an inch, of rainfall per year. There are 18 lakes, divided into two groups: Ounianga Kebir (four lakes) and Ounianga Serir (14 lakes). The lakes vary in depth, chemical composition, and coloration.

The climate history of these lakes is connected to human migration that occurred at the end of the most recent ice age, around 11,000 years ago. During that time, large monsoons fed a massive lake, which diminished over time as the desert returned to the area around 5,000 years ago. This process left the lakes of Ounianga with their current size and appearance. [Read More]

Gila Monsters: The Venomous Predators of the Desert

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

Gila monsters are one of seven venomous lizards that exist in the world. They are some of the rarest creatures but are also endangered.

Gila monsters have many interesting features. One of its most notable features is its poisonous bite and venom. Gila monsters have bacteria in their mouths which can cause infections to its prey upon attack. Along with the bacteria, their venom is fatal to most small animals like reptiles, rabbits and rodents. Gila monsters have unique color patterns consisting of black, brownish-yellow and red. These color patterns help them camouflage from predators. Additionally, their bony and bead-like scales act as effective protection and armor.

While the Gila monster has many strong protective features, one of their weaknesses is in their vision. Their eyes are small and inefficient, thus they rely on other senses for practically everything. [Read More]

OSIRIS-REx Delivers Asteroid Samples That Could Help Understand Our Solar System’s Origins

by Iliyan Hoskins, age 11

On Sept. 24, 2023, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft delivered an important package that NASA had been anticipating for seven years.

“This is the rarest stuff we’ve ever had on Earth,” said James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The package contained rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu. While it may not seem like much, these components can help scientists understand what materials came together to build our solar system and potentially how life began. The samples also provide valuable insight into the dangers posed by asteroids that could collide with Earth.

Donte Lauretta, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, leads the OSIRIS-REx mission. Despite waiting seven years for these samples, Lauretta and his team only kept a small portion for their own research, with the rest shared among scientists worldwide and saved for future studies. [Read More]

Sea Angels Are Tiny Marine Slugs with Big Survival Skills

by Siheon Park, age 11

Sea angels are semi-transparent marine slugs that swim near ocean surfaces and get their name from the way they glide with their wing-like appendages.

These animals and their prey have been around since the Cretaceous period, about 130 million years ago. Sea angels can grow up to seven centimeters in length and they have a lifespan of up to two years.

Sea angels are hermaphrodites, meaning they can switch genders. During their mating ritual, sea angel couples stay locked together and spin for hours, which turns their reproductive organs inside out. [Read More]

Nebulae Are the Birthplace of Stars

by Malak Alquraishi, age 13

A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas. There are several different types of nebulae, and they are an essential part of the interstellar medium—the matter that exists in the space between stars within galaxies. Nebulae are among the most spectacular sights in astronomy.

In Latin, "nebula" means cloud, but in an astronomical context, it describes any celestial object that appears cloud-like when viewed through a telescope. With the benefit of modern telescopes, scientists now know that galaxies once thought to be nebulae, are composed of billions of stars. As a result, astronomers now reserve the word "nebula" for genuine clouds of gas and dust, which can be found throughout our galaxy and beyond.

Most nebulae are made of gas that glows with its light, creating colorful displays. This glowing effect is often due to ionized gas, such as hydrogen, being energized by nearby stars. Other nebulae, such as dark nebulae, are composed of more dust. Instead of glowing, they block light from more distant objects, creating dark patches in the sky. Reflection nebulae do not emit their light but instead reflect the light of nearby stars. [Read More]

Caterpillars Are Small Creatures with Big Transformations

by Dilma Attidekou, age 10

Caterpillars are small insects that shapeshift into bigger insects known as butterflies.

Caterpillars, also known as butterfly larvae, have big heads and strong jaws. They use these parts as tools for cutting up food. Their bodies are split into 13 segments. The rear part of the caterpillar is the abdomen and the front is the thorax.

All caterpillars have five pairs of prolegs (false legs) located near the abdomen. However, they lose all their prolegs when they become adults. Yet, they still have three pairs of actual legs when they reach adulthood. Unlike most other animals, caterpillars can barely see but have six eyes that help them distinguish in both dark and light. Some caterpillars have false eyes on their backs to scare away their predators. [Read More]

Cone Snails Deadly Venom Holds Promise for Medicine

by Siwoo Park, age 12

New research on cone snails and their venom has opened doors for possibilities in medicine.

Cone snails are ocean-living mollusks that have a hollow, spear-like, harpoon tooth to hunt prey. These harpoon teeth are laced with a venom that is made of molecules called peptides.

Cone snails have hundreds of subspecies. They inhabit almost all oceans and feed on fish, worms, and other snails. The snails’ harpoons pierce through their prey and paralyze them, allowing the snail to devour their catch. Even though most of these subspecies eat smaller prey, there are a few whose venom is strong enough to kill a human. [Read More]

Exploring the Moon’s Formation and the Arrival of a Temporary "Second Moon"

by Semaia Zerezghi, age 9

The Moon was formed at the same time as Earth when a large object, roughly the size of Mars, collided with our planet. The debris from this colossal impact collected to form the Moon, and Earth's gravitational force kept it in orbit. As a result of this crash, the Moon and Earth share many similar materials, although they are not identical.

No other moon is as large relative to its parent planet as Earth's Moon. To understand their relative size, imagine Earth as a basketball and the Moon as a tennis ball 24 feet away. Using this comparison, the Sun would be the size of a large house almost two miles away. The Moon's outer layer is covered in powdery soil, craters, dead volcanoes, and wide lava plains. Unlike Earth, the Moon has no atmosphere, causing its surface temperatures to drop to around -280 degrees Fahrenheit at night and rise to about 260 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

The Moon goes through changes called "lunar phases." During the first phase, the new moon, no light is reflected. After that, the phases progress through the waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. These phases repeat in a cycle that lasts about 29.5 days. [Read More]

On a Remote Island in the Arctic Ocean, Scientists Study Life on Mars

by Dulce Vazquez, age 16

The Haughton Impact Crater is perhaps the closest thing we have to Mars on Earth, in addition to being one of the world's northernmost impact craters. The Haughton Impact Crater is found on Nunavut territory on Devon Island in the Arctic.

This crater was originally spotted in sky photographs during the 1950s. It was named after Reverend Samuel Haughton, who was a British natural expert and also wrote the first geological study of the Arctic Archipelago.

The Haughton Impact Crater was formed around 23 million years ago when an unknown object, approximately 1.2 miles in diameter, struck Earth, forming a crater 12.4 miles in diameter. During this period, the northern regions were experiencing warm climates that started with long periods of daylight followed by long periods of darkness. [Read More]

Exploring Earth From Its Core to the Edges of Space

by Arsema Biruk, age 8

Earth is home to human beings and many other living things. Earth's formation took place around 4.56 billion years ago. About two-thirds of the Earth's surface is covered with water. On the remaining land, there are forests and deserts, providing habitats for thousands of animals and different species.

The Earth has five layers in its atmosphere. The atmosphere acts like an invisible shield around the Earth. When small objects from space, such as meteoroids, enter the Earth's atmosphere, they often burn up before reaching land or sea.

The atmosphere protects humans from harmful materials in outer space, including the sun's radiation. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere; here, you can find water vapor and all types of weather. The stratosphere is the next layer above the troposphere and contains a gas called ozone that absorbs ultraviolet rays from the sun. The middle layer of the atmosphere, known as the mesosphere, is where most meteors burn up. Above the mesosphere, the thermosphere is where the International Space Station orbits. Lastly, the exosphere is the highest layer of the atmosphere and gradually merges into outer space. [Read More]

What Makes Hurricanes and Tornadoes So Dangerous?

by Arsema Biruk, age 8

A hurricane is a violent storm that forms over warm oceans during the hottest months. It starts when warm, moist air rises and forms clouds full of water vapor. As the hurricane approaches land, it can cause terrible damage, although it often begins to weaken without the warm ocean waters to fuel it.

Hurricanes are given names selected in alphabetical order, alternating between masculine and feminine names with each new occurrence. One example is Hurricane Katrina from 2005, which remains one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history. The hurricane hit New Orleans, Louisiana, causing $160 billion in damage and resulting in about 1,800 deaths.

In Bangladesh and other areas around the Indian Ocean, hurricanes are called cyclones. For example, in 1991, a giant cyclone struck Bangladesh with deadly winds up to 140 miles per hour, causing floods over 500 square miles. This disaster left ten million people homeless and caused an estimated 138,000 deaths, primarily from flooding and storm surges. [Read More]

Cougars, Lynxes, and Bobcats Exploring the Differences

by Dagim Abiy, age 7

The cougar, lynx, and bobcat are mostly found in northern climates, but they have many differences.

Named for their short tails, bobcats have a distinctive six-inch tail. Bobcats can live in a variety of environments, including wooded areas, forest edges, and along trails. They are incredibly fast, often disappearing in a blink as they run through the forests of North America.

Bobcats and lynxes look alike, but lynxes are more commonly found in snow-covered forests. The lynx is distinguished by its long "tufts" that stick up from its ears, a feature that sets it apart from the bobcat. [Read More]

America’s Mysterious Black Big Cat

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

The term “black panther” is an umbrella term to describe large cats with a black appearance. In the Americas, these black cats are mostly jaguars. Jaguars with an entirely black coat are unique since they nearly make up 11% of their population.

One of the biggest misconceptions regarding black jaguars is that they are often called black panthers. However, the term black panther does not describe a species. It describes a variety of big cat species that have all-black fur. Therefore, black jaguars are an example of black panthers.

These black jaguars have rosettes, which are circle spots. If you look at a black jaguar from a distance with the naked eye, it appears entirely black. However, it is patterned with rosettes when observed closer. [Read More]

Birds and Humans: A Sweet Collaboration in Honey Hunting

by Sedona Afeworki. age 15

While humans and animals have existed together for thousands of years, cooperation between humans and animals has only been observed in rare occasions and studies now attempt to understand why.

One cooperative relationship that has been documented is the connection between honey hunters in Africa and a small bird called the greater honeyguide. This bird leads honey hunters to beehives located in hard to reach or hidden places of branches or hollow trees. Hunters then proceed to use a bee smoker and other tools to harvest the honey. To thank the birds, the honey hunters give them beeswax as a prize. While this collaboration is beneficial for both humans and the wild honeyguides, honey hunting with these birds is a disappearing practice and only seen by a few ethnic groups in East Africa.

For many years, scientists have been intrigued by this relationship between humans and honeyguides, and recent studies show that the connection is more intricate than previously thought. In fact, honeyguides are capable of learning and reacting to specific sound signals used by different hunting communities and groups. Furthermore, humans have developed a sound system to communicate with the birds. [Read More]

Why Parts of New York City Are Slowly Sinking

by Sofia Zapata, age 15

New York City and other coastal cities are experiencing vertical land motion, with some areas sinking while others are rising. The regions that are sinking are facing a faster rate of subsidence compared to those that are rising. In New York City, specific areas such as lower Manhattan, southern Brooklyn, and Queens are slowly subsiding. Scientists have identified two primary factors contributing to this sinking. One potential cause is the alterations to the Earth’s surface due to construction and land modification, which make the ground less compact beneath buildings. Another cause traces back to the most recent ice age and the natural processes that followed. Around 24,000 years ago, a large ice sheet covered most of New England and upstate New York. After this ice sheet melted, the Earth's mantle has been slowly readjusting, leading to the gradual subsidence observed today. The land where New York City stands was once uplifted by the ice sheet, and as the ice melted, the land began to sink back down.

On average, the metropolitan area is subsiding by about 0.06 inches per year. However, in places like Queens and LaGuardia Airport, subsidence rates are higher, around 0.15 inches per year, and at Arthur Ashe Stadium, about 0.18 inches per year. Although these figures may seem small every year, they can compound over time and significantly increase the risk of local flooding, particularly in conjunction with rising sea levels due to climate change.

Some areas within New York City are rising. For example, East Williamsburg is rising by about 0.06 inches per year, and Woodside experienced a rise of about 0.27 inches per year between 2016 and 2019, though this area has since stabilized. [Read More]

The Danger of Ski Wax Chemicals on the Slopes

by Allison Torres, age 15

Who knew that such a healthy sport like skiing could leave deadly chemicals on the slopes? Ski waxes are often used to protect skis and help them glide across surfaces, but recent studies on their composition have raised concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Researchers have discovered that PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as "forever chemicals," were found in ski wax on the snowy slopes of ski resorts in Austria.

PFAS are used in many industrial processes, firefighting foams, and consumer products due to their water- and stain-resistant properties. The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and the University of Graz in Austria found that there are "14 different types of PFAS chemicals" in the soil on ski slopes. The study also suggests that ski wax, particularly fluorinated ski wax, maybe a "significant source of PFAS," contributing to broader PFAS contamination in these areas.

Although the study found higher levels of PFAS in skiing regions and attributed this to ski wax, more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions about the extent and sources of PFAS contamination. Currently, there are few studies on the presence of PFAS in snow and soil, so continued research is essential to validate these findings. [Read More]

How Jane Goodall Changed the World of Science and Conservation

by Sandy Flores Ruiz, age 18

Valerie Jane Morris Goodall is most famously known for her research with chimpanzees and her 1965 documentary “Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees”. Her research wasn’t easy. Goodall faced criticism for being a scientist without a college degree and a woman in a field that was primarily dominated by men. Nevertheless, she was able to make impactful discoveries and became a leader of the conservation movement.

Jane Goodall was born in England on April 3, 1934. At an early age, Jane loved animals and always talked about wanting to work with them in Africa. Unfortunately, her family couldn’t afford to send her to college, so they sent her to a secretarial school. With her secretarial degree, she was able to obtain a variety of jobs. She worked for Oxford University and a documentary film company before working for Louis S.B Leaky, a paleoanthropologist.

Working with Leaky changed her life forever. At first, Jane was hired to do secretarial work, but Leaky soon realized the potential she had for becoming a scientist. He arranged for her to study primates while he raised enough funds for her to conduct chimpanzee field research in Tanzania. Months later, Leaky confessed to her that he was in love with her. Jane was terrified of what this implied because she didn't feel the same way about him and she feared he would withdraw her funding. Despite this, Leaky kept his commitment and raised sufficient funds to enable her to carry out her fieldwork. [Read More]

Extinction of The Largest Known Primate Ever to Live

by Theodore Morrison, age 16

Imagine being so big and unmaneuverable that you struggle to survive when your environment changes. That was the probable reality for Gigantopithecus blacki, the massive primate that once dominated Southeast Asia during the latest Ice Age.

These herbivorous giants stood up to 9-10 feet tall and weighed more than 500 pounds. Gigantopithecus blacki roamed what is now China and Southeast Asia between 2.3 million years ago and 300,000 years ago. They favored dense forests as their natural habitat, but evidence suggests that as the climate cooled and forests receded, they faced increasing pressure to adapt to more open environments like grasslands. These apes were highly specialized for forest life, and the transition to a different environment proved challenging.

Modern technology has given researchers new insights into the life of Gigantopithecus blacki. Analysis of fossilized teeth indicates that their preferred food sources became scarce as their environment changed. An additional factor that likely led to their extinction was their large size, which may have limited their ability to access enough food when their primary diet became harder to find. Unable to properly adapt to these changes, Gigantopithecus blacki eventually disappeared. [Read More]

Wolves Are Powerful Predators with a Purpose

by Dagim Abiy, age 7

Wolves are wild and fierce creatures, but they are not a threat to humans. Wolves have their way of life from other animals. They evolved from carnivores 60 million years ago. The wolves that are now spotted across the world have been around for one million years.

Scientists believed that there were only two types of wolves: the gray wolf, Canis lupus, and the red wolf, Canis rufus, both of which can be found in the United States. Scientists later found out that there was a third type of wolf: the Ethiopian wolf, or Canis simensis, found only in Africa which has a special role in its environment.

The gray wolf can be black or white, but it can also be shades of red, yellow, tan, silver, and even brown. The gray wolf lives in various environments including mountains, forests, and plains of the northern hemisphere. The average male weighs 95 pounds and the female only weighs ten pounds less. They stand two and a half feet tall and are five to six and a half feet long from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. [Read More]

Learn About Cicadas, Nature’s Loudest Insects

by Mahalia Pearson, age 13

There are more than 3,000 different species of cicadas. These cicadas can be found in many different parts of the world. Cicadas normally fall into two groups: annual and periodical cicadas. The annual cicadas are found in many different places whereas the periodical cicadas are found mostly in the central and eastern regions of the United States.

Cicadas have an interesting look. The periodical cicada grows between one to one and a half inches long. The wingspan of a cicada is twice its length. Its membranous wings are decorated with orange veins. Not only that, they have black bodies with large red-brown eyes.

Cicadas are loud insects that have a distinct buzzing sound. The noises that a person hears are coming from the male cicada trying to court the female cicadas. The cicada has a simple life cycle that consists of three stages. First, they start off as eggs, then nymphs, and lastly adults. The female lays around 400 eggs on twigs and branches. Once the female cicada lays the eggs, after six to ten weeks they will start to hatch into nymphs. After the nymphs hatch from the egg they will find a place to burrow themselves in the ground and feast off of liquid contained in plants and roots. [Read More]

How Woolly Mammoths Survived the Ice Age

by Bruno Torres, age 8

One of the largest creatures to roam Earth thousands of years ago was the woolly mammoth. Woolly mammoths used their large tusks to fend off predators and find food underneath the snow. These creatures roamed across North America, Europe, and Asia and their diet consisted of many plant leaves and tree branches.

The woolly mammoth roamed the Earth from about 300,000 years ago until around 1650 B.C. They traveled in herds of about 15 individuals; the herd consisted of female and young mammoths. The male mammoths left their herd at an early age.

To survive very cold temperatures, as low as minus 58°F, mammoths had a lot of fur and small ears similar to camels. Mammoths also had a hump on their back. If there was little to no food, mammoths used the fat stored in their back for energy. [Read More]

The Eastern Pipistrelle, Wisconsin’s Smallest Bat Species, Was Recently Added to the Endangered Species List

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

The smallest bat in Wisconsin is the eastern pipistrelle. These creatures are so small that they can sometimes be mistaken for moths.

Eastern pipistrelle bats are commonly found in the eastern United States. Their range extends from Central America, including northern Honduras, all the way to parts of Canada. Some live in narrow caves, called crevices, while some live in buildings and trees. They do not usually live in the deep forests or open woods.

The eastern pipistrelle flies above water and open woods while hunting. They do this because most of their prey are near water. When the bat has hunted enough in the fall, it hibernates in crevices, caves, and mines in the winter. Eastern pipistrelle mate between August and October. During this time, male and female bats swarm in front of cave openings – it is one of the few times when both genders of the species unite. [Read More]

Why are Baby Giraffes Born So Tall?

by Amelia Pearson, age 14

Baby giraffes, also known as calves, are impressively tall compared to other young animals, typically standing about six feet tall. Female giraffes are typically smaller than their male counterparts.

Baby giraffes weigh approximately 75 pounds and grow quite fast. By their first year, they nearly double in height.

Mother giraffes tend to only have one calf at a time, but twins have been reported. When a baby giraffe learns to stand, it immediately starts to suckle its mother's milk. Baby giraffes rely on their mother’s milk for up to nine to 12 months. They begin eating leaves and solid foods around four months old. [Read More]

How Using Language Propelled the Human Species

by Dayanara Flores Gonzalez, age 16

Scientists do not know exactly how language began; however, verbal communication allowed humans to build civilizations.

Human language may have started hundreds of thousands of years ago. Scientists are not sure of the exact time humans first spoke to each other, as writing was not invented until 3200 B.C., and recording devices were not invented yet. Despite this, there are some clues that give insight into language in the past.

Humans communicate with one another to complete certain complex tasks. For example, Neanderthals, a hominid that was related to humans, used communication to bury their dead. Early humans may have created language for complex work. Scientists say that no other species can communicate the way humans do, especially in terms of working alongside nonrelatives. [Read More]

From Mountains to Deserts, The Geoffroy's Cat Adapts to Life in Patagonia

by Kimberly Rodriguez, age 12

The Geoffroy’s cat is a small creature, only about the size of a domestic cat. Despite its size, this wild cat can hunt many other kinds of animals.

The Geoffroy’s cat lives in the southern half of South America, such as parts of Argentina, including Patagonia. In South America, they hunt various kinds of prey consisting of small animals like rodents and birds, but occasionally larger prey like flamingos, reptiles, and porcupines. In some settings, Geoffroy’s cat consumes reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

Geoffroy’s cat has black and dark brown spots all over its body. Its stomach fur is white or cream colored while its ears are black with white dots. In some parts of Argentina, these cats are mostly black all over. [Read More]

Bald Eagles Soar Again, But Threats Persist

by Sessina Zerezghi, age 7

Bald eagles are one of the largest raptors in North America. Their population has increased over the decades, but they are still being threatened.

Bald eagles are large and heavy birds with a wingspan that can reach seven feet. Their weight can range from seven to 15 pounds, and their height can be from 28 to 38 inches.

Bald eagles are fast fliers. They can reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour when diving to catch prey, but their cruising speed is typically around 30 to 40 miles per hour. They can soar at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. They make their homes in large trees and build big nests made out of sticks near water, which are called eyries. Their nests are close to water so they can easily catch prey such as fish, ducks, snakes, and turtles. They also eat other animals like rabbits, muskrats, and carrion. [Read More]

Investigation Reveals Cars Are Data-Collection Machines

by Daniel Li, age 16

Recent investigations by Mozilla's Privacy Not Included project have uncovered a startling reality about modern vehicles. Far from being mere transportation devices, these cars have transformed into sophisticated data-collection machines, raising concerns about privacy and personal data security.

Mozilla's study meticulously evaluated 25 major car brands, concluding that none of the cars followed fundamental privacy and security norms in their internet-connected vehicles. All brands, including giants like BMW, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, and Subaru, failed Mozilla's assessment. These vehicles are not just tracking mundane details like location or driving speed; they are delving into intensely personal aspects such as the driver's race, facial expressions, weight, and health information.

Volkswagen vehicles, for example, monitor seatbelt usage and braking intensity. More invasive still, specific models reportedly gather data on the driver's sexual activity, race, and immigration status. Nissan, identified as the most egregious violator, collects and reserves the right to sell information ranging from sexual activity to health diagnoses and genetic data. Their privacy policy outlines a willingness to sell a wide array of personal data, from preferences to psychological tendencies. [Read More]

Tree Kangaroos Face Extinction as Habitats Disappear

by Siheon Park, age 11

Tree kangaroos are an endangered species that are often unheard of or overlooked. Their role in ecosystems and indigenous cultures and diets are threatened by habitat loss.

There are 12 species, two are found in Australia and the rest are mostly found on the island of New Guinea. Scientists estimate that there are less than 2,500 tree kangaroos in the world.

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program partnered with National Geographic Society to protect the tree kangaroos by using critter cams to observe how they act in the wild. Researchers captured kangaroos and placed collars that have small cameras in them. The footage records their behavior and diet. After placing the collars, researchers release them back into their natural habitat. [Read More]

Rare Sighting of Gray Whale in Massachusetts Waters

by Aria, age 13

The recent sighting of a gray whale in the Atlantic Ocean has alarmed scientists. Typically, sighting this rarely-seen species is a good sign for the ocean; gray whales are intended to be spotted in the North Pacific Ocean, not the Atlantic Ocean. The species has hardly been seen in the Atlantic Ocean since its population faded in the 18th century.

Fortunately, gray whales are not endangered. However, in the last 15 years, there have only been six sightings of gray whales in the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. “I didn’t want to say out loud what it was because it seemed crazy,” said Orla O’Brien, a researcher with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. In March, O’Brien and her co-worker, Kate Laemmle, spotted the whale near Nantucket.

The gray whale is closely related to the six different species of the family Balaenopteridae. Two distinct populations of gray whales exist in the western part of North America, and the other is on the coast of Asia, from South Korea to Russia. Gray whales migrate twice over nearly 12,000 miles of the ocean every year. Despite their extensive migrations, it still doesn't explain why this specific whale was spotted near Massachusetts waters, as this is not a typical area they visit. “My brain was trying to process what I was seeing because this animal was something that should not exist in these waters,” Laemmle said. [Read More]

The Science Behind Fingerprint Formations

by Ayelen Flores Ruiz, age 14

Fingerprints are a unique part of the human body, and there are many different patterns. In 2023, scientists fully understood how they form.

Fingerprints help humans in daily activities. They allow humans to grip objects, such as holding a bottle or pencil. Every human being has a unique pattern. Law enforcement organizations have used fingerprints to help identify people since the 1800s.

Scientists have found that the basis of fingerprints is three molecules that control the development process. The molecules are WNT, EDAR, and BMP, which have different jobs. For example, if the amount of EDAR increases, it creates a wide and spaced fingerprint, but if it is decreased, it makes spots. However, when BMP increases, the opposite happens. WNT multiplies cells, which also makes EDAR produce cells. BMP stops both WNT and EDAR, preventing skin cell buildup. All of these molecules are essential and work together in fingerprint formation. [Read More]

The Largest Leopard in the World Stalks the Forests of Iran

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

The Persian leopard, also known as the Caucasian Leopard, is a highly rare animal found in Iran. For decades, it has rarely been spotted outside of this country. Generally, these leopards have only been occasionally spotted and were thought to be extinct outside of Iran. However, while the majority of Persian leopards live in Iranian forests, some also inhabit regions of Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey.

Persian leopards are the largest subspecies of leopard in the world. The leopard lives in forests, but due to their rareness, little is known about them. Furthermore, their low populations have initiated the development of leopard reserves in several countries.

Female leopards are viviparous which means the propagates already start growing before they are out of their mom’s stomach. They leave their mothers when they are 18 to 24 months old, but before they leave, their mothers share valuable hunting skills with their cubs. They do this by bringing them on a hunt when they are only three months old. [Read More]

Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

by Camila Cruz, age 16

There’s been evidence for years that it’s better to take notes by handwriting than typing. New research is finally giving us an answer as to why.

Handwriting uses more regions of your brain and builds connections between physical and visual parts of the brain. That makes it easier to learn and pay attention, according to a recent study in Frontiers in Psychology by Audrey van de Meer and Ruud van der Weel at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

The two researchers dove into the intricate workings of the brain during note-taking by using helmets with sensors to monitor students' brains. The research builds on a study from 2014, which hinted at the lower effort of typing notes on a computer as compared to handwritten notes. Van de Meer and van der Weel found that handwriting produces higher levels of electrical activity across interconnected brain regions responsible for sensory processing, movement, memory, and vision. On the other hand, typing led to minimal activity in these areas. [Read More]

The Mighty Roar and Clever Mind of Lions

by Semaia Zerezghi, age 9

Panthera leo or lions are the kings and queens of beasts and are known for being terrifying regal creatures. However, what most people don't know is that lions are also incredibly intelligent.

Lions live throughout Africa in groups of up to 40 called “prides.” Within the pride there are several females, cubs, and one to five adult males. Lions are very territorial. A pride can extend as far as ten miles in any direction. A lion's roar is extremely noisy and can be heard five miles away, they use their roar to let everyone know that the territory is theirs.

Cubs depend on their mothers for almost two years. During this time, they learn to attack prey by wrestling with their siblings. Once they've become adults, the females stay home but the males leave to start their own pride. Meanwhile, the males in the pride protect the females against intruders. [Read More]

Sanderlings Are Arctic Breeders with a Love for Sandy Beaches

by Siheon Park, age 11

Sanderling birds have unusual lives. Their breeding habitat is the Arctic tundra, but they hate the cold!

These birds, known by the scientific name Calidris Alba, are small and travel in flocks called grains. Sanderlings in the summer have a gray color, which helps them blend in on sandy beaches. In the winter, they have brown feathers but usually keep their gray feathers too. These birds have very few predators, but among them are seagulls, owls, foxes, and even wolves.

Adults are seven to eight inches long with a wingspan of 14 inches. Their legs are thin, black, and very fast. This is useful when they run to get food that waves have brought into the sand, a process called wave chasing. Their long beaks are used to peck food out of the wet sand. Sanderlings can eat crabs, berries, roots, and almost anything they can find. However, when they migrate in the winter, they eat more seafood. [Read More]

Exploring Galaxies: Shapes, Sizes, and Cosmic Mysteries

by Aloniab Gezae, age 10

All galaxies are made up of stars, gases, and dust. There are billions of galaxies across space, including the one Earth is in: the Milky Way.

There are so many galaxies that scientists cannot keep track of all of them; however, it is known that they all have solar systems. A solar system is just a speck of the whole galaxy. The Milky Way’s solar system has eight planets.

There are various types of galaxies, such as spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies. Spiral galaxies look similar to pinwheels. Sixty percent of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way are spiral galaxies. Also, they are often the brightest in the universe. [Read More]

Blue Jays Are Nature’s Colorful Songbirds

by Abigail Gezae, age 12

Blue Jays are interesting animals with a variety of skills. They are beautifully colored birds, with blue and white on their stomach and chest.

Blue Jays are intelligent and adaptable. They are also among the loudest birds and can make various musical sounds. They can feed on almost anything and are classified as omnivores. Their diet consists of seeds, nuts, and insects.

Blue Jays build their nests with a bulky open cup made of twigs, grass, weeds, bark strips, moss, and sometimes held together with mud. Regarding nesting, both parents are involved in bringing food to the young. Young ones leave the nest 17-21 days after hatching. [Read More]

Africa’s Donkeys are Being Slaughtered for Medicine in China

by Owen Ayite Atayi, age 16

China’s demand for a traditional medicine known as e-jiao is fueling the slaughter of millions of donkeys every year, say animal welfare groups and veterinary experts. E-jiao, which is made using collagen extracted from donkey hides, is the vital ingredient in food and beauty products believed by many Chinese consumers to enrich the blood, improve the immune system, and prevent diseases. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen experts, including veterinarians and academics, to examine how demand for e-jiao is rippling across communities in Africa, which rely heavily on the donkey, and how the trade in hide continues to boom despite efforts by some African nations to restrict it.

Traditionally, e-jiao was a luxury product. It gained favor among elites during the Qing dynasty that ruled China from 1644 until 1912. Its popularity has surged in recent years due partly to its use in the Chinese television series ‘Empress in the Palace’, which started airing in 2011. The rise in demand has also been fueled by China’s growing middle class and rising elderly population. Its price has leapt 30-fold in the past decade from 100 yuan per 500 grams to 2,986 yuan ($420), according to Chinese state media. The e-jiao industry requires an estimated 5.9 million donkey skins annually, which has put unprecedented pressure on global populations, according to a report released in February by The Donkey Sanctuary, a British charity devoted to the animal’s welfare. China’s donkey population has fallen more than 80% to just under 2 million from 11 million in 1992, prompting its e-jiao industry to source donkey skins from overseas.

The consumption boom for e-jiao has led to international commodification of donkeys, says Lauren Johnston, an expert on China-Africa relations who published a study in January last year called “China, Africa and the Market for Donkeys”. As Africa has the world’s largest donkey population, it has emerged as the key source of donkey skins. [Read More]

Beluga Whales: Navigating Arctic Challenges

by Sessina Zerezghi, age 7

Beluga whales are one of nature’s amazing mammals. These whales live in the Arctic but move locations when the ice melts. In the fall, they move to the south as ice forms, returning in the spring when ice breaks apart.

Beluga whales are very social creatures and typically live in small groups known as pods. They have flexible foreheads that can change shape to show their different expressions. Additionally, they can make different sounds, such as chirps, clicks, whistles, and squeals, to communicate with one another.

Belugas need ice to live. Specifically, these whales use ice to hide from predators like orcas or feed and take shelter. As the climate changes, it is very hard for these whales to adapt as the ice cover slowly melts away. Another big factor that harms these whales is noise pollution, as this prevents them from communicating with each other. [Read More]

Journey Along the Grand Canal's Historic Waters

by Aubrey Bevenue, age 13

The beauty of Venice comes from its buildings and water. The buildings date back to ancient times and are still used today. Additionally, many sculptures provide context about Venice and its rich history.

Venice is located in Italy. It was built on many islands and with millions of wood piles, a creative construction style.

Venice is fairly wealthy. The city was a great commercial empire built on maritime trade. Historically, it earned its money from trading while also benefiting from tourism. [Read More]

Future Exploration of Enceladus Could Use Snake-Like Robot

by Ayelen Flores Ruiz, age 14

The idea of living somewhere other than Earth is fascinating for the future. Traces of chemicals needed for life have been detected from Enceladus, a moon of Saturn. Scientists are trying to find possible ways to explore Enceladus.

Saturn is a well-known planet for its dozens of moons, and Enceladus happens to be one of the many. Since Saturn is the sixth planet away from the sun, the temperatures there are very low. Enceladus has a frozen crust and huge water plumes, essential for sustaining life on the moon. Additionally, it contains phosphorus and hydrogen cyanide, which are needed for life.

Exploring Enceladus is currently an idea NASA has evolved, but it will only happen for a while. They created the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor, also known as EELS, which will someday be used to research Enceladus. EELS is a robot that has the features of a snake. The robot is four meters long and can move vertically inside crevasses. It can vertically move due to the cylindrical segments that can be angled and rotated. This movement can crawl into Enceladus' fEnceladus't and provide further information about alien life. [Read More]

Kiwis Are New Zealand's Fuzzy Flightless Bird Species

by Siwoo Park, age 12

A brown, fuzzy… bird! Kiwi birds are almost the size of a chicken and live in burrows. They are very mysterious; only three species have been discovered.

The kiwi is a relatively small, flightless, and defenseless bird that is native to New Zealand. Kiwis are ratites, which include large, flightless birds like ostriches and emus. Although kiwis have wings, those wings have no purpose and are covered by long, loose, brown, and hair-like feathers. Their sizes depend on the species, yet they are typically about two feet tall. They can run up to 20 miles per hour, faster than an average human.

Kiwis are the only birds that have nostrils at the tip of their beaks. They have a strong sense of smell and use sensory pads (also at the tip of the beak) to hunt grubs, worms, bugs, and more. Kiwis are protective of their territory and don’t want any other kiwis to ruin their burrow. [Read More]

Thorny Devils, Masters of Camouflage

by Ian Kosharek, age 11

Thorny devils are spiny, fierce-looking creatures native to the Australian desert, particularly favoring dry and hot climates in coastal areas of Australia. These creatures weigh up to three ounces and are approximately two centimeters in size, roughly the size of a hand. When they hatch, both male and female thorny devils are similar, but after a year, females become visibly longer, sometimes reaching twice the size of the largest males. Their lifespan ranges from 10 to 20 years.

When the thorny devil walks, its tail doesn't touch the ground. They possess distinctive horn-like features, giving rise to their name, "thorny devil." They also have a false head used to deceive potential predators. When threatened, the thorny devil tucks its head, and this fake head often confuses predators because they can't eat the sharp and fragile spikes. As for their diet, thorny devils primarily feed on tiny insects, with a preference for ants. In terms of reproduction, females dig 10-inch tunnels to lay their eggs.

Their distinctive appearance and behavior make them stand out in the animal kingdom. Thorny devils have specialized coloration that helps them camouflage with their surroundings. Depending on factors like temperature and mood, they can change their color to some extent, which assists in temperature regulation. [Read More]

Learn About the Bright Colors and Deadly Poison of Poison Dart Frogs

by Ian Kosharek, age 11 `

Poison dart frogs come in many unique colors. They are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

These frogs have big eyes to let in as much light as possible. This is also very helpful for catching prey at night. Their sticky tongues catch small insects like fruit flies, termites, ants, and young crickets.

These frogs can have different colors and patterns, such as yellow, orange, red, green, and blue. The poison dart frog's vivid colors keep predators away. [Read More]

Rapidly Intensifying Hurricanes Could be a Consequence of Climate Change

by Dulce Vazquez, age 15

Throughout several decades, hurricanes have seen a trend of increasing intensity. The increasing strength of hurricanes has led people to be unprepared for their effects.

A thunderstorm that formed on the western coast of Africa turned into Hurricane Lee within a day. Hurricane Lee spun more than 130 km per hour placing the storm at a Category 1. A day later, it came across warm water in the North Atlantic. This doubled its wind speed from 130 km to 260 km per hour.

While Hurricane Lee caught lots of attention, Hurricane Jova reached Category 4, only a day and a half after becoming a named storm. Andra Garner from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, found that recent storms were more than twice as likely to strengthen to a dangerous category of three or higher within a day. The possibility of a weak hurricane becoming strong within a day went from about 3.2% to 8.1%, within a few decades. Multiple elements boost storms' strengths, such as moist air and warm water, says Philip Klotzbach, an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University. The world's oceans have become hotter due to global warming, which has implications for the intensifying abilities of these storms. [Read More]

Stargazers in North America Get Ready for Eventful 2024

by Camila Cruz, age 16

Stargazers in North America should start getting ready because they will have much to watch for in 2024. People are excitedly waiting for two comets, 12 meteor showers, two lunar eclipses, an asteroid, and most excitingly a solar eclipse over parts of the U.S.

Comets are beautiful and become easier to see as they approach Earth. Comets are snowballs of frozen gasses, dust, and rocks. As they travel through our solar system, they leave an icy dust trail. If the comet is close enough to the sun, it creates a mesmerizing, sparkling show. Comets are seen when they link up with Earth’s rotation around the sun. One of the best-known is Halley’s Comet, which was the first comet to be photographed. Halley’s Comet was photographed by multiple spacecraft in 1986. Comets are mainly named by the person or spacecraft who discovered them. Halley’s Comet is named after Edmind Halley, an astronomer.

Comets are also responsible for meteor showers when the debris of the comet's trail hits the atmosphere gets warmed up and shows bright streaks. If it’s a full moon you won’t be able to see meteors as well due to the moonlight. [Read More]

Black Widow Spiders Pose Threat Across North America

by Siwoo Park, age 12

The Black Widow, one of the most venomous spiders in North America, is known for its potent venom and red mark. This species of spider is responsible for several deaths.

The Black Widow is found in various regions across the United States, including Mexico and Panama. Their lifespan is about two years. The most familiar form of the Black Widow is females, with their black glossy exoskeleton and iconic red hourglass mark. Their male counterparts are smaller, have no venom, and are brown. Black Widows have a cephalothorax containing the brain, venom glands, and limbs. The abdomen contains the heart, silk spinnerets, and vital organs.

The legs of the Black Widow and most spiders have burrs and claws on them. The burrs can detect when something is caught in their web; both features benefit the spider to hang and move around their surroundings. Silk spinnerets produce the web’s material. Their prey is caught with the barely visible web. The spiders use their pedipalps or jaws to capture prey; then they inject venom into their prey with their fangs [Read More]

The Warm-Blooded Giant that Ruled Ancient Seas

by Dayanara Flores Gonzalez, age 16

Did you know there was once a shark three times larger than a great white Shark? This shark was an Otodus megalodon, a massive ancestor of sharks that grew to be 66 feet long. Its blood was warmer in comparison to that of great white sharks. Its body temperature was about 13 degrees Celsius, which was warmer than seawater. Their warm-bloodedness may have contributed to their success and eventual fall as creatures in the past.

Megalodons were one of the world's most giant carnivores. They ate meat to gain energy and often obtained food from consuming large marine mammals. Their warm-bloodedness may have helped them become swift and aggressive apex predators. Specifically, the O. megalodon's body temperature would have allowed it to swim further and faster, which increases the chances of it finding its prey. However, this trait likely also led to the shark's enormous appetite and diet, potentially creating a risk for the species as environments change. Large creatures with warm blood require lots of food to fuel their metabolism. In an environment with scarce resources and food, this could become a problem, especially for apex predators.

The O. megalodon evolved around 23 million years ago; they went extinct between 3.5 million and 2.6 million years ago. This was around the same time when great white sharks emerged, around 3.5 million years ago. Competition between these two species likely drove megalodons towards extinction, especially when food became scarce. Additionally, scientists suspect that climate change during the Pliocene Epoch, lasting from 5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago, also led to drastic megalodon decline as marine mammals faded. Great white sharks, being smaller in size, likely needed less food to survive, thus allowing them to live past megalodons. [Read More]

Marie Curie Was a Trailblazer in Science and Radioactivity

by Siwoo Park, age 12

Marie Curie, one of the world’s beloved scientists, was a pioneer in the study of radioactivity and her discoveries revolutionized cancer treatment. Through her discovery of radium, she became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields, and eight years later won a subsequent prize.

Marie was born Marya Sklodowska on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. She earned good grades and was even awarded a gold medal in her high school. Despite being a great student and her family valued education, she could not attend university because Russia had invaded Poland and women were not able to go to college after the invasion. Marya made money by giving private tutoring lessons and became involved with a group of young people who taught themselves their topics, called the “Floating University.” She became a governess to a wealthy family, but she craved knowledge and became more determined than ever to attend university.

In 1891, Marya went to live with her sister Bronya in France. She changed her name to a French variation of her name, “Marie,” and studied mathematics, chemistry, and physics at the Sorbonne, where she became the first woman to teach. In 1894, she needed a laboratory to work on her chosen study of measuring the magnetic properties of steel alloys. Her colleagues suggested she meet Pierre Curie at the Schools of Physics and Chemistry. Marie was astonished by Pierre from their very first meeting. [Read More]

New Breed of Supercomputer Aims for the Two Quintillion Mark

by Ayelen Flores Ruiz, age 13

There is a new type of supercomputer under construction known as an exascale supercomputer. Exascale refers to a supercomputer that can perform two quintillion operations in a second. This drastically compares with a phone which does 17 trillion operations and the human brain which does 228 trillion operations in a second. These computers can help rearrange human life.

One such new supercomputer has been built inside a data center in Aurora, Illinois, near Chicago. The computer, also called Aurora, is located in the Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory. Built by Intel and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Aurora is the size of two tennis courts and weighs 600 tons. High-powered machines like Aurora will take months to be fully operational because technicians are always on the lookout for errors, improvements, and changes. Although this process will take a long time, Aurora should be fully operating in 2024.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Frontier was the first working exascale computer and got the title of the world’s most powerful computer. Aurora is not fully operational, tests have shown it is the second-most powerful. Other supercomputers are being built around the world. For example, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is building a $600 million exascale computer named El Capitan, which potentially could be more powerful than Aurora. Another exascale supercomputer called Dojo is being built by Tesla, which spent more than $1 billion. The United Kingdom and other places are trying to create their exclusive supercomputers. [Read More]

Dumb Phones on the Rise as Gen Z Looks to Limit Screen Time

by Allison Torres, age 15

Flip phones became popular in the 1990s and 2000s. At that time, they were a great invention in communicating with people wherever and whenever.

Over the years, phones have advanced technologically, which can be seen in both positive and negative ways. In 2007 smartphones came along, replacing flip phones with iPhones and Androids.

Smartphones have many advanced features like cameras, GPS, and many more applications, that can incorporate your data. This incorporation of personal information concerns people about their data being collected, shared, and used by companies. [Read More]

Tracking Asteroid Apophis's Near Miss and Future Trajectory

by Iliyan Hoskins, age 11

When the asteroid Apophis was discovered in 2004, it was considered dangerous for Earth. At the time, scientists tracked its orbit and predicted that the asteroid had a slim chance of hitting Earth in 2029.

Apophis was discovered by astronomers David Theolen, Roy Tucker, and Fabrizio Bernardi at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. After further analysis, the prediction of Apophis hitting Earth in 2029 was ruled out. However, collision is still a concern as astronomers predict a small chance of impact on Earth in 2068.

On April 13, 2029, Apophis will pass less than 20,000 miles from our planet’s surface and will be the closest approach of an asteroid to Earth. Currently, there’s a spacecraft equipped with cameras named OSIRIS-REx. It’s currently on a mission to study a different asteroid Bennu, but it might be possible that by 2029, the spacecraft could observe Apophis. When Apophis gets close to Earth, OSIRIS-PEx’s cameras could take pictures of the asteroid up close and observe it. [Read More]

U.S. Military's PFAS Pollution Threatens Communities Nationwide

by Camila Cruz, age 16

It is hard to imagine that the U.S. military, whose number one goal is to protect, is also one of the biggest contributors to the spread of chemicals that cause cancer, kidney disease, and many other serious health problems.

The military is one of the largest PFAS polluters in the world. PFAS are a group of 15,000 compounds that are used to make stain-, grease- and water-resistant products, making them extremely harmful to humans and animals. PFAS are also called “forever chemicals” because they are nearly indestructible.

PFAS in water is connected to birth defects, high cholesterol, decreased immunity, and much more. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared that less than one part per trillion (ppt) is safe to consume in drinking water. However, the levels of PFAS found around military bases have been much higher. [Read More]

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Flies Toward the Sun

by Daniel Li, age 16

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has achieved a remarkable feat by getting close enough to the Sun to study the intricate details of solar wind. This has revealed information that was previously hidden as the solar wind left the Sun's corona in a uniform stream of charged particles.

Understanding the origin of the solar wind is crucial for predicting solar storms, which are responsible for auroras on Earth, but they also disrupt satellites and power grids. In a forthcoming article in the journal Nature, a team led by Professor Stuart D. Bale from the University of California, Berkeley, and James Drake from the University of Maryland-College Park, reveals the Parker Solar Probe has found that coronal holes are where solar wind originates.

According to their findings, some exceptionally high-energy particles detected by the Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, can only be explained by magnetic reconnection. [Read More]

Learn How Dinosaur Fossils are Formed

by Bruno Torres, age 8

When visiting dinosaur museums, one typically encounters large reconstructions of dinosaurs with what appears to be their bones. In reality, these structures aren’t bones but are called fossils. Fossils are features or remnants left behind after animals and plants die, typically dating back at least 10,000 years.

Fossils can include bones, teeth, footprints, skin impressions, burrows, nests, and even feces. There are two main types of fossils: body fossils and trace fossils. Body fossils are made up of preserved parts of an organism, like bones, teeth, and shells. Trace fossils are impressions or evidence of an organism's activity, such as footprints, burrows, or coprolites (fossilized feces).

Not all ancient animals will become fossils because many are scavenged or decompose naturally when they die. However, remains that are not eaten and are buried under the right conditions can be preserved for millions of years. Most fossilization occurs when organisms are rapidly buried by sediments like sand, mud, or silt, which protects the remains from rotting. As soft parts of the body decay, harder parts like bones and teeth are left behind. Over millions of years, minerals in groundwater can seep into these hard parts, gradually replacing the organic material in a process called permineralization, leaving behind a solid “rock copy,” or fossil. [Read More]

The Science of Lucid Dreaming, Exploring the Sleeping Mind

by Dayanara Flores, age 16

The experience of knowing you're in a dream while you're still asleep is called “lucid dreaming.” Most people don't have lucid dreams, but some have tried techniques to become more self-aware in their sleep while dreaming.

Some lucid dreamers can control particular parts of their dreams like the setting.

Martin Dresler, a neuroscientist in the Netherlands who works at the Donders Institute says, “The special thing about lucid dreaming is that you can get even closer to dream content and in a much more controlled and systematic fashion.” Tests from small groups have found that lucid dreamers can also send signals to researchers while they’re asleep. [Read More]

Amateur Fossil Hunter Finds “Underwater T-Rex”

By Iliyan Hoskins, age 11

150 million years ago, an ancient apex predator roamed the ocean. The species was called a Pliosaur, and it possessed jaws more than twice as powerful as those of today’s saltwater crocodiles. It killed its prey with just one bite from its 130 long, razor-sharp teeth, earning it the nickname "underwater T-Rex." The underwater T-Rex existed 150 million years ago, spanning the early Jurassic to the Cretaceous periods. An adult Pliosaur was a 30-foot-long sea creature capable of traversing the ocean at high speeds. That’s why scientists bestowed upon it the name underwater T-Rex.

The skull of this formidable predator was discovered in southern England, among many other fossils. A fossil hunter named Phil Jacobs was strolling along a beach in search of something special when he spotted the tip of the Pliosaur’s snout sticking out of the sand, near the water's edge. Scientists consider this rare discovery one of the most intact and complete examples of a Pliosaur ever found.

The underwater T-Rex was a sizable and deadly creature, capable of preying on almost any marine animal alive at the time. The discovery of this creature has assisted scientists in understanding the inhabitants of the ancient oceans. This rare find leaves hope for the possibility of another special discovery in the future. [Read More]

Three New Missions Planned to Explore Venus

by Chelsea Zheng, age 11

Venus is considered Earth’s twin due to its similar size and density. However both these planets have developed vastly different from one another. Earth was able to develop and sustain life, while Venus became a scorching and toxic planet. To further understand how Earth’s neighboring “twin” developed a harsh environment, scientists launched spacecraft to study Venus and continue to launch more in the future.

In our solar system, Venus is our closest planetary neighbor. It’s the color of rust and is covered with forcefully bunched mountains. It is also the second planet from our sun, Venus is one of the four rocky planets. It has an atmosphere full of toxic fumes such as carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. The fumes create an extreme greenhouse effect that traps a lot of heat.

The surface temperatures on Venus can melt various metals, reaching 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though Mercury is the closest planet to our sun, its heat can’t compare to Venus – it is the hottest planet in the solar system. Despite having similar size, density, mass, and gravitational pull to Earth, it is more than evident that they are nothing alike. [Read More]

Mysterious Golden Orb Found on Alaska Seafloor

by Dayanara Flores Gonzalez, age 16

A mysterious golden orb was recently discovered on the Alaska seafloor. Marine scientists have no idea what this orb might be, but scientists believe it might be an egg casing of a creature nobody has seen before.

This orb was discovered in August by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. It was discovered on the ocean floor off the Pacific Coast of Alaska at about a depth of two miles by a remote-controlled submarine explorer. It has a skin-like texture.

The Seascape Alaska 5 expedition took place in August and September 2023. The Gulf of Alaska is four miles deep and contains sea fish, coral, sponge habitats, and geological features such as mud volcanoes. [Read More]

Exploring Mercury, NASA's Mission to the Solar System's Hottest Planet

by Lina Alquraishi, age 9

Scientists knew very little about the planet Mercury up until 1974 when NASA launched the Spacecraft Mariner, which opened the door to vast amounts of information.

Christened after the Roman god, Mercury stands as the smallest planet in the solar system and has zero moons. The tiny planet teems with boiling temperatures during the day followed by ultra-freezing winds at night. This is largely due to the lack of an atmosphere on the planet, enabling the weather to vary greatly. Atmospheres are important because they work to contain the heat within a planet. If Earth had no atmosphere, for instance, the temperatures would range from -310 to 230 degrees, making life unsustainable.

Like Earth, Mercury is made of three layers: the core, the mantle, and a thin outer crust. The planet houses several old craters and layers on its surface due to the innumerable asteroids, meteorites, and comets that have crashed into it. [Read More]

The Complex Steps and Technologies Behind Spacecraft Missions

by Aarosh Subedi, age 11

There are many steps before you launch a spacecraft, and many kinds of spacecraft are important to the technology we use today. Multiple types of satellites watch the world around us. Meteorological satellites give meteorologists information about what the weather will look like. Communication satellites make television possible to watch; navigation satellites help people guide their ships in water; geodetic satellites help record unknown places on Earth. Satellites that are used by militaries help perform observations to find enemies in specific places. Many more types of innovations are used to go to space.

It takes many months to launch a spacecraft. Before a launch, the instruments will perform the experiments and functions for the assigned mission to ensure everything works properly. This takes place in phases, where technicians put together components and make sure they work together. While the spacecraft's instrumentation is being powered up, the components for the launching vehicle also go through the same process.

The last step for integration is connecting the spacecraft and launcher and having them be part of a countdown practice. The spacecraft and the launcher are set next to each other on a launching pad, the support base that holds the spacecraft in place. This support structure, called the gantry, holds the spacecraft from falling over on its side. [Read More]

Quetzalcoatlus: The Flying Giant

by Aloniab Gezae, age 8

The Quetzalcoatlus is the biggest flying creature of the late cretaceous period. It is not a dinosaur, it is actually a pterosaur, which was a group of flying reptiles. Its wings were 40 feet wide.

Quetzalcoatlus had a crest, long neck, and a long sharp beak. Some scientists think that the Quetzalcoatlus looked through the sand with its sharp beak to find crabs and worms, others think they hunted for fish along the water. It lived about 70 million years ago in North America, around where Texas is now.

Archaeologists found the first fossil of the Quetzalcoatlus in 1975, and it took them years to realize that such a big reptile could fly. Quetzalcoatlus started to fly by launching itself eight feet in the air, because its muscles were able to push it up, and its light bones helped it fly. [Read More]

Two Black Holes Orbiting Each Other Were Discovered in Cosmic Light Show by Astronomers

by Allison Torres, age 14

Scientists have made a remarkable discovery - a previously hidden black hole has emerged from obscurity. This colossal black hole is accompanied by a smaller partner that had remained undetected until now. Astronomers have recently confirmed the emission of light from this smaller black hole. When these two black holes orbit each other, they generate bursts of light, known as a blazar, which emits intense radiation into space, specifically in the OJ287 region.

Mauri Valtonen, who reported this discovery during a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Mexico on June 7, emphasized the extraordinary nature of this find, stating, "We've never seen anything like this before."

Predictions made in early 2022 anticipated the most recent flare's appearance. Since that forecast, astronomers have diligently monitored OJ287 using both Earth-based and space telescopes to gain a clearer perspective. [Read More]

The Profound Effects of Music on the Human Brain and Emotions

by Aissata Bah, age 13

Music serves as a form of art and tradition, expressing a wide spectrum of emotions, including anger, amusement, and sadness. It wields a remarkable emotional power that can transform one's mood, evoke physical sensations, and trigger the retrieval of long-lost memories.

The human brain responds to music in profound ways. When we listen to music, various parts of the brain come into play, including the temporal lobe, amygdala, frontal lobe, cerebellum, and hippocampus. These brain regions are involved in processes related to memory, emotions, communication, and muscle control. They help individuals analyze the components of music, such as instruments, lyrics, and musical chords. Moreover, the brain can recognize harmonies and notes, grasp lyrics, and synchronize with the rhythm, giving rise to new emotional experiences.

Music holds a special place in the hearts of many people, offering both enjoyment and therapeutic benefits. According to the Berklee Music and Health Institute, music can open pathways to healing. It has been used as a therapeutic tool for various conditions, ranging from alleviating subjective distress in chronic pain syndromes to influencing the reward circuitry in addiction disorders, the psychomotor pathways in Parkinson's disease, and even the functional connectivity changes in autism spectrum disorders. In simpler terms, music can serve as a form of medicine for trauma, chronic pain, addiction, and conditions that involve a disconnection between the brain and the body. Remarkably, music therapy can provide strength to patients undergoing surgeries, chemotherapy, and other medical treatments due to its emotional effects. [Read More]

Venus, Earth's Mysterious Neighbor with Peculiar Traits

by Chelsea Zheng, age 11

Venus is the second planet from the sun and neighbor to Earth. Besides the moon, Venus is the brightest object that can be seen in the night sky.

Astronomers believe that Earth and Venus may have comparable histories due to their similar size, mass, and volume. However, researchers wonder why Venus is so different compared to Earth today.

Venus’s rotation is unlike any other planet in the solar system. It also has no moons. One rotation on Earth is 24 hours, but one on Venus is about 243 Earth days. Venus’s rotation around the sun is about 117 Earth days. Venus is the only planet that rotates longer around its axis than once around the sun. Every other planet rotates clockwise, while Venus and Uranus rotate counterclockwise. [Read More]

Navigating the Dangers of the Sea

by Daileni Torres-Cruz, age 10

Being at sea can be a wonderful experience, however, it can also take an unexpected turn for the worse. There are many dangerous occurrences in the sea. High winds during storms or volcanoes make big waves in the middle of the ocean that can cause ships to swerve off their courses. Ships may also collide with large icebergs, similar to what occurred on the Titanic in 1912. The Titanic was the newest and most luxurious boat at the time. The iceberg ripped a hole in its exterior, which caused it to sink to the bottom of the ocean. It was known as one of the worst accidents at sea.

Waterspouts are formed when tornadoes land in the sea. They suck up a lot of seawater into a big dark cloud. Boats floating on the sea can be sucked into waterspouts.

Packed ice in the Arctic Ocean and circling Antarctica can trap or sometimes even crush ships. Nowadays, it is easy for icebreakers to break through the packed ice as they are specially made to force their way through. [Read More]

The System Scientists Use to Track Near-Earth Objects

by Dulce Maria Vazquez, age 14

The Torino scale is a system that predicts the chances of objects in space hitting the Earth. Established in 1999, the Torino scale rates the potential of an asteroid to cause harm by looking at its size, and the probability that it will hit the Earth. The scale ranges from zero to ten—zero means no danger and ten means that an asteroid is guaranteed to hit the Earth, and large enough that an impact would cause worldwide destruction.

This scale is meant to be an easier way for people to understand the risk associated with asteroid impacts. However, there has been a public debate about whether the scale is helpful. Some say there are other systems that are more effective. Others say the Torino scale isn't beneficial because it's unlikely for an asteroid to impact Earth.

If an asteroid appears to be approaching Earth, it is observed continually until its orbit can be determined. If astronomers determine there is no chance for an object to hit our planet, the object is assigned a zero on the Torino scale. But if there is a chance the asteroid could harm the Earth in the next 100 years, it will be given a higher value. [Read More]

UW-Madison Researchers Use 3D Printing Technology to Develop More Efficient Electric Motor

by Sedona Afeworki, age 15

Four researchers from UW-Madison have achieved a groundbreaking feat by developing an electric motor using 3D printing technology. According to The Wisconsin State Journal, this prototype incorporates a "higher-percentage silicon electrical steel," which effectively reduces energy loss.

The prototype takes on a circular shape with prongs designed for winding wires around them, allowing for the generation of an electrical field, also known as a stator. The most significant innovation in the design lies in the prongs themselves, featuring intricate patterns of thin geometric lines aimed at minimizing energy loss. In contrast, the conventional method for producing such stators involves a lamination process that rolls coils of electrical steel.

The team responsible for creating this motor prototype hails from both UW-Madison and England. It comprises FNU Nishanth, a post-doctoral research assistant at UW-Madison, and his advisor, Eric Severson, along with Alexander Goodall, a Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield in England, and his advisor, Iain Todd. The collaborative effort began in July 2020 when they met at a conference and recognized the potential to jointly develop an entirely new type of motor. [Read More]

The African Bongo: Big Horns? Low Branches? No Problem!

by Oliver Zink, age 12

The bongo is Africa's most colorful antelope. They can weigh up to 892 pounds and have spiral shaped horns which can grow up to 39 inches long. The bongos’ big ears help with hearing the slightest noise from predators.

Bongos have patterns in their coats which makes it easier to spot each other in shaded areas. This patterns is also broken up across the bongo’s coat, making it especially helpful for camouflage.

Bongos reach sexual maturity when they are 30 months old. They mate throughout the year, however, they can only have one calf at a time. Bongos live in rainforests and they lean their head back while running to prevent getting their horns stuck in the foliage. Their diet consists of plants, buds, leaves and roots. They roam all over the rainforest to find the best food. [Read More]

Four Consecutive “Supermoons” Visible in Wisconsin this Fall

by Dayanis Torres Cruz, age 13

In the coming months, there will be a lunar eclipse, a blue moon, and multiple supermoons. Supermoons are brighter and are seven percent bigger than the average size of a full moon because the moon is closest to Earth during these times.

There will be a blue supermoon on August 30th, which is very rare. It will be the second full moon of the month. The term "blue supermoon" was coined in 1883 after the Krakatoa Volcano eruption, as debris in the sky gave the moon a blue appearance.

The full harvest supermoon will occur on September 29th, following the fall equinox. During this time, farmers can work at night due to the moonlight illuminating all the crops. [Read More]

Craving Control: The Science Behind Junk Food Addiction

by Elim Eyobed, age 12

If you've ever had a craving for junk food, you're certainly not alone. Whether it's chips, pizza, donuts, or cake, these processed foods are so flavorful that they can become extremely addictive. As a result, it can be very difficult to stop eating.

While addiction is typically associated with drugs or alcohol, some researchers have discovered that junk food can elicit similar addictive responses. The stimulating effect of junk food triggers a recurring cycle within the brain's reward circuit. Junk food induces the release of dopamine, which in turn brings about a sense of happiness in a similar fashion to drugs and alcohol.

The primary concern here isn't necessarily the presence of carbohydrates or fats, as healthier foods such as nuts and meat contain fats, and oats are rich in carbs. Rather, the issue lies in the fact that many unhealthy foods lack the essential nutrients that unprocessed foods used to contain. Consequently, the combination of sugars and fats in these foods creates a cycle that makes it challenging to resist eating them. [Read More]

The Vampire Spiders Are the Secret Blood-Lovers of the Insect World

by Riya Adhikari, age 12

Everyone talks about blood-loving mosquitos, but does anyone talk about the blood-loving spiders? Evarcha culicivora, also called vampire spiders, are a type of spider that feeds on blood. They are called mosquito terminators.

Evarcha likes both animal and human blood. Vampire spiders cannot bite through skin or animal hide because their mouthparts are not built for this ability.

Vampire spiders depend on mosquitoes to get the blood they desire. Their favorite types of mosquitoes are Anopheles, which are the main malaria spreaders in Africa. This mosquito species sits with its bottom sticking up in the air, while the majority of mosquitos sit with their bottoms on the floor. Their posture is an advantage for baby spiders. They can crawl under the mosquito’s abdomen, jump up, then grab onto the mosquito. While it flies away, the little spiders hang on to the mosquito and inject it with their venom. They then have a big feast. Vampire spiders live by Lake Victoria in the nations of Kenya and Uganda in the eastern part of Africa. [Read More]

Investigating the Mysterious Snow on Saturn's Moon

by Amelia Pearson, age 13

The snow on Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, can bury almost any skyscraper on Earth. Scientists would like to find out why.

The snow’s depth on Enceladus shows that its water vapor could have been more active in the past. Geysers on the moon allow for water from a salty ocean under an icy shell to rise to the surface of Enceladus. Some of this water contributes to forming one of Saturn’s rings. According to the researchers, the rest of this water seems to land back on the ground in the form of snow. Scientists believe that if they could fully understand the snow's properties, it could help uncover Enceladus’ history.

For scientists to fully understand the properties of the snow on Enceladus, they looked into Iceland. In Iceland, there are marks in the ground made from loose rocks, ice, or snow called pit chains. Scientists discovered they are very similar to features on Enceladus. [Read More]

The Cosmic Oasis and Jupiter's Largest Moons

by Amelia Pearson, age 13

One of the three largest moons on Jupiter, named Europa, is said to be the most promising place to find alien life in our solar system today.

Recently, there was a mission launched by the European Space Agency called the Juice mission to Jupiter. The Juice mission’s main job is to make observations of Jupiter. The spacecraft's purpose is to also get close-up images of the three largest moons of Jupiter. The three largest moons are Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. They are all very icy and it is believed beneath their surfaces, there are oceans.

These moons were not discovered until the 17th century by Galileo. He also discovered a fourth moon on Jupiter named Io. This moon is hot and fiery, covered in mostly volcanoes, which are the most active out of anywhere in the solar system. Galileo discovered these four moons on Jupiter, and he realized that Earth is not the center of the universe. [Read More]

120-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil Sheds Light on Bird Evolution

by Dayanara Flores Gonzalez, 15

Scientists have just discovered a 120-million-year-old fossil that could help us learn more about landbound dinosaurs and their evolution into flying birds.

The Cratonavis Zhui bird was revealed to have a dinosaur-like head and a body similar to that of today's birds.

This bird originated from the northeast region of China. CT scans found its skull to be nearly identical to that of a theropod dinosaur, similar to the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Chinese Academy of Sciences reports that the Cratonavis skull had not evolved its mobile upper jaw like other birds. [Read More]

The Utahraptor: A Cretaceous Menace with Terrifying Toes

by Aubrey Bevenue, age 12

When it roamed the Earth centuries ago, the Utahraptor reached over seven feet tall. It had many feathers and was a vicious predator found in eastern Utah. It was the bigger version of the Velociraptor.

The Utahraptor weighed about 1,500 pounds. Its jaws were so enormous that they could fit a person's full head and half of the chest with no problem. It had large claws, two hands and feet. One toe had a huge long claw while the other was average in size. This claw curved served as a slicing tool and could grow to be a foot long. In fact, when the Utahraptor hunted prey, it used its claws to rip the animal open and bite it at the same time.

The Utahraptor lived approximately 125 to 120 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Utahraptors were members of a dinosaur family called Dromaeosauridae. This family also included Velociraptor and Deinonychus. These animals were smaller than the Utahraptor, but their traits were quite similar, such as having a sharp toe. [Read More]

In a Distant Part of our Solar System, Astronomers Find New Ring Orbiting a Small, Icy World

by Allison Torres, age 14

Billions of miles beyond Neptune, astronomers have found a new ring in space orbiting a small ice world named Quaoar. It was discovered by an international group of researchers with several Brazilian members.

Sixty researchers from different countries used telescopes on Earth and in space to confirm that the ring is orbiting approximately 2,500 miles above the surface of Quaoar.

Quaoar is about 6 billion kilometers from Earth. In other words, if someone were to walk, it would take more than one million years to get there. [Read More]