All Stories by Maria Temming
- Microbes
Let’s learn about useful bacteria
Bacteria do many useful jobs almost everywhere on Earth, from the soil to the seafloor to our stomachs.
- Brain
Scientists Say: Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out and believe information that agrees with what we already think.
- Animals
Here’s why thousands of octopuses gather at the ‘Octopus Garden’
Underwater cameras and other instruments investigated why so many pearl octopuses gather here to mate and nest.
- Space
Let’s learn about meteorites
Meteorites are bits of space rock that have crash-landed on Earth — or on another celestial body.
- Space
Scientists Say: Solar Cycle
This roughly 11-year cycle in the sun’s activity can affect space weather that messes with Earthly technology.
- Earth
The weird sky glow called STEVE is really confusing scientists
Researchers are trying to figure out the recipe of atmospheric conditions that creates this aurora-like light show.
- Animals
Let’s learn about birdwatching for beginners
One birdwatcher unpacks the personal and scientific rewards of birding, and how to get started.
- Materials Science
Scientists Say: 2-D Material
Two-dimensional materials such as graphene could improve electronics, carbon capture and more.
- Animals
A newfound type of hedgehog is small, dark and adorable
At first, this hedgehog was mistaken for a lookalike relative. But its teeth, skull shape and DNA confirmed it as a new species.
- Materials Science
Let’s learn about graphene
Scientists have been trying to understand and harness this material’s superpowers since its discovery in 2004.
- Physics
Scientists Say: Polarized light
Sunlight, lamplight and other lights are usually unpolarized. But passing light waves through filters can ‘polarize’ them.
- Tech
Let’s learn about the benefits of playing video games
Too much screentime poses health risks, but research suggests playing video games can sharpen some skillsets.
