REED RICHARDS

Richardson ISD is asking for a huge sum of money, $1. 4 billion, to fix up schools and buy new stuff. This includes building materials, books, tech gadgets, and even stadium upgrades. If voters say yes, taxes will go up by a small amount. For a home worth $500, 000, that's about $124 more per year.

Reed straw, a common plant waste, can be turned into a valuable resource. It's part of a group called lignocellulosic biomass, which can be used to make biofuels. The trick is getting past the plant's tough structure to access the good stuff inside. A recent experiment showed a smart way to do this