Early spring planting is tricky for pepper and tomato growers because cold soil slows down seed sprouting and weakens baby plants. Scientists tested a two-step trick: soak seeds in a special sugar-like mix, let them dry, then spray the young plants with the same mix. The mix contains three tiny comp
Some of the most confusing scientific concepts—like how the universe began or how gravity really works—can feel like they belong only in complicated textbooks. But an innovative approach turns these heavy topics into something more relatable. By mixing science with storytelling, one author shows how
Astronauts floating above Earth often come back feeling something big, not just in their bones but in their beliefs. The view of our tiny blue planet against the endless dark seems to stretch their thoughts beyond numbers and equations. Reports from space travelers over decades show this pattern—fro
A science teacher from Ottawa, Illinois, will spend part of his summer rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest minds in physics. Dan Fitzpatrick, who teaches at St. Bede Academy, has earned a spot in an elite program run by CERN, the famous research center in Switzerland. Out of thousands of ap
Scientists are starting to see a surprising link between autism, usually thought of as a childhood condition, and Alzheimer’s, a disease that shows up in old age. At first glance the two seem unrelated: one is about early brain wiring, the other about later brain decay. But new studies suggest
For the second year in a row, a new budget plan suggests slashing NASA’s science spending by nearly half. If passed, missions studying planets, stars, and Earth’s climate could be delayed or scrapped entirely. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch soon, and missions to Titan and near-
Sweet potatoes aren’t just orange or white anymore. Purple varieties pack a powerful antioxidant punch thanks to anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries and red cabbage their deep colors. But when these plants don’t get enough phosphorus—a key nutrient—they change how they make these health
Scientists once believed that repeating words in a sentence could help the brain remember sentence patterns. This idea came from tests where the main action word (like a verb) was repeated, making it easier to recall the sentence structure. Repeating other words in a sentence didn’t seem to help as
The International Olympic Committee recently introduced a controversial rule about who can compete in women's sports. Their new policy says only people born female can join female competitions, confirmed by a one-time gene test. This came after experts pointed out that some athletes with male biolog
"Project Hail Mary" tries to mix space science with fiction, but not all of it sticks. The story blames a space mold called astrophase for draining sunlight and freezing Earth. Real scientists laugh at that idea—stars are way too big for tiny life forms to affect their energy. Still, the film gets s
