STEM

Svalbard reindeer live on an archipelago near mainland Norway. They are the smallest subspecies of reindeer. Research indicates that their bodies are shrinking in size.

The great horned owl is an avian apex predator. Possibly this bird is the finest predator to have ever lived.

Acorn worms have an amazing ability to regenerate body parts. We have most of the worm's genes used in regeneration. Scientists hope to enable us to make new body parts.

In this guide you will learn easy ways anyone can get started in bird watching and become a birder, even if they are a total beginner!

Octopuses have fascinating abilities. Some have fins that help them move. Others demonstrate intelligence. The genome of one species is very unusual.

Different Types of Stars in the Universe - Physical characteristics and images of the many different kinds of stars, from red giants to white dwarfs.

Pacific white-sided dolphins are intelligent and very social animals. This article describes the lives of the wild dolphins and of some rescued animals in captivity.

The longhorned tick is native to East Asia and has been introduced to the United States. In some parts of the world, it transmits microbes that cause disease in humans. Its population is increasing in the U.S. It hasn't caused health problems in the country yet but is being monitored carefully.

This article describes the technique for performing multiplication on the abacus.

The resins that some trees secrete when they're wounded can be useful for humans. Some are used as perfumes or medicines. Others have preserved ancient life forms.

A look at the diversity of Arizona's Coconino National Forest and some of the wildlife that makes its home there, in the northern part of the state, including the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff

The monkey puzzle tree is a very strange and interesting plant. It's native to South America but grows in parks and gardens in other areas as an introduced plant.

This article summarizes the threat that asteroids and comets pose to the Earth. A short history of some of the greatest asteroid impacts on Earth is also provided.

Dark matter and dark energy are still huge mysteries in astrophysics. Alternate theories exist to help explain them.

See pictures to help you identify the male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, plus learn facts about its migration and behavior.

Hydrochloric acid is made in the stomach and is a very helpful chemical. Too much or too little acid or acid in the wrong place can cause problems, however.

The banana spider is famous for its beautiful web, which appears to be golden when it shines in the sun. The spider's venom is of the same type as that of a black widow, but much weaker.

The Sunshine State has all sorts of over-sized bugs and creep-crawlies. This article looks at the biggest spiders in Florida.

Some scientists are trying to bring extinct animals back to life through a process called cloning. The idea is exciting but also controversial.

There are two types spiders in California whose bite you really want to avoid: widows and recluses.

Bumble bees have surprisingly capable brains. They can play a simple version of soccer and pull a string to get a reward. They may even experience optimism.

Proteins in the body have essential jobs. They enable us to move, transport materials and signals, control chemical reactions, stop bleeding, and fight infections.

Our skin is an impressive organ that has many functions. For example, it reduces water loss, fights infections, helps regulate body temperature, and makes vitamin D.

Exciting disciplines that combine biology and math include biostatistics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, mathematical biology, and population ecology. The disciplines offer interesting careers.

This guide is for beginners. I’ll walk you through the installation process so that you can get started with your first web app framework.

The common raven is an intelligent and interesting bird that plays an important role in folklore. The bird is found in many countries and habitats.

Hair color is primarily genetic, and red hair is caused by mutations in the MC1R gene. The gene for red hair also causes an increased sensitivity to sunlight and a reduced sensitivity to anesthesia. Contrary to internet rumors, redheads are not going extinct! Famous redheads include Queen Elizabeth I and Malcolm X.

Many crocuses bloom in the early spring and are a lovely sight. One type makes saffron. The toxic autumn crocus makes colchicine, which can act as a medicine.

The idea of going to the centre of the Earth was brought to prominence in Jules Verne's classic 1884 Sci-Fi novel 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth, but how far have we gone towards this goal?

Some physicists are positing the idea that the Universe may be aware of its own existence.

Have you ever seen faces in random objects or in clouds? Read on to find out why.

Earwax is made by the lining of the ear canal and has important functions. An adequate amount of wax is necessary, but too much can lead to impaction and pain.

Snakes are fascinating reptiles that have a wide variety of appearances and behaviors. Some snake characteristics are both strange and surprising.

Mucus has vital functions, such as trapping germs in the airways, protecting the stomach lining from an acid attack, and lubricating the passage of materials through the digestive tract. Excess mucus can cause health problems, however. Mucus in the nose is often referred to as snot.

Sardines and herring are nutritious foods. The behaviour of the living fish is interesting to study. They live in groups and communicate with their companions.

Stages in the Life Cycle of Stars - From protostars to white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes and supernovae. The stages in stellar evolution are described.

When someone experiences a heart attack, cells in their heart die. Scientists have found two ways to replace the lost cells in rodents. The techniques may one day work in us.

Most plants in the same family have similar characteristics. These similar characteristics can mostly be seen in their flowers.

The fossa is the largest predator in Madagascar. It's an agile tree climber and a very capable hunter. Its population is threatened by the destruction of its habitat.

With billions of galaxies in the universe there is a huge potential for Earth-like planets with intelligent life. But here are the reasons why we may never find it.

Dandelions have culinary benefits and also produce a latex that can be used to make rubber. This is important, since the supply of natural rubber is decreasing.

This guide to identifying 21 beetle types is easy to use and accurate. Find out if your beetle is rare, if it might be a pest, and more.

Have you have considered the power potential of the human body? What about the energy stored in a raindrop? In this article I discuss five strange methods that could one day become an integral way that civilization generates electricity.

Crows and ravens are similar, but definitely not the same. It's easy to tell them apart once you learn to spot these distinct differences. A side-by-side comparison of American Crows and Common Ravens.

The Tasmanian devil is an endangered animal whose population is decreasing. The main reason for the decrease is devil facial tumor disease. Immunotherapy may one day be used to treat the condition.

Tiny microplastic particles are produced from plastic waste. The particles enter the human body in a variety of ways. Their effects on the body are unknown.

This article provides a technique for performing division using the abacus.

Unripe lychees and ackee fruits contain toxins. Both fruits should be eaten only when ripe. In addition, it's very important that ripe ackee is prepared properly.

Black holes, mysterious objects of the universe, have many different types. Do you know the differences between them all?

Identify that furry or fuzzy caterpillar you found with the help of this quick, easy, and authoritative guide.

I am in awe of our world of nature, particularly the tree kingdom. Visit any local arboretum and just experience them and you will think twice about the legacy you leave. Don't litter, be kind to the earth and appreciate what you have.

Foxgloves are beautiful but poisonous flowers in the wild and in the garden. They contain digitalis, which is a useful heart medication but can also be dangerous.

Honey bees are very smart despite having tiny brains. They can learn; they have good memories, and they can communicate using a unique symbolic language.

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a very serious problem. Phage therapy—treatment with viruses that attack bacteria—may be the solution.

The frilled shark is a strange, deep-sea fish with a wide head, a huge mouth, and a long, eel-like body. Its population size is unknown. The fish is caught as bycatch in some areas, which is a concern.

In the search for dark matter, many different possibilities exist. One of these is axions, and their potential is real.

Formic acid is found in the sprayed venom of some ants and the secretions of some stinging nettles. The acid is dangerous at high concentrations but has important uses.

Solving triangles using Pythagoras's theorem, the cosine rule, the sine rule and various ways of calculating the area of a triangle.

The dragon blood tree of Socotra Island has an unusual appearance. It secretes a red resin known as dragon's blood when its bark is injured. The resin is used in many ways. The island is home to other fascinating and often unique organisms besides the tree.

Pitcher plants produce cups that trap and digest prey. The digestive enzymes of one species can break down gluten and may help people with celiac disease.

Bacteria have some amazing abilities. They can live in extreme habitats, produce light or electricity, communicate with each other, and act as predators and magnets.

The Surinam toad has a strange, flattened body. During reproduction, the female’s skin absorbs the fertilized eggs and the young toads develop under her skin.

Fishing cats are wild animals that feed primarily on fish and are at ease in water. Unfortunately, their population is in trouble due to habitat destruction.

Daffodils are beautiful spring flowers that have a wide variety of colours and shapes. Yellow daffodils are often used by cancer societies as a symbol of hope.

Michael Faraday, the son of an 18th Century blacksmith, became one of the greatest scientists of his age. One of his discoveries transformed the world and changed the way we live forever.

Parasites are everywhere. They live on your skin, in your hair and even inside you! Some are harmless, many are necessary for health, and a few are DEADLY. Let's find out more about crazy PARASITES...

Some people believe that NDE is proof of an afterlife. However, science provides alternate, and more plausible, explanations.

Learn some facts about common songbirds of Pennsylvania and view pictures to help you identify and attract the birds in your backyard.

A mycorrhiza is a beneficial association between a fungus and plant roots. Mycorrhizal fungi often form a communication network between trees. Some produce truffles.

Search engines are good for finding information on almost anything but you often end up with too much information. Making your own is good for finding the answers you want. Learn how to make a personal search engine or just copy and paste the code into a webpage.

Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine. Stem cell technology may provide a more effective treatment than current methods.

Coral bleaching is an event in which corals lose their pigment and main source of food. It often causes corals to die. Oxybenzone in sunscreens may contribute to coral bleaching.

Many people struggle to tell these two reptiles apart, but it isn't that difficult when you know what to look for. What is the difference between alligators and crocodiles? Well, there are essentially 8 main ways to tell them apart...

Rapamycin increases lifespan in mice, apparently by inhibiting a protein called mTOR. It may do the same in dogs and possibly in humans. It's currently being tested in pet dogs.

Most commonly, you see brown or blue eyes but some people, whether it be luck or a medical condition, wind up with really cool and rare eye colors.

Cone snails use their venom to paralyze their prey. Although the venom is often dangerous for humans, it contains chemicals that have important medical uses.

This is the third page in a series of guides for anyone who wants to learn a little more about our night sky. This page looks at those most numerous of all objects visible in the night sky - the stars

Some chemicals in fungi can act as medicines for humans. Three of these chemicals are penicillin, lovastatin, and cyclosporine. Lentinan and eritadenine may also be medicinal.

Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, single-celled organism that can infect the cornea of the eye. It causes a disorder called Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is most common in contact lens users.

We now know that water is definitely on the moon, but how did it get there?

Pygmy seahorses are tiny animals that are often less than an inch in length. Some have amazing features that disguise them and protect them from discovery.

Marmots live in mountainous areas of British Columbia. They are social and very vocal animals that often form colonies. One species—the Vancouver Island Marmot—is critically endangered.

At least 1000 types of fish—and probably many more—produce sounds. These sounds include pops, clicks, purrs, grunts, hums, hoots, rattles, and tinkles.

Some animals absorb chloroplasts or algal cells, which make food inside the animal's body. At least one kind of animal can make electricity from solar energy.

Learn about dragonflies, what they eat and how they fly as well as the type of habitat in which they live. We'll also explore some of the more popular myths and legends surrounding the dragonfly.

The giant hogweed causes burns and blisters. Grapefruit juice interferes with many medicines. The chemicals that cause these effects are called furanocoumarins.

The safflower plant provides a useful vegetable and cosmetic oil and attractive dyes for textiles. A genetically engineered form of the plant has made insulin.

Mudskippers are unusual fish that may spend more time on land than in water. They use their pectoral fins as legs and breathe through their skin as well as their gills.

Tomatoes are nutritious fruits (or vegetables) with an interesting history, but they often lack flavor compared to tomatoes of the past. A discovery by scientists should be helpful in creating tastier fruits. Some strategies for obtaining tomatoes with a better taste already exist.

Why does time only go forward? Is there some type of attracting force? "Time Gravity" is my theory that I discuss in this article, which affects the direction of time—keeping it going only in one direction.

Mole and worm lizards are very unusual reptiles. They have elongated bodies that resemble those of earthworms and have one pair of legs or none at all.

Although human blood is usually red it may have a different color, which indicates the presence of a health problem. Animals have a wide variety of blood colors.

Russia's domesticated silver fox experiment gives genetic clues to the process of animal domestication. Wild foxes from fur farms have been domesticated and made available for the pet trade.

Bees play a very important role in pollinating flowers, but the insects are disappearing. Pesticides may be at least partly responsible for this disappearance.

Working out the odds of an event occurring allows us to estimate the number of times that event will take place in future trials. Permutations/combinations are also an important part of the analysis.

Understanding the structure of the Universe seems impossible. But through clever science and surprising math, a pattern emerges: The Cosmic Web.

This guide explains everything you need to know about circles, including calculation of area, segment area, sector area, length of an arc, radians, sine and cosine.

The Ethiopian wolf lives in Africa at high elevations. It's the most endangered member of the dog family, or the Canidae. The animal faces some serious threats.

Saliva is made by salivary glands and has important functions. The glands may sometimes develop a stone or an infection. In Sjogren's syndrome, insufficient saliva is made. The disease may be accompanied by other symptoms.

Exploring the phenomenon of people thinking animals are "sad" in zoos because of the expression on their faces. Can you read an animal's mind by looking at it?