STEM

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.

Prior to her untimely demise on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger gave us many historical moments in our nation's space exploration history.

The Taal Volcano of the Philippines is unusual in that it is a recently-developed volcano situated inside a much older supervolcano that is no longer active. This set-up is not unique in the natural world, for similar arrangements can be found at Crater Lake in the US and Lake Taupo in New Zealand.

How do you add and subtract fractions on the abacus? Mixed numbers? Complex fractions? Introduce children to fractions? Learn from this article.

Bone marrow contains stem cells. These produce blood cells and other important cell types. Bone marrow transplants are used to treat certain diseases.

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.

Pyrosomes are elongated, thimble-shaped creatures that swim in the ocean and are bioluminescent. A pyrosome is actually a colony of small animals called tunicates.

The large or Malayan flying fox is one of the world's largest bats and has a wingspan of up to six feet. Its population is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Ballistics is a branch of mechanics which deals with the motion of projectiles launched into the air or space. Solving these type of problems involves using Newton's equations of motion

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.

African civets have some unusual features and interesting behavior. Unfortunately, they are kept in captivity on civet farms so that their musk can be collected.

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.

Some heart transplant patients inherit character traits from their donors. Science suggests that there are separate brains located both in the heart and gut that regulate emotion and intuition.

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.

This articles examines the deadly and highly venomous, Inland Taipan. It provides an analysis of the snake's behavioral traits, characteristics, and venom toxicity.

A microscope is a gateway to a fascinating and normally invisible world. Exploring this world with a suitable microscope and correct procedures is very enjoyable.

The first of four basic guides to the night sky, and what can be seen with the naked eye or binoculars. This page identifies the many kinds of objects you can see when you look up at the night sky

This is a simple, step-by-step, instruction on how to make a solution in chemistry with examples for both molar concentration and mass/volume ratio.

Throughout the world there exists numerous viruses and diseases capable of inflicting serious harm (or death) on the human population at large. This article explores the 10 deadliest and most dangerous viruses known to currently exist in the world.

Fibronectin attaches cells to the extracellular matrix and controls their behaviour. It also helps to stop bleeding and is used in a fetal fibronectin test.

Here are the tales of fifteen species that succumbed to anthropogenic extinction as a result of hunting or habitat destruction.

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.

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.

Bleach has potent antimicrobial properties and is also able to remove stains from fabrics. It has many uses, but it's potentially dangerous.

This article examines the deadly Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. It provides an analysis of the snake's behavioral traits, characteristics, and overall venom toxicity.

Hercules beetles are named after the hero of ancient myths. The male has horns that may be very long. The insects can change colour and are found in both the old and the new world.

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

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

Goat's rue contains a chemical called galegine. Studying galegine enabled scientists to create the medication known as metformin. Metformin has multiple mechanisms of action in the body.

Forsythia is an ornamental shrub that produces beautiful and abundant yellow flowers in late winter and early spring. The plant is named after William Forsyth, an eighteenth-century horticulturist.

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

Ever wondered how many M&M's can fit in a container?

Tomatoes are nutritious and have an interesting history, but they often lack flavor compared to ones in the past. A new discovery and other methods should provide tastier tomatoes.

Blood type is an important factor to consider in transfusions in order to avoid incompatibility reactions. Scientists have created potentially safe type O red blood cells from other kinds.

Sickle cell disease is painful for sufferers and can sometimes be dangerous. Genome editing may one day correct the mutation that causes the disorder.

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

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.

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.

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

Gold has fascinated humans since it was first discovered. It has inspired love, poetry, art and music as well as greed, murder and warfare. Discover about gold with these amazing facts, pics, videos!

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.

Many slugs play a helpful role in their environment, although some are pests. Researchers are hoping to create useful items based on slug slime and movement.

A two-faced animal is one individual. The condition is known as disprosopus or craniofacial duplication. Cats with two faces are called Janus cats. Frank and Louie was a famous example of a Janus cat.

The simple RC circuit is a basic system in electronics. This tutorial examines the transient analysis of the circuit as it charges and discharges, explaining the voltage and current waveforms and also covering the solution of the differential equations for the system.

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.

Lichens are interesting organisms that are important in their environment and useful for humans. Some produce chemicals that are potentially dangerous for us, however.

In winter, the Narcisse Snake Dens contain the world's largest concentration of red-sided garter snakes. The snakes are non-venomous and are sometimes kept as pets.

Water hyacinth is a beautiful and invasive plant that causes major problems. It has the ability to act as a great biofuel, especially when combined with cow dung.

The Malayan tapir is an unusual animal with an extensible and mobile proboscis, or mini-trunk. Despite its size and bulk, this endangered animal can move fast.

Some chemicals found in fungi are used as medicines when formulated correctly. Examples include penicillin, lovastatin, and cyclosporine. Lentinan and eritadenine may be beneficial as well.

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.

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

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.

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

The great horned owl is an avian apex predator, and perhaps the finest predator to have ever lived. In this article, I will detail just about everything you need to know about these magnificent raptors, including what they look like, what they eat, and how they live.

Water has some properties that can make it a good refrigerant. It also possesses some undesirable properties that makes its application as a refrigerant very challenging and inefficient to implement.

While it may ultimately prove to be wrong, scientists know of several ways to test for string theory using many conventions of physics.

The eighth planet to be found, Neptune's discovery is full of politics and failed potential yet one of the ultimate triumphs in mathematical astronomy.

Birds are among the most beautiful creatures on Earth. They're also some of the weirdest! Check out these crazy-but-true interesting and fun facts about our feathered friends...you'll be amazed!

Orangutans are endangered, mainly because their rainforest habitat is being replaced by oil palm plantations. We can help the animals in multiple ways.

Broca's area, Wernicke's area, and the circle of Willis are important parts of the brain. They are named after the famous scientists who discovered them.

Bacteria in the genus Yersinia have major effects on our lives. One species causes bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Others cause foodborne illness. One may eventually help to treat cancer.

Learn how to approximate the area of irregularly shaped curve figures using Simpson’s 1/3 Rule. This article covers concepts, problems, and solutions about how to use Simpson’s 1/3 Rule in area approximation.

Parasitic plants obtain their food or nutrients from another plant. The relationship may last for a long time, but sometimes the parasite kills its host.

In small quantities, nitric oxide has important functions and effects in our body. In large amounts, however, it's toxic to nerve cells and is dangerous.

Learn interesting facts about the behavior of the blue jay, view pictures, and learn how to keep this bully away from your bird feeder.

The wood frog survives freezing. A study of its adaptations for survival may be helpful in understanding human health problems and in the use of organs for transplants.

The mucus that covers fish has several functions, including protection from multiple dangers and serving as food for young fish. The substance may also be useful for us.

A collection of all the essential facts about the southern black racers snake. These snakes are non-venomous and common throughout the southeastern United States.

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

Learn how bird feeders impact wild birds and the environment so you understand the good and bad aspects of feeding the birds in your garden or yard.

Serendipity is a happy and unexpected event that seems to occur by chance. It's often called a “lucky accident”. Serendipitous discoveries are important in science.

Daffodils are beautiful and interesting flowers. They have some useful features but are also toxic. They are often used by cancer societies as a symbol of hope.

Earwigs have a fearsome image but aren't dangerous. They sometimes become garden pests. Natural control methods can be very helpful in dealing with the insects.

Some animals absorb chloroplasts or algae, which make food inside the animal's body. The exoskeleton of one type of insect makes electricity from solar energy.

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.

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.

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.

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

Scientists are studying the endurance and survival of humans in space for distant intergalactic travel. I review that research in this article.

What role does water play in life and what would happen if we were to lose it or it didn't exist? There are already parts of the world where we can see how life would change, if there were no water. This article explores it further.

To any student of geology and natural disasters, there is no way around it, the "Ring of Fire" is the most seismic active place on the planet. About 70% of the world's volcanoes and earthquakes take place here. Nonetheless, many dangerous volcanoes can be found elsewhere around the planet.

North America is home to six species of wildcats. Learn more about the wildcats of North America with pictures and videos.

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...

Tiny microplastic particles are created from plastic waste. The particles enter our body in multiple ways. Their possible effects are unknown but are a concern.

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.

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

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.

Help monarch butterflies by planting milkweed, the food plant they need to survive!

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.

Students have an excellent chance of doing well on a physics exam if they work efficiently throughout the physics course and follow some tips for writing exams.

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

Spiders are fascinating animals that help us by removing harmful insects from the environment. Their silk is very strong and is potentially useful for humans.

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.

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

The cheetah is one of the most iconic animals in the world. The cheetah doesn't get the respect or media attention the lion does, but there are only ten thousand left in this world. Save the cheetah.

The lamprey is a frightening eel-like parasite, but could they really attack humans? Here's a look at this monster of nightmares.

The gharial is a critically-endangered relative of the crocodile. It lives in and next to rivers in India and Nepal. The animal has some unusual and interesting features.

Elizabeth Kolbert's "The Sixth Extinction" won the 2015 Pulitzer for non-fiction, deservedly, for its blend of places, people, creatures and science. Get the gist in this lavishly illustrated Hub.

We've all experienced a short-term power outage, but what kind of problems would we have if the power was out for a week, or even longer? We depend on electricity for a lot more than lights and TV.