STEM

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.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterium that can live in our body and is sometimes dangerous. It's usually harmless in the digestive tract, but this may not always be true.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

The axolotl is a fascinating and critically endangered amphibian. It stays in its larval form throughout its life and has very impressive powers of regeneration.

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

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.

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.

The swell shark and the chain catshark produce beautiful patterns of light in a process called biofluorescence. The light emission may have important functions.

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

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 maned wolf is an unusual animal with an erectable mane, a fox-like face, large ears, and long legs that resemble stilts. Its population is near threatened.

The bunya pine produces huge and often very heavy cones. Its large seeds are both edible and tasty. The tree has a strange appearance and some unusual features.

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

Membranes are versatile and yet rarely appreciated materials. How are we improving them?

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

Draco lizards are sometimes known as flying dragons. They have a skin fold on each side of their body that extends to form a wing-like structure and enables them to glide through the air.

Commercial farming of one of the world’s most popular types of seafood is causing environmental degradation on a large scale and is a potential source of health issues.

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.

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.

This guide to laboratory signs and their meanings has a detailed description to each sign and symbol, with photos. A must read for anyone working in a laboratory with hazard signs...

Inky cap mushrooms such as shaggy manes become a black, inky liquid in order to disperse their spores. Some contain coprine, which increases the unpleasant effects of alcohol intake.

A look at what fractals are and three of the most popular examples: the middle third Cantor Set, the Koch curve, and the Sierpinski triangle.

In science, serendipity is an unexpected and beneficial event or discovery that seems to have occurred due to chance. I give some examples of serendipity in this article.

Western red cedar (or western redcedar) is a common and interesting tree in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Historically, it was important in First Nations culture.

Asian and African golden cats are beautiful animals whose populations are near threatened or vulnerable. The animals are in trouble due to human activity in their habitat.

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

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

The Persian silk tree is a deciduous, fast-growing tree with a spreading umbrella-like crown. It is well-known for its beautiful foliage and flowers. Read on to know more about the Persian silk tree.

Saliva is made by salivary glands and has multiple functions. The glands sometimes develop a stone or an infection. In Sjogren's syndrome, insufficient saliva is made.

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

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

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

How have recent developments in material sciences led to stronger stuff?

Snakehead fish are invasive species in North America. They are fierce predators and can breathe in air. They may be a serious threat to native wildlife.

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

Recent research has shown that four plant extracts inhibit the growth of some dangerous bacteria in the lab. Three of them may have been helpful during the American Civil War.

Harvestmen or daddy longlegs are interesting animals that are arachnids but not spiders. They have some unusual features and are often fascinating to observe.

Few people are aware of how black widow spiders contributed to the World War II effort, but they had a significant impact. In fact, a LIFE magazine article published on August 30thof 1943 credited each of several government employed arachnids with spinning between 100 and 180 feet of thread a week.This thread was then used to make cross hairs in the gunsights of U.S. Army instruments of war.

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.

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.

Mud is a versatile and interesting material. It's useful for both animals and humans. It can also be dangerous, especially in the form of mud volcanoes and mudflows.

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.

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.

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

Earwax or cerumen 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.

Pandas are interesting and mysterious creatures that have long baffled scientists. There are many things about these endangered animals that many people do not know.

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

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.

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.

Spiders are fascinating animals that kill some types of harmful insects. Their silk is very strong and may be useful for humans. Certain species of spiders are venomous.

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.

In studying transforming surfaces, we find some surprising applications.

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

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

Land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal poses a significant threat to governments, businesses, and the general public.

Puffins are most people’s favourite sea bird, and Scotland has plenty of great places to view them. Whether you are a visitor or native to Scotland, this article shows you where to go. And it’s filled with cute photos!

Because caffeine is a substance used by people in every country and on every continent, it affects billions. In order to better understand these effects, we must examine its impact in nature on animals, plants and the environment. Then we can decide how this relates to our health. Is it bad for us?

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.

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

Scientists are trying to bring extinct animals back to life by a process called cloning. The result would be de-extinction. The idea is exciting but controversial.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quantum computers are the future, but they are incredibly challenging right now. What are we doing to resolve the quantum memory component?

Since the early days of space exploration, people have been dreaming of going to Mars. It took only 12 years from Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, until the first moon landing of Apollo 11. Yet 50 years on Mars is still a huge challenge. Will we eventually take off for the red planet?

Chloroform can act as an anesthetic, but it’s toxic and may cause serious health problems. It's present in the environment. Methods to limit our exposure to chloroform exist.

The hedge bindweed produces large and beautiful flowers. It twines around other plants and sometimes interferes with their growth. It's invasive in parts of North America, including British Columbia.

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.

Willows are attractive plants with some interesting features and uses. They produce salicin, the forerunner of aspirin, and miyabeacin, which might fight some types of cancer.

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts control the production and disintegration of bone and the amount of calcium released from the bones into the bloodstream.

This is a basic guide to what you can see on the surface on the Moon - there is as much that can be seen on the Moon with a pair of binoculars, than in the whole of the rest of the sky put together.

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.

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.

Invertebrates are a diverse group of animals. This article discusses the nine most important of the 30 known phyla of invertebrates and includes images and descriptions of some of the most common examples of each type.

Here are answers for many of the most commonly asked questions about caterpillars!

Cinnabar is a beautiful but toxic red mineral made of mercury (ll) sulfide. It’s used as a source of mercury and to make an artist's pigment called vermilion.

You can experience nature in your backyard by listening to the dawn chorus. Every day there’s an amazing burst of song as birds wake up. It’s well worth an early start to hear them.

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.

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.

Tree kangaroos are unusual and intriguing marsupials that move with ease through the trees and on the ground. The Lumholtz's tree kangaroo is the smallest species in the group.

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...

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

Lobsters are interesting animals to observe and study in a natural setting. They are popular food items, but the way in which we kill them is controversial.

The beautiful spirit bear has a white or cream coat and lives in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. It's an unusual form of the kermode bear, which is a subspecies of Ursus americanus.

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

Shoebill storks, or shoebills, have a huge and very impressive bill. The animal's unusual features make it a unique bird. I describe 45 facts about the bird and its life.

The concept of emptiness in physics is enormous. There is mostly physical nothingness in the entire universe. Follow along with me as I explain this.

The Scottish wildcat is a beautiful animal and a powerful hunter. Unfortunately, it’s critically endangered due to hybridization with domestic cats.

Irises are beautiful flowers that have a wide variety of colours. Some are used to make orris root, which has a lovely scent but can cause an allergic response.

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

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.

Frogs are intriguing animals. Blue and strawberry poison dart, golden poison, Malagasy rainbow, tomato, and emerald glass frogs are colorful and interesting amphibians.

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.

A set of fun experiments that teach kids the fun of chemistry and how to tell a chemical change from a physical change.