STEM

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Moray eels and wolf eels have elongated bodies and live on the ocean bottom. They have each developed some very interesting and unusual body features and behaviour.

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.

Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium that is a common cause of foodborne illness. It might also cause some cases of multiple sclerosis.

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.

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!

Narwhals are strange and fascinating Arctic whales. The males—and sometimes the females—have a very long tooth that grows through their lip, forming a tusk.

Millennia have vanished, taking species and ecosystems with it. Fossils restore the broken mosaic of prehistory, providing insights into how animals lived and died. Recent riddles included glass pearls inside clams, where butterflies got their legs from and a toe that continues to defy explanation.

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.

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

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.

Camel spiders and whip scorpions are fascinating and strange arachnids. Whip scorpions are sometimes called vinegaroons because they release acetic acid when alarmed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Another day, another celestial X-ray mystery . . .

Komodo, bearded, and frilled dragons are lizards. They are impressive reptiles. They have features that remind people of the dragons of myth and literature.

The Columbian ground squirrel is an interesting animal that is very entertaining to watch. A large population can be found in Manning Park, British Columbia.

Adrenaline or epinephrine is a hormone made by the adrenal glands. It's important in the stress response. Noradrenaline or norepinephrine is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter and is also involved in the stress response.

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

5 stupid arguments against evolution and why they drive me crazy.

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.

Prior to the discovery of blood groups, blood transfusions were often deadly. Physicians attempted the use of milk and animal blood as an alternative to human blood, but met with limited success: the discovery of blood types allowed modern transfusions to safely take place. Blood typing, blood groups around the world, and the genetics of blood types are discussed in this article.

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

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.

Here we look at some hidden forces and their consequences in astronomy.

Another day, another particle physics mystery to unwrap. Let's see what beauty hadrons reveal about the Universe!

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.

Mucus is a slippery liquid that has vital functions in our body. An excessive amount of mucus or a change in its appearance may indicate the presence of a health problem.

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.

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...

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

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.

Chloroform can act an anesthetic, but it’s toxic and causes serious health problems. There are ways to limit our exposure to the chloroform in the environment.

Wolbachia is a bacterium that infects mosquitoes. It prevents viral replication in its host and may protect us from dengue, Zika virus disease, and other illnesses.

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.

The Mariana Trench is the deepest place in the ocean and contains some fascinating animals. NOAA has made some exciting discoveries about life in the trench.

To get started with MySQL installation, you need to download the MySQL installer and then configure the MySQL Server. This hub will help you with the process and see you through the finishing touches.

This article looks at ten sandy beaches of extraordinary colour, what they are composed of and how they are formed, with illustrations of all ten

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 AWS Step Functions context object allows you to access metadata about the state machine and state executions from within. The Map state also exposes further special properties.

Yes, it's a film title, but terminal velocity is also the maximum velocity reached by an object as it falls through a fluid. This article explains how it works.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to Brazil but has been declared extinct in the wild. It still exists in captivity. Captive birds may be released into the wild, but it's unknown whether this will restore the population.

Cockroaches are fascinating insects. Some are pests and can transmit microbes that cause disease. One species is kept as a pet. Cockroach robots may be useful in the future.

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is becoming a very serious problem. Phage therapy—treatment with bacteriophages or viruses that attack bacteria—might be a solution.

AWS Step Functions has released support for dynamic parallelism in the form of the new Map state. This article takes a look at the new state and it's special parameters and properties.

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.

Figuring out how the moon was created is one of the deepest mysteries of archeological astronomy. We do have ideas though...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Goldfish are interesting fish that have some surprising features. The animals are popular pets. They are found in the wild, where they may become very large.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

There are many endangered species, including the Siberian Tiger, elephants, leatherback sea turtles, snow leopards,

The deadly nightshade plant, or belladonna, is extremely poisonous. It contains atropine, a potentially dangerous chemical that has some important medical uses.

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

Jackfruit trees produce huge fruits. Cacao seeds are used to make cocoa, but the trees are in trouble. Jackfruit seed powder may be a good substitute for cocoa.

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

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.

The northwestern crow is an intelligent and interesting bird. Canuck is a wild but semi-tame member of the species in Vancouver who voluntarily associates with humans.

The Surinam toad has a highly flattened body. The skin on the female’s back absorbs her fertilized eggs. The youngsters break out of the skin when they are sufficiently mature.

The Himalayan blackberry is a beautiful plant in spring and summer. It produces delicious blackberries, but it's an invasive species and grows aggressively.

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.

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

Bowhead whales live in the Arctic, break through ice to breathe, and sing intriguing and beautiful songs. They have a large head with a huge, bow-shaped mouth.

What are the most dreadful earthquakes of India. Below is the list of biggest earthquakes of India with images.

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

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.

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.

Human blood is usually red, but it may have a different color. This might indicate the presence of a health problem. Animals have a wide variety of blood colors.

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.

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

The uses of math for the layperson are essentially endless. No matter whether you are a struggling student, a homeowner, or someone simply trying to lose weight, math is the universal language that has an something to offer everyone.

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

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.

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.

Time is not a material thing. You can’t handle it and move it around as you can with any object at your disposal. It just slips away. So, is it an illusion?

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.

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

In another attempt at understanding black holes, we have to travel down an unlikely path...

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.