In the News

The world’s oceans are in trouble. Millions of tons of plastic pollution [harmful substances in the environment] enter the oceans each year. Most of it gets swept into “garbage patches” such as the Great Pacific … Read more

What can you learn from talking to whales? Lots! In a recent study, scientists had a 20-minute conversation with a whale. They hope to use what they learned from this conversation to learn more about … Read more

Have you ever tried to walk in deep snow? It’s not easy. Every step you take, you sink down into the snow. This can make getting around in the snow almost impossible. Fortunately, long ago … Read more

How would you describe Earth’s shape? Most would say it is round or shaped like a ball. But experts describe its shape as a “lumpy potato.” It is flatter at the poles and wider in … Read more

In August, Tropical Storm Hilary hit California. It caused mudslides and flooding. Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit this part of the United States since 1997. Tropical storms and hurricanes are common on … Read more

You might observe some creepy creatures out and about this month. It is tarantula mating season. This means that male tarantulas are out searching for a mate [a partner with which one reproduces]. Tarantulas are … Read more

Earlier this summer, a deep-sea submersible [underwater craft designed for research or exploration] collapsed. There were five people on board. This accident has highlighted the challenges of deep-sea research. Deep-sea organisms survive without sunlight. Oceans … Read more

A moon is an object in space. It orbits a host planet. Earth has one moon. Some planets do not have any moons. Others, like Saturn and Jupiter, have many moons. Saturn is the “moon … Read more

Technology is part of our daily life. We use it at work, at school, and at home. If you play video games, you use technology. One of the most advanced forms of technology today is … Read more

A huge mass of seaweed is floating in the open ocean near Florida. The brown, leafy seaweed is called sargassum. It comes from the Sargasso Sea, an area of the Atlantic Ocean. Some seaweed grows … Read more