Weirdly, mayo can help study conditions ripe for nuclear fusion
Mayonnaise is useful for smearing on sandwiches and prepping potato salads. But scientists are now using it to study nuclear fusion. How mayonnaise behaves can vary. If jiggled gently, it returns to...
View ArticleStructures that work like Hermione’s magic handbag land a chemistry Nobel
Designing a new class of versatile metal-and-carbon molecules has earned three scientists the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Think of metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, as honeycombs or cages. Inside...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Thank microbes for chocolate’s tasty flavors
The flavor of chocolate can vary a lot from piece to piece. Some chocolate treats may have a slight fruity tang. Others may carry hints of floral or even nutty flavors. Scientists knew that soil,...
View ArticleScientists Say: Microcin
Microcin (noun, “MY-krow-sin”) Microcins are tiny protein-like molecules that take down bacteria. They are made by bacteria, for other bacteria. Not all bacteria make microcins. Those that do use them...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New materials yank ‘forever chemicals’ from water
This is a human-written story voiced by AI. Got feedback? Take our survey. (See our AI policy here.) New materials could snatch harmful “forever chemicals” out of water in a faster, more sustainable...
View ArticleChopping an onion? Sharp knives can keep its juice out of your eyes
Crying over chopped onions could be a thing of the past. Slicing with sharper blades and slower cuts can eliminate those painful tears, a new study finds. A chemical formed from onion juice...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Here’s what nutrition experts say about dietary fat
American dietary guidelines have gotten an overhaul. In January, the U.S. federal government unveiled a new food pyramid. Unlike the classic food pyramid, the new one is an upside-down triangle. Meat,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Newfound ‘anti-spice’ compounds tame chili peppers’ heat
Chili peppers famously bring the heat to hot sauces, salsas, curries and many other dishes. And if you’ve ever bitten into food that’s too spicy, you know how much they can burn. But now, it seems...
View ArticleLet’s learn about the carbon cycle
The element carbon is found all over our planet. Carbon helps make up carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere (it’s the C in CO2). It’s found underground in rocks and fossil fuels. A lot of it is stored...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fuzzy microbes may fuel cows’ methane burps
Cows belch a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But it’s not their fault. Scientists have identified a new trigger for the process. It resides in some microbes that live in the cows’ guts. This...
View ArticlePhysics explains why gold doesn’t ‘rust’
Steel rusts over time. Copper turns green. But gold stays shiny, seemingly forever. Scientists have now discovered a property that explains why gold stays spotless. Explainer: What is a metal?...
View ArticleLet’s learn about chocolate
Valentine’s Day isn’t just an opportunity to exchange nice notes with friends, family, classmates and crushes. It’s also a great excuse to eat many people’s favorite treat: chocolate. The main...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Experiment: How to keep fruit slices fresh
Objective: To investigate which liquid will keep sliced apples looking the freshest Areas of science: Chemistry, Food Science Difficulty: Hard beginner Time required: ≤ 1 day Prerequisites: None...
View ArticleScientists Say: Rocket propellants
Rocket propellants (noun, “RAH-kit Pro-PELL-ents”) Rockets need two things to propel them forward. One is fuel. The other is a source of oxygen, or an oxidizer, to help burn that fuel. Together, fuels...
View ArticleTeen chemist uncovers potentially harmful preservatives in pet food
Mackensey Wilson, 14, never planned on doing a science fair project. But when one of her dogs kept getting rashes that seemed to be linked to what pet food she’d been eating, Mackensey got curious....
View ArticleScientists Say: Alloy
Alloy (noun, “AL-oy”) An alloy is a metal-based mixture. Familiar examples of alloys include steel, bronze and brass. Some alloys are metal-metal mixtures. Others mix metals with nonmetals. Alloys...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Stashing more CO2 in the ocean could slow climate change
This is another in our series of stories identifying new technologies and actions that can slow climate change, reduce its impacts or help communities cope with a rapidly changing world. The ocean is...
View ArticleScientists Say: THC
THC (noun, “T-H-C”) THC is a chemical found in the plant cannabis, or marijuana. THC is short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It is the compound mainly responsible for cannabis’s psychoactive...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Experiment: Make your own marshmallows!
Objective: Determine the ratio of sugar to corn syrup that produces the best-tasting and best-textured marshmallow. Areas of Science: Food Science Difficulty: Intermediate medium Time required: Short...
View ArticleScientists Say: Excitation
Excitation (noun, “Eck-sy-TAY-shun”) In chemistry, the word “excitation” refers to adding energy to electrons in atoms. Atoms consist of three main types of particles. Those are protons, neutrons and...
View Article
![Personal Investments • Re: 401k investments [which to choose?]](http://i.imgur.com/wA51OIw.png)
