Physical Science
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Plants
The molecular lives of plants
These questions focus on articles about two of the 2017 SN 10: Scientists to Watch. The scientists are studying how plant roots seek water and developing artificial photosynthesis.
- Health & Medicine
Your body as watchdog
These discussion prompts focus on gene activity and analysis, the immune system and how vaccines work.
- Physics
Your inside guide to the learning brain
These discussion prompts focus on neurons and their signals and how magnetic resonance imaging works.
- Humans
The amazingly malleable brain
Students will search the Science News archive for other stories related to brain connections and learning.
- Chemistry
Building the best battery
In this activity, students will build, test and optimize their own batteries using various metal electrodes and liquid electrolytes.
- Chemistry
What makes different types of batteries unique?
Students will research specific battery types and report on what they find.
- Chemistry
Reduction-oxidation reaction demonstration
This teacher-led demonstration is a straightforward introduction to reduction-oxidation reactions.
- Chemistry
Greasy spots
Students will conduct their own experiments to analyze a variety of foods for the presence of fats, as well as researching types of fat and relating their findings to human health.
- Chemistry
A lesson in lipids
These discussion prompts ask students to think in more detail about lipids, their hydrogenation and related scientific areas.
- Chemistry
Search for stories on trans fats
Students will search the Science News archive for additional articles related to trans fats.
- Science & Society
Trans fat ban as public health experiment
Students will answer questions based on the Science News article "Data back ban of artificial trans fats," with a special focus on data collected and analyzed by researchers.
- Life
How is yogurt made?
Students will culture yogurt bacteria with and without antibiotics to test the bacteria's sensitivity and then stain microscope slides to determine if the bacteria are gram-positive or gram-negative.
