Ask Science

Astronomers recently made a huge discovery—there may be life on Venus. But what does it really mean when we say we've discovered the potential for life on the second rock from the Sun? Don't go searc…

How many days can it take to control a large wildfire? (More than you think.) Who fights wildfires? (You may be surprised!) What tools and methods do firefighters use to control, extinguish, and prev…

Hurricanes and strong tornadoes make headlines, but fewer people know about the unique and destructive weather force known as a derecho. What are derechos, and why are they so devastating? Everyday E…

Wild bee populations are at risk. Why are wild bee colonies in decline, why is it a big deal, and how can you help? First, step away from the pesticides.

Recently, a rock sample from the Neolithic structure Stonehenge made its way to a science lab after 60 years in a private collection. Here's what we learned from it.

Your blood type is one of the many things you inherit from your parents. But what does it mean, and how does it affect your medical care? Do you have a rare blood type?

Humans seem to be the only animals who produce one of three different types of tears. Can you guess what it is? Let's look at the science behind crying.

We have scientific evidence that masks effectively and dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19, yet myths about mask-wearing abound. Let's put them to rest and mask up!

Congress recently introduced a bill to prohibit the President from using weapons to alter weather patterns. But can you tame a hurricane by nuking it off the map?

Does the SPF really matter? Should I go organic? What about the warnings on possible carcinogens in sunscreens? Is it better to avoid sunscreen altogether? Let's ask science!

Many viruses are like bad party guests—they show up uninvited and wreak havoc. But some viruses are more cooperative guests. A virus may have even made us mammals!

Did NASA really discover a parallel universe where time runs backward? It's not impossible! But we're still a long way from proving it.

How concerned should you be about transmission of the novel coronavirus through food?

There's much left unexplored beneath Earth's surface, uncluding miles of underground rivers. What forms them? What lives there? And how do these subterranean waterways help science?

The OSIRIS REx spacecraft will perform a cosmic smash-and-grab on the surface of the potentially hazardous asteroid, Bennu. What do scientists hope to learn?

You're longing for connection, your child is begging for a playdate, you're stir crazy. Is it okay to visit with just one other family during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Is the air noticeably clearer where you live right now? For Earth Day, you can become a citizen scientist by using an app to track air pollution in your neighborhood.

What’s the difference between a germ, a virus, and bacteria? Let's put these different disease-causing objects under a microscope and find out.