Maya Ajmera

Flamingos hunt by creating their own underwater tornadoes Chilean flamingos use their beaks and feet to create underwater whirlpools that suck in prey.

In the latest installment in the Wild Things series, @snexplores.bsky.social illustrates the creative feeding strategies of flamingos.

A CDC panel has struck down universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination A reshaped vaccine committee voted to scale back newborn hepatitis B shots despite decades of data showing the birth dose is safe, effective and vital.

"Delaying the birth dose would leave newborns unprotected during a critical window in their lives."

How do we inform, educate, and inspire? Take a look: reports.societyforscience.org

Award-winning micro-photos depict stunning details of nature From fluorescent ferns to sprawling neurons, photos in the 2025 Nikon Small World contest showcased the artistry of life as seen through a microscope.

Incredible snapshots of the microscopic world.

A volcanic eruption might have helped bring the Black Plague to Europe A volcanic eruption may have triggered a deadly chain of events that brought the Black Plague to Europe in the 14th century.

New analysis of tree rings show that a tropical volcano eruption may initiated a chain of events leading to the Black Plague. www.sciencenews.org/article/volc...

This International Volunteer Day we honor the volunteers who make the world’s largest high school science fair possible December 5 is International Volunteer Day, an opportunity to recognize the countless people who give their time and energy to causes beyond themselves. At

Happy #InternationalVolunteerDay, especially to all the amazing volunteers who make #RegeneronISEF possible every year!

A therapeutic HPV vaccine shrank cervical tumors in mice An HPV vaccine delivered into the nose can treat cervical tumors in mice. The vaccine targets a cancer protein produced by the virus.

From @sciencenews.bsky.social: An experimental vaccine targets a cancer protein made by the human papillomavirus and takes a therapeutic approach rather than a preventative one.

2,739 Ed Tech Tools Later, Where Are the Outcomes? Mir: The call is simple: Buy what works, build for impact and hold everyone accountable to outcomes.

An interesting look at the uncertain outcomes of what seems to be a dizzying amount of edtech tools.

AI shouldn’t be trusted with your mental health, teen finds Her research suggests that ChatGPT and similar AI systems are not suitable replacements for human therapists.

Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Zeynep Demirbas knew that ChatGPT often gave wrong answers or agreed with incorrect statements. Could this type of AI really be trusted with our mental health? #JuniorInnovators

Let’s learn about autumn leaves Here’s why some trees put on a colorful grand finale before losing their leaves for the winter.

The science of autumn leaves!

How AI is helping some educators teach science and research In October, Society for Science hosted a total of 200 educators from across the country at the High School and Middle School Research Teachers Conference

Insights on AI in education from the @society4science.bsky.social Research Teachers Conference.

Human-caused earthquakes are real. Here's why even stable regions can snap Human activity can cause “healed” faults to release their stored strength, triggering unexpected quakes in tectonically stable regions.

Human activities can cause earthquakes in places that are tectonically stable. www.sciencenews.org/article/huma...

Building Parent-Teacher Relationships Can Be Hard. Positive Phone Calls Home Can Help. | KQED Quick, positive phone calls to parents can show families that teachers care about their kids and encourage greater involvement in school.

Research indicates how connections between teachers and parents can help improve student engagement and academic achievement.

These parachutes unfurl thanks to Japanese paper-cutting techniques Parachutes inspired by Japanese kirigami are full of holes. When dropped, they open automatically and fall more predictably than standard parachutes.

Scientists were inspired by the Japanese art of kirigami, or paper cutting, have developed parachutes that open automatically when dropped.

Personalized ‘prehabilitation’ helps the body brace for major surgery A small study finds that individualized prehab can dampen harmful immune responses and may reduce complications after an operation.

Tailored exercise, nutrition and cognitive training appear to tune immune activity.

Please consider supporting Society for Science this #GivingTuesday!

Scientists shrink 3-D printing so it can work inside cells For the first time, scientists have 3-D printed objects within living cells. They included a mini elephant and tiny barcodes that could help track individual

For the first time, scientists have 3-D printed objects within living cells.

3,000 steps per day might slow Alzheimer’s disease In people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, researchers linked minimal to moderate physical activity to a 3-to 7-year delay in cognitive symptoms.

High risk individuals who moved regularly saw delays in cognitive decline of up to 7 years

Listening to slightly different sounds in each ear may boost focus, teen finds While "binaural beats" may boost attention and focus, his research shows video game music is distracting.

As a longtime piano player, Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Toby Lam is fascinated by how music affects people. #JuniorInnovators www.snexplores.org/article/list...

Some gifted dogs can learn to sort their toys Among dogs known to be gifted word learners, some can also sort toys by how they are used during play time. It’s one sign of a complex thought process.

From @snexplores.bsky.social: A new study sheds light on some dogs' complex categorical thinking.

Building a better skin barrier Skin is a barrier meant to keep small invaders out. Products making their way across it should boost that mission.

"Healthy skin looks good." @sciencenews.bsky.social looks at the intersection of skin care trends and science.

How to Structure Successful Science Investigations High school students get the most out of lessons when they receive direct support along with consistent opportunities to explore concepts on their own.

Science isn't just about learning, it's about doing! Some nice strategies from @edutopia.org on how to help students take control of their own investigations.

The Future of Discovery: Science News Spotlights Five Scientists to Watch Science News, published by Society for Science, highlights early-to-mid-career researchers working on some of today’s biggest challenges in a profile

The future of discovery, indeed! See the profiles and watch the videos of all five 2025 Scientists to Watch from @sciencenews.bsky.social. www.societyforscience.org/blog/2025-sc...

Fast, mysterious clouds swarm around our galaxy Astronomers want to know the source — and importance — of these faint, fast-moving clouds that zoom beyond and toward our Milky Way’s disk.

In 27 million years or so, Smith’s Cloud is destined for a spectacular collision with the Milky Way that could produce new stars. www.snexplores.org/article/high...

mRNA flu vaccines are making their way through clinical trials The mRNA platform offers the advantage of faster vaccine production, which could allow more time to decide on which flu strains to cover.

The studies suggest that mRNA versions may be more effective than traditional flu shots. www.sciencenews.org/article/mrna...

Educators keep recommending Science News Learning to their colleagues Teachers make more than a thousand decisions every day, from how to support a student who’s struggling, to the best way to engage their class with a

100% of teachers surveyed said they would recommend Science News Learning to a colleague. www.societyforscience.org/blog/educato...

See the alarming extent of NIH and NSF funding cuts in 2025 In 2025, the Trump administration froze or ended about 5,300 NIH and NSF research grants totaling over $5 billion in unspent funds, a decision that reshaped many fields of science.

More than 3,800 research grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation were terminated or frozen in 2025. The cuts total about $3 billion. www.sciencenews.org/article/nih-...

From monkey bars to monument tours, the Thermo Fisher JIC finalists build lasting connections during Finals Week The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC) is the leading STEM competition in the United States for middle school

The Thermo Fisher #JuniorInnovators had a great week of building bonds and exploring Washington, D.C. www.societyforscience.org/blog/jic-soc...

See the alarming extent of NIH and NSF funding cuts in 2025 In 2025, the Trump administration froze or ended about 5,300 NIH and NSF research grants totaling over $5 billion in unspent funds, a decision that reshaped many fields of science.

More than 3,800 research grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation were terminated or frozen in 2025. The cuts total about $3 billion. www.sciencenews.org/article/nih-...

Students Want Schools to Incorporate AI in Learning But Express Some Fears Survey & panel find schools are lagging behind their students in using AI; HS kids worry about letting it think for them, being accused of plagiarism.

Young people are navigating the potential and pitfalls of the proliferation of AI in education. www.the74million.org/article/stud...