Curious Kids: How did some animals evolve wings to fly?

Today's birds evolved from feathered dinosaurs.

Matthew Wills, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath • conversation
Oct. 22, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: evolution birds dinosaurs feathered-dinosaurs curious-kids

Curious Kids: How can we tell when a volcano is going to erupt?

Volcanoes give lots of clues which help scientists work out if they are about to erupt.

Ian Skilling, Senior Lecturer in Volcanology, University of South Wales • conversation
Oct. 9, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: volcanoes curious-kids

Why does some rain fall harder than other rain?

Some rainstorms drench you in a second, while others drop rain in a nice peaceful drizzle. A meteorologist explains how rainstorms can be so different.

Jeffrey B. Halverson, Professor of Geography & Environmental Systems, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Aug. 13, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: hurricane flooding storms rain curious-kids curious-kids-us weather humidity air clouds thunderstorm flash-floods

Curious Kids: How much does a cloud weigh?

It's a lot more than you might think.

Rob Thompson, Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Meteorology, University of Reading • conversation
July 24, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: rainfall meteorology curious-kids clouds

Do dogs really see in just black and white?

Your faithful friend's view of the world is different than yours, but maybe not in the way you imagine.

Nancy Dreschel, Associate Teaching Professor of Small Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University • conversation
July 2, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: dogs pets animals vision fox wolf curious-kids curious-kids-us senses cats colors wolves foxes dog sensory-perception photoreceptors

Curious Kids: What would happen if gravity was reduced by half?

If gravity was half as strong, you could jump much higher.

Jacco van Loon, Astrophysicist and Director of Keele Observatory, Keele University • conversation
June 29, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: space gravity curious-kids

What is the slowest thing on Earth?

Physicists can use bright, hot lasers to slow atoms down so much that they measure -459 degrees Fahrenheit.

Katie McCormick, Postdoctoral Scholar of Physics, University of Washington • conversation
June 22, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: physics quantum-mechanics laser light photons molecules curious-kids curious-kids-us temperature cold atoms absolute-zero warmblood sloths

Curious Kids: why do so many dangerous animals live in Australia?

Australia is home to 20 of the 25 most venomous snakes in the world.

Louise Gentle, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
June 8, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: evolution animals australia curious-kids snakes

What makes something smell good or bad?

Mmmmmmm. That smells delicious. Wait, how do you know that?

Weihong Lin, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
June 1, 2020 • ~5 min
Tags: curious-kids curious-kids-us smell science-of-smells senses olfactory sense-of-smell odor olfaction scents

What would it feel like to touch a cloud?

You might have already felt what it would be like inside a cloud made of condensed water vapor.

Katja Friedrich, Associate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
May 28, 2020 • ~6 min
Tags: water rain snow curious-kids curious-kids-us clouds evaporation hail snowflake cloud-condensation-nuclei

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