Why Kids Crave Creepy: Middle Grade Horror Series That Help Kids Cope isn’t just a catchy headline—it’s a biological reality. Coping? Does this mean whipped cream? And what about the surprise? I agree that whipped cream is a great topping, but that isn’t quite what I meant by coping, Louie! I’m saving the surprise for
I’ve got the best gluten free granola recipe for you. Simple, healthy, and so easy that you can have your kids make it for you!
Want to know about the most effective anti-inflammatory supplements? I’ve got you covered in this post!
To start 2025, I’m going big. I’m consolidating the biggest mysteries of the universe into a blog post! These five top biggest mysteries in science remain unanswered science questions to date.
STRANGE SCIENCE NEWS I love strange science and strange science facts, especially when they make it into recent headlines of strange science news! So this post is a smorgasbord of three strange science discoveries that I think you’ll find intriguing! I apologize about the hiatus but things have been in flux with us. Taking a
Do you want to increase your lifespan? Let’s look at some actionable methods to increase longevity, from food choices, to supplements to lifestyle choices to slow aging.
Attack of the alien invaders? Aliens are among us. Invasive alien species are a threat to human health and to every ecosystem on our planet. Sound like hyperbole? It’s not.
I’ve chosen my top 10 astronomical events for 2023! A few fall in the category of ‘rare astronomical events 2023’, but they are all a must-see astronomical event.
The science is unequivocal. Positive self-talk affirmations improve our health. Let’s look at the science behind positive affirmations! And easy ways how to combat negative self-talk, so we can all be healthier & happier. Will there be treats? I agree w/ Louie, because treats make me happy, too! But I want lasting, calorie-free, drug-free ideas
Why do you want six easy ways to boost your metabolism? Because six easy ways to boost your metabolism means that I’ve found six easy ways to burn more calories! Even when you’re doing absolutely nothing at all! First, we need to define the term, basal metabolic rate. WHAT IS BASAL METABOLIC RATE? DO I
How to harness the power of the sun? That’s a big endeavor! Scientists have been on a quest to harness the power of the sun for almost 100 years. Why? Because the sun’s power is the best renewable energy source for the future.
What are wearable robots? Why would anyone want to wear a robot, anyway? WEARABLE ROBOTS Is Louie wearing a wearable robot or is the robot wearing Louie? I CAN OPEN THE FRIDGE WITH THESE HANDS! A wearable robot is a system that combines electrics & mechanical engineering and is designed around the shape and function
Now more than ever, the science of marijuana needs a blog post! Why are so many states legalizing marijuana? How does marijuana affect your brain? Is marijuana even safe?
I want to share 10 scientifically proven benefits of meditation with you! Science is unraveling the benefits of mindfulness for mental health.
Why are rare earth metals important? What are rare earth metals? The uses for rare earth metals are as diverse as they are important! Let’s take a look.
Artificial intelligence and the future of humans is a book-length topic. How do machines learn? Is the power of machine learning all that powerful?
HONORING WOMEN SCIENCE WRITERS FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH I bet you’re wondering why I choose a woman on a white horse as my featured image for a post about women science writers! The women’s suffrage movement paved the way for women to pursue many careers, including writing. And since March is Women’s History Month, I
Why do we like to be scared? Some of us do, anyway! Let’s take a look at the science of fear, define ‘what is fear,’ and see why some of us like to be scared! Louie is firmly in the, ‘I don’t like being scared’ category! WHAT IS FEAR? This chart made me curious about
Since I am experiencing dry, itchy winter skin, I needed a top 10 winter skin care tips list. I decided to investigate. And share my winter skin care tips with you! This information is relevant if you have skin, no matter where you live. WINTER SKIN CARE TIPS If you live anywhere that experiences winter
THE SCIENCE OF NAPPING If you’re sleep deprived you can’t learn, perform, or think as well. But, are naps a good thing? The perfect nap is a science based on circadian rhythms. Let’s look at the science of napping, and how to nap, for the biggest brain benefits! Louie loves to nap so he was
A new mammal discovery? Yes, it’s official. The scientific community put a seal of approval on a new deep sea mammal. Deep sea mammals are a challenge to find, let alone study. Especially this new mammal species because it spends time 6,000 feet under the ocean! DEEP SEA MAMMALS I’m excited but Louie was not,
Last month, two scientists won a Nobel Prize for their discovery of touch receptors. They used chili peppers and pipettes. The science behind touch? Touch receptors? Haven’t we known about this? I wondered the same thing.
My book, Chemical Reactions!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids, is out! To celebrate, I’m sharing two messy science experiments from the book.
Since I write middle grade fantasy, I read a plethora of middle grade fantasy books! Louie always requests middle grade fantasy books with animals. So I decided to compile a list of what I consider some of the more recent top fantasy books for middle schoolers. With animals!
What would you need to live on Mars? I investigated and found out exactly what we’d need to live on Mars! For free!
WHO IS THE ANGRIEST BIRD OF ALL? Who is the angriest bird of all? If you had to guess, I bet you’d think of birds with a reputation for meanness. An ostrich can kill a lion with their mighty kick. Or perhaps the cassowaries of Australia & New Zealand come to mind. They’ve actually killed
EXPLORING NEW SCIENCE INNOVATIONS New science innovations are a testament to human ingenuity. I’m a science fiction fan, but when future science concepts and ideas become the latest innovations to help our environment and ourselves, that is too good not to share! This post is a celebration of human ingenuity. Armed with chocolate for me
Easy and forensic seem like a dichotomy but it is possible to find easy forensic science experiments. You can do them with your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, as a classroom activity or for a birthday party, with minimal materials! I’m going to show you how.
7 BEST WAYS TO SLOW AGING I’m sure you see many products and services touting the 7 best ways to slow aging, not to mention anti aging secrets, ways to have firmer skin, more energy, or better workouts. Let’s back it up and take a look at what makes us age. Why do we age?
I think it’s safe to say that most of us would like to find ways to be happier. Happiness is like a battery-powered laptop. We need recharging if we’re to remain in a positive mental state. Let’s take a look at brain science and emotion and find out how to be happier!
Is fruit good for you? ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is an old English proverb, intended to instill healthy eating habits. It does beg the question, is fruit actually good for us?
I’ve written several posts about new species of animals. It made me wonder how difficult it would be to find a new species! Where would we even begin? So I decided to investigate exactly how to discover a new species.
PROCRASTINATION IS THE 1 THING EVERYONE HAS TIME FOR! When I started this blog a year ago, I decided to write a post about procrastination. After all, procrastination is the 1 thing everyone has time for! Plus, I am an expert at procrastination. An authority. I promptly (the audacity of using that word!) spent a
I bet you want to know the best way to keep your brain sharp! Naturally, I investigated with science. I found the answers. One solution is wickedly simple!
Does the 7 minute workout work? With this darn pandemic wearing thin, it’s more vital than ever to find a way to exercise. You may not feel comfortable going back to the gym. Avoiding people on crowded paths is dodgy. (pun intended) The obvious answer is working out at home. What about the 7 minute workout to increase metabolism?
If you want to kill a person, you can shoot a gun or throw a rock. But if craft and cleverness are your forte, poison is another option. Deadliest Poisons in History has the makings of a Netflix series, but I’m condensing into a cool blog post instead!
Instead of looking back at 2020, (ugh) let’s gaze further back. Since this is science blog, I’m giving a nod to 10 great scientists and their discoveries. Many of these scientists had messy lives. Many of the discoveries were accidental. Most of them are dead.
That means they can’t refute the gossip I’m about to throw around about them! Let’s take a peek…
In life, one way or the other, you have probably eaten broccoli. After all, broccoli a superfood! One cup is chock-full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
But, do you like broccoli? The answer behind why you like broccoli –or force it down– is rooted in science: the science behind acquired taste!
I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of 2020. 2021 will be better. I’ve just compiled a list of the top 12 astronomy events in 2021!
From meteor showers to lunar eclipses and solar eclipses, with chances to see Mercury in the horizon and Saturn at opposition, these astronomical events ARE happening, no matter what’s going on with us humans. They’ll be spectacular, and require nothing but a clear sky.
Scientists have discovered a new primate species! These little monkeys live in Myanmar. The new species was discovered in 2020 and they are already on the endangered species list. How do they decide which species is new or not?
I’ve mapped out two fun, easy experiments that you can do with your kids, grandkids, highlight in a zoom meeting, or classroom.
I shouldn’t call science a trick, but both of these easy experiments make great practical jokes.
So let’s get to it. Time to trick…I mean impress your posse with science at home!
What is CRISPR? CRISPR is amazing science, that’s what. Let’s take a look at the science behind CRISPR and why it’s life-changing!
Are you remotely controlled? Of course not! You decide what you read and what you click on. You limit your kids to two hours of internet time after they finish their homework. You’re in control. Or are you?
Monarchs are mythical and mysterious! I wanted more butterflies in our yard, to help the monarchs, and to learn more about them! It was trickier to raise monarchs than I thought.
Ever wonder how to see artificial satellites! You can see artificial satellites with the naked eye. I’m going to show you how.
Best and gluten free in the same sentence? Yes! I experimented and have tips for the best gluten free breakfast bread ever!
Will science fiction become fact and restore sight to the visually impaired? With bionic aka cybernetic eyes….yes!
Do you believe in The Easter Bunny? Magic? The Tooth Fairy? All of these are indeed beliefs. But medicine is not a belief. And not all medicine is based on fact. But it is based on evidence.
Let’s take a look at the science behind vaccines and why vaccines are a modern miracle.
People in movies and books find their way out of the woods by making their own compass out of who knows what. This skill is COOL.
In the interest of us all being cool, a blog post was in order.
Whenever I see an article about a new species, it’s usually about some bacteria or slug. Not that they don’t deserve a spot in the ecosystem, but slugs are not exciting. Octopuses are!
What is the legend of tea & how it came to be? Tea is the most consumed beverage on our planet, after water.
Let’s take a look a the world’s most popular drink!
Want to impress your kids, friends, significant other, w/ easy science magic? Make your neighbors jealous!
I’ve got a perfect STEM activity. Botany magic!
Want to make a perfect cup of coffee in one step? Sound too easy? It’s science. Read on to science up your coffee for the perfect cup.
If you want to impress your kids, grandkids, significant other, neighbor or your dog, I’ve got a few cool tricks you can show them! No advanced degrees needed.
Since I need to distract myself from the news, I’m delving into medical remedies from history. Some of the treatments people thought would work are downright silly.
When I let Louie out this morning, the birds were singing.
I decided that sharing some of the wonder of birds with you was a perfect idea!
It’s nice to know that even in stressful times words — free and abundant– have the power to turn our thoughts to happier ones.
Middle grade fantasy and science fiction is my sweet spot. I could compile long lists!
Like my chocolate consumption, I’m trying to keep things under control.
Do you want to travel to the most difficult places to visit on earth?
In this day and age, I figured we could hop a plane to get anywhere.
I was wrong…
Which would you choose? Diamonds, right? Well, maybe this needs rethinking.
Meteor showers are magical and mystical. Sighting meteor showers in 2019? I failed miserably.
Oh, do I mean uncontrolled blazes spurred by wind and dry underbrush, traveling at up to fourteen miles an hour? That’s a four-minute mile. Usain Bolt would live. So would a cheetah. But the garden snails and I would be crispy critters.
Does your dog have big, soulful puppy dog eyes? There’s a reason why!
I love fireworks! Ever wonder how they work? With chemical compounds! Let’s look into why they glow in different colors.
Spending the summer with her mother’s old friend, twelve-year-old Miranda tries to uncover the mysteries behind her mother’s past and to understand why her mother seems so distant. But will she be brave enough to face the truth she might uncover?
The quest for blue. I love the color blue! It’s not found as often naturally as I’d like. Why not?
THREE MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS TO READ Time to stock up on three middle grade books to read. I may be breaking the rules by mentioning three books in one post, but why not have some fun and concentrate a post on reading!! SHARK WARS Since the dawn of time, prehistoric shark clans called Shivers have
There is a new species: tarantula! Birupes simoroxigorum is pretty as a peacock. And she’s my favorite color. Blue!
The Last Day on Mars, first in the series, Chronicle of The Dark Star, by Kevin Emerson is a smart, cleverly written sci fi, perfect for middle grade readers who love mystery, adventure, science, and space. I love that this is a series, so you won’t need to worry about what to read next!
After staring at the ugly wallpaper in our all-purpose study/computer room for too long to admit, I decided to take on the challenge. Sue against glue.
I’ve heard people ask, ‘would you rather fly or be invisible?’ I think both! But invisibility may be closer than we think! Researchers are working on exactly that. They’ve had success on a small scale.
Make Sense of Science is my email newsletter where I share information about future science, new tech developments, as well as tools and resources for STEM at home. It arrives every two weeks and you’ll only hear from me. (And Louie)
Be the smartest person on your block!
Enter your email & I’ll share news about future science, STEM activities, and the best books.
And more Louie!
I’ll make sense of science, share news about new tech, science advancements, and more. You’ll only hear from me and only twice a month.
Be the smartest person!
