Maria Temming

Assistant Editor, Science News Explores

Maria Temming is the assistant editor at Science News Explores. Maria has undergraduate degrees in physics and English from Elon University and a master's degree in science writing from MIT. She has written for Scientific American, Sky & Telescope and NOVA Next. She’s also a former staff writer at Science News.

All Stories by Maria Temming

  1. These lemurs take nose-picking to a new level

    A nose-picking aye-aye’s spindly middle digit probably pokes all the way into the back of the throat, CT scans show.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Kidney

    The kidneys remove waste and excess water from the blood, forming urine.

  3. Physics

    A powerful laser can control the paths that lightning takes

    In a mountaintop experiment, a laser beamed at the sky created a virtual lightning rod that snagged several bolts.

  4. Health & Medicine

    Let’s learn about allergies

    Allergies are caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to harmless substances.

  5. Brain

    Scientists Say: Anxiety

    Some nervousness, or anxiety, is normal. Too much can be harmful.

  6. Earth

    Scientists Say: Equinox and Solstice

    Equinoxes and solstices mark the maximums, minimums and mediums of hours spent in daylight.

  7. Health & Medicine

    High school scientists tackle community health and safety risks

    Three finalists in the 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search aim to improve suicide risk assessment, treatment of sickle cell disease and more.

  8. Materials Science

    Let’s learn about piezoelectric materials

    Piezoelectric materials turn mechanical energy into electrical energy — and vice versa.

  9. Math

    Scientists Say: Calculus

    Calculus is math that deals with curves, from their changing slopes to the areas they enclose.

  10. Computing

    Scientists Say: Code

    Writing code allows people to tell computers and other smart devices what to do.

  11. Materials Science

    Let’s learn about the weird science of ice

    Better understanding of ice could lead to new deicing materials or even, someday, weather control.

  12. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Rubisco

    Rubisco is a key protein in the process of photosynthesis, which feeds plants — and, in turn, us.