Curious Kids[1] is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [2]. Is Mars really as red as people say it is? – Jasmine, age 14, Everson, Washington People from cultures across the world have been looking at Mars since ancient times. Because
... What it is, what it isn’t, who needs it and why it’s hard to define
It is “the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans,” reads an executive order[1] President Donald Trump issued on April 23, 2025. The executive order, titled Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, signals that advancing AI literacy is now an official national priority.
This...
AI tools collect and store data about you from all your devices – here’s how to be aware of what you’re revealing
Like it or not, artificial intelligence has become part of daily life. Many devices – including electric razors and toothbrushes[1] – have become “AI-powered,” using machine learning algorithms to track how a person uses the device, how the device is working in real time, and provide feedback. From asking questions to an AI assistant...
How was the wheel invented? Computer simulations reveal the unlikely birth of a world-changing technology nearly 6,000 years ago
Imagine you’re a copper miner in southeastern Europe in the year 3900 B.C.E. Day after day you haul copper ore through the mine’s sweltering tunnels.
You’ve resigned yourself to the grueling monotony of mining life. Then one afternoon, you witness a fellow worker doing something remarkable.
With an odd-looking contraption, he casually...