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TFK Library

What Is Bioluminescence?

August 24, 2018

Fireflies twinkle in a field. Mushrooms illuminate a dark forest. Colorful sea creatures light up the ocean. These natural light displays come from bioluminescent creatures. Bioluminescent organisms can produce their own light. Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction. It takes place…

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Environment

The Problem With Plastics

April 6, 2018

One late-summer day, a team of cleanup volunteers was exploring the shore of the Anacostia River, in Washington, D.C. The water rippled under a hazy blue sky. Tall grass swayed on the mudflats. But something else caught the group’s eye.…

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World

Countdown to Day Zero

February 26, 2018

Late into the night, people in Cape Town, South Africa, line up to collect water from a spring. They approach the spigot one by one, filling plastic bottles. On this day, each person can take up to 13 gallons. Security…

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Technology

Best Inventions of 2017

January 8, 2018

Inventions have the power to change our world for the better. Some are designed for work. Some are just for fun. Others help people and the planet. Every year, TIME magazine selects 25 of its favorite inventions to share with…

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History

Cosmic Critters

December 11, 2017

Animals have long been on the front lines of scientific discovery. Time and again, they have been given the lead in exploring new frontiers. But those pioneers didn’t volunteer for their missions. Take the thousands of monkeys and mice that…

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History

To the Moon and Beyond!

December 10, 2017

In 1961, United States president John F. Kennedy challenged NASA to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. At the time, it seemed like mission impossible. But only eight years later, the space agency met…

United States

An Astronaut’s View

December 9, 2017

Former astronaut Terry Virts has had an unusual view of the world. He piloted the space shuttle Endeavour and spent 200 days on the International Space Station (ISS). While aboard the station, he took three spacewalks, conducted many experiments, and…

Arts

Winter 2017 Book Reviews: Part One

November 13, 2017

Title: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Author: Rick Riordan Reviewed by: TFK Kid Reporter Aanand Mehta Genre: Fantasy Number of pages: 432 pages What’s the basic story line? Magnus Chase, the son of Frey, god of peace…

World

Troubled Waters

October 17, 2017

Plastic can be found in almost everything. That includes toys, food containers, and car parts. Most plastic can—and should—be recycled. Instead, it often is thrown away. Much of this plastic trash ends up in the oceans. It gets there mainly…

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Technology

Virtual Learning

September 25, 2017

Imagine flying through space, diving deep under the sea, and traveling the world—without ever stepping foot outside your classroom. With virtual reality (VR), these experiences are possible. Google is one of the companies creating VR experiences for students. It…

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Technology

Schools Go Solar

September 20, 2017

There are lots of trees near the public schools in Sheridan, Indiana. Their leaves soak up sunlight, which they turn into energy. In Sheridan, the sun fuels more than just plants. It keeps schools running, too. Environmentally friendly solar panels…

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Science

Uncovering the Past

September 13, 2017

Dinosaurs are long gone, but scientists keep finding new types of the extinct creatures. Two recent discoveries are providing insight into North America’s distant past. In May, the fossil of a 110-million-year-old armored herbivore went on display at the…

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United States

Surviving the Storm

September 1, 2017

Houston, the fourth-largest city in America, is home to 2.1 million people. And it is underwater. On August 25, Hurricane Harvey roared out of the Gulf of Mexico. It made landfall in southeast Texas as a Category 4 storm with…

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Technology

Sky Rides

March 24, 2017

Flying cars have long been a symbol of the future. They could be zipping around soon! You missed the school bus, so your parents call a car service. A flying vehicle appears on the horizon. It lands in front of…

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A smiling man and boy stand outdoors on a tall observation deck overlooking New York City. Both give thumbs-up gestures, and the boy wears a TIME for Kids Kid Reporter badge.

Community

Rainbow Remix

October 28, 2025

On October 16, TFK Kid Reporter Ethan Yu interviewed Mychal Threets, a librarian with millions of social-media followers. Threets was recently named host of a YouTube version of the TV show Reading Rainbow. Read Ethan’s account below. Have you ever…

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World

Mummies Revealed!

May 5, 2017

New tools help scientists look inside mummies without damaging them. If you visit the new Mummies show at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in New York City, don’t miss the mummy called the Gilded Lady. Her case is…

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Time Off

Strange World

September 14, 2022

You don’t have to go to outer space to find amazing things. Terrestrials, a new podcast by Radiolab for Kids, finds weirdness and mystery right here on Earth. The series explores wonders such as an octopus that escapes from…

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Community

TFK Kid Reporters: Meet Victoria

September 29, 2020

Meet Victoria Hanson, one of the 10 outstanding kids selected to be a TFK Kid Reporter this school year. Victoria is 10 years old and lives in Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania. Gymnastics is Victoria’s favorite activity—she says she couldn’t live…

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History

This is Patsy: Read the Story of Patsy Takemoto Mink

August 17, 2020

Patsy Takemoto Mink was born on the island of Maui, in Hawaii, in 1927. Her family lived on a sugar plantation, where her father worked as a civil engineer and surveyor. Patsy inherited his curiosity. And she couldn’t help but…

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Content available on Your Hot Job

Technology

Driving Change

November 1, 2023

If you enjoy learning about interesting jobs, find this article and more like it on  Your Hot Job, TFK's career-focused website for kids. What does your future hold? Siena DeBenedittis has wanted to protect the planet since she was a…