Light Show People in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and other countries were treated to a colorful display in the sky this weekend. These displays, called auroras, are typically seen only near the Earth’s north and south poles. Thanks to a strong solar storm, the northern lights, called the aurora borealis, were viewable from unusual places. In the United States, people snapped and shared pictures of the sky’s stunning hues. Officials from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said such an event could impact satellites and power grids. But it would not ..read more

Showing Our Appreciation Everyone knows teachers who go above and beyond to help their students learn and grow. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week starts May 6. To celebrate, we asked TFK Kid Reporters to make a sign for a teacher who inspires them. Check out some of their work. Which teacher inspires you ..read more

Crafty Crabs Plastic is everywhere. It has been found at the bottom of the ocean. It’s at the top of Mount Everest. Now plastic has been found in another unlikely place. Hermit crabs are using it as shells. A study about this was published in February. It was in the journal Science of the Total Environment. Zuzanna Jagiello was the study’s lead author. “A hermit crab in a plastic shell could be an icon of our times,” Jagiello told TIME for Kids. New Homes Hermit crabs have soft bodies. They wear seashells for protection. But some are wearing trash, instead. February’s study found at least 386 ..read more

Eclipse Wows U.S. On April 8, crowds gathered across the United States to see a solar eclipse. People wore special glasses. They watched the moon pass in front of the sun. The eclipse could be seen in 15 states. Millions viewed the rare event. The next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. will be in 2044. Many traveled to see it. Simran Pripsingh works in Columbus, Ohio. He drove 142 miles to Cleveland. He “decided it was worth the 90-minute drive,” he told TIME’s Jeffrey Kluger. This image is made of seven different photographs. They were taken in Bloomington, Indiana. They show the moon m ..read more

Cicadas on the Way More than a trillion cicadas are coming to the United States. Many people find their loud buzz annoying. But don’t worry! Cicadas are harmless to humans. They don’t sting or bite. Cicadas are flying insects. They have red eyes. For most of their life, they live underground. When they’re old enough, they make their way out. But they don’t live long after that. Once they emerge, they only live four to six weeks. Two kinds of cicadas are expected to come up from the ground this spring. Brood XIX appears every 13 years. Brood XIII shows up every 17 years. This year, they will ov ..read more

Peach’s Power Up Princess Peach is starring in her own game. It’s called Princess Peach: Showtime! The game features a masked villain. Her name is Grape. Peach must save Sparkle Theater from her. Players can explore 10 powerful transformations. Peach can become a mermaid or a cowgirl. Theresa Apolinario works for Nintendo. She told TFK Kid Reporter Audrey Owolo, “Princess Peach is so much more than just the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. She’s a hero. And she has all these different abilities.” Princess Peach is ready for adventure ..read more

Lessons from a Master Maurice ashley is the first Black chess grandmaster. He’s also the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Chess. The book presents the basics of chess. Ashley uses his experience with chess to explain them. TFK Kid Reporter Sophia Zhang spoke with him about the game. Ashley agrees with the book’s title. He says that “chess is absolutely magical and life-changing.” It teaches kids many things. The biggest lesson? “The journey is just as important as the destination,” he says. Don’t try to rush to your goals. There’s a lot to learn along the way. Ashley hopes the book inspire ..read more

Summer Safety Summer is almost here. It’s a great time to go out and play. But take care. The weather gets hot, and bugs are biting. How can you stay healthy this summer? Follow these tips. Stay on trails. Going for a hike? Avoid tall grass. That’s where ticks hide. Their bite can make you sick. Listen to lifeguards. Lifeguards work at beaches and pools. They help us stay safe in the water. Drink water. Hot weather makes you sweat. Your body is releasing water to keep you cool. You need more water to stay healthy. Drink plenty of it, even when you are not thirsty. Wear sunscreen. The sun’s ray ..read more

Dog Days Dogs enjoy the summer too. But they need protection, just like we do. Here’s how to keep your pets safe in the summer heat. Temperatures can get hot inside a parked car (above). A dog could suffer heat stroke. Take your pet with you when you leave the car. Concrete sidewalks heat up in the sun. They can burn your dog’s paws. Dog shoes are a must. They don’t just prevent injury. They’re stylish, too! Pets need to stay hydrated. Take fresh water when you walk your dog on a hot day. Ice cubes are a nice cool treat ..read more

Help Others, Help Yourself Science shows that helping others can make you feel good too. The key is to find the approach that works for you. There’s a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” For thousands of years, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: Happiness is found in helping others. Scientific research provides compelling data to support the idea that helping others may be the secret to li ..read more