What is a Heart Attack? A heart attack happens when blood can’t reach part of the heart muscle. The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction (MI) The heart is a muscle that needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. Coronary arteries are the “pipes”...

How the Body Normally Handles Sugar The body maintains blood sugar balance using insulin, a hormone that controls how glucose enters cells for energy. When we eat food, especially carbohydrates, it breaks down into glucose (sugar). Glucose is absorbed into the...

Sensors in Your Skin Your skin is packed with special nerve endings that sense temperature and send signals to your brain. Your skin has thermoreceptors, tiny sensory cells that detect heat and cold. Warm Receptors - Above 86°F High-threshold Warm Receptors - Above...

Why Plants Turn Carnivorous Carnivorous plants evolved to hunt because the soils they live in cannot give them enough nutrients to survive. Carnivorous plants often grow in acidic, waterlogged soils like bogs and swamps. These soils are low in nitrogen, phosphorus,...

What Are Stem Cells? Stem cells are unspecialized cells with the powerful ability to develop into many different kinds of body cells. Pluripotent stem cells (like embryonic stem cells) can become any cell in the body. Multipotent stem cells (like adult stem cells) can...

What Are Good Bacteria? Good bacteria, also known as probiotics, play a critical role in maintaining a healthy internal environment. Your digestive system houses a vast microbiome—a community of microorganisms, mostly bacteria. Good bacteria help balance this...

What Causes Plant Diseases? Plant diseases are caused by both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors that disrupt plant health. Biotic Causes – Pathogens: Fungi: Most common; spread by spores and cause leaf spots, mildew, rots, and wilts by blocking water...

Desert & Cold Climate Adaptations Plants in deserts and cold areas adapt to extreme dryness, heat, or freezing temperatures. Desert Adaptations: Thick, waxy cuticles reduce water loss. Spines instead of leaves (like cacti) to lower evaporation and protect from...

How Do Animals Communicate? Animals have amazing ways of “talking” using their senses—like sound, sight, smell, and touch! Sound (Auditory Communication): Whales use low-frequency sounds that can travel miles underwater. Birds use songs to warn others, find mates, and...

How Do Scientists Classify Animals? Scientists classify animals using physical traits, behaviors, and genetics in a process called taxonomy. Scientists look at traits like backbones, body coverings, reproduction methods, and diet. Vertebrates have backbones (like...