Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Have you noticed how you can feel very confident in some sporting situations but in others, usually at the worst possible moment, that confidence can suddenly disappear? When athletes feel confident, they are focused on the task, feel relaxed, and commit fully to decisions—all of which help them perform well. However, when they do not feel confiden...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Medusozoans are marine animals without backbones that live near the coasts, or in the depths of the oceans. Some of them are large, but others are even tinier than a seed. Medusozoans have been living on Earth for more than 600 million years. Their bodies are 95% water. Some medusozoans live attached to a surface, but others can swim freely. All me...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Each new season, youth athletes show up to team tryouts in hopes of making the team. However, there are only so many spots on the roster, and sometimes athletes get cut. Deselection, or getting cut, is the elimination of an athlete from a competitive sport team based on a coach’s decision. Deselection is an aspect of competitive sport that many you...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
While it is normal to be scared of things, some children are so scared that it disrupts their lives. This is called an anxiety disorder. To help children with anxiety disorders, we need to know how anxiety disorders start. From other research we knew that toddlers who avoid new situations are more likely to become anxious later in life. They are mo...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Cardiomyocytes are the muscle cells that make the heart beat, pump oxygen, and deliver nutrient-rich blood throughout the human body. During a heart attack, the blood supply to the heart is interrupted. Cardiomyocytes then die and are replaced by scar tissue that can no longer contract. As a result, the heart is weakened and may beat abnormally. Fo...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
The most famous ocean current, the Gulf Stream, is part of a large system of currents that brings warm water from Florida to Europe. It is a main reason for northwestern Europe’s mild climate. What happens to the warm water that flows northward, since it cannot just pile up? It turns out that the characteristics of the water change: in winter, the ...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Most of us take our navigation abilities for granted and instinctively use our sense of sight to help us find our way. However, for millions of people worldwide with visual impairments, wayfinding and navigation are a daily challenge. Pedestrians with visual impairments lack basic information about the spaces in which they are walking. This restric...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Coastal lagoons are parts of the Earth’s coastline, where the ocean meets the land. They are important zones both for living things and for our economy. Coastal lagoons contain various kinds of habitats that provide homes for many animals and plants. Thus, they provide many valuable natural resources to people living and working in those areas. In ...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that live out their lives at a microscopic scale. We can find bacteria everywhere we look for them, including inside of our own bodies. Bacteria are incredibly diverse and come in many shapes and sizes. They also vary widely in how they live and grow. Some bacteria grow very quickly and others grow slowly. We wa...
Published in Frontiers for Young Minds
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about diabetes in children. Have you ever wondered what diabetes is and where it comes from? Diabetes is a disease with a long history. It causes a high sugar level in the blood, which is dangerous for many organs including the heart and kidneys. Diabetes also damages blood vessels and the nervous system. Unfo...
