Maria Temming

Maria Temming

Assistant Managing Editor, Science News Explores

Previously the staff writer for physical sciences at Science News, Maria Temming is the assistant managing editor at Science News Explores. She has undergraduate degrees in physics and English from Elon University and a master's degree in science writing from MIT. She has written for Scientific American, Sky & Telescope and NOVA Next. She’s also a former Science News intern.

All Stories by Maria Temming

  1. Physics

    Vanadium dioxide’s weird phase transition just got weirder

    When shifting from one crystalline structure to another, the atoms inside vanadium dioxide bumble around a lot more than expected.

  2. Tech

    Virtual reality therapy has real-life benefits for some mental disorders

    Cheap, user-friendly virtual reality hardware could help VR therapy go mainstream. Some treatments are ready for primetime, while others are still in early testing.

  3. Tech

    A new robot decides how and when to transform to get the job done

    A bot made of smaller robotic pieces autonomously changes its shape to trundle across flat ground, squeeze into tight spaces or climb stairs.

  4. Chemistry

    New devices could help turn atmospheric CO2 into useful supplies

    New electrochemical cells transform carbon monoxide into useful chemical compounds like ethylene and acetate much more efficiently than their predecessors.

  5. Tech

    A new palm-sized drone is mini, but mighty

    Unlike other small drones, this flying robot can tote objects up to 40 times its own weight.

  6. Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial intelligence crowdsources data to speed up drug discovery

    A new AI that judges whether drugs will interact with certain proteins can train on data from multiple sources while keeping that info secret.

  7. Planetary Science

    Saturn’s ‘ring rain’ is a surprising cocktail of chemicals

    NASA’s Cassini probe got a closeup view of the material falling from Saturn’s rings into the planet. The data could help illuminate the belts’ origins.

  8. Chemistry

    Speeding up evolution to create useful proteins wins the chemistry Nobel

    The three winners, which include the fifth woman to win the chemistry prize, pioneered techniques used to fashion customized proteins for new biofuels and drugs.

  9. Materials Science

    This reflective paint could keep sunbaked buildings cool

    A new type of polymer coating that reflects sunlight to control heat could supplement or replace air conditioning systems.

  10. Tech

    Fiberglass-spinning robots could be construction workers of the future

    A team of fiberglass-spinning robots could create tubing to help build bridges, buildings or other structures.

  11. Artificial Intelligence

    Anshumali Shrivastava uses AI to wrangle torrents of data

    Computer scientist Anshumali Shrivastava is designing programs that can handle torrents of information quickly and efficiently.

  12. Tech

    These new superthin antennas are made from metallic nanomaterials

    Superthin antennas could bring household devices and wearable technology online.