RocketSTEM
@rocketstem.bsky.social
Nonprofit educational media foundation inspiring the next generation of explorers. Publisher of RocketSTEM website.
Curious Kids starts off 2026 with the question: What is dark matter and what is antimatter? Are they the same or different?
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How are dark matter and antimatter different? - RocketSTEM
Despite having similar-sounding names, dark matter and antimatter are completely different. Scientists are still working to understand both.
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January 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Curious Kids starts off 2026 with the question: What is dark matter and what is antimatter? Are they the same or different?
www.rocketstem.org/2026/01/13/a...
www.rocketstem.org/2026/01/13/a...
From our orbit to yours, we send you cosmic cheer and wish you a Merry Christmas!
Original artwork created for RocketSTEM by Sebastian Kings.
Original artwork created for RocketSTEM by Sebastian Kings.
December 25, 2025 at 8:04 PM
From our orbit to yours, we send you cosmic cheer and wish you a Merry Christmas!
Original artwork created for RocketSTEM by Sebastian Kings.
Original artwork created for RocketSTEM by Sebastian Kings.
In this edition of Curious Kids, 14-year-old Jasmine asks how far can sound travel in space since it's so empty, and does it ever echo?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/12/10/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/12/10/w...
Why isn't there any sound in space? - RocketSTEM
How far can sound travel through space, since it’s so empty? An astronomer explains why in space no one can hear you scream.
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December 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
In this edition of Curious Kids, 14-year-old Jasmine asks how far can sound travel in space since it's so empty, and does it ever echo?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/12/10/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/12/10/w...
Water recycling is paramount for space stations and long-duration missions. An environmental engineer explains how it's done on the ISS.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/21/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/21/w...
Water recycling is key for ISS and Mars missions - RocketSTEM
Water recycling is paramount for space stations and long-duration missions − an environmental engineer explains how it's done on the ISS.
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November 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Water recycling is paramount for space stations and long-duration missions. An environmental engineer explains how it's done on the ISS.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/21/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/21/w...
Mateo asks how the International Space Station has been able to orbit the Earth for decades without burning up. Curious Kids has the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/19/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/19/h...
How does the International Space Station stay in low Earth orbit? - RocketSTEM
Mateo asks how the International Space Station has been able to orbit the Earth for decades without burning up. Curious Kids has the answer.
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November 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Mateo asks how the International Space Station has been able to orbit the Earth for decades without burning up. Curious Kids has the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/19/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/19/h...
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket nails its second ever mission – an achievement that will broaden the commercial spaceflight market.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/15/s...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/15/s...
Successful New Glenn launch and landing to broaden spaceflight market - RocketSTEM
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket landed its booster on a barge at sea – an achievement that will broaden the commercial spaceflight market.
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November 15, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket nails its second ever mission – an achievement that will broaden the commercial spaceflight market.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/15/s...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/15/s...
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, Nihal, asks what are solar storms and the solar wind? Three astrophysicists respond to explain CMEs and how particles coming from the Sun interact with Earth.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/14/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/14/w...
What are solar storms and the solar wind? - RocketSTEM
What are solar storms and the solar wind? Three astrophysicists explain how particles coming from the Sun interact with Earth.
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November 14, 2025 at 9:26 PM
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, Nihal, asks what are solar storms and the solar wind? Three astrophysicists respond to explain CMEs and how particles coming from the Sun interact with Earth.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/14/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/14/w...
Sagan was an unequaled science communicator, astute advocate and prolific writer. He was also an outstanding scientist. We remember him on what would have been his 91st birthday.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/07/c...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/07/c...
Carl Sagan’s scientific legacy extends far beyond ‘Cosmos’ - RocketSTEM
Sagan was an unequaled science communicator, astute advocate and prolific writer. But he was also an outstanding scientist.
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November 9, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Sagan was an unequaled science communicator, astute advocate and prolific writer. He was also an outstanding scientist. We remember him on what would have been his 91st birthday.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/07/c...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/07/c...
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, Mael from Minnesota asks what is the universe expanding into it's already infinite? A question without an easy to comprehend answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/05/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/05/w...
What is the universe expanding into if it's already infinite? - RocketSTEM
What is the universe expanding into? It can feel like a brain teaser, but the universe is considered everything within the universe.
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November 6, 2025 at 7:36 PM
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, Mael from Minnesota asks what is the universe expanding into it's already infinite? A question without an easy to comprehend answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/05/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/11/05/w...
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, Tristan asks: "How can a Big Bang have been the start of the universe, since intense explosions destroy everything?"
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/29/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/29/h...
How could an explosive Big Bang be the birth of our universe? - RocketSTEM
Rather than an explosion, the Big Bang likely was a very rapid expansion, the event that started the universe growing bigger and bigger.
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October 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, Tristan asks: "How can a Big Bang have been the start of the universe, since intense explosions destroy everything?"
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/29/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/29/h...
Curious Kids: 12-year-old Phil asks what is space made of, and what does gravity actually bend? An astrophysics expert has the answers.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/01/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/01/w...
What is space made of? Explaining the components from radiation to dark matter - RocketSTEM
What is space made of? An astrophysics expert explains all the components – from radiation to dark matter – found in the vacuum of space.
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October 1, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Curious Kids: 12-year-old Phil asks what is space made of, and what does gravity actually bend? An astrophysics expert has the answers.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/01/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/10/01/w...
These tools on the Perseverance rover were used by scientists on Earth to spot a potential sign of ancient life on Mars.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/26/t...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/26/t...
The tools Perseverance used to spot a potential sign of ancient life - RocketSTEM
The tools on the Perseverance Mars rover used by scientists on Earth to spot a potential sign of ancient life on the distant planet.
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September 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
These tools on the Perseverance rover were used by scientists on Earth to spot a potential sign of ancient life on Mars.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/26/t...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/26/t...
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, 10-year-old Bo asks why does a rocket have to go 25,000 mph to escape the bounds of Earth?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/24/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/24/w...
Why does a rocket have to go 25,020 mph to escape Earth? - RocketSTEM
Rockets need to reach 25,020 mph to achieve escape velocity from Earth. Why? It’s all about gravity – something we experience every moment.
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September 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, 10-year-old Bo asks why does a rocket have to go 25,000 mph to escape the bounds of Earth?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/24/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/24/w...
A potential biosignature has been detected on Mars. An astrobiologist explains what these traces of life are, and how scientists figure out their source.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/22/p...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/22/p...
Potential biosignature detected on Mars – What are these traces of life? - RocketSTEM
A potential biosignature is detected on Mars – an scientist explains what these traces of life are, and how we can figure out their source.
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September 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A potential biosignature has been detected on Mars. An astrobiologist explains what these traces of life are, and how scientists figure out their source.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/22/p...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/22/p...
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, nine-year-old Clara asks if we can colonize Mars?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/17/c...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/17/c...
Can humans colonize Mars in the foreseeable future? - RocketSTEM
Landing human on Mars and establishing a sustainable colony has gone from the pages of science fiction to the realm of being possible.
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September 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, nine-year-old Clara asks if we can colonize Mars?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/17/c...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/17/c...
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, five-year-old Noah from Florida asks how was the Earth built?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/10/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/10/h...
How was the Earth built? - RocketSTEM
The Earth is a dynamic planet that formed 4.5 billion years ago and is still undergoing processes that continue to shape its surface.
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September 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
In this week's edition of Curious Kids, five-year-old Noah from Florida asks how was the Earth built?
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/10/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/10/h...
11-year-old Siah asks what is beyond outer space? Does the universe end? Or does it go on forever? That is a question for which scientists still don't have a definitive answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/03/d...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/03/d...
Does outer space end – or go on forever? - RocketSTEM
Does the universe end? Or does it go on forever? That is a question for which scientists still don't have a definitive answer.
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September 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
11-year-old Siah asks what is beyond outer space? Does the universe end? Or does it go on forever? That is a question for which scientists still don't have a definitive answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/03/d...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/09/03/d...
In this edition of Curious Kids, Zayden asks why the Earth looks flat even though the planet is indeed a large sphere. A geomorphologist explains the 'flatness' is all a matter of perspective.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/27/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/27/w...
Why does everything look flat even though the Earth is round? - RocketSTEM
While the Earth looks flat while standing on its surface, the planet is indeed a large sphere. The 'flatness' is all a matter of perspective.
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August 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
In this edition of Curious Kids, Zayden asks why the Earth looks flat even though the planet is indeed a large sphere. A geomorphologist explains the 'flatness' is all a matter of perspective.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/27/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/27/w...
Nuclear rockets could travel to Mars in half the time − but designing the reactors that would power them isn’t going to be easy.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/15/n...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/15/n...
Nuclear rockets are twice as fast – but designing them isn’t easy - RocketSTEM
Nuclear rockets could travel to Mars in half the time − but designing the reactors that would power them isn’t going to be easy.
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August 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Nuclear rockets could travel to Mars in half the time − but designing the reactors that would power them isn’t going to be easy.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/15/n...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/15/n...
In this edition of Curious Kids, Timothy asks why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light? A physicist explains the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/13/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/13/w...
Why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light? - RocketSTEM
A physicist explains special relativity and time dilation to explain why the speed of light is constant, but our perception of time is not.
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August 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
In this edition of Curious Kids, Timothy asks why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light? A physicist explains the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/13/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/13/w...
For humans to safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster. Nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/11/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/11/h...
Humanity needs nuclear-powered rockets to explore Mars and beyond - RocketSTEM
For humans to safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster. Nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer.
www.rocketstem.org
August 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
For humans to safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster. Nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/11/h...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/11/h...
Earth's day was 1.33 milliseconds shorter on August 5 than normally expected. We explain why that happened, and why days are not really 24 hours long.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/07/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/07/w...
Why on Earth is the planet’s day getting shorter? - RocketSTEM
Multiple factors are believed to be reason that Earth's day was 1.33 milliseconds shorter than normally expected on August 5, 2025.
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August 7, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Earth's day was 1.33 milliseconds shorter on August 5 than normally expected. We explain why that happened, and why days are not really 24 hours long.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/07/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/07/w...
Curious Kids: Gavriel asks if planets in the solar system that are closer to the Sun are older than the ones further away? This edition of Curious Kids has the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/05/i...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/05/i...
In what order did the planets in our solar system form? - RocketSTEM
Gavriel asks if planets in the solar system that are closer to the Sun are older than the ones further away? Curious Kids has the answer.
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August 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Curious Kids: Gavriel asks if planets in the solar system that are closer to the Sun are older than the ones further away? This edition of Curious Kids has the answer.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/05/i...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/05/i...
Observations of a distant twinkling star has revealed that the Local Bubble of the Milky Way, where we reside, is not as empty as previously thought.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/01/t...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/01/t...
Twinkling star reveals the secrets of plasma structures in our cosmic neighbourhood - RocketSTEM
Observations of a twinkling star has revealed that the Local Bubble of the Milky Way, where we reside, is not as empty as previously thought.
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August 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Observations of a distant twinkling star has revealed that the Local Bubble of the Milky Way, where we reside, is not as empty as previously thought.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/01/t...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/08/01/t...
Curious Kids: Solomon from California asks if the Earth will last forever. An Earth Sciences professor responds that everything that has a beginning has an end. However, the Earth will last for a very long time, and its end will come after we are all long gone.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/07/30/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/07/30/w...
Will the Earth last forever? - RocketSTEM
Everything that has a beginning has an end. But the Earth will last for a very long time, and its end will come after we are all long gone.
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July 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Curious Kids: Solomon from California asks if the Earth will last forever. An Earth Sciences professor responds that everything that has a beginning has an end. However, the Earth will last for a very long time, and its end will come after we are all long gone.
www.rocketstem.org/2025/07/30/w...
www.rocketstem.org/2025/07/30/w...