Hot, dry weather can also make food hard to find. Estivation is hibernation in a hot climate. Animals that estivate lower their breathing and heart rate and don’t eat, just like hibernators. In Australia, burrowing frogs estivate underground until th

It’s mostly warmblooded animals that hibernate, but some non-mammals do it too. A queen bumblebee spends the winter underground. Northern garter snakes sleep together in caves, in big piles of hundreds or thousands of snakes. Toads dig burrows. And a

Having an internal clock that sets itself by the sun is great—but what happens when someone invents electric lights? Sometimes, bright light at night can fool the internal clock into thinking it’s day. This can make it harder for people to fall aslee

Breakfast Ice Cream Abigail L., age 9, California The Blue Angler Erik L., age 9, Massachusetts Stella K., age 9, Hawaii A girl drops her Bizarro Delight, which is three flavors: "Volcano Gelato," "Pizzalicious," and "Say Cheese." Luckily, the

Liz Huyck Editor Tracy Vonder Brink Contributing Editor Emily Cambias Assistant Editors Stacey Lane Smith Anna Lender Art Director Erin Hookana Designer David Stockdale Permissions Specialist ■

All animals sleep, and they have all different kinds of beds. People also sleep in many different ways. So what’s your ideal bed? Do you dream of tucking up in a hammock, or a tree, or a castle in the clouds? For this month’s contest, draw us a pictu

Likes: Pranks, inventions, whoopee cushions Quote: I didn’t do it! Dreaming of: Playing the perfect prank Likes: Poetry, dictionaries, mirrors Quote: Brains AND beauty—I have both. Dreaming of: Starring in Beaks over Broadway Likes: Rule book

Some sleepers talk and even walk around when fast asleep. What’s going on? Sleepwalking and sleep talking can happen when the brain gets stuck halfway between sleep and waking. A sleepwalker’s body may think it’s still awake, while the brain is compl

You might have heard grown-ups say that you shouldn’t drink some kinds of soda or tea at night because they have caffeine. What is that, and what does it have to do with anything? Caffeine is a natural chemical found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and so

Many creative people have discovered the power of dreams, which Aristotle called "thinking while asleep." Dreams can spark creative connections that the waking brain overlooks. Often these are just weird. But once in a while, they are brilliant. In

Making a new kind of heart stent is a challenge, but it started with a simple idea—the origami balloon! Follow these instructions to make your own. (Be sure to press down all the way along each fold to make the crease.) 1. Start with a square piece

Dear Elvis, The birds at my bird feeder aren’t scared of me or my cat when we’re inside, looking out the window, but they flew away when I went outside. Sincerely, Ramona B., Pennsylvania Dear Ramona, We have an old bird saying: Kids and kittens A

Every great artist has their own favorite tricks. What’s yours? For this month’s contest, we invite you to show us the best thing you ever made. It could be anything—a sand castle, a painting, a cupcake, a sock, or an amazing invention. Send us a pho

Liz Huyck Editor Tracy Vonder Brink Contributing Editor Emily Cambias Assistant Editors Stacey Lane Smith Anna Lender Art Director Erin Hookana Designer David Stockdale Permissions Specialist ■

Your skin won’t turn green if you eat a lot of broccoli. But a flamingo does get its color from what it eats. Flamingos slurp up algae, tiny shrimp, and other tidbits from water. Many of these foods contain carotenoids, a natural molecule that gives