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STEAM Stop | Stories & Activities that Fuel the Mind

Journeying from the pages to a practical application of our STEAM Spotlights! 

Flying High with Montana Aerospace Scholars

Do you have a high school student with an interest in space or aviation? The Montana Aerospace Scholars program is a free, NASA-affiliated educational opportunity for high school students in the Treas...

The Evolution of Weather Forecasting

Weather prediction has changed dramatically over the years, and the past few decades have seen unprecedented technological acceleration. Today, with supercomputers, artificial intelligence, and global...

The Science Behind Our Love of Chocolate

For thousands of years, humans have devoured chocolate; the average American eats roughly 10 pounds per year. It’s long been associated with Valentine’s Day, but why? Read this month’s issue to learn...

MSUB Science Expo Hosts 2023 Kickoff Event

Calling all budding scientists in grades 1-12! MSUB is hosting its annual kickoff event on Saturday, January 14.

Chasing a Long Winter’s Nap

Why do we all tend to want to bulk up and slow down when the days are short, and the temperatures drop? It turns out it’s a pretty universal condition. Read on to find out how to embrace this season a...

STEM Under the Tree

Making lists and checking them twice? This Christmas, consider giving gifts that will boost their brains. We’ve got you covered with our list of STEM-based toys and gift ideas.

Discovery Abounds at Wise Wonders

Wise Wonders, a local hands-on museum, has been growing and expanding since its inception. But did you know it is also home to a wide variety of educational science programming for students of all age...

Quoth the Raven

If you’ve ever had your spine tingle while reading The Raven, you’re not alone. But literature’s most famous bird isn’t a fair representation of how ravens and crows act in the wild. They belong to hu...

Physics on the Green

Do you know how golf balls got their distinctive shape? How does the force that keeps roller coasters on their tracks help your game? Read on to find out how you can use science to hit the ball farthe...

Life in the Extremes

No question, the bears, bison, and wolves in Yellowstone are impressive. But did you know that some of the most exciting life is actually inches away from your feet, quietly humming along in water tha...

What Lies Beneath: Exploring Yellowstone

"Like a lot of people, when you go to Yellowstone, you wonder, where does all this water come from? How does it get there? Why is it here and not other places?" Finn said. "Yellowstone has the most th...

Yellowstone Science: Acoustic Atlas

Auditory input is woven into our lives, but sounds can shift. Like the sounds of a prairie before people built cities, what was once ubiquitous can be changed or forgotten. And in a place like Yellows...

Montana’s Dinosaur Country: Close to Home, Eons Away

In eastern Montana, rocky terrains span the horizon. Seemingly barren, the sandstones and shales underfoot tell a different story. Close to home, but eons away: this is dinosaur country.

Keep on Learning

The tagline "Keep on Learning" drives everything that prolific science educator Craig Beals does.

Atomic Circus Takes the Show on the Road

With a vibe straight out of Nickelodeon’s You Can’t Do That On Television, the Atomic Circus’s mashup of magic show, dance performance, rock concert, and occasional explosions has been delighting stan...

The Dog’s Nose… Knows

Superheroes have nothing on canines. Dogs’ hearing is two to three times more sensitive than ours, and their paws can detect unstable ground, a lifesaving feat when potential avalanches threaten a mis...

MSUB Science Expo Hosts Kickoff Event

In anticipation of the 2022 MSUB Science Expo, a kickoff event has been planned for January 29!

Code Girls United

Today, Code Girls United groups are in 14 locations across Montana, including Red Lodge and Joliet, and two online groups, where several students from Billings participate.

The Origin of Montana’s Treasures

Montana’s moniker, the “Treasure State,” dates back to the discovery of gold, when thousands of prospectors flocked to the state in the 1860s. But when the gold ran out, there were still billions in u...

MSUB Student Teachers Present 'How to Build Your Dragon' at BPL

MSUB College of Education pre-service teachers are bringing a 'How to Build Your Dragon' workshop to Billings Public Library on December 2nd for ages 11-17.

To Stave Off Cold and Flu, Eat the Alphabet

Your hard-working immune system is an absolute marvel of elegant complexity, with layer upon layer working together to keep you healthy. Let's look at how "eating the alphabet" can help stave off cold...

Bats: Better Than You Think

As the air starts to chill, bats make their way to their winter homes, nestling in for winter hibernation. And while it's tempting to align them with all things creepy, the reality is they are more cl...

Hands On: Carbon Dioxide Puts Out Fire (video)

As we discovered in the September pages of SLM, fire fighters use smothering techniques to extinguish blazes. This video demonstrates that principal.

Great Storms of Fire

Wildfires are dangerous, destructive, and a part of summer life for much of the Western United States. And they are incredibly complex.

Meteor VS Dinosaurs STEM Activity

Before adventuring to Makoshika State Park, try this meteor versus dinosaur activity!

What Killed the Dinosaurs? Go See for Yourself!

A 3-hour drive from Billings sits Makoshika State Park, which can give you a peek back in time (around 66 million years ago), offering an impressive physical reminder of the last days of some of Earth...

Exploding Chemistry

Exploring chemical reactions that produce heat and expand (thanks to Home Science Tools' Fizz, Foam, Fire! activity).

Ka-Boom! The Science of Fireworks

Because fireworks are so common, it might be easy to overlook the hours upon hours of detailed, behind-the-scenes work needed to launch a dazzling display.

DIY Planetarium

Making your own indoor planetarium is fast, easy, and can even be done on camping trips!

Summer Stargazing in Montana

Make the most of your summer stargazing experiences in Big Sky Country!

On Montana’s Dark Sky Trail

“Light pollution continues to grow almost imperceptibly in Montana, literally one light at a time,” said John Ashley, board chair of the Montana Chapter of the IDA and author of the award-winning book...

Scents of Spring

The next time you decide to stop and smell the roses, you'll know the hows and whys of a flower's scent!

Showcasing the Treasure State’s Young Scientists

The MSU-B Science Expo's connecting of young scientists with scientific professionals in the community is one of the event's highlights, says Dr. Daniel Willems.

Snow Much Fun!

Fling a potful of boiling water skyward in these temperatures, and you’ll get a pretty sweet cloud of tiny ice crystals. But what on earth is going on here?

Circling Up Over Math

Go behind the scenes with MSUB's Math Circle - a place that helps students to see math from a different angle while being creative and seeing how it connects with different games and puzzles.

Life Below the Freezing Point

Ever wonder what's happening beneath the frozen surfaces during winter? Like, where did everybody go? Turns out, not far.

Our Brains on Nature

Taking care of your mental health, particularly when this season might feel less than merry, is critical. Scientists, physicians, and therapists know that repeated stress can...

Science at Home

As record numbers of families turn to home school and distance learning this year, many parents and caregivers are working their way up the steep learning curve of teaching around the kitchen table. S...

Taking the Creepy Out of the Crawlies

Around this time of year, spiders start making their often unwelcome appearance inside as the weather turns cooler. But before you reach for the shoe, it’s important to know how beneficial these anima...

Can You Be-Leaf these Colors?

It’s arguably one of the best offerings of fall: tree branches exploding with color in the delightfully crisp air. But why do leaves change color this time of year? We all know that it happens, but wh...

The Buzz on Honeybees

Go inside the hive and get the buzz on honeybees.

STEAM Spotlight: Ringing Rocks

Up a rough and rocky road off I-90 about 18 miles east of Butte, a fascinating discovery awaits those willing to make the often-treacherous drive. Rising from a small dusty parking lot is a roughly 12...

STEAM Spotlight: A Snowflake’s Journey

We all know that a snowflake is as unique as a fingerprint, but did you ever wonder what happens along the way to make it so?

Turning Over a New Leaf with Citizen Science

Discover more about the world of Citizen Science - a growing movement that harnesses the power of the internet and our collective observations to further scientific research.

Wise Wonders Charts New Territory

New spaces and new ideas at Wise Wonders aims to engage kids of all ages (including the young at heart).

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