Stephanie Hobby is married to an awesome Billings guy. They love skiing, hiking, traveling, and other adventures with their two fun kids and crazy dog.

Sprucing Up for Spring

Getting a jump start on spring home maintenance can save you thousands in the long run. If you notice that winter left its mark on your house, act now before it becomes an even bigger problem. In this...

Making Your Closet Work for You

Building a dream closet is a lot of fun; working with a professional ensures you’re achieving something that will be functional and beautiful for years.

Cold months, Cozy Home

As we settle into the thick of winter, energy bills can soar, and sadly, disasters like burst pipes and fires can strike. Read more in this month’s issue of how you can keep your home cozy and warm wi...

Bolder, Richer, Cleaner: Designing the Modern Home

It’s hard to believe, but all-white kitchens and baths are on their way out after years and years of dominating the design scene. The home of tomorrow is full of deep, rich colors that exude simplicit...

NAMI: Local Support for Mental Health

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, is a lifeline for peers and their loved ones and a valuable resource for the community. NAMI’s local branch, NAMI Billings, offers education classes,...

Yeast: It’s What’s Brewing!

Tiny, single-celled fungus are critically important to fermentation, which in turn, are vital to our survival. But more fun, yeast are behind the magic of beer and bread! Read on in this issue to lear...

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...

Are We Hunting for Eggs Year-Round Now?

Egg sales typically soar in the days leading up to Easter. But this year, the ever-increasing costs and scarcity are leading some people to joke that they’ll be dying potatoes instead. What’s behind t...

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...

Connecting Care Across the Treasure State Connecting Care Across the Treasure State

Though telehealth became more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana had already been leading the charge since the early 1990s. With federal funding, the Montana Telehealth Alliance was launc...

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...

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.

The Final Countdown: Billings Voters to Approve Multi-generational Sportsplex

For years, the city has been working to address the need for a multi-generational, community-oriented Billings Community Recreation Center on the South Side, adjacent to Amend Park. After collecting p...

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...

Meet the Maker: Gene Hobby

Across the city of Billings, there are hundreds - maybe thousands - of wooden keychains in the pockets of firefighters, police officers, members of the military, medical professionals, retail workers,...

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...

Making Strides Toward Heart Health

Dr. Apostol of Cardiovascular Consultants of Montana points out that even though women are just as likely to have heart disease as men, the signs can be different.

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...

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...

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...

Beauty from Ashes

“My story is about beauty from ashes.”
-Chantina Pretty Weasel

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...

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.

Farm Saturdays at T&C Farms

Tytus and Cathi Karkins of T&C Farms
are bridging the gap between families and farms with Farm Saturdays.

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.

STEAM Stop

From STEAM lessons to hands-on applications, this is the spot for all things STEAM-related!

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...

Discovering Laura’s “Little Town on the Prairie”

Far across the windswept plains and prairies of eastern Montana and South Dakota lies the tiny town of De Smet, the setting of the second half of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” books.

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!

A Stellar Camp Experience

Exploring all that Montana Learning Center has to offer your camper this summer!

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.

Going the Extra Mile with Austin Adventures

Award-winning Austin Adventures has led thousands on getaways of a lifetime - from leading kayakers around Antarctica or zip-lining through the canopies of Costa Rica's rainforests, but they have alwa...

What the Devil? The Secret Behind Devils Tower

Established as the nation's first national monument in 1906, Devils Tower's origins have long intrigued geologists, Native Americans, and casual visitors alike. To this day, despite so much study and...

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...

Treat Yourself!

After the spring we've all had, making time for self-care and fun has never been more important. Here in Montana, we have the luxury of using world-class vacation destinations for our quick weekend ge...

Apart, but Still Together

A look at how our community managed to come together, even while we've had to be apart.

Going Green with Your Diet

When it comes to eating healthier, Billings Clinic registered dietitian Anna Kasperick offers a key point to remember: hunger always wins. Building vegetables into your diet doesn’t have to mean a com...

Meet the Baker: Sweets by Sam

Meet Sam Walter, the baker and artist behind Sweets by Sam.

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?

Start Smart with Art

The how-to on taking the first steps into growing your at-home art collection.

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).

ZooMontana: Leaping Ahead

In the culmination of eight years of dedicated work, ZooMontana announced this fall that it had earned the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ prestigious accreditation, joining only 238 other zoos and...