Did you know that your smartphone is a mine of precious metals and rare earth elements? In fact, the average smartphone uses 75 out of the 81 stable (non-radioactive) elements in the periodic table, 62 of which are metals.

Join botany professor Dr. Joyce Onyenedum on a guided tour of primary growth in plant shoots, the developmental foundation of plant structure. #PlantScience #Botany #SciEd

What’s happening beneath the surface? In this video created by the Onyenedum Lab, botany professor Dr. Joyce Onyenedum explores the development, anatomy, and function of plant roots—the hidden systems behind plant resilience. #PlantScience #Botany #SciEd

In this JAX Career Chats episode, Martine Seignon, a Research Data Analyst at The Jackson Laboratory, shares her journey into biomedical research and bioinformatics—a field where biology and data science come together to explore complex biological questions.

What can rocks from space tell us about the origins of our Solar System? This poster, created by the Geological Society, takes learners on a visual journey from a collapsing cloud of gas and dust 4.6 billion years ago to the meteorites that land on Earth today.

In this fisheries management simulator, learners explore how ecological and economic systems are connected—and how decisions made today can shape outcomes over time.

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment. Major body systems act in ways that complement one another, allowing organisms to maintain conditions compatible with life.

Multicellular organisms are built from layers of biological organization. Cells form tissues, tissues form organs, and organs work together within organ systems. Scientists use this hierarchy to understand how structures at different levels contribute to the functioning of the whole organism.

How can scientists measure photosynthesis in action? One way is by tracking oxygen production.

How do plants build themselves? In the Plant Structure, Growth, and Adaptation pathway, botany professor Dr. Joyce Onyenedum guides learners through the anatomy and development of roots, shoots, stems, and leaves—revealing how structure supports function at every level.

How do plants turn sunlight into the energy that powers life on Earth? Photosynthesis is essential to all life on Earth. It is the only biological process that can capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical compounds (carbohydrates) that organisms use to power their metabolism.

What is geoscience? This is the central question that the Geological Society explores through their educational resources covering all things Earth and planetary science. LabXchange is excited to announce the addition of these resources to our platform!

How do leaves support photosynthesis? Leaves are structured to help plants capture sunlight, take in carbon dioxide, and transport water 👇

What happens when you adjust the temperature inside a beer fermenter? With the Beer Fermenter simulation created by SimulationSpot, learners explore lager fermentation inside an ideally mixed batch reactor with temperature control.

How do plants turn sunlight into stored energy? Photosynthesis!

How do trees move water from their roots all the way to their leaves—sometimes over 100 meters against gravity?

LabXchange is excited to announce the addition of resources from The Onyenedum Lab to our platform! Exploring the evolutionary biology and anatomy of plants, The Onyenedum Lab at New York University creates accessible educational videos on botany and plant development.

Once plants produce sugars through photosynthesis, how are those nutrients distributed throughout the plant?

In subjects ranging from population dynamics to fermentation to geopolitics, SimulationSpot translates complex, multi-faceted concepts into dynamic and interactive simulations.

How does water move from the roots all the way to the leaves of a plant? Plants move water through specialized vessels called xylem. As water evaporates from leaves, it creates a suction force known as transpiration pull. This pull draws water upward from the roots through the plant.

How do plants move water, minerals, and sugars without a heart or circulatory system? Plants rely on specialized vascular tissues to transport materials throughout the organism.

Join Professor Darwina in the Unstoppable Us Detective Game: The Missing Code! This interactive game, paired with a quiz and teaching guide, helps Grades 4–7 learners explore DNA, heredity, and evolution.  #Sapienship

Career Spotlight: Process Engineer Process engineers work at the intersection of research, development, and large-scale production. They help translate scientific insight into systems that operate safely, efficiently, and reliably in the real world.

What does an engineer look like? For many people, the word “engineer” still brings to mind a narrow image: someone who is naturally gifted in math or who followed a single, clearly defined path. But engineering is far more expansive than that.

What makes a story newsworthy? In this teaching guide, created by PBS News Student Reporting Labs, students explore how journalists decide which stories are worth reporting and why newsworthiness can look different depending on audience, location, and context.

Engineering skills impact everything from environmental conservation to healthcare innovation. Yet many students never see how classroom science connects to engineering careers. You don’t have to build a bridge to think like an engineer. #EngineersWeek

🕵️‍♀️ Learn science through play with the Unstoppable Us Detective Game: The Missing Code, created by Sapienship. It’s an interactive learning experience for Grades 4–7 that introduces students to DNA, heredity, and evolution through storytelling and problem-solving.

What makes a video story good isn’t just the topic, it’s how you tell the story. Videos combine visuals and narration to convey information up to six times faster than text alone, making them a powerful medium for storytelling, education, and engagement.

Meet Dr. Evodia Setati, a microbiologist and biotechnology academic working at the intersection of science, education, and community impact.

Why do mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA? This video explores the endosymbiosis theory: The idea that some of the organelles inside eukaryotic cells began as free-living prokaryotes that formed long-term symbiotic relationships with other cells.

Why can’t cells just keep getting bigger? As a cell grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area. That imbalance makes it harder to move materials in and out of the cell and slows down the reactions happening inside.

Science needs her: The researcher. Dr. Siobhan McRee is a molecular and cellular biologist working in preclinical drug research, developing cellular models to test potential therapies for cancer and rare diseases. Her work contributes to the critical early stages of drug development.

Science needs her: The mentor. Thembelihle Mnguni is an engineering mentor in Gauteng, South Africa, working to bridge the skills gap for teenagers interested in STEM careers.

Science needs her. Not only in classrooms and labs, but in the systems shaping our future. Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we reflect on this year’s theme: “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls.”

Why do mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA? This video explores the endosymbiosis theory: The idea that some of the organelles inside eukaryotic cells began as free-living prokaryotes that formed long-term symbiotic relationships with other cells.

Why can’t cells just keep getting bigger? As a cell grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area. That imbalance makes it harder to move materials in and out of the cell and slows down the reactions happening inside.

What does it actually look like when a cell responds to its environment?

Cells are dynamic systems where structure, transport, and energy work together to keep life going. This Cell Structure and Function pathway explores how organelles interact, how materials move through the cell, and how cells maintain an internal environment.

ICYMI: What’s new on LabXchange? Last month, we added new and exciting biology resources, from AP Biology simulations to middle school life science explainers and genetics tools. Here’s what’s new 👇

How can we determine whether a population is evolving over time? Just because variation exists in a population doesn’t guarantee that evolution is occurring.

Why are fossils such a big deal? Fossils are key pieces of evidence for evolutionary change over time. The fossil record shows the history of life on Earth, from some of the earliest prokaryotes to the origins of humans.

Explore how populations evolve, experiment with the mechanisms of natural and artificial selection through simulations, investigate real-world examples of adaptation and variation, and more.

Dogs, farm animals, and even the foods we eat are shaped by artificial selection. Instead of the environment selecting traits, humans choose which plants and animals reproduce—favoring traits like friendliness, usefulness, taste, or yield.

What is bioinformatics and why do scientists use tools like the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)?

How do fossils form? Fossils are created when plants or animals are buried by sediment and preserved over long periods of time. In some cases, minerals replace the original material, turning bones, shells, or wood into stone. 

Think like an evolutionary biologist! Investigate the evidence behind evolution and the mechanisms that drive population change. Explore the dynamic relationships that shape ecosystem structure and stability:

Bring evolution to life in the classroom by letting students control the environment and introduce mutations into a virtual bunny population. https://f.mtr.cool/vpsnvxipng

Look closely at these finch beaks. Each shape reflects generations of survival in different environments—where food sources, competition, and climate shaped who thrived and who didn’t. What kind of food do you think each beak is best suited for?

Happy New Year from LabXchange! 💙 Here’s to a new year, a shared purpose, and a global community learning science together. What are you most excited to explore, teach, or build in STEM in 2026?

Dive into the fascinating world of #Genetics with our new cluster! This collection of 10 pathways takes you from Mendel’s landmark studies with pea plants to modern-day applications. Explore genetics, from chromosome to phenotype: https://f.mtr.cool/bfkrbcozso