An 11-year-old baseball player named Landon Wilson is receiving attention for showing kindness and good sportsmanship during a game his team lost 10–2. Instead of getting upset about losing, Landon encouraged his teammates and congratulated players on the opposing team when they made good plays. The other team’s coach, Michael Lolley, was so impressed that he praised Landon during the handshake line after the game. The moment was recorded using smart sunglasses, and the video quickly spread online. Many people admired Landon’s positive attitude and the way he treated other players with respect. His actions are a reminder that being a good teammate and showing kindness can be more important than winning. Think about a time when you lost a game, made a mistake, or faced a disappointment. In 4 to 5 sentences, describe how you responded and explain how Landon’s example could help you handle a similar situation in the future. Include two ways people can show good sportsmanship even when things do not go their way.

Scientists and international timekeepers have decided to stop adding special extra seconds to clocks beginning in 2027. These extra seconds, called leap seconds, have occasionally been added because Earth’s rotation is not perfectly steady. Scientists use extremely accurate atomic clocks to measure time, but the length of a day changes slightly as Earth spins. Adding leap seconds helped keep the time on our clocks close to the time measured by Earth’s rotation. However, these unexpected extra seconds can cause problems for computers, communication systems, and other technologies that depend on precise timing. Scientists believe that stopping leap seconds will make timekeeping simpler and more reliable, and they may not need another major adjustment for hundreds or even thousands of years. Make a list of three everyday activities that depend on accurate clocks, such as transportation, sports, or communication. Then write 3 to 5 sentences explaining what could go wrong if clocks in different places showed different times and why scientists work so hard to measure time accurately.

Scientists are becoming concerned about fake wildlife photographs created using artificial intelligence. In one case, insect expert Kris Anderson discovered a photograph on the nature website iNaturalist that appeared to show an unusual praying mantis. At first, the insect looked like it might be a species scientists had never seen before. However, Anderson eventually realized that the image had been created using AI rather than taken with a camera. Websites like iNaturalist allow ordinary people to share photographs of plants and animals, helping researchers learn where different species live. Fake photographs can confuse scientists, waste their time, and make it harder to trust information collected online. Experts say it is important to check unusual discoveries carefully before accepting them as real. Create a short fact-checking guide for someone who discovers an exciting photograph of an unusual animal online. Include four steps for deciding whether the picture is real, such as looking for strange details or checking reliable sources. Finish with 2 to 3 sentences explaining why fake wildlife photographs can cause problems for scientists and why people should be careful before sharing them.

Archaeologists exploring the waters near Turkey have discovered ancient clay jars and stone anchors that may be evidence of a shipwreck dating back approximately 4,700 years. The clay jars, called amphoras, were commonly used to transport goods such as oil, wine, and other products across the sea. Researchers also discovered dark material inside some of the jars, which they hope to study to learn what the containers once held. Although no wooden remains of the ship have been found, the objects suggest that a vessel may have sunk at the site thousands of years ago. If confirmed, the discovery could be one of the oldest known shipwrecks in the world. Scientists still need more evidence before they can determine exactly what happened and how old the wreck is. Archaeologists learn about ancient civilizations by studying objects people left behind. Choose one everyday object that people use today, such as a backpack, water bottle, or cooking pot. In about 5 sentences, explain what an archaeologist thousands of years in the future might learn about our lives by discovering that object. Include one question the archaeologist might still have about how the object was used.

A pilot named Benjamin McDaniel has created an enormous drawing of the famous Mona Lisa painting by carefully flying his airplane across the sky. McDaniel, who is sometimes called “Pilot Picasso,” used GPS technology to record the path of his flight over Oklahoma. When the flight path was viewed on a map, it formed the outline of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous portrait. The project required months of planning, and the flight itself lasted about four hours and covered a drawing approximately 40 miles wide. McDaniel had to make precise turns and follow a carefully designed route to create the picture. He has also used his airplane to create other designs and positive messages. His unusual artwork shows how creativity, technology, and careful planning can work together. Design your own piece of artwork that combines creativity with science or technology. Your artwork could use lights, drones, GPS, or another invention to create something unusual. Draw a simple sketch of your idea, then write your own paragraph explaining how it would work, what makes it creative, and one challenge you might face while making it.