GO STEM, 1 University Boulevard, La Grande, OR (2026)

10/13/2026

It is astounding the degree of world food waste. Up to 31% of food produced is thrown out either between production and marketing or by households thereafter. Most households in industrialized countries toss out about 200 pounds of waste per year, for example. This waste contributes significantly to global greenhouse emissions. Independent of this problem is the ongoing stress on humans to keep creating more energy. The combination of these two problems has spawned a field of study and technology around employing the wastes to create energy. Food is rich in carbon compounds. These materials can be mixed with farm wastes like manure and then digested by bacteria in giant aerobic cookers where the bi-products are methane and other gases. These gases can be used to fuel turbines that generate electricity or as heating fuel. Although the technology has been well established, efforts to determine how to do this in a cost-effective way are being studied. How does a household get those table scraps to a centralized collecting point? How much transportation and labor cost is involved? What is the bottom line? Lots of things are possible; what is plausible?

Learn more at: https://ercim-news.ercim.eu/en121/special/biogas-residues-in-the-battle-for-terrestrial-carbon-sequestration and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024016293

10/13/2026

Sea spiders (pycnogonids) are not spiders (arachnids) at all. They are arthropods related to horseshoe crabs and thus in a class to themselves. They can be small, but range up to 2 feet in leg span and live on most ocean floors. Rather than walk about as a normal spider would, they are swept along by their long legs that act like a sail.

Recently, researchers have noticed that some sea spiders in the south Pacific have visitors on the joints of their legs. On examination, these have been identified as amphipods. These are tiny crustaceans related to terrestrial pill bugs. They too cannot move readily in the ocean as they are not designed for any significant travel. Yet, one species is spread over thousands of miles of ocean floor. How do they get around? It could be the sea spider that helps them disperse. As a hitchhiker on the pycnogonids, they are not harmful, but take advantage of whatever food might be around as the currents drift the two species.

More studies need to be done to determine if this is a widespread pattern of inter-species exploitation!

Learn more at: https://www.sciencealert.com/strange-creatures-seen-riding-giant-sea-spiders-in-the-midnight-ocean

10/12/2026

Earlier this month, GO STEM visited some of our youngest learners, ages 3 - 5, at the Burns Early Learning Center, in Harney County. This was to explore the amazing world of trees!

Students started by noticing how trees can look different on the outside, from needles to leaves. But when we looked closer at tree cookies, students discovered that every tree tells a story on the inside, too! The class counted tree rings to see where a tree began growing and how old it was, spotting clues about its life, including marks from fires, insect damage, and places where branches had grown.

Then, each child created a tree that told their own story. They drew themselves as trees, adding the number of rings to represent their age. Some even included protective bark and other special markings.

We wrapped up by exploring the changing seasons. As we talked about how leaves change color and fall to the ground in preparation for winter, students danced with scarves and sang a song about leaves falling from the trees.

We love introducing students to science through observation, creativity, movement, and play. Children of all ages also have fun discovering that nature is full of stories and beauty!

10/12/2026

The buzz is suddenly about AI. Is it evil? Will it take over? Will it destroy humankind? Alternatively, is it the best thing since the discovery of fire? The range of opinions and beliefs is wide, often reflecting what one has heard, seen, or experienced from science fiction writers.

On the evil spectrum, we have lots of examples of dystopian futures caused by out-of-control computers and robots that cause world war, human extinction, or subversive manipulation. While some have proposed plausible cautions that AI embedded into nation security systems and military applications could have disastrous consequences, most platform creators are not planning to reprise stories like War Games or Terminator. The argument that AI can be benevolent and applied to many industries, financial, or medical research works may be well-intentioned, but it may create a system that takes the goal and then runs amok.

The author of the linked article suggests an absurd premise: Suppose AI is given the task of creating paperclips. To that end, the super intelligence spends all resources and efforts to create as many paperclips as possible. If anything interferes with the production, it must be removed. At this point, common sense is replaced by its prime directive. The current discussions and debates should focus less on the overly dramatic red-eyed killer robots and more on control systems, information distribution, financial manipulations, and how much creative autonomy we allow AI.

Learn More at: https://www.iflscience.com/how-a-super-intelligent-ai-designed-to-make-paperclips-could-end-up-killing-us-all-84612

10/12/2026

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is hiring a Regional Engagement Strategist for Eastern Oregon.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about community engagement and learning - and helping more learners connect with science, technology, engineering, and math.

The Regional Engagement Strategist will work collaboratively with the Greater Oregon STEM Hub (GO STEM) to strengthen regional partnerships and expand opportunities for learners and communities across Eastern Oregon.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share and help spread the word!

👉 Learn more and apply: https://omsi.applicantpool.com/jobs/1333238

10/05/2026

Metals contained in EV batteries, like cobalt, manganese, and lithium, have driven industry to develop recycling plants to handle the anticipated influx of spent cells. The process requires shredding of expended cells, processing to create a dense mix of metals, then a chemical process that separates all this out. Investors and corporations built large industrial-scale plants based on what the batteries would look like, how long they would last, and the market prices of those metals.

Several variables have thrown a monkey wrench into those plans.

First, battery design has changed. The lithium-cobalt-magnesium designs are being quickly replaced by iron-phosphate-lithium chemistry. This upsets the delicate balances required to separate the metals mixes as phosphates stick to everything and bollix-up the process. Furthermore, the prices of raw materials vary wildly, making the return on investment much more tenuous. Many start-up recyclers have gone bankrupt as a result. Finally, recycling plans were built on the predicted failure rate of EV batteries over time.

These time frames have not held as newer EV batteries are lasting far longer than expected. There is still optimism about recycling, but the chemistry, technology, and economics will need to ultimately align.

Learn more at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032122004191

10/05/2026

GO STEM recently visited Seneca Elementary School in Grant county, Oregon, where students explored computer programming and computational thinking through hands-on challenges with Bee-Bots and Finch robots.

Grades 1-2 started by learning how robots follow directions through a game of Simon Says. Students discovered that, just like a robot, the Bee-Bot repeats exactly what the programmer tells it to do. They then applied that idea by coding their Bee-Bots step by step to reach a flower, avoid a yellow jacket, and find a different route.

The farming Bee-Bot map was a favorite! Students loved programming their Bee-Bots to complete “chores” around the farm while practicing sequencing, problem-solving, and adapting their code.

Grades 3-6 took on programming challenges with Finch robots and the Finch Blox coding program. Students learned to drag and drop directions to move their Finch toward a goal. For some students, visualizing the process came naturally, while others used the program to work through each step. Both approaches helped students build confidence and find their own path to the solution.

Then came a new challenge: angles! Several students told us they had never used a protractor in math, but that didn’t stop them. They were willing to try a new tool, measure angles, change their code, and adapt their Finch to navigate new mats. By the end, students had figured out how to make their Finches light up, dance, and even start with the clap of their hands.

We love seeing students take on a new challenge, try something unfamiliar, and discover, “I can figure this out!”

10/05/2026

📢 WE’RE HIRING!

Do you love STEM, hands-on learning, creativity, and working with students and rural communities? GO STEM is growing our educational team, and we are looking for a new Mobile Maker Lab Project Manager to join our team!

Here is the link to the job post: https://eou.peopleadmin.com/postings/3627

If you’re passionate about STEM education and ready to make an impact across our region, we’d love to hear from you!

10/01/2026

Many people who have eyelash extensions on their lids experience swelling, redness, and discomfort after a time. In a survey of 345 women aged between 16 and 28, 58% had some sort of discomfort. To understand the problem, ophthalmologists used “laser confocal meibography” to look at the glands that supply natural oils to the meibomian glands of the eyelid. In a significant number of cases, Demodex mites were found living in the follicles of the eyelashes. These arachnids are nearly microscopic, 0.3 mm in length. They eat skin cells and oils that accumulate in the follicle and can cause inflammation and irritation. Surprisingly, these mites are common. One-third of children and young adults, half of adults, and two-thirds of elderly people have them. It seems, though, that those who have eyelash extensions may be particularly susceptible to greater numbers of these invaders. There are several products on the market that will soothe the eyes and will control the population of these creepy crawlers!

Learn more at: https://www.iflscience.com/love-false-lashes-me-too-says-microscopic-arachnid-that-lives-on-your-face-84628

10/01/2026

This past weekend, GO STEM joined the Amazon Web Services Community Day at the Sage Center in Boardman!

At this event, our team connected with the community and highlighted the science and technology behind solar energy. Students and community members had the opportunity to explore hands-on STEM and see how renewable energy and technology come together in the real world.

Thank you to AWS and the SAGE Center for including GO STEM in this community event! And thank you to all of our community members who came out to say "hi," and visit and learn about renewable energy with us!

GO STEM

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