Backgrounders

Learn about the wide variety of fuels used in vehicles.

Learn how sound travels in waves and how it is measured in this backgrounder.

This backgrounder explains what greenhouse gases are and how they contribute to climate change.

Learn about the different types of radiation, how they interact with atoms and how they can affect you.

Electricity demand changes constantly. Suppliers need to generate more electrical energy when demand is high, and less when demand is low.

Today, you know it's the same time everywhere in your time zone thanks to Universal Coordinated Time. But when humans used the Sun to tell time, they couldn’t tell time precisely.

This backgrounder explains what temperature is, how it is measured, how it affects people, and how it is controlled on the International Space Station.

Temperature is an important part of life on Earth and life in space. This backgrounder explains what temperature is, how it affects people and how it is controlled on the International Space Station.

Learn about two taxonomy systems that scientists use to classify the life around us.

This backgrounder explains what noise is, how it is measured, and how it affects our hearing, wellness and more.

This backgrounder explains what light is, how it is measured, and how it affects people on Earth and astronauts on board the International Space Station.

Ethanol is a biofuel that can power a car. Learn about the enzymes, catalysts and processes like fermentation involved in ethanol production.

This backgrounder explains the four main ways that oil is moved over land and water.

Humidity is an important part of life on Earth and life in space. This backgrounder explains what humidity is, how it is measured and how it affects us both mentally and physically.

Humidity is an important part of life on Earth and life in space. This backgrounder explains what humidity is, how it is measured and how it affects us both mentally and physically.