science | FFXnow

New STEM lab from Virginia Tech brings students across Fairfax to Groveton school

Published October 22, 2025 at 10:00AM

Bren Mar Park Elementary School students at Bucknell Elementary School's Thinkabit Lab (photo by Jamie Rogers)

As Fairfax County Public Schools leaders consider a policy to guide the usage of artificial intelligence in classrooms, a lab program from Virginia Tech is already preparing some students to be at the forefront of technological change.

Bucknell Elementary School in Groveton is the new home of the Thinkabit Lab Innovation Space, a tactile learning hub developed by the wireless technology manufacturer Qualcomm that’s designed to pique students’ interests in science and prepare them for careers in technology.

Countywide

Cancer-treating Fairfax teenager named Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 16, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fairfax resident and Woodson High School Heman Bekele has been named Time's 2024 Kid of the Year (courtesy Time)

Heman Bekele has another title to go along with his status as America’s reigning Top Young Scientist.

The 15-year-old Fairfax resident has been chosen as the 2024 Kid of the Year by Time for his efforts to create a soap that could help treat skin cancers. The magazine’s issue recognizing Heman and five other “Kid of the Year” honorees hit newsstands today (Friday).

Countywide

GMU to help build ‘artificial star’ for NASA on Fairfax campus

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 18, 2024 at 10:15AM

George Mason University College of Science associate professor and Observatory Director Peter Plavchan will serve as principal investigator for NASA's Landolt Mission (courtesy Ron Aira/Creative Services/ George Mason University)

In half a decade, George Mason University students and faculty will help NASA launch an “artificial star” into space.

The university’s Fairfax campus will serve as mission control for the Landolt NASA Space Mission, which will send a laser-pointing satellite into Earth’s orbit in 2029, GMU announced on June 10. The artificial star created by the satellite will help scientists more accurately calculate the brightness of real stars.

Countywide

Poll: What are your plans for watching the 2024 solar eclipse?

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 5, 2024 at 9:30AM

A view of the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse from Madras, Oregon (via NASA/Gopalswamy)

In just three days, the moon will cross right in front of the sun, creating a total solar eclipse that will be visible from more than a dozen states.

Virginia isn’t one of those states, but in Fairfax County, an estimated 87.4% of the sun will still be blocked when the eclipse peaks around 3:20 p.m. — a bigger percentage than the 2017 event, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Countywide

Solar eclipse viewing glasses now available at Fairfax County Public Library branches

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2024 at 11:45AM

People at Reston Town Center witness the 2017 partial solar eclipse through viewing glasses (photo by Dave Emke)

Fairfax County Public Library is giving away free solar eclipse viewing glasses in anticipation of next month’s event, but to snag a pair, you’ll have to move fast.

Each branch will have “a very limited allotment” of a few hundred glasses at most, FCPL Board of Trustees chair Brian Engler confirmed. Though some branches received shipments early, the glasses were expected to be ready for distribution at all locations today (Wednesday), according to FCPL Director Jessica Hudson.

News

Woodson HS freshman who created skin cancer-treating soap honored by county board

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 5, 2024 at 11:45AM

Woodson High School student Heman Bekele speaks after getting recognized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for winning the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge (via Channel 16)

A local teen who was recently named the “Top Young Scientist in America” got a round of applause this morning (Tuesday) from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Heman Bekele, a ninth-grader at Woodson High School, won the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge in October for developing a soap that could potentially be used to treat skin cancer. He beat out nine other finalists for the 2023 contest’s grand prize, which came with $25,000 and the aforementioned title.

Countywide

Fairfax County to mark solar eclipse with event ‘extravagaza’

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 9, 2023 at 9:30AM

Residents gathered to view a solar eclipse in 2017.

As a “ring of fire” eclipse descends this Saturday (Oct. 14), Fairfax County is prepping with a series of events.

The annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from the Earth, appearing such that it is smaller than the sun. The result is that it leaves a ring of light around the edge of the moon.

Around Town

Oakton composer to dock at Capital One Hall for world premiere of space-themed symphony

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 4, 2023 at 1:30PM

The National Philharmonic performs Gustav Holst's "The Planets" at Capital One Hall, accompanied by images of space from NASA (courtesy Elman Studio)

A local classical composer is preparing to blast off for the world premiere of his newest symphony.

The suite “Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony” will be performed for the first time by the National Philharmonic at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) in Tysons at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday (May 11).

News

NASA astronaut returns to Robinson Secondary School with Sen. Kaine to inspire students

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2023 at 9:30AM

Robinson Secondary School graduate and astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren takes photos of Earth from the International Space Station in 2015 (courtesy NASA/Flickr)

More than two decades after he graduated, astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren has been drawn back into Robinson Secondary School’s orbit.

The Fairfax school will welcome its Class of 1991 alum back this afternoon (Friday) for a student assembly, where Lindgren will be joined on stage by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

News

Vertical farm built by Luther Jackson MS students grows crops to feed local families

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 29, 2023 at 11:45AM

Luther Jackson Middle School student Vivian Nguyen is among 15 students who designed and built a vertical farm for their engineering class (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In its quest to minimize waste, the vertical farm housed in a shed behind Merrifield’s Luther Jackson Middle School will one day be sustained by fish feces.

Barely the length of a fingernail, the larval tilapia swimming around a small tank in the shed will soon grow large enough to be transferred into a bigger bucket with a filter that separates fish poop and other solids from water.