Health Jun 18 Why another flu pandemic is likely just a matter of when Despite the availability of vaccines, the flu still kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, and hundreds of thousands more worldwide. But public health officials fear that an even graver threat lies ahead: the emergence of…
Politics Jun 17 All of the Mueller report's major findings in less than 30 minutes When Robert Mueller broke his silence in May, his main point was that his long-awaited report spoke for itself. But the report is 448 pages long. So Lisa Desjardins and William Brangham decided to dig into what the findings say…
Science May 31 At Smithsonian's renovated Hall of Fossils, dinosaurs are just the beginning The dinosaur bones at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History now boast new accommodations. After a four-year, $125 million renovation, the Hall of Fossils now features state-of-the-art technology and new exhibits housing more than 700 specimens. As William…
World May 01 In Venezuela, Maduro holds on to power as Guaido's military support falters After Tuesday’s violent clashes, Wednesday dawned quiet in Caracas but eventually grew chaotic again. Police threw tear gas at Venezuelans demonstrating in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido. Meanwhile, it was unclear why Guaido’s earlier talks with military leaders about…
Science Apr 24 Can Antarctica remain a refuge for science and peace? Antarctica is virtually uninhabited by people. There are no roads, no cities, no government. But thanks to a remarkable Cold War diplomatic breakthrough, the last continent ever discovered remains a place devoted almost exclusively to science. William Brangham reports on…
World Apr 17 How Antarctica's tourist boom could affect Earth's 'last great wilderness' Antarctica was the last of the seven continents to be discovered, and it wasn’t until the late 1950s that commercial tourism began there. But now, Antarctica has become a popular travel destination, amid growing concerns about the effect that increasing…
Science Apr 10 Antarctica is losing ice at an accelerating rate. How much will sea levels rise? The frozen continent of Antarctica contains the vast majority of all freshwater on Earth. Now that ice is melting at an accelerating rate, in part because of climate change. What does this transformation mean for coastal communities across the globe?…
Science Apr 03 Antarctic penguins have existed for 60 million years. Can they survive climate change? Ron Naveen used to be a lawyer for the EPA, but he left government in the 1980s to start Oceanites, a nonprofit that tracks the health of penguins that breed on the Antarctic Peninsula. Now, that 800-mile stretch of land…
Nation Jan 17 How Colin O'Brady mentally prepared for his Antarctic feat There have been many expeditions on the frozen continent of Antarctica, but Colin O'Brady's 54-day solo trek across more than 930 miles without any assistance was the first of its kind. "You are locked in a prison of your own…