Oct 08 White House proposes tech 'bill of rights' to safeguard against harmful use of biometric data By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press The White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy on Friday launched a fact-finding mission to look at facial recognition and other biometric tools used to identify people or assess their emotional or mental states and character. Continue reading
Oct 08 Summer storms were a climate-change wake-up call for subways By Philip Marcelo, David Porter, Associated Press Transit officials and experts say this summer’s storms were the latest reminders that more needs to be done to prepare the East Coast’s vital transit systems in the face of more extreme and unpredictable weather caused by climate change. Continue reading
Oct 06 WATCH: Officials give update on California oil spill By Associated Press Some of the crude oil that spilled from a pipeline into the waters off Southern California has been breaking up naturally in ocean currents, a Coast Guard official said Wednesday as authorities sought to determine the scope of the damage. Continue reading
Oct 06 Henrietta Lacks estate sues company using her 'stolen' cells By Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press The estate of Henrietta Lacks sued a biotechnology company on Monday, saying it's been selling her cervical cells without her knowledge or consent. Continue reading
Oct 06 California oil spill renews calls to ban offshore drilling By Kathleen Ronayne, Matthew Daly, Associated Press Oil spilling into federal waters off California's coast has prompted fresh calls for an end to offshore oil drilling in state and federal waters. But that's easier said than done. Continue reading
Oct 05 WATCH: Nobel in chemistry honors 'greener' way to build molecules By David Keyton, Frank Jordans, Associated Press Two scientists have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for finding an “ingenious” and environmentally cleaner way to build molecules that can be used to make a variety of compounds, including medicines and pesticides. Continue reading
Oct 05 UN report warns of global water crisis amid climate change By Suman Naishadham, Associated Press The report says 60 percent of the countries it surveyed urgently need better warning systems to avert water-related disasters. Continue reading
Oct 05 Extreme weather doesn't usually motivate Americans to move. Here's why By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas For many, the question is not as simple as choosing to pack up and move away from a place to escape the threat of extreme weather, or the devastation left in its wake, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll. Continue reading
Oct 04 Ship's anchor among possible causes of California oil spill By Amy Taxin, Christopher Weber, Associated Press The spill sent up to 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of heavy crude into the ocean. It contaminated the sands of famed Huntington Beach and other coastal communities. Continue reading
Oct 04 Watch 3:24 Southern California oil spill could be 'ecological disaster,' take weeks to clean up By Stephanie Sy, Courtney Norris Federal and state investigators are focusing on a 41-year-old pipeline as the cause of a massive oil spill off the Southern California coast. The 126,000 gallon oil spill is threatening wildlife and prompting a robust cleanup effort in the Pacific… Continue watching