Oct 30 3 questions after the discovery of water molecules on the sunlit moon By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas A team of scientists who studied a slice of the moon aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) detected the first evidence that water molecules can exist on the unforgiving landscape of the moon's illuminated surface. Continue reading
Oct 29 Trump officials end gray wolf protections across most of U.S. By Matthew Brown, John Flesher, Jim Mone, Associated Press Gray wolves have recovered from near extinction in parts of the country but remain absent from much of their historical range. Biologists who reviewed the administration's plan to strip protection from wolves say it lacked scientific justification. Continue reading
Oct 29 Asteroid samples tucked into capsule for return to Earth By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press So much was collected that rocks got wedged in the rim of the container and jammed it open, allowing some samples to escape. Whatever is left won't arrive at Earth until 2023. Continue reading
Oct 28 Watch 6:30 Why we are so susceptible to misinformation By William Brangham, Lorna Baldwin Social media plays a major role in shaping current American political discourse. During a Senate hearing Wednesday, executives from leading online platforms were criticized by lawmakers for their companies’ records on limiting the spread of misinformation. William Brangham explores how… Continue watching
Oct 26 Watch 7:09 Will Georgia's new voting machines solve election problems -- or make them worse? By Miles O'Brien Protecting the American voting process from outside interference is a top priority this election season. But public and political opinion are divided over the best voting systems to prevent tampering. Miles O’Brien takes a look at the latest technology being… Continue watching
Oct 26 Moon holds more water in more places than ever thought By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press In a pair of studies published Monday, scientists say more than 15,400 square miles of lunar terrain near the poles could trap water in the form of ice. That's 20% more area than previously thought. Continue reading
Oct 25 Trump aide says 'we're not going to control the pandemic' By Jonathan Lemire, Aamer Madhani, Alexandra Jaffe, Associated Press The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more, less than a week before Election Day, as it scorches the nation and the president’s top aide says “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Officials on… Continue reading
Oct 23 Asteroid samples escaping from jammed open NASA spacecraft By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press The sample container on the end of the robot arm penetrated so deeply into the asteroid and with such force that rocks got sucked in and became wedged around the rim of the lid. Continue reading
Oct 23 Washington state discovers first 'murder hornet' nest in U.S. By Nicholas K. Geranios, Associated Press Despite their nickname, the hornets kill at most a few dozen people a year in Asian countries, while other bugs cause more deaths in the U.S. The real threat is their devastating attacks on already at-risk honeybees. Continue reading
Oct 22 Can't crush this: Beetle armor gives clues to tougher planes By Marion Renault, Associated Press The aptly named diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand being crushed by forces almost 40,000 times its body weight. Continue reading