Aug 21 Hit by virus surge, Hong Kong offers free tests to everyone By Zen Soo, Associated Press Leader Carrie Lam says the testing program, which will last up to two weeks, will allow residents to be tested on a voluntary basis. The testing is aimed at identifying people who are infected with the coronavirus but have exhibited… Continue reading
Aug 20 In a record melt, Greenland lost 586 billion tons of ice in 2019 By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press A new satellite study finds that Greenland lost 586 billion tons of ice in a record melt last year. That's 140 trillion gallons of water or enough to cover all of California in more than four feet of water. Continue reading
Aug 20 California's wildfire-prone landscape stoked by human actions By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press Scientists say California has a really flammable ecosystem and global warming is making it worse. Continue reading
Aug 19 Scientists on Arctic mission reach the North Pole after an unplanned detour By Frank Jordans, Associated Press Expedition leader Markus Rex said Wednesday that the icebreaker was able to reach the geographic North Pole because of large openings in sea ice that would normally make shipping in the region above Greenland too difficult. Continue reading
Aug 19 Pharmacists can give childhood shots, U.S. officials say By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Public health officials have been worried that vaccination rates would fall because doctors' offices were closed by the pandemic. The authorization allows state-licensed pharmacies to administer childhood vaccines without a doctor's prescription. Continue reading
Aug 18 Oleandrin is a deadly plant poison, not a COVID-19 cure By Cassandra Quave, The Conversation Consuming the plant can be lethal to animals and humans. Continue reading
Aug 15 Watch 4:15 What does the federal methane regulation rollback mean? By PBS NewsHour The Trump administration announced this week that it had finalized a rollback of an Obama-era climate rule on methane emissions — a move that was condemned by environmental groups. Tim Puko, who reports on energy policy for the Wall Street… Continue watching
Aug 14 New border wall near rare wetlands refuge considered an 'oasis' endangered water supply By Astrid Galvan, Associated Press The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1982 to protect the rare wetlands in the middle of the desert that are home to a variety of wildlife, considered an "oasis." The refuge itself is supposed to be protected… Continue reading
Aug 14 How microbial diversity makes every sourdough different By Bob Holmes, Knowable Magazine It all starts with a community teeming with yeasts and bacteria — but what’s really happening? Scientists peer into those jars on the kitchen counter to find out. Continue reading
Aug 13 Computer scientist, pixel inventor Russell Kirsch dead at 91 By Associated Press Russell Kirsch, a computer scientist credited with inventing the pixel and scanning the world's first digital photograph, died Aug. 11 at his home in Portland, Oregon, The Oregonian reported. Continue reading