Science

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.

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.

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.

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

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…

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.

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.

WATCH: Trump's EPA drops methane emissions rule for oil, gas fields

By Ellen Knickmeyer, Marc Levy, Associated Press

Andrew Wheeler, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, signed the rollback of the 2016 methane emissions rule in Pittsburgh, in the heart of the nation's most prolific natural gas reservoir and in the premier presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Canada's last intact ice shelf collapses due to warming

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

The Milne ice shelf had been one of the Arctic's few remaining intact ice shelves, but at the end of July about 43% broke off. Scientists say that without a doubt it's man-made global warming at work.