May 26 The Earth’s magnetic north pole is shifting rapidly – so what will happen to the northern lights? By Nathan Case, The Conversation As the Earth's magnetic north pole heads towards Siberia, concerns have been raised that the northern lights could move with it. Continue reading
May 25 Watch 4:13 Centuries-old ships’ logs give insight into climate change The study of climate change is no longer limited to laboratories and scientists. Citizen-scientists are helping with research, including a look back through centuries-old ships’ log books. Rachel Becker, environment reporter for CALmatters and formerly a reporter for The Verge,… Continue watching
May 23 Watch 3:01 Marine biologist Sylvia Earle on why the ocean matters Marine biologist Sylvia Earle has spent more than four decades at the forefront of ocean exploration -- and at age 83, she shows no signs of slowing down. Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic… Continue watching
May 23 NOAA predicts a ‘near-normal’ hurricane season. Here’s what that means By Gretchen Frazee Scientists expect to see four to eight hurricanes — half of which may become major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Continue reading
May 22 Watch 7:43 How mental health checks may help restaurant workers temper destructive stress By John Yang, Kira Wakeam After a series of high-profile suicides last year, one restaurant owner in Sacramento, California, decided to confront a problem plaguing kitchens around the country. The fast-paced, high-pressure environment and often low wages can take its toll on workers' mental health. Continue watching
May 20 The homemade sunscreen you find on social media is a recipe for sunburn By Vicky Stein Many of the sunscreen recipes on social media make unsubstantiated claims about their sun protection factor, a new study reports. Continue reading
May 18 Pentagon study finds promise in brain training program for veterans with cognitive issues By Sharon Begley, STAT A Pentagon-funded study has found that a specific form of computer-based brain training can improve cognitive performance in vets who suffered persistent mental deficits after a mild traumatic brain injury. Continue reading
May 16 Watch 7:18 How failing infrastructure and climate change leave many South Africans without water By Fred de Sam Lazaro It's been 25 years since South Africa dismantled apartheid, and while political progress has occurred, the young democracy continues to face hurdles. In recent years, extreme drought pushed the country to the brink of disaster, and although rainfall finally mitigated… Continue watching
May 16 Why it’s so hard to grasp the sum of the Islamic State’s archaeological looting By Fiona Greenland, James Marrone, Oya Topçuoğlu, Tasha Vorderstrasse, The Conversation Looted artifacts are believed to be a significant source of income for the Islamic State, but it is difficult to apply a dollar value to historic sites. Now, a paper in the International Journal of Cultural Property offers the first… Continue reading
May 16 Baby teeth study reveals children near smelters are exposed to dangerous lead in the womb By Jill Johnston, The Conversation Outdated regulations for lead have failed to protect children’s health. Continue reading