Oct 08 Watch 9:53 World needs to make near-revolutionary change to avoid imminent climate disaster. Is there hope? Unless we immediately reduce the burning of coal and oil and gas that drive up global temperatures, a new UN report warns the world will suffer tremendous consequences as early as 2040. William Brangham talks with Rafe Pomerance of the… Continue watching
Oct 08 Watch 9:12 Will the traditions of tiny Tangier Island survive or sink? By John Yang, Jaywon Choe Life on Tangier Island has always been defined by water. Now it is menacing its very existence. Battered by Chesapeake Bay's relentless waves, scientists say the land’s shrinking is accelerating, as man-made climate change makes the waves from rising seawater… Continue watching
Oct 08 Twitter chat: How do we fix the planet's plastics problem? By Lora Strum Join the PBS NewsHour on Twitter Wed. Oct 10th at 12 ET for #NewsHourChats on solutions to the planet's plastic pollution problem. Continue reading
Oct 07 Could an artificial intelligence be considered a person under the law? By Roman V. Yampolskiy, The Conversation A new argument has laid a path for artificial intelligence systems to be recognized as people without any legislation, court rulings or other revisions to existing law. Continue reading
Oct 05 Watch 7:03 Tiny Easter Island deals with giant trash problem By Jeffrey Brown, Mike Fritz Easter Island off the coast of Chile has a major trash problem. It’s near what’s known as a “trash vortex” in the middle of the South Pacific and floating waste is constantly washing ashore. Local officials estimate the growing population… Continue watching
Oct 05 A massive plastic cleanup project provokes hope and skepticism By Vicky Stein While The Ocean Cleanup has been hailed as one solution for ocean plastic pollution, some researchers have expressed concern. Continue reading
Oct 03 Watch 8:51 Will climate change turn Miami into a 'future Atlantis'? By Miles O'Brien Florida research professors studying climate change have serious warnings for the Magic City. They say that Miami’s buildings have come a long way in becoming more resistant to sustained, heavy winds. However, the city’s infrastructure may not be prepared to… Continue watching
Oct 03 Trio wins Nobel Prize by using chemistry to 'evolve' the building blocks of life By Nsikan Akpan This year’s chemistry Nobel also comes with some political controversy, as one of the winners has been accused of promoting anti-Israel views. Continue reading
Oct 02 Watch 4:46 For the first time in 55 years, a woman shares the Nobel prize in physics A trio of scientists won this year's Nobel prize, including Canada's Donna Strickland--the third female recipient in history and the first in 55 years. Amna Nawaz speaks with Strickland about her research in laser amplification, what she would tell young… Continue watching
Oct 02 Trump's EPA is moving to weaken regulation on radiation exposure By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press The Trump administration is turning to scientific outliers who argue that a bit of radiation damage is actually good for you — like a little bit of sunlight. Continue reading