Science

WATCH: NASA scientists unveil first near-Earth asteroid sample returned to U.S.

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

NASA is showing off its first asteroid samples delivered last month by a spacecraft. Scientists and space agency leaders took part in Wednesday's big reveal at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Exxon Mobil to buy Pioneer Natural for $59.5 billion, doubling down on fossil fuels as energy prices surge

By Michelle Chapman, Associated Press

Including debt, Exxon is committing about $64.5 billion to the acquisition announced Wednesday, leaving no doubt of the Texas energy company's commitment to fossil fuels as energy prices surge.

These 6 new images from the Hubble telescope shed light on distant galaxies

By Bella Isaacs-Thomas

Here’s a look at the recent Hubble images NASA released in honor of “galaxy week.”…

Marine mammals in U.S. waters are losing food and habitat to climate change, study finds

By Patrick Whittle, Associated Press

Whales, dolphins and seals living in U.S. waters face major threats from warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and decreasing sea ice volumes associated with climate change, according to a first-of-its-kind assessment.

Winner of Nobel Prize in medicine discusses how her work helped fight COVID-19

By William Brangham

This week's Nobel Prize announcements are highlighting groundbreaking work once again in the sciences and medicine. William Brangham has a conversation with one of the year's winners in medicine, whose work led to a profound change in tackling the pandemic.

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WATCH: White House holds briefing as Biden waives laws to allow border wall in Texas

By Colleen Long, Associated Press

The Department of Homeland Security announced that the Biden administration leveraged sweeping executive power to waive 26 federal laws in South Texas.

Pope Francis urges world leaders to act on climate change as planet nears ‘point of no return’

By Nicole Winfield, Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Using precise scientific data, sharp diplomatic arguments and a sprinkling of theological reasoning, Francis delivered a moral imperative for the world to transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy.

What extraordinarily brief light flashes can tell us about electrons and the nature of matter

By Aaron W. Harrison, The Conversation

Three scientists won the 2023 Nobel Prize in physics for their work developing methods to shoot laser pulses that only last an attosecond, or a mind-bogglingly tiny fraction of a second.

WATCH: 3 scientists share Nobel in chemistry for research on quantum dots

By David Keyton, Mike Corder, Christina Larson, Associated Press

Quantum dots are particles a few atoms in diameter that can release very bright colored light and are used in electronics and medical imaging.

National Zoo’s giant pandas to return to China in December, leaving only a handful in America

By Ashraf Khalil, Didi Tang, Associated Press

The National Zoo’s three giant pandas are set to return to China in December with no public signs the 50-year-old exchange agreement struck by President Richard Nixon will continue.