Basic Research

A billion-dollar coastal restoration project begins in Louisiana. Will it work as sea levels rise?

By Kevin McGill, Associated Press

If the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project works as intended, solids in the river water will settle out in the basin and gradually restore land that has been steadily eroding for decades.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic flies its first tourists to the edge of space

By Susan Montoya Bryan, Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic has now taken seven trips to space since 2018, but this was the first with a ticket-holder.

Scientists look for additional factors beyond climate change and El Nino in July heat wave

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Researchers say by far the biggest cause of the recent extreme heat is human-caused climate change, with a smaller contribution from a natural El Nino. But some scientists are searching for an additional factor.

The race to rescue corals from a blistering marine heat wave

By Michael Childress, The Conversation

While corals can recover from mass bleaching events like this, long periods of high heat can leave them weak and vulnerable to disease that can ultimately kill them.

For insects that glow, artificial light is killing the vibe

By Bella Isaacs-Thomas

Recent research shows how artificial light can disrupt courtship among glow-worms and fireflies that rely on bioluminescence to find mates.

Astronauts get first look at the Artemis II spacecraft that will fly them around the moon

By Associated Press

The U.S.-Canadian crew inspected the capsule during a visit to Kennedy Space Center late Monday and Tuesday. NASA plans to send the four around the moon and back late next year.

European scientists officially declare July as record-breaking hottest month ever recorded

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Now that last month's sizzling numbers are all in, the European climate monitoring organization made it official: July 2023 was Earth's hottest month on record by a wide margin.

Moms lose more sleep than dads during the school year, researchers find

By Todd Jones, Benjamin Cowan, Jeff Swigert, The Conversation

Parents spend more time actively engaged with their kids – such as helping with homework or reading together – during the school year than during summer. But the difference is almost three times greater for moms than for dads.

Fears rise over Japan’s upcoming release of Fukushima nuclear wastewater

By Rebecca Bundhun

Japan could soon start releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. They’re running out of space to store the radiation-tainted water at the plant, which was damaged by the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, but…

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After helping prevent extinctions for 50 years, the Endangered Species Act itself may be at risk

Opposition has grown from industry and landowner groups who say it hampers economic growth and property rights. Supporters are fighting back, saying the law is more important than ever.