Basic Research

From north to south pole, climate scientists grapple with pandemic disruptions

By Fedor Kossakovski

Researchers are working within the limitations and developing innovative solutions -- and some say they have new perspectives on how human health is connected to the health of the planet.

This biologist is figuring out how to short-circuit sperm as birth control

By Laura Santhanam

Tens of millions of people use some form of birth control in the United States, and innovation could expand non-hormonal options for those who have been unable to use conventional means.

3 questions after the discovery of water molecules on the sunlit moon

By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas

A team of scientists who studied a slice of the moon aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) detected the first evidence that water molecules can exist on the unforgiving landscape of the moon's illuminated surface.

Why understanding superspreaders is key to controlling COVID-19

By Fedor Kossakovski

COVID superspreading events happen almost exclusively indoors – meatpacking plants and prisons, bars and overnight camps – so environment is definitely important. But why most people do not transmit the coronavirus and some transmit a lot is still a mystery.

Why some hurricanes grow into massive storms — and why they are hard to predict

By Fedor Kossakovski

“The worst forecaster nightmare is having a storm bearing down on a populated coastline. You go to bed and it's a tropical storm and you wake up with a Cat[egory] 4.”…

WATCH: NASA launches Perseverance to look for ancient life on Mars

By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas

NASA’s Perseverance rover is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral at 7:50 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 30, kicking off its nearly seven month journey to Mars.

How to spot Comet NEOWISE before it disappears for thousands of years

By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas

There’s still a little bit of time to catch a glimpse of a newly discovered comet as it blazes across the night sky, especially if you have binoculars or a telescope handy.

U.S. eyes building nuclear power plants for moon and Mars

By Keith Ridler, Associated Press

The U.S. wants to build nuclear power plants that will work on the moon and Mars, and on Friday put out a request for ideas from the private sector on how to do that.

Siberian heat wave sparks fires that scorch Arctic Circle and melt sea ice

By Associated Press

A recent study by top climate scientists who found that such a rise in heat would have been nearly impossible without human-caused climate change.

U.S., China, U.A.E to send fleet of spacecrafts to Mars

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

Mars is about to be invaded by planet Earth — big time. The U.S., China and the United Arab Emirates are sending spacecraft to Mars in quick succession beginning this week.