Basic Research

France ordered to fight pollution or pay millions in fines

By Associated Press

The Council of State's unusual ruling Friday came after the government failed to fulfill a 2017 order to reduce pollution in accordance with EU rules. The national government and local governments have announced multiple anti-pollution measures in recent years. But…

Newly discovered comet is lighting up Earth’s sky

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

Neowise swept within Mercury’s orbit a week ago and now is headed our way, with closest approach in two weeks.

U.N. warns world could hit 1.5-degree warming threshold by 2024

By Nadine Achoui-Lesage, Frank Jordans, Associated Press

The U.N. weather agency says the world could see average global temperatures rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average for the first time in the coming five years. The 1.5-C mark is the level to which countries have…

Analysis: Retractions and controversies over coronavirus research show the scientific process is working

By Mark R. O'Brian, The Conversation

Severe scrutiny of two major papers, including one about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, is part of science's normal process of self-correction.

How a coronavirus vaccine will get to market

By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas

Here's a look at some of the top contenders in the effort to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the challenges public health officials will face when that vaccine is finally ready for use.

Fossils reveal dinosaur forerunner smaller than a cellphone

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Named Kongonaphon kely, which means tiny bug slayer, the creature looked like a dinosaur but scampered the Earth earlier, predating both dinosaurs and flying pterosaurs.

Fish more vulnerable to warming water than first thought

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Thursday's study shows that by the end of the century with moderate man-made warming, 40% of the fish species may be in water that's just too hot for them in key stages of life.

Astronomers still don’t know exactly what the sun is made of

By Ken Croswell, Knowable Magazine

For two decades, astronomers have argued over how much carbon, nitrogen and especially oxygen lie within our closest star — a dispute with implications for the entire universe.

NASA delays Mars rover launch again with 2 weeks left to fly

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

The good news is that NASA is working to eke out more time in this summer's launch opportunity, now lasting until at least Aug. 15. The chance to fly to Mars comes up only every 26 months, when Earth and…

Worldwide slowdown in fishing unlikely to save rare species

By Patrick Whittle, Christina Larson, Associated Press

The amount of commercial fishing worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but scientists and conservation experts say it's unclear if the slowdown will help jeopardized species of marine life to recover.