Jan 05 Reclaiming lost calories: Tweaking photosynthesis boosts crop yields By Amanda Cavanagh, The Conversation Many of the crop plants that feed us waste 20 percent of their energy, especially in hot weather. Plant geneticists prove that capturing this energy could boost crop yields by up to 40 percent. Continue reading
Dec 01 NIH director says there’s work to do on regulating genome editing globally By Lev Facher, STAT The apparent birth this month of the first genetically modified babies is “a lesson in the potential for human hubris to overtake us,” Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health. Continue reading
Nov 25 Butte County Town Attempts to Save Salmon From Wildfire Devastation By Chloe Veltman, KQED Despite being evacuated nearly two weeks ago from their homes in the wake of spreading wildfires, residents of the town of Butte Creek Canyon have joined forces to save the local salmon population. Continue reading
Nov 15 Watch 6:07 Paradise gone, wildfire evacuees faced with rebuilding their lives By Cat Wise In the tally of death and destruction from California's Camp fire, officials confirm that 56 people died, 130 are missing and 8,800 homes have been destroyed in the town of Paradise. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports from Chico, California, where… Continue watching
Aug 04 Poison control calls spike for unapproved drug that produces opioid-like highs By Megan Thielking, STAT Calls to U.S. poison control centers about an unapproved antidepressant that has opioid-like effects have climbed dramatically since 2015, according to a new analysis published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continue reading
Jul 21 Support for the Endangered Species Act remains high as Trump administration and Congress try to gut it By Jeremy T. Bruskotter, John A. Vucetich, Ramiro Berardo, The Conversation Since its passage, the Endangered Species Act has helped reverse and stop declines in numerous species – from bald eagles to Lake Erie watersnakes – and served as a model for similar laws around the world. Continue reading
Jun 30 Justice Department announces crackdown on fraudulent opioid prescriptions By Lev Facher, STAT Federal agencies on Thursday announced charges in what Attorney General Jeff Sessions called “the largest health care fraud takedown in American history,” an investigation into over $2 billion in alleged fraud by doctors, pharmacists, and nurses. Continue reading
Jun 04 Watch 2:44 A scientist stares into infinity and finds space for spirituality Continue watching
May 12 Science teachers sacrifice to provide lab materials for students By Emily Cayton, M. Gail Jones, The Conversation Urban and rural science teachers often lack funding for science lab materials and pay out of pocket to provide those materials for their students. Continue reading
Apr 19 This year’s cherry blossoms in 360-degrees By Lora Strum, Ilayda Kocak, Teresa Carey Watch velvety petals drift in the breeze coming off the Potomac River. Continue reading