Basic Research

Climatologist discusses extreme summer weather as heat wave brings more record highs

By Amna Nawaz, Karina Cuevas

A heat wave is baking much of the country, leading to record highs and triple-digit temperatures in the Midwest and the South. It’s the latest in a series of extreme weather events that have led to damage, destruction and death…

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What a NASA mission to study a metallic asteroid may teach us about Earth’s core

By Jim Bell, The Conversation

Liftoff to the distant asteroid Psyche is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2023 – the beginning of a six-year journey to one of the most unusual objects in the solar system.

Antarctic sea ice at record lows as global temperatures rise

By William Brangham, Shoshana Dubnow

As temperature records fall all over the planet this summer, scientists are also increasingly concerned about what’s happening to the sea ice around Antarctica. William Brangham reports.

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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.

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.

Winter waves off of California are getting higher as the climate changes, research finds

By Julie Watson, Associated Press

The research shows average winter wave heights have grown by as much as a foot since 1970, when global warming is believed to have started accelerating.

New species of ancient whale found in Peru may be heaviest animal ever, scientists say

By Maddie Burakoff, Associated Press

A new species of ancient whale might be the heaviest animal ever found. Scientists reported Wednesday that the creature could challenge the blue whale's title as the heaviest animal to live on Earth.

Who was Henrietta Lacks? Here’s how HeLa cells became essential to medical research

By Ivan Martinez, The Conversation

On Aug. 1, 2023, over 70 years after doctors took Lacks’ cells without her consent or knowledge, her family reached a settlement with biotech company Thermo Fisher.

Blue blood from horseshoe crabs is needed for medicine, but a declining bird species relies on the crabs to eat

By Patrick Whittle, Associated Press

The animals are drained of some of their blood and returned to the environment, yet some inevitably die. Regulators say recent revisions to the guidelines for handling the animals should keep more alive through the process.

Get ready to catch a double supermoon feature this August. Here’s when to look

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It won’t happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.