Science News
What Exactly Caused That Loud Boom in South Carolina?
A huge noise rattled part of the state on Thursday. Multiple theories have been put forward, but the mystery remains.
A Hidden Treasure of Rare Snake Specimens
In the foothills of the Ecuadorean Amazon, a 101-year-old farmer and a young scientist turned an amateur collection into a scientific survey of one of the most diverse snake habitats on Earth.
Blue Origin Rocket Blows Up on Florida Launchpad During Test
The rocket, built by the Jeff Bezos-owned space company, was to carry 48 satellites into space. Blue Origin reported on social media that “all personnel have been accounted for.”
Suit Says Black Infants Were Subjected to Experimental Vaccine Without Consent
The babies were part of a vaccine trial for a respiratory virus in the 1960s and died shortly after. Their families said they had been unaware of the trial until recently.
Greenpeace’s Long War With a Pipeline Titan Enters a Strange New Phase
This month, a North Dakota court barred Greenpeace from saying what it wanted in a European court, an unusual move. The environmental group says it is forging ahead.
Happy, Bronx Zoo Elephant at Center of Animal Rights Case, Is Dead at 55
Activists had sued in a bid to secure her the fundamental human right to bodily liberty. Zoo officials said she was well cared for and called the lawsuit frivolous.
Genetic Scores are Booming. But Will Anti-Discrimination Laws Cover Your DNA?
As predictive medicine advances, legal scholars warn that decades-old federal guidelines could set up a potential clash between your genes and your job.
New York City’s Manhattanhenge is Back: When, Where and How to Watch
On Thursday and Friday, some streets in Manhattan will get a lot more crowded as people gather to watch the city’s unique solar spectacle.
Can New Technology Help Save North Atlantic Right Whales?
Innovative systems to keep ships from hitting North Atlantic right whales are coming into use. The Trump administration is weighing whether they can replace a bedrock protection.
Fish Sleep a Lot Like Us. (They Even Nap.)
By tracking eye movements in zebrafish, researchers identified four different types of sleep, analogous to the complex sleep patterns of humans and other animals.
The Viruses Causing New Outbreaks Are Much Less Familiar to Science
The types of Ebola and hantavirus panicking officials are very different from the species identified decades ago, raising new questions about how to respond.
NASA’s Moon Base Plan Adds Two Rovers for Its Astronauts
The contracts, announced on Tuesday, are part of the space agency’s efforts to establish a moon base.
A Fiery Visitor From Space Photo-Bombs an Erupting Volcano
For a split second, a fireball outshone the rivers of molten lava flowing from the Philippines’ most active volcano.
U.S. Aims to Give Cold War Plutonium to Start-Ups for Nuclear Fuel
Companies say it’s a better way to dispose of the Cold War-era material — and fix a shortage of nuclear fuel. But the plan has also faced criticism.
Eli Lilly to Buy 3 Vaccine Developers
The drugmaker said it would spend up to $4 billion to acquire small companies exploring vaccines for shingles, Epstein-Barr virus and other pathogens.
Scientists Ditched a Scary Climate Scenario. What Now?
While global warming is still a threat, the decision to back away from a worst-case outlook raises questions about whether some risks have been overstated.
A Powerful H.I.V. Drug Lands in Zambia. But Will It Reach Those Who Need It?
Lenacapavir, which protects people from H.I.V. infection with twice-yearly shots, is arriving in a country where the health system has been hollowed out by American aid cuts.
Where to See the Total Solar Eclipse on Aug. 12
On Aug. 12, parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal will experience the thrill of daytime darkness. Here’s where you can witness the cosmic spectacle.
Threat of Toxic Explosion in Orange County, Calif., Eliminated, Officials Say
Evacuation orders remained in place for more than 40,000 residents around Garden Grove, Calif., the location of an industrial site containing an unstable tank of toxic chemical.
One-and-Done Heart Disease Prevention? Scientists Show It May Be Possible.
A single infusion of an experimental gene-editing drug seemed to reduce LDL long-term in a small trial. The results may point to something “curative,” one expert said.