Science

New York City's newly appointed rat czar faces a tall order

4:49pm April 14, 2023

New York City's mayor named its first "rat czar" to tackle the city's rat problem. What is scientifically most effective for tackling an overabundance of rats — and does New York City's plan align?

Microscope images of urinary tract cells from mice that were not given a UTI (naive) and those that were susceptible to recurrent UTIs (sensitized). Cells are outlined in green and the DNA in each cell glows blue. The cells susceptible to recurrent UTIs are smaller.

Why do some people get UTIs over and over? A new report holds clues

4:12pm April 13, 2023

by Max Barnhart

A new study looks at how urinary tract infections can affect DNA. And down the road that could lead to new treatments for the millions who get UTIs.

Rocks from a rare fireball have landed in an area across the Maine-Canada border, and a museum will pay people to find them.

A rare fireball flew over Maine. Now there's a $25K reward for pieces of space rock

12:07pm April 13, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum is looking for meteorites from a rare fireball event near the Maine-Canada border. It's willing to pay anyone who can find them.

Researchers used computer simulations of black holes and machine learning to generate a revised version (right) of the famous first image of a black hole that was released back in 2019 (left).

Science

Goodbye fuzzy donut: The famous first black hole photo gets sharpened up

8:07am April 13, 2023

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Scientists have created a new version of a historic black hole image that was first unveiled back in 2019. The central black nothingness now looks larger and darker.

The surprising science of how pregnancy begins

10:02pm April 12, 2023

The start of pregnancy — as well as exactly when that happens — is a hot topic in some state legislatures and U.S. courts. Understanding the nuances of what happens when has never been more important.

A new research study says that maintaining backyard pools, like this one pictured in Los Angeles in August, 2005, are one way that rich city dwellers are over-consuming water.

Swimming pools and lavish gardens of the rich are driving water shortages, study says

6:00pm April 12, 2023

by Emily Olson

Socioeconomic disparity is just as influential as climate change and population growth when it comes to explaining why so many cities are struggling with their water supply, researchers say.

What's the origin of the long-ago Swahili civilization? Genes offer a revealing answer

4:05pm April 12, 2023

by Joanne Silberner

Genetic analyses back up what Swahili oral tradition has long held about ancestry of people from eastern Africa — that their ancestors are from Africa and abroad.

A new study finds that climate change is causing more home runs.

Global warming could be juicing baseball home runs, study finds

9:53am April 12, 2023

by Ari Daniel

Baseball home runs appear to be getting a little extra help from climate change, a new study finds. That's because baseballs can fly farther through air that's made thinner by warmer conditions.

Long COVID may be due to the virus sticking around after infection, researchers say

9:33am April 12, 2023

by Will Stone

A growing body of evidence points to the idea that the coronavirus can stick around long after an initial infection. Some researchers think that may be a major driver of long COVID.

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The sinkhole in Daisetta, Texas, began expanding again on April 2, after more than 15 years of being dormant. Since then new structures and tanks have fallen into the crater.

Texas residents wait and watch as a sinkhole in their town grows

6:04pm April 11, 2023

by Vanessa Romo

A huge sinkhole that seemed stable for 15 years suddenly began expanding about a week ago, growing by several acres and leaving nearby residents terrified that it will take them and their homes.

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