Science

3rd COVID-19 Vaccine May Be Available Soon In The U.S.

10:07am February 24, 2021

by Joe Palca

The Food and Drug Administration has released its assessment of an application from Johnson & Johnson for emergency use authorization for its vaccine. It finds the vaccine safe and effective.

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Soil on hilltops in this photo is lighter in color, revealing a loss of fertile topsoil.

New Evidence Shows Fertile Soil Gone From Midwestern Farms

9:21am February 24, 2021

by Dan Charles

One third of the cropland in the upper Midwest has entirely lost its fertile topsoil, according to a new study. Other scientists doubt that figure, but agree that soil loss is a big problem.

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Science

Scientists Say Fertile Soil Is Missing From Many Midwestern Farms

7:37am February 24, 2021

by Dan Charles

It's estimated a third of the Upper Midwest's cropland has lost all of its topsoil, which is vital for growing crops. Even if there's a dispute on the number, scientists agree the loss is a problem.

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Top left: An officer asks people to observe lockdown rules in Brighton, England. Bottom left: A protester at a lockdown demonstration in Brussels, Belgium last month. Top right: Malaysian health officers screen passengers with a thermal scanner at Kuala L

Do 'Tight' Cultures Fare Better In The Pandemic Than 'Loose' Cultures?

9:48pm February 23, 2021

by Fran Kritz

That's the question posted by a study in The Lancet Planetary Health. In case you're wondering, the United States is characterized as "loose." And Singapore is "tight."

This photo of the Rover includes a view of color chips used to calibrate the images from Mars.

Science

Perseverance's Video Cameras Capture Its Arrival On Mars (There's Audio, Too)

8:12pm February 22, 2021

by Mark Katkov

Six off-the-shelf cameras comprised the spacecraft's EDL Cam system (Entry, Descent and Landing). Together they provided a spectacular view of the Rover's arrival on the red planet.

Tyler Hollon, who works for a construction company in Utah, says eliminating natural gas from apartment buildings can reduce costs. Hollon's company now shares its designs and budgets with other builders. "The reason we're giving it away is to clean up th

As Cities Grapple With Climate Change, Gas Utilities Fight To Stay In Business

4:20pm February 22, 2021

Natural gas utilities face a bleak future in a world increasingly concerned about climate change. An NPR investigation shows how they work to block local climate action and protect their business.

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West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced in late December that residents older than 80 would be able to receive doses of the vaccine from their county health departments.

West Virginia's Vaccination Rate Ranks Among Highest In World

12:50pm February 22, 2021

How did West Virginia become one of the world's leaders in delivering COVID-19 vaccines? One piece of the story starts with a striking photograph in the local paper.

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Pastor Aaron Trigg fielded calls from his displaced congregants for months after the flood. "A lot of people in Rainelle were poor, and they didn't have any insurance. They didn't have any way to have any backup plan." With no money to repair their homes,

Science

A Looming Disaster: New Data Reveal Where Flood Damage Is An Existential Threat

11:53am February 22, 2021

More than 4 million homes face substantial risk of expensive flood damage, a research organization says. Communities where flood insurance is already unaffordable face potentially catastrophic damage.

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A woman holds a dead sea turtle covered in tar from an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea that affected wildlife and closed beaches in Israel.

Mediterranean Oil Spill Injures Wildlife, Closes Israel's Beaches

3:19pm February 21, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Israeli authorities are still trying to pinpoint the source of a major oil spill that has polluted much of the country's coastline with chunks of tar.

Power lines near Houston on Feb. 16. Some Texas residents are facing enormous power bills after wholesale prices for electricity skyrocketed amid last week's massive grid failure.

After Days Of Mass Outages, Some Texas Residents Now Face Huge Electricity Bills

3:09pm February 21, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

Texas allows companies to sell electricity at wholesale prices. When the price of electricity skyrocketed last week, that meant exorbitant bills for many residents who had been trying to save money.