Science

In addition to large plastic trash, researchers estimate that more than 21 million metric tons of tiny plastic debris are floating below the Atlantic Ocean's surface.

The Atlantic Is Awash With Far More Plastic Than Previously Thought, Study Finds

7:07pm August 20, 2020

by Rebecca Hersher

A new study suggests there is far more plastic in the Atlantic Ocean than scientists estimated earlier, especially tiny pieces of plastic that can end up inside fish and other animals.

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Why Do Zebras Have Stripes?

4:05pm August 20, 2020

The stripes on zebras have been found to repel flies. But now researchers have found a black-and-white checkered pattern will, too — making them question the optical effect behind the phenomenon.

Convalescent serum or blood plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patients is being studied as a treatment for others with the disease. The FDA is holding off on giving it emergency use authorization.

Trump Wanted FDA To Fast-Track Blood Plasma Therapy. What Is It?

1:11pm August 20, 2020

by Joe Palca

The president criticized the FDA this week for not giving emergency use approval to an experimental treatment for COVID-19. Scientists argue that the therapy still lacks sufficient evidence.

A 130 degree temperature was recorded Sunday in Death Valley National Park, Calif. Now a committee of scientists is working to verify this temperature, which might turn out to be one of the hottest ever recorded.

How Weather Detectives Scrutinize Would-Be World Records

3:28pm August 19, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

When a weather station in Death Valley recorded a high of 130 degrees Sunday, it triggered an inquiry to verify the reading. Here's a look into the exacting process of vetting extreme weather claims.

Barbijo penguins gather on South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, in 2019. But that's probably not where their ancestors lived.

The Evolutionary History Of Penguins Is Far From Black And White

5:34pm August 18, 2020

New research suggests that penguins' ancestors originated not in frozen Antarctica but, instead, off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, adapting to new climes over 22 million years.

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It's No Pushover: How Researchers Assess World Records

5:11pm August 18, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The temperature in Death Valley, Calif., reached 130 degrees over the weekend. It could be a world record for the highest temperature, but first scientists must verify it.

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The Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, S.D., draws a crowd earlier this month during the 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

How Bars Are Fueling COVID-19 Outbreaks

9:44am August 18, 2020

by Will Stone

To owners of bars and nightclubs, pandemic restrictions on the industry can feel punitive. But there are important differences, virus hunters say, between a bar and a restaurant that serves alcohol.

A COVID-19 test is collected in Salt Lake City, Utah. A federal study published Monday found that Hispanic and non-white workers make up a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases associated with workplace outbreaks in Utah.

CDC Study Finds Hispanics Hit Disproportionately Hard By Workplace Outbreaks

6:20pm August 17, 2020

by Rachel Treisman

A study out Monday found that Hispanic and nonwhite workers made up 73% of cases associated with workplace outbreaks in certain industries, despite representing 24% of the workforce in those sectors.

Third grade teacher Maya Davis attends training before her school district reopens.

Rural Schools Struggle With Road Ahead In Era Of Coronavirus

2:50pm August 17, 2020

by Kirk Siegler

Some schools across the country are under pressure to reopen for in-person classes, even in states like Idaho where coronavirus cases continue to rise out of control.

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Slam poet and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Emi Mahmoud performs at the Sziget Festival in Hungary in 2019.

A World Champion Slam Poet Pivots To Medicine

7:00am August 15, 2020

by Sonia Narang

Sudanese American Emi Mahmoud achieved massive success as a spoken word artist. Now she's switching things up and pursuing a career in science.