Science

New Coronavirus Detected In Patients At Malaysian Hospital; The Source May Be Dogs

10:39pm May 20, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

A previously unknown novel coronavirus capable of infecting people has been discovered in Borneo, says a team of researchers from Duke University.

Queue Listen Now

A woman from the Mayan community of Tecoh wades through the water in a flood caused by Tropical Storm Cristobal in the town of Tecoh, near Merida in Yucatan State, Mexico, in June 2020.

Expect An Above Average Atlantic Hurricane Season This Year

5:02pm May 20, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

The forecast calls for 3 to 5 major hurricanes. The agency also said it's revising upwards what counts as the "normal" number of storms in a season.

People walk near the Chicago Theatre on Tuesday in the city's Loop community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines on the wearing of masks, saying fully vaccinated Americans don't need to cover their faces anymore in most se

The CDC Is Gambling On Relaxed Mask Rules To Get More People Vaccinated

4:02pm May 20, 2021

by Yuki Noguchi

Fully vaccinated people got the green light last week to resume much of their lives without masks. Behavioral experts say that as an incentive to get more people vaccinated, it's far from a sure bet.

Queue Listen Now

Visual Explainer: Why Some Coronavirus Variants Are More Contagious Than Others

7:40pm May 19, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

This animated video uses puzzle pieces to show how a coronavirus binds to a cell's surface — and what happens when a mutation occurs.

A small number of cicadas become infected by a fungus called Massospora, which causes the production of cathinone — an amphetamine.

Science

A Fungus Is Pushing Cicada Sex Into Hyperdrive And Leaving Them Dismembered

8:15pm May 18, 2021

by Karen Zamora

A fungus called Massospora produces an amphetamine in some cicadas and makes them lose control. Cicadas that are infected lose their genitals — and they don't even notice.

Queue Listen Now

This microscope image from the National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research shows human colon cancer cells with the nuclei stained red. Americans should start getting screened for colon cancer at age 45, according to new guidelines from the U.S. P

Colorectal Cancer Screening Should Start At Age 45, Experts Recommend

4:27pm May 18, 2021

by Rob Stein

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says the age that routine screening begins for colorectal cancer should drop from 50 to 45. Colorectal is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

A roller coaster that once sat on the Funtown Pier in Seaside Heights, N.J., rests in the ocean on Oct. 31, 2012, after the pier was washed away by Hurricane Sandy.

Climate Change's Impact On Hurricane Sandy Has A Price: $8 Billion

2:33pm May 18, 2021

by Nathan Rott

Scientists have long thought some of the carnage from the 2012 hurricane might be attributable to a warming climate. New research calculates the additional flooding due to rising sea levels.

A new International Energy Agency report on climate change calls for halting approval of all new coal power plants this year. Here, wind turbines are seen on a dike near Urk, Netherlands, in January.

To Be Carbon-Neutral By 2050, No New Oil And Coal Projects, Report Says

2:00pm May 18, 2021

by Bill Chappell

"This gap between rhetoric and action needs to close if we are to have a fighting chance" of reaching emissions goals, the head of the International Energy Agency says.

The Case For Universal Pre-K Just Got Stronger

12:01pm May 18, 2021

by Greg Rosalsky

A new study looks at the effects of government-funded preschool in Boston and finds big benefits for kids.

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, John Green

Author John Green Explores How To Live In Uncertainty In 'The Anthropocene Reviewed'

11:45am May 18, 2021

by Adam Frank

The author of best-seller The Fault In Our Stars uses humor, wisdom and a keen sense of connections to offer guidance — as he reviews how humans are reshaping Earth.