Science

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says he wishes vaccines for kids under 5 were available, but that more data is needed first.

The surgeon general's young daughter got COVID. This is what he wants you to know

2:42pm February 17, 2022

by Mary Louise Kelly

This past weekend, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wasn't a leading scientific voice on the pandemic — he was another worried parent whose young daughter had just tested positive for COVID.

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Science

Scientists say elephant tusk DNA can expose poaching networks

4:04pm February 16, 2022

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a way of using DNA from elephant tusks to solve poaching mysteries and bring animal traffickers to justice.

An aerial image shows storage tanks at the Chevron Products Company El Segundo Refinery adjacent to a neighborhood of homes at sunset in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Jan. 24.

Accusations of 'greenwashing' by big oil companies are well-founded, a new study finds

3:57pm February 16, 2022

by Joe Hernandez

Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP and Shell used terms like "climate" and "low-carbon" more frequently in recent annual reports, but their actions on clean energy didn't match their words, researchers conclude.

The Rye Riptides pictured on board the Corwith Cramer before launching in October 2020. Nearly 18 months later, the mini boat was retrieved from an uninhabited Norwegian island with its messages and gifts intact.

A Norwegian student found a boat launched by New Hampshire middle schoolers in 2020

2:53pm February 16, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

The Rye Riptides began as a science class project in New Hampshire. Some 462 days and 8,300 miles later, a sixth-grader retrieved it from an uninhabited Norwegian island, with its notes still intact.

Images by STEMCELL Technologies used with permission.

A geeky quiz says what kind of immune cell you are. Bonus: See our immune cell primer

7:59pm February 15, 2022

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Answer a few questions and find out what kind of immune cell you'd be — and learn more about these amazing cells that fight off infection.

Water levels at Lake Powell, the United States' second-largest reservoir, have dropped by more than 150 feet during the ongoing megadrought.

Study finds Western megadrought is the worst in 1,200 years

6:01pm February 14, 2022

by Nathan Rott

In tree ring records dating back to AD 800, the only multidecade drought that came close to today's was in the 1500s. Researchers say climate change is a factor and the U.S. must plan for less water.

Confused about how worried to be about the pandemic? You're not alone

4:48pm February 14, 2022

by Rob Stein

It's another discombobulating moment in the pandemic, with lots of conflicting signs of where the virus is heading and what people should do about it on a day to day basis.

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Artificial intelligence beats top human players in popular racing game

4:25pm February 11, 2022

Scientists pitted an artificial intelligence driver against real human gamers in the PlayStation driving game Gran Turismo. The AI driver beat them all.

CTE might be used as a legal defense more often as research into the disorder evolves

4:25pm February 11, 2022

by Sacha Pfeiffer

Some people charged with assault and even murder have blamed CTE, a type of brain damage. The legal strategy is rare, but may become more common as research into the disease develops.

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What, if anything, do you expect to change in the next few months? Tell us your story.

Are you over the pandemic? We want to hear about your worries or hopes

3:54pm February 11, 2022

by Alina Selyukh

In the coming weeks, many long-closed offices are looking to re-open as major cities and states relax mask mandates and other precautions. What do you expect to change or remain the same?