EnvironmentWildfires are killing California's ancient giants. Can seedlings save the species?February 27, 2024Extreme wildfires have destroyed about one-fifth of all giant sequoia trees. To safeguard their future, the National Park Service is planting seedlings that could better survive a hotter climate.
Arts and LifestyleWhy do we leap day? We remind you (so you can forget for another 4 years)February 26, 2024Why do we have leap years, and what are we supposed to do — or not do — with our rare extra day? NPR's Morning Edition spoke with experts in astronomy, history and economics to find out.
EnvironmentNASA is looking for people to test out its Mars simulator for a yearFebruary 23, 2024The agency is accepting applicants for the second cohort of its Mars simulator mission. Participants will live and work from a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot facility at NASA's Houston space center.
Housing and HomelessnessHow far can cities go to clear homeless camps? The U.S. Supreme Court will decideFebruary 20, 2024Lower courts have said it's unconstitutional to punish people for sleeping outside if no shelter is available. Cities say these rulings have paralyzed their efforts to manage growing tent encampments.
Health CareThe CDC may be reconsidering its COVID isolation guidanceFebruary 14, 2024The current guidance advises five days of isolation. Unnamed health officials have indicated that this guidance may soon go away, a move that troubles public health experts.
EnvironmentCalifornia sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they're rescuing their coastal habitatFebruary 9, 2024California sea otter populations have rebounded in recent decades. New research finds that by feasting on shore crabs, these otters are helping to protect their coastal marsh habitat against erosion.
Environment'Hot droughts' are becoming more common in the arid West, new study findsJanuary 29, 2024Scientists looked at trees to better understand the interplay between temperatures and droughts in the Western U.S. Human-caused climate change is exacerbating both.
EnvironmentJames Webb Telescope detects earliest known black hole — it's really big for its ageJanuary 18, 2024Data from the James Webb Space Telescope indicate that a galaxy known as GN-z11 has a supermassive black hole at its center — one that's far more massive than astronomers expected.
EnvironmentNo turning back: The largest dam removal in U.S. history beginsJanuary 17, 2024The next big phase of the Klamath River Dam removal started last week. It's the largest dam removal in U.S. history and is expected to last through 2024.
EnvironmentYour guide to Wednesday's Geminid meteor showerDecember 13, 2023One of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year peaks Wednesday night and Thursday morning. And with the moon only a sliver full, viewing conditions should be close to ideal.