House Committee Votes To Continue Ban On Genetically Modified Babies
A congressional committee has upheld a prohibition against the Food and Drug Administration considering using gene-edited embryos to establish pregnancies.
Science
The 'Great Dying' Nearly Erased Life On Earth. Scientists See Similarities To Today
It was the biggest extinction in Earth's history. A new Smithsonian exhibit notes that some of the same things that killed over 90% of ocean species 250 million years ago are happening now.
2 Chinese Babies With Edited Genes May Face Higher Risk Of Premature Death
Analysis of DNA from more than 400,000 people in the U.K. suggests a genetic modification that protects against HIV may actually increase the overall risk of premature death.
Astronomers Worry That Elon Musk's New Satellites Will Ruin The View
The billionaire wants to deploy thousands of satellites in order to provide global Internet, but astronomers say they could create unsightly glare.
Why Octopuses Might Be The Next Lab Rats
Move over, fruit flies, rats and zebrafish. Squid and octopuses have elaborate brains and behaviors, and scientists say studying them in the laboratory could yield important biological insights.
'Underland' Connects Us To Dazzling Worlds Beneath Our Feet
The beauty of Robert Macfarlane's writing, and of the natural world it describes, is immense. His words also act as a warning, ensuring a recognition of human harms to the environment.
Amateur Astronomers Gather For 'Star Parties'
Light pollution has taken away much of the night sky. But there are still places far from city lights where amateur astronomers gather with their telescopes for what they call "star parties."
Mapping For Future Floods
The flood risk maps put out by the federal government are notoriously outdated. Many elected officials have suggested fixing the problem by prioritizing funding for a mapping technology called LiDAR.
'It's Never Done This': Arkansas River Keeps Flooding, Testing Levees And Patience
The Arkansas River is rising well above its previous record, and it's forecast to stay that way for days. That's putting pressure on old levees and making it hard for some residents to evacuate.
Major River Flooding, Outbreaks Of Tornadoes: Is This What Climate Change Looks Like?
This week the central U.S. has flooded and experienced deadly and damaging tornadoes. When it comes to what Americans could see more of due to climate change — the links are present, but complicated.