Wednesday, June 30, 2021

NASA Selects Johnson Support Contractor

NASA has selected PAE Applied Technologies LLC of Fort Worth, Texas, to provide facilities operations and maintenance support services at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

June 30, 2021
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NPR News: Portland's Top Health Official On Preparing For Extreme Weather As The 'New Normal'

Portland's Top Health Official On Preparing For Extreme Weather As The 'New Normal'
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Portland's lead health official, Jennifer Vines, about the extreme heat's impact on the Pacific Northwest.

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NPR News: Biden Wants To Take On Those Buckling Roads In His Infrastructure Update

Biden Wants To Take On Those Buckling Roads In His Infrastructure Update
Buckling roads in the Pacific Northwest are just one example of how climate extremes can damage all kinds of infrastructure. President Biden wants to make it more resilient to heat, floods and storms.

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NASA to Air Departure of SpaceX Cargo Dragon from Space Station

NASA’s SpaceX Dragon cargo freighter, loaded with approximately 5,000 pounds of scientific experiments and other cargo from the International Space Station, will depart Tuesday, July 6, bound for a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean Thursday, July 8, completing the company’s 22nd commercial resupply services mission for NASA.

June 30, 2021
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NASA Administrator Names Johnson and Kennedy Center Directors

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has named Vanessa Wyche director of the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and Janet Petro director of Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

June 30, 2021
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NPR News: News Brief: Fla. Condo Collapse, Capitol Riot Probe, Biden's Climate Policy

News Brief: Fla. Condo Collapse, Capitol Riot Probe, Biden's Climate Policy
Bad weather hinders search for victims of condo collapse. The House will vote on whether to create a select committee to probe the Capitol riot. Progressives worry Biden's climate agenda is changing.

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NPR News: Why Progressive Climate Activists Are Frustrated With The Biden Administration

Why Progressive Climate Activists Are Frustrated With The Biden Administration
Climate activists are worried President Biden's bipartisan infrastructure deal won't do enough to protect the planet. He is selling the deal without major climate goals.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

NPR News: Awe Appears To Be Awfully Beneficial

Awe Appears To Be Awfully Beneficial
20 years ago, scientists began to study a mysterious emotion known as awe. Now they believe awe offers a range of benefits when practiced regularly, calming our nervous systems and relieving stress.

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NPR News: Drought Has Pitted Farmers Against Native Tribes Protecting Endangered Fish

Drought Has Pitted Farmers Against Native Tribes Protecting Endangered Fish
Along the California-Oregon border, the Klamath Basin is in the midst of a record drought, pitting farmers against native tribes with historic water rights who are trying to protect endangered fish.

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NPR News: A Structural Engineer Explains How The Florida Condo Collapse Will Be Investigated

A Structural Engineer Explains How The Florida Condo Collapse Will Be Investigated
John Pistorino has been hired to investigate the building collapse in Surfside, Fla. He says the process will involve trying to reconstruct parts of the building to see where critical pieces failed.

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NPR News: PHOTOS: The Pacific Northwest Heatwave Is Melting Power Cables And Buckling Roads

PHOTOS: The Pacific Northwest Heatwave Is Melting Power Cables And Buckling Roads
The Pacific Northwest is being scorched. Trapped beneath a heat dome, the effects of extreme heat are being seen in dramatic detail.

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NPR News: Questions Persist Over What Caused Champlain Towers South To Collapse

Questions Persist Over What Caused Champlain Towers South To Collapse
NPR's Noel King speaks with John Pistorino, the structural engineer who has been hired by an attorney, to investigate what led to the partial condominium collapse in Surfside, Fla.

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NASA Software Benefits Earth, Available for Business, Public Use

Many of NASA's computational innovations were developed to help explore space, but the public can download them for applications that benefit us right here on Earth.

June 29, 2021
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Public Names ‘Moonikin’ Flying Around Moon on NASA’s Artemis I Mission

“Commander Moonikin Campos” is the official name of the manikin launching on Artemis I, NASA’s uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon later this year.

June 29, 2021
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El público nombra al “maniquí lunar” que volará alrededor de la Luna en la misión Artemis I

"Comandante Moonikin Campos" es el nombre oficial del maniquí que se lanzará a bordo de Artemis I, la prueba de vuelo sin tripulación de la NASA del cohete Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial (SLS por sus siglas en inglés) y la nave espacial Orion alrededor de la Luna a finales de este año.

June 29, 2021
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NASA Named Best Place to Work, No. 1 for COVID-19 Response

For the ninth consecutive year, the Partnership for Public Service has ranked NASA as the Best Place to Work in the Federal Government among large agencies and, new for 2020, has also ranked NASA No. 1 among large agencies for its response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

June 29, 2021
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NPR News: A Coal-Mining 'Monster' Is Threatening To Swallow A Small Town In Germany

A Coal-Mining 'Monster' Is Threatening To Swallow A Small Town In Germany
The thousand-year-old farming village of Keyenberg lies in the path of an expanding open-pit mine. Fighting to save the town is about more than Keyenberg. It's also about climate change.

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NPR News: When A City-Sized Star Becomes A Black Hole's Lunch, The Universe Roils

When A City-Sized Star Becomes A Black Hole's Lunch, The Universe Roils
It's a smack down of one space monster by another: Scientists have made unprecedented observations of two black holes gobbling two neutron stars — among the weirdest space collisions ever detected.

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NPR News: When A City-Sized Star Becomes A Black Hole's Lunch, The Universe Roils

When A City-Sized Star Becomes A Black Hole's Lunch, The Universe Roils
It's a smack down of one space monster by another: Scientists have made unprecedented observations of two black holes gobbling two neutron stars — among the weirdest space collisions ever detected.

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NPR News: Despite Climate Concerns, Germany Bulldozes Land To Expand Coal Mines

Despite Climate Concerns, Germany Bulldozes Land To Expand Coal Mines
A small farming town which lies in the path of an expanding open-pit coal mine is hoping German climate policy will eliminate the use of dirty coal before their village is consumed by the pit.

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NPR News: Why FEMA Aid Is Unavailable To Many Who Need It The Most

Why FEMA Aid Is Unavailable To Many Who Need It The Most
The people who need help the most after disasters are least able to get it from the federal government. Internal records show that FEMA knows it has a problem.

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Monday, June 28, 2021

NPR News: Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic
Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

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NPR News: Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic
Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

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NPR News: Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic
Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

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NPR News: Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic
Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

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NPR News: Correlation, Not Causation: Brood X Cicadas And Regional Bird Deaths

Correlation, Not Causation: Brood X Cicadas And Regional Bird Deaths
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Brian Evans from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center on the recent deaths of regional birds who ate Brood X cicadas.

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NPR News: Patrick Doherty Inherited A Devastating Disease. A Breakthrough Stopped It

Patrick Doherty Inherited A Devastating Disease. A Breakthrough Stopped It
Scientists, for the first time, have used the revolutionary gene-editing technique CRISPR inside the body to treat a disease, potentially opening a new era in genetic medicine.

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NPR News: News Brief: Condo Collapse, Infrastructure Plan, Gene-Editing Breakthrough

News Brief: Condo Collapse, Infrastructure Plan, Gene-Editing Breakthrough
Rescuers remain on the site of a collapsed Florida building. An infrastructure deal is on track after the president walked back an apparent veto threat. Scientists report a gene editing advancement.

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Sunday, June 27, 2021

NPR News: How 165 Words Could Make Mass Environmental Destruction An International Crime

How 165 Words Could Make Mass Environmental Destruction An International Crime
A panel of lawyers from around the world proposes to make ecocide a crime that can be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court just like genocide and war crimes.

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Saturday, June 26, 2021

NPR News: Record Heat Wave Set To Scorch Pacific Northwest To Southern California

Record Heat Wave Set To Scorch Pacific Northwest To Southern California
Record highs are expected with temperatures projected to climb to more than 100 degrees.

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NPR News: Rep. John Curtis On Hopes For The New Conservative Climate Caucus

Rep. John Curtis On Hopes For The New Conservative Climate Caucus
NPR's Sarah McCammon speaks to John Curtis (R-Utah) about how his new climate caucus will educate House Republicans on how climate-focused legislation can be consistent with conservative values.

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NPR News: Population Is Booming In The West — But There's Not Enough Water To Keep Up With It

Population Is Booming In The West — But There's Not Enough Water To Keep Up With It
Facing drought and population growth, some Western U.S. towns are running out of water for new connections, stopping development. It's a challenge that's expected to grow as the climate changes.

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NPR News: Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal May Be A Tough Sell To The Rest Of Congress

Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal May Be A Tough Sell To The Rest Of Congress
Infrastructure spending is considered one of the few issues on which the two parties can agree, but there are still differences that seem to reflect the nation's broader partisan and cultural divide.

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Friday, June 25, 2021

NPR News: Gavin Newsom Misled Public About Wildfire Prevention Work, Report Says

Gavin Newsom Misled Public About Wildfire Prevention Work, Report Says
An investigation from CapRadio and the California Newsroom collaboration has found that Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., misrepresented his wildfire preparedness and even disinvested in prevention.

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NPR News: Population Is Booming In The West — But There's Not Enough Water To Keep Up With It

Population Is Booming In The West — But There's Not Enough Water To Keep Up With It
Facing drought and population growth, some Western U.S. towns are running out of water for new connections. That's stopping development, a challenge that's expected to grow as the climate warms.

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NASA Awards Global Information Technology, Communications Contract

NASA has awarded a new, agencywide information technology and communications services contract for Advanced Enterprise Global Information Technology Solutions (AEGIS) to Leidos Inc. of Reston, Virginia.

June 25, 2021
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NPR News: Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans

Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans
Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been exploring and working to protect our oceans for more than half a century. Her message has stayed the same: we're taking our oceans for granted.

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NPR News: Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans

Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans
Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been exploring and working to protect our oceans for more than half a century. Her message has stayed the same: we're taking our oceans for granted.

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NPR News: Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?

Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?
In 1998, Alasdair Harris went to Madagascar to research coral reefs. He's worked there ever since. He explains the true meaning of conservation he learned from the island's Indigenous communities.

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NPR News: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: What Should You Look For When Shopping For Seafood?

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: What Should You Look For When Shopping For Seafood?
For marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, not knowing where our seafood comes from isn't just a mystery—it's a problem. She says we should reconsider what we eat and how we take it from the sea.

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NPR News: Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?

Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?
Whales are more than just beautiful creatures—they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Marine biologist Asha de Vos explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea.

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NPR News: Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?

Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?
In 1998, Alasdair Harris went to Madagascar to research coral reefs. He's worked there ever since. He explains the true meaning of conservation he learned from the island's Indigenous communities.

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NPR News: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: What Should You Look For When Shopping For Seafood?

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: What Should You Look For When Shopping For Seafood?
For marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, not knowing where our seafood comes from isn't just a mystery—it's a problem. She says we should reconsider what we eat and how we take it from the sea.

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NPR News: Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?

Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?
Whales are more than just beautiful creatures—they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Marine biologist Asha de Vos explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea.

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NPR News: COVID-19 Brings Blue Skies, Improved Air Quality In China

COVID-19 Brings Blue Skies, Improved Air Quality In China
COVID-19 has brought so much loss and hardship, but there was at least one pleasant surprise for Beijing - less hazy skies and air pollution.

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NPR News: Yellow Crazy Ants, An Enemy To Seabirds, Have Been Wiped Out On A Remote Atoll

Yellow Crazy Ants, An Enemy To Seabirds, Have Been Wiped Out On A Remote Atoll
Crazy Ant Strike Teams wiped out the nonnative invasive insect which had been threatening ground-nesting seabirds on the atoll since at least 2010.

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NPR News: Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up

Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up
Scientists caution that as the planet warms, more Americans could be exposed to disfiguring varieties of the Leishmania parasite. Overtreatment can be a problem, too, experts warn.

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NPR News: Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up

Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up
Scientists caution that as the planet warms, more Americans could be exposed to disfiguring varieties of the Leishmania parasite. Overtreatment can be a problem, too, experts warn.

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NPR News: Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up

Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up
Scientists caution that as the planet warms, more Americans could be exposed to disfiguring varieties of the Leishmania parasite. Overtreatment can be a problem, too, experts warn.

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Thursday, June 24, 2021

NPR News: U.S. Firefighting Resources Are Already Being Exhausted... As The West Gets Hotter

U.S. Firefighting Resources Are Already Being Exhausted... As The West Gets Hotter
Federal fire managers warn the U.S.'s firefighting resources are near full deployment, a declaration rarely made this early in the summer as Western states bake in record heat and drought.

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NPR News: Baby Dinosaur Bones Found In The Alaska Arctic Suggest They Lived There Year-Round

Baby Dinosaur Bones Found In The Alaska Arctic Suggest They Lived There Year-Round
Researchers have found hundreds of baby dinosaur bones in the Alaskan Arctic — suggesting dinosaurs may have lived at cold northern latitudes year round.

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NPR News: Baby Dinosaur Bones Found In The Alaska Arctic Suggest They Lived There Year-Round

Baby Dinosaur Bones Found In The Alaska Arctic Suggest They Lived There Year-Round
Researchers have found hundreds of baby dinosaur bones in the Alaskan Arctic — suggesting dinosaurs may have lived at cold northern latitudes year round.

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NASA Administrator Announces New Members of Leadership Team

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced four new additions to the agency’s senior staff Thursday.

June 24, 2021
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Wednesday, June 23, 2021

NPR News: Firefighting Monks Join Effort To Combat The Willow Fire In A Remote Area Of Big Sur

Firefighting Monks Join Effort To Combat The Willow Fire In A Remote Area Of Big Sur
The Willow Fire, as of June 23, was 2,877 acres large with just 13% of it contained. Emergency crews are watching for a return to hot and dry conditions at the end of the week.

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NPR News: More Than Half Of U.S. Buildings Are In Places Prone To Disaster, Study Finds

More Than Half Of U.S. Buildings Are In Places Prone To Disaster, Study Finds
Buildings are concentrated in places that are likely to be hit by a disaster such as a hurricane, flood or wildfire, researchers found. That includes both urban and rural hotspots.

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NASA to Air Launch, Docking of Roscosmos Cargo Ship to Space Station

Live coverage of Russia’s Progress 78 cargo spacecraft’s launch and docking to the International Space Station will begin at 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 29, on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and the NASA app.

June 23, 2021
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NPR News: Hubble Trouble: NASA Can't Figure Out What's Causing Computer Issues On The Telescope

Hubble Trouble: NASA Can't Figure Out What's Causing Computer Issues On The Telescope
"It's just the inefficiency of trying to fix something which is orbiting 400 miles over your head instead of in your laboratory," said Paul Hertz, the director of astrophysics for NASA.

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NPR News: Heart Inflammation In Teens And Young Adults After COVID-19 Vaccine Is Rare, CDC Says

Heart Inflammation In Teens And Young Adults After COVID-19 Vaccine Is Rare, CDC Says
The cases have been seen mostly in teens and young adults between 12 and 39 years old. No deaths have been associated with this side effect of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

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NPR News: Bringing Back Trees To "Forest City's" Redlined Areas Helps Residents And The Climate

Bringing Back Trees To "Forest City's" Redlined Areas Helps Residents And The Climate
In Cleveland, as in other cities, a move for "tree equity" is bringing more trees to low-income neighborhoods that often lack them. It also helps neighborhoods stay cooler as the planet heats up.

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NPR News: Bringing Back Trees To "Forest City's" Redlined Areas Helps Residents And The Climate

Bringing Back Trees To "Forest City's" Redlined Areas Helps Residents And The Climate
In Cleveland, as in other cities, a move for "tree equity" is bringing more trees to low-income neighborhoods that often lack them. It also helps neighborhoods stay cooler as the planet heats up.

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NPR News: She Owes Her Big Environmental Prize To Goats Eating Plastic Bags

She Owes Her Big Environmental Prize To Goats Eating Plastic Bags
The demise of the bag-consuming herbivores led Gloria Majiga-Kamoto to push for Malawi to enact a promised ban on single-use thin plastic. Her activism won her a 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize.

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NPR News: Alien Planet-Hunters In Hundreds Of Nearby Star Systems Could Spot Earth

Alien Planet-Hunters In Hundreds Of Nearby Star Systems Could Spot Earth
Potentially, observers in plenty of solar systems could have detected Earth sometime in the last 5,000 years. More stars will soon move into positions that would let them see our planet.

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NPR News: Alien Planet-Hunters In Hundreds Of Nearby Star Systems Could Spot Earth

Alien Planet-Hunters In Hundreds Of Nearby Star Systems Could Spot Earth
Potentially, observers in plenty of solar systems could have detected Earth sometime in the last 5,000 years. More stars will soon move into positions that would let them see our planet.

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Tuesday, June 22, 2021

NASA Extends Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System Mission

NASA has awarded a contract to the University of Michigan for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) for mission operations and closeout.

June 22, 2021
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NASA to Air Northrop Grumman Cygnus Departure from Space Station

Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to depart the International Space Station Tuesday, June 29, more than four months after delivering nearly 8,000 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, commercial products, hardware, and other cargo to the orbital laboratory.

June 22, 2021
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NPR News: A Strawberry Moon Will Rise This Thursday — No, It Won't Be Red Or Pink

A Strawberry Moon Will Rise This Thursday — No, It Won't Be Red Or Pink
Its name has ties to strawberry picking season, and when Thursday's strawberry moon appears above the horizon, the marginal supermoon will look large and gold.

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NPR News: White House Says The U.S. Will Narrowly Miss Its Vaccination Goal

White House Says The U.S. Will Narrowly Miss Its Vaccination Goal
President Biden set a goal of 70% of U.S. adults fully vaccinated by July 4. The White House is acknowledging Tuesday that it will likely come up short of that.

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NASA to Air Third Spacewalk to Install New Station Solar Arrays

Two astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station Friday, June 25, for a third spacewalk to continue power system upgrades that are already increasing output and proving the technology that will enable NASA’s future Gateway lunar outpost.

June 22, 2021
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NASA Selects Engineering Services Contractor

NASA has awarded Aerodyne-SGT Engineering Services LLC (ASES) of Cape Canaveral, Florida, for a contract to provide engineering services for spaceflight and ground systems.

June 22, 2021
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NPR News: A New Way To Understand Automation

A New Way To Understand Automation
We speak with one of the leading scholars of automation about its evolving impacts on society.

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NPR News: A New Way To Understand Automation

A New Way To Understand Automation
We speak with one of the leading scholars of automation about its evolving impacts on society.

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NPR News: Home Improvement Could Be A 1st Step Toward Climate Justice

Home Improvement Could Be A 1st Step Toward Climate Justice
President Biden wants to spend $200 billion renovating old homes or building affordable new ones. It's a move that would fight climate change in a way that makes people's lives better.

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NPR News: Delta Variant Of The Coronavirus Could Dominate In U.S. Within Weeks

Delta Variant Of The Coronavirus Could Dominate In U.S. Within Weeks
More contagious than other variants, and maybe more likely to cause severe disease, Delta is spreading so fast it could cause yet another U.S. surge this summer or fall, according to new research.

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NPR News: From Poverty To Stanford, Memoir Tells A Physicist's Remarkable Tale

From Poverty To Stanford, Memoir Tells A Physicist's Remarkable Tale
A Quantum Life is an important book to help understand the institutional hurdles that have kept science mostly white and male — and how the fire of inquiry can take root in a heart and lift it up.

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NPR News: Delta Variant Of The Coronavirus Could Dominate In U.S. Within Weeks

Delta Variant Of The Coronavirus Could Dominate In U.S. Within Weeks
More contagious than other variants, and maybe more likely to cause severe disease, Delta is spreading so fast it could cause yet another U.S. surge this summer or fall, according to new research.

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Monday, June 21, 2021

Pam Melroy Sworn in as NASA Deputy Administrator

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy took office Monday after she was given the oath of office by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during a ceremony at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington.

June 21, 2021
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NPR News: Lumber Prices Are Finally Dropping After They Soared During The Pandemic

Lumber Prices Are Finally Dropping After They Soared During The Pandemic
Demand for new homes and a rise in DIY renovation projects ate up the lumber supply during the pandemic. Meanwhile sawmills struggled to keep pace amid COVID-19 setbacks.

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NPR News: How To Stay Safe In The West Coast's Sweltering Heat Waves

How To Stay Safe In The West Coast's Sweltering Heat Waves
As a sweltering heat wave hits much of the West Coast, NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Dr. Kristina Dahl from the Union of Concerned Scientists about the health risks of exposure to extreme heat.

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NPR News: How To Stay Safe In The West Coast's Sweltering Heat Waves

How To Stay Safe In The West Coast's Sweltering Heat Waves
As a sweltering heat wave hits much of the West Coast, NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Dr. Kristina Dahl from the Union of Concerned Scientists about the health risks of exposure to extreme heat.

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NPR News: Brothers Set Yosemite's Record For Longest Sky-High Walk

Brothers Set Yosemite's Record For Longest Sky-High Walk
Highline walkers set a new record by stepping more than half a mile across a gaping void in Yosemite National Park, balanced on a strip of nylon webbing.

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NPR News: As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation

As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation
The mammals were removed from the endangered species list in 2017, but algae blooms and overdevelopment have killed 46,000 acres of seagrass, leaving manatees without enough to eat.

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NPR News: As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation

As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Are Dying Of Starvation
The mammals were removed from the endangered species list in 2017, but algae blooms and overdevelopment have killed 46,000 acres of seagrass, leaving manatees without enough to eat.

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NPR News: Cleveland Wants 'Climate Justice.' Can The Biden Administration Help?

Cleveland Wants 'Climate Justice.' Can The Biden Administration Help?
The White House wants to fight climate change in ways that also remove economic and racial disparities. The city of Cleveland has a plan that describes what that might mean.

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NPR News: Cleveland Wants 'Climate Justice.' Can The Biden Administration Help?

Cleveland Wants 'Climate Justice.' Can The Biden Administration Help?
The White House wants to fight climate change in ways that also remove economic and racial disparities. The city of Cleveland has a plan that describes what that might mean.

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Sunday, June 20, 2021

NPR News: Enthusiastic Amateurs Advance Science As They Hunt For Exotic Mushrooms

Enthusiastic Amateurs Advance Science As They Hunt For Exotic Mushrooms
Scientists who study mushrooms get a boost from a network of sophisticated aficianados who tromp through the forests observing oddball species and sharing valuable information about their finds.

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Saturday, June 19, 2021

NPR News: Extreme Drought Hits Farmers Hard In Central Oregon County

Extreme Drought Hits Farmers Hard In Central Oregon County
An historic drought is hitting the western U.S. Phil Chang, a commissioner for Deschutes County, Oregon tells NPR's Sarah McCammon about how his community is coping.

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NPR News: The Record Temperatures Enveloping The West Are Not Your Average Heat Wave

The Record Temperatures Enveloping The West Are Not Your Average Heat Wave
From the Great Plains to the California coast, a powerful "heat dome" is setting records. This one is stronger, bigger and appearing earlier than normal.

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Friday, June 18, 2021

NPR News: How Congress' Hydrofluorocarbon Legislation Will Affect Your Groceries

How Congress' Hydrofluorocarbon Legislation Will Affect Your Groceries
Over the next 15 years, the U.S. is set to slash the use of powerful greenhouse gases used in refrigerants. That means changes to your grocery store, a switch that's already underway in California.

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NPR News: To Keep Your Brain Young, Take Some Tips From Our Earliest Ancestors

To Keep Your Brain Young, Take Some Tips From Our Earliest Ancestors
Without a cure for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, prevention is paramount. Habits that helped early humans thrive still make sense: a varied diet, exercise and an engaging social life.

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

NPR News: Unpaid Caregivers Were Already Struggling. It's Only Gotten Worse During The Pandemic

Unpaid Caregivers Were Already Struggling. It's Only Gotten Worse During The Pandemic
A new CDC study finds that people who provide unpaid care for their children or adult loved ones are twice as likely as noncaregivers to have experienced depression or anxiety, or thoughts of suicide.

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NPR News: Unpaid Caregivers Were Already Struggling. It's Only Gotten Worse During The Pandemic

Unpaid Caregivers Were Already Struggling. It's Only Gotten Worse During The Pandemic
A new CDC study finds that people who provide unpaid care for their children or adult loved ones are twice as likely as noncaregivers to have experienced depression or anxiety, or thoughts of suicide.

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Statements on Pam Melroy’s Senate Confirmation as NASA Deputy Administrator

The following are statements from Pam Melroy and Administrator Bill Nelson on Thursday’s U.S. Senate confirmation of Melroy as deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

June 17, 2021
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NPR News: Coastal Weather Station Demolished Before It Could Fall Into The Ocean

Coastal Weather Station Demolished Before It Could Fall Into The Ocean
After a half century, a Cape Cod weather station is being demolished before it falls into the ocean. It's among many structures threatened by stronger storms and rising seas fueled by climate change.

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NPR News: Indigenous Activist On Why Groups Are Protesting The Line 3 Pipeline In Minnesota

Indigenous Activist On Why Groups Are Protesting The Line 3 Pipeline In Minnesota
NPR's Audie Cornish chats with attorney and indigenous rights activist Tara Houska about protests against Enbridge's Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota.

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NPR News: The First 'Murder Hornet' Of 2021 Has Been Discovered In Washington State

The First 'Murder Hornet' Of 2021 Has Been Discovered In Washington State
Because of its withered condition and the fact that male giant hornets don't typically emerge until July, officials believe the hornet was likely from a previous season and just recently found.

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NPR News: The First 'Murder Hornet' Of 2021 Has Been Discovered In Washington State

The First 'Murder Hornet' Of 2021 Has Been Discovered In Washington State
Because of its withered condition and the fact that male giant hornets don't typically emerge until July, officials believe the hornet was likely from a previous season and just recently found.

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NPR News: Pfizer's COVID Vaccine In Teens And Myocarditis: What You Need To Know

Pfizer's COVID Vaccine In Teens And Myocarditis: What You Need To Know
Health officials are investigating reports of mostly mild, temporary and treatable heart inflammation that may or may not be causally linked to vaccination with with an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.

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NPR News: Pfizer's COVID Vaccine In Teens And Myocarditis: What You Need To Know

Pfizer's COVID Vaccine In Teens And Myocarditis: What You Need To Know
Health officials are investigating reports of mostly mild, temporary and treatable heart inflammation that may or may not be causally linked to vaccination with with an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.

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NASA-DLR Study Finds Sustainable Aviation Fuel Can Reduce Contrails

Cleaner-burning jet fuels made from sustainable sources can produce 50%-70% fewer ice crystal contrails at cruising altitude, reducing aviation’s impact on the environment, according to research conducted by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

June 17, 2021
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NPR News: The Mystery of the Origins of the Pandemic: Can It Be Solved?

The Mystery of the Origins of the Pandemic: Can It Be Solved?
The world is calling on China to cooperate with investigations into the source of SARS-CoV-2. Will this pressure be fruitful — or could it backfire?

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NPR News: The Father Of The Web Is Selling The Source Code As An NFT

The Father Of The Web Is Selling The Source Code As An NFT
The original source code for the World Wide Web, written by British computer scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee, is being auctioned as a non-fungible token.

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NASA Administrator Statement on China Crewed Launch

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement Thursday regarding the China National Space Agency’s launch of the first crew to its Tiangong space station:

June 17, 2021
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NPR News: Bariatric Surgery Works, But Isn't Offered To Most Teens Who Have Severe Obesity

Bariatric Surgery Works, But Isn't Offered To Most Teens Who Have Severe Obesity
Experts now say the procedure is the most effective treatment for severe childhood obesity, which affects a growing number of kids. But stigma and insurers often stand in the way.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2021

NPR News: 5 Ways To Stop Summer Colds From Making The Rounds In Your Family

5 Ways To Stop Summer Colds From Making The Rounds In Your Family
Run-of-the-mill runny noses and coughs are back, after a break during the pandemic's height, when so many of us were circulating less and wearing masks. Here's how to keep household viruses at bay.

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NPR News: 5 Ways To Stop Summer Colds From Making The Rounds In Your Family

5 Ways To Stop Summer Colds From Making The Rounds In Your Family
Run-of-the-mill runny noses and coughs are back, after a break during the pandemic's height, when so many of us were circulating less and wearing masks. Here's how to keep household viruses at bay.

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Tuesday, June 15, 2021

La NASA lanza la misión Equity y solicita comentarios del público para ampliar el acceso

La NASA lanza la Misión Equity (equidad, en español), un esfuerzo integral para evaluar la expansión y modificación de programas, compras de suministros, becas, y políticas de la agencia y examinar qué obstáculos y desafíos potenciales existen para las comunidades que históricamente están subrepresentadas y desatendidas.

June 15, 2021
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NPR News: Extreme Heat In The West To Send Temps To Triple Digits, Worsen Drought

Extreme Heat In The West To Send Temps To Triple Digits, Worsen Drought
Excessive heat warnings are in effect across the West, where temperatures will hit the triple digits — a signal that climate change and lengthening summers pose serious problems for the region.

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NASA Launches Mission Equity, Seeks Public Input to Broaden Access

NASA is launching Mission Equity, a comprehensive effort to assess expanding and modifying agency programs, procurements, grants, and policies, and examine what potential barriers and challenges exist for communities that are historically underrepresented and underserved.

June 15, 2021
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NPR News: Doctors Warn Of Burns From Asphalt As A Record-Breaking Heat Wave Envelopes The West

Doctors Warn Of Burns From Asphalt As A Record-Breaking Heat Wave Envelopes The West
A high pressure system is expected to push temperatures above 115 degrees this week in Las Vegas and Phoenix. Officials advised people to be mindful of hot asphalt, sidewalks and even desert sand.

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Monday, June 14, 2021

NPR News: Turkey Racing To Combat 'Snot' In Sea Of Marmara

Turkey Racing To Combat 'Snot' In Sea Of Marmara
Turkey is rushing to combat a pollution-caused muck in the Sea of Marmara that's growing across the seabed and excretes a foul mucus on the water's surface.

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NPR News: It's Personal: Zoom'd Out Workplace Ready For Face-To-Face Conversations To Return

It's Personal: Zoom'd Out Workplace Ready For Face-To-Face Conversations To Return
Before the pandemic, the Janelia Research Campus was a hive of collaboration. Now, as researchers return to their offices and labs, they're eager to restore the connections lost this past year.

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NPR News: China Has Promised To Go Carbon-Neutral By 2060, But Coal Is Still King

China Has Promised To Go Carbon-Neutral By 2060, But Coal Is Still King
This year, China pledged to go carbon-neutral by 2060. It has invested heavily in solar, wind and nuclear energy. Still, coal-fired heavy industry made up 37% of its economic activity last year.

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NPR News: Anti-Vaccine Activists Use A Federal Database To Spread Fear About COVID Vaccines

Anti-Vaccine Activists Use A Federal Database To Spread Fear About COVID Vaccines
The system is designed to provide early warning of what might or might not be actual side-effects. But anti-vaccine groups are bending the data to their own ends.

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Sunday, June 13, 2021

NPR News: Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It

Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It
President Biden's climate plans call for spending big on energy efficiency. New research could help make sure it actually targets the poor and minority households that most need it.

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NPR News: 'Crazy Worms' Threaten America's Trees — And (Gasp!) Our Maple Syrup

'Crazy Worms' Threaten America's Trees — And (Gasp!) Our Maple Syrup
The invasive worms, which reproduce rapidly, are creating havoc in forests. They thrash around so violently that they can jump out of a person's hand. They also lose their tail — on purpose.

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NPR News: Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It

Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It
President Biden's climate plans call for spending big on energy efficiency. New research could help make sure it actually targets the poor and minority households that most need it.

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NPR News: Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It

Tackling 'Energy Justice' Requires Better Data. These Researchers Are On It
President Biden's climate plans call for spending big on energy efficiency. New research could help make sure it actually targets the poor and minority households that most need it.

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Friday, June 11, 2021

NPR News: Coming Soon To An Atlas Near You: A Fifth Ocean

Coming Soon To An Atlas Near You: A Fifth Ocean
National Geographic has recognized the Southern Ocean as the fifth official ocean. The cartographic update doesn't surprise researchers who study the importance of the waters surrounding Antarctica.

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NPR News: Coming Soon To An Atlas Near You: A Fifth Ocean

Coming Soon To An Atlas Near You: A Fifth Ocean
National Geographic has recognized the Southern Ocean as the fifth official ocean. The cartographic update doesn't surprise researchers who study the importance of the waters surrounding Antarctica.

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NPR News: U.S. Farmers Of Color Were About To Get Loan Forgiveness. Now The Program Is On Hold

U.S. Farmers Of Color Were About To Get Loan Forgiveness. Now The Program Is On Hold
A new federal program created by the Biden administration to reverse years of economic discrimination against U.S. farmers of color has ground to a halt.

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NPR News: Mandë Holford: Could Snail Venom Someday Save Your Life?

Mandë Holford: Could Snail Venom Someday Save Your Life?
Cone snails are deadly sea predators; their venom can kill fish and even humans. But chemical biologist Mandë Holford says that powerful venom can actually be used for good — to treat human diseases.

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NPR News: Marah Hardt: What Can We Learn From The Sex Lives Of Fish?

Marah Hardt: What Can We Learn From The Sex Lives Of Fish?
Marine biologist Marah Hardt is fascinated with the mating habits of marine life. If we want to save the oceans, she says we have to understand the weird and whimsical sex that helps populate it.

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NPR News: Mandë Holford: Could Snail Venom Someday Save Your Life?

Mandë Holford: Could Snail Venom Someday Save Your Life?
Cone snails are deadly sea predators; their venom can kill fish and even humans. But chemical biologist Mandë Holford says that powerful venom can actually be used for good — to treat human diseases.

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NPR News: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: Why The Strange and Wonderful Parrot Fish Is In Trouble

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: Why The Strange and Wonderful Parrot Fish Is In Trouble
Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is obsessed with one research subject — the parrot fish. She says there is urgent work to be done to save them and their home, the coral reefs.

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NPR News: Marah Hardt: What Can We Learn From The Sex Lives Of Fish?

Marah Hardt: What Can We Learn From The Sex Lives Of Fish?
Marine biologist Marah Hardt is fascinated with the mating habits of marine life. If we want to save the oceans, she says we have to understand the weird and whimsical sex that helps populate it.

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NPR News: Catherine Mohr: A Love Story... That Begins With A Sea Urchin

Catherine Mohr: A Love Story... That Begins With A Sea Urchin
Catherine Mohr shares the story of a scuba diving trip gone wrong, where getting stabbed by a sea urchin transformed her relationship with the ocean... and ultimately led her to the love of her life.

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NPR News: Catherine Mohr: A Love Story... That Begins With A Sea Urchin

Catherine Mohr: A Love Story... That Begins With A Sea Urchin
Catherine Mohr shares the story of a scuba diving trip gone wrong, where getting stabbed by a sea urchin transformed her relationship with the ocean... and ultimately led her to the love of her life.

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NPR News: El Salvador Plans To Use Electricity Generated From Volcanoes To Mine Bitcoin

El Salvador Plans To Use Electricity Generated From Volcanoes To Mine Bitcoin
Bitcoin mining has taken a lot of heat for being harmful to the environment since it requires massive amounts of electricity to generate the invisible currency.

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Thursday, June 10, 2021

NPR News: Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks Are Turning Up On California's Beaches

Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks Are Turning Up On California's Beaches
The blood-sucking critters are capable of thriving along the western coast, according to new research. Though experts don't exactly know how they're picking up the bacteria that causes the illness.

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NPR News: Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks Are Turning Up On California's Beaches

Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks Are Turning Up On California's Beaches
The blood-sucking critters are capable of thriving along the western coast, according to new research. Though experts don't exactly know how they're picking up the bacteria that causes the illness.

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NPR News: A Mount Rushmore Of Recycling Puts An Avalanche Of Waste In The Faces Of G-7 Leaders

A Mount Rushmore Of Recycling Puts An Avalanche Of Waste In The Faces Of G-7 Leaders
Made of circuit boards and smartphones, a giant sculpture of the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations is greeting them at a summit in England. The creators want to raise awareness about e-waste.

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NPR News: A Subway Microbe Map Shows Life In Cities Around The World

A Subway Microbe Map Shows Life In Cities Around The World
A team of more than 900 international researchers and volunteers has assembled an atlas of microorganisms present in the subways of 60 cities around the world.

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NASA Selects New Science Investigations for Future Moon Deliveries

As NASA continues plans for multiple commercial deliveries to the Moon’s surface per year, the agency has selected three new scientific investigation payload suites to advance understanding of Earth’s nearest neighbor.

June 10, 2021
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NPR News: News Brief: Biden Trip, Keystone XL Pipeline, Tribal Jails Probe

News Brief: Biden Trip, Keystone XL Pipeline, Tribal Jails Probe
President Biden meets on Thursday with Britain's prime minister. The company behind the Keystone XL oil pipeline terminates the project. Deaths in tribal jails put spotlight on a system of neglect.

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NPR News: Keystone XL Pipeline Developer Cancels Project, Ending Decade-Long Battle

Keystone XL Pipeline Developer Cancels Project, Ending Decade-Long Battle
The developer of the Keystone XL oil pipeline has abandoned the project after President Biden revoked a permit. It was a major flashpoint in the debate over fossil fuels' role in climate change.

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NPR News: What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure
An article suggests the natural light show starts when disturbances on the sun pull on Earth's magnetic field, creating cosmic waves that launch electrons into the atmosphere to form the aurora.

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NPR News: In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health

In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health
Montana now has six mobile crisis response teams — up from one in 2019 — with more in the works. Each team has a different makeup, but all use mental health support to diffuse tricky situations.

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NPR News: In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health

In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health
Montana now has six mobile crisis response teams — up from one in 2019 — with more in the works. Each team has a different makeup, but all use mental health support to diffuse tricky situations.

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Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Teams Engineer Complex Human Tissues, Win Top Prizes in NASA Challenge

Two teams of scientists from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, have won first and second place in NASA's Vascular Tissue Challenge.

June 09, 2021
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NPR News: How To See The 'Ring Of Fire' Solar Eclipse On Thursday

How To See The 'Ring Of Fire' Solar Eclipse On Thursday
Early risers across the Northern Hemisphere will be able to see an eclipse Thursday morning when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.

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NPR News: Women Now Drink As Much As Men And Suffer Health Effects More Quickly

Women Now Drink As Much As Men And Suffer Health Effects More Quickly
Women aren't just upping their drinking, researchers say. Increasingly they are "drinking to cope," instead of for pleasure — which accelerates the risk of alcohol use disorder and its health damage.

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NPR News: Women Now Drink As Much As Men And Suffer Health Effects More Quickly

Women Now Drink As Much As Men And Suffer Health Effects More Quickly
Women aren't just upping their drinking, researchers say. Increasingly they are "drinking to cope," instead of for pleasure — which accelerates the risk of alcohol use disorder and its health damage.

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NPR News: A Cicada-Infested Engine Is To Blame For Biden's Press Corps Travel Delays

A Cicada-Infested Engine Is To Blame For Biden's Press Corps Travel Delays
A plane carrying dozens of journalists abroad to follow President Biden's trip to Europe was delayed several hours due to cicadas that filled the plane's engine.

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NPR News: A Group Of Gray Whales Survives Die-Off With An Annual Detour To Puget Sound

A Group Of Gray Whales Survives Die-Off With An Annual Detour To Puget Sound
This group of gray whales seems to have figured out a new feeding strategy. To fatten up as they migrate from Baja to the Arctic, they take a detour to Puget Sound.

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NPR News: The Drought In The Western U.S. Is Getting Bad. Climate Change Is Making It Worse

The Drought In The Western U.S. Is Getting Bad. Climate Change Is Making It Worse
A record dry year is creating extreme drought in the West. But even if it rains, climate change will continue to shrink the water supply for millions of people.

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NPR News: The Drought In The Western U.S. Is Getting Bad. Climate Change Is Making It Worse

The Drought In The Western U.S. Is Getting Bad. Climate Change Is Making It Worse
A record dry year is creating extreme drought in the West. But even if it rains, climate change will continue to shrink the water supply for millions of people.

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Tuesday, June 8, 2021

NPR News: The Highly Contagious Delta Variant Of COVID Is On The Rise In the U.S.

The Highly Contagious Delta Variant Of COVID Is On The Rise In the U.S.
The variant accounts for more than 6% of all infections in the U.S. and in some Western states is responsible for more than 18% of cases.

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NASA Administrator Statement on US Innovation and Competitiveness Act

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement Tuesday after the Senate passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness Act.

June 08, 2021
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NPR News: A U.S.-Funded Study Of Whales' Hearing Is Going Ahead Despite Concerns For The Whales

A U.S.-Funded Study Of Whales' Hearing Is Going Ahead Despite Concerns For The Whales
An international team of scientists is preparing to trap a dozen baleen whales off the coast of Norway and conduct hearing tests on them. It could inform decisions on military and business projects.

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NPR News: A U.S.-Funded Study Of Whales' Hearing Is Going Ahead Despite Concerns For The Whales

A U.S.-Funded Study Of Whales' Hearing Is Going Ahead Despite Concerns For The Whales
An international team of scientists is preparing to trap a dozen baleen whales off the coast of Norway and conduct hearing tests on them. It could inform decisions on military and business projects.

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NPR News: A Hotter Climate Is Shrinking The Water Supply In The Western U.S.

A Hotter Climate Is Shrinking The Water Supply In The Western U.S.
Severe drought is spreading after a record dry year in the Western United States. Climate change is only making water shortages worse.

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NPR News: Senate Pressed BLM Nominee On Biden's Oil And Gas Lease Freeze

Senate Pressed BLM Nominee On Biden's Oil And Gas Lease Freeze
President Biden's nominee to be the country's next public lands chief appeared before a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday where she was grilled over Biden's controversial freeze on new oil and gas leasing.

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NASA Selects Postdoctoral Program Research Support Contractor

NASA has selected Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to provide the agency with administrative support and coordination of research opportunities between NASA’s mission directorates and centers across the agency.

June 08, 2021
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NPR News: As Long As A Basketball Court: Australia's Largest Dinosaur Confirmed

As Long As A Basketball Court: Australia's Largest Dinosaur Confirmed
"Cooper," a gargantuan dinosaur that roamed the Outback, is first of its kind found outside South America. The new species had long necks and tails, four legs and ate plants.

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NPR News: As Long As A Basketball Court: Australia's Largest Dinosaur Confirmed

As Long As A Basketball Court: Australia's Largest Dinosaur Confirmed
"Cooper," a gargantuan dinosaur that roamed the Outback, is first of its kind found outside South America. The new species had long necks and tails, four legs and ate plants.

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NPR News: Microscopic Multi-Celled Organism Survives 24,000 Years In Siberia

Microscopic Multi-Celled Organism Survives 24,000 Years In Siberia
The organism had been napping in permafrost before scientists found it. It was in a state of suspended animation in the Russian Arctic, but snapped back to life after being thawed.

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NPR News: 'Energy Justice' Nominee Brings Activist Voice To Biden's Climate Plans

'Energy Justice' Nominee Brings Activist Voice To Biden's Climate Plans
Shalanda Baker sees energy policy as the next domain for advancing civil rights. She says too many communities of color have experienced the harm - but not the benefits - of energy development.

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Monday, June 7, 2021

NPR News: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Fueling Climate Change Hits A Four Million Year High

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Fueling Climate Change Hits A Four Million Year High
The amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere reached 419 parts per million in May, its highest level in more than four million years, according to NOAA. Fossil fuel use is driving the increase.

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NPR News: Blueberries In Danger: Temperatures In Maine Spike To Scorching 90s

Blueberries In Danger: Temperatures In Maine Spike To Scorching 90s
Temperatures are reaching into the 90s in Maine as the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S bakes in unseasonably hot weather.

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NPR News: Crows Love Luxurious Ant Baths. This Is What It Looks Like

Crows Love Luxurious Ant Baths. This Is What It Looks Like
Canadian photographer Tony Austin captured a crow in the process of "anting" — spreading ants on itself on purpose. At first, he confesses, he had no idea what he was looking at.

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NASA Highlights Winners of Challenge to Engineer Human Tissue

NASA will announce the first- and second-place winners of the Vascular Tissue Challenge, a prize competition to grow and sustain functioning human tissue in a lab, Wednesday, June 9.

June 07, 2021
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NASA to Air Briefing, Spacewalks to Install New Station Solar Arrays

Expedition 65 astronauts will conduct two spacewalks – one Wednesday, June 16, and the other Sunday, June 20 – to install new solar arrays to help power the International Space Station.

June 07, 2021
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NPR News: NASA's Juno Spacecraft Will Get A Close Look At Jupiter's Moon On Monday

NASA's Juno Spacecraft Will Get A Close Look At Jupiter's Moon On Monday
NASA's Juno spacecraft will travel to 645 miles above the surface of the solar system's largest moon, Ganymede, on Monday.

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Sunday, June 6, 2021

NPR News: The Vatican's Space Observatory Wants To See Stars And Faith Align

The Vatican's Space Observatory Wants To See Stars And Faith Align
For a long time, the Catholic Church rejected scientific findings that conflicted with its doctrine, even persecuting Galileo. Now the Vatican looks to promote its observatory as a bridge to science.

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NPR News: New Type Of COVID Vaccine Could Debut Soon

New Type Of COVID Vaccine Could Debut Soon
Instead of putting genetic instructions into people whose cells then make a viral protein, the vaccines from Novavax, Medicago and Sanofi carry a spike protein payload.

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NPR News: New Type Of COVID Vaccine Could Debut Soon

New Type Of COVID Vaccine Could Debut Soon
Instead of putting genetic instructions into people whose cells then make a viral protein, the vaccines from Novavax, Medicago and Sanofi carry a spike protein payload.

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Saturday, June 5, 2021

NPR News: California Approves Pilot Program For Driverless Rides

California Approves Pilot Program For Driverless Rides
California is allowing the company Cruise to offer free rides to passengers in its driverless cars — without safety drivers on board.

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NPR News: The Ship Sinking Off Sri Lanka Looks Like A Lasting Environmental Disaster

The Ship Sinking Off Sri Lanka Looks Like A Lasting Environmental Disaster
Waves of plastic pellets are washing up on beaches in Sri Lanka. Marine biologist Asha de Vos says the microplastics are spreading in the water and scientists don't yet understand the full effects.

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NPR News: The Ship Sinking Off Sri Lanka Looks Like A Lasting Environmental Disaster

The Ship Sinking Off Sri Lanka Looks Like A Lasting Environmental Disaster
Waves of plastic pellets are washing up on beaches in Sri Lanka. Marine biologist Asha de Vos says the microplastics are spreading in the water and scientists don't yet understand the full effects.

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Friday, June 4, 2021

NPR News: Sri Lankan Marine Biologist Explains The Environmental Repercussions Of Burning Barge

Sri Lankan Marine Biologist Explains The Environmental Repercussions Of Burning Barge
A ship off the Sri Lankan coast has been burning, leaking acid and plastic pellets. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Sri Lankan marine biologist Asha de Vos on the environmental impact of this disaster.

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NPR News: So You're Thinking About Eating A Cicada: Tips From A Cicada Enthusiast

So You're Thinking About Eating A Cicada: Tips From A Cicada Enthusiast
So you're thinking about eating a cicada. Cicada enthusiast Dr. Cortni Borgerson shares some things to know before heading out and what to do once you've actually harvested them.

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NPR News: A Single California Fire Killed 10% Of The World's Giant Sequoia Trees

A Single California Fire Killed 10% Of The World's Giant Sequoia Trees
At least 10% of the world's giant sequoia trees were destroyed in one California wildfire in the Sierra Nevada last year.

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NASA Awards Universities $1.2M for Space Station, Suborbital Research

NASA has awarded $1.2 million to nine universities and organizations across the country for research and technology development projects in areas critical to the agency’s mission, including studying radiation effects and growing food for long-duration space travel.

June 04, 2021
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NPR News: United Airlines Wants to Revive Supersonic Travel. But What About Climate Change?

United Airlines Wants to Revive Supersonic Travel. But What About Climate Change?
Boom Supersonic's Overture is designed to travel twice as fast as current airliners and complete transcontinental flights in roughly half the time. Passenger flights are expected to begin in 2029.

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NASA Administrator Statement on Meeting with Roscosmos

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement after an introductory call Friday with Roscosmos General Director Dmitry Rogozin:

June 04, 2021
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NPR News: How UFO Sightings Went From Conspiracy Theory To A Serious Government Inquiry

How UFO Sightings Went From Conspiracy Theory To A Serious Government Inquiry
Have alien spacecraft been buzzing across Earth's skies? Turns out it's not just people in tin-foil hats asking that question — it's the U.S. government.

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NPR News: U.S. Sending 1 Million Coronavirus Vaccines To Mexico Border Cities, Resort Spots

U.S. Sending 1 Million Coronavirus Vaccines To Mexico Border Cities, Resort Spots
Mexico has reported more than 2.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 228,000 deaths, as of Thursday. Targeting the shots toward tourist areas is a bid to boost the country's economy.

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Thursday, June 3, 2021

NPR News: Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size

Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size
North Atlantic right whales now grow about three feet shorter than they did 40 years ago. Research suggests a leading cause is the damage human activity inflicts on the critically endangered mammals.

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NPR News: Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size

Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size
North Atlantic right whales now grow about three feet shorter than they did 40 years ago. Research suggests a leading cause is the damage human activity inflicts on the critically endangered mammals.

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NPR News: Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size

Right Whales Are Shrinking In Numbers— New Study Shows They're Also Shrinking In Size
North Atlantic right whales now grow about three feet shorter than they did 40 years ago. Research suggests a leading cause is the damage human activity inflicts on the critically endangered mammals.

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Science, Solar Arrays Launch on NASA’s SpaceX Cargo Mission

The latest SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station after launching at 1:29 p.m. EDT Thursday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bearing more than 7,300 pounds of science experiments, new solar arrays, and other cargo.

June 03, 2021
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NPR News: A Single Fire Killed At Least 10% Of The World's Giant Sequoias, Study Says

A Single Fire Killed At Least 10% Of The World's Giant Sequoias, Study Says
"I cannot overemphasize how mind-blowing this is for all of us. These trees have lived for thousands of years," said a scientist from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

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NPR News: Endangered Right Whales Are Shrinking. Scientists Blame Commercial Fishing Gear

Endangered Right Whales Are Shrinking. Scientists Blame Commercial Fishing Gear
A new study concludes that endangered right whales born today will end up smaller than adult whales in the past. Researchers say stress from getting caught in fishing gear stunts the mammals' growth

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NPR News: Endangered Right Whales Are Shrinking. Scientists Blame Commercial Fishing Gear

Endangered Right Whales Are Shrinking. Scientists Blame Commercial Fishing Gear
A new study concludes that endangered right whales born today will end up smaller than adult whales in the past. Researchers say stress from getting caught in fishing gear stunts the mammals' growth

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NPR News: Endangered Right Whales Are Shrinking. Scientists Blame Commercial Fishing Gear

Endangered Right Whales Are Shrinking. Scientists Blame Commercial Fishing Gear
A new study concludes that endangered right whales born today will end up smaller than adult whales in the past. Researchers say stress from getting caught in fishing gear stunts the mammals' growth

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NPR News: Why NASA Is Blasting Water Bears And Bobtail Squid Into Space

Why NASA Is Blasting Water Bears And Bobtail Squid Into Space
The animals are being launched into the cosmos as NASA researchers attempt to learn more about how the conditions of spaceflight can affect biological organisms and, by extension, future astronauts.

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NPR News: Environmental Disaster Fears Grow As Chemical-Laden Ship Starts Sinking

Environmental Disaster Fears Grow As Chemical-Laden Ship Starts Sinking
NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to journalist Omar Rajarathnam about the cargo ship sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.

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NPR News: Farmers Are Feeling The Pain As Drought Spreads In The Northwest

Farmers Are Feeling The Pain As Drought Spreads In The Northwest
It's as dry as it's been in a century in parts of Washington and Oregon. Some farmers are watching their crops fail, while others are selling cattle because they don't have the grass to feed it.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2021

NPR News: The Secret To Better Soft-Bodied Robots Might Be Found In Elephant Trunks

The Secret To Better Soft-Bodied Robots Might Be Found In Elephant Trunks
The Army is paying for investigations on the physics of elephant trunks — and researchers say these versatile appendages may hold clues for designing better soft-bodied robots.

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NASA Selects 2 Missions to Study ‘Lost Habitable’ World of Venus

NASA has selected two new missions to Venus, Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor.

June 02, 2021
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NPR News: Sri Lanka Faces Environmental Disaster As Ship Full Of Chemicals Starts Sinking

Sri Lanka Faces Environmental Disaster As Ship Full Of Chemicals Starts Sinking
Beaches are coated with plastic pellets and a container full of nitric acid has leaked into the ocean. Sri Lankan authorities are now making preparations for an oil spill.

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Científicas de la NASA disponibles para entrevistas durante la temporada de huracanes

El 1 de junio marcó el inicio oficial de la temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico, que termina oficialmente el 30 de noviembre.

June 02, 2021
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NASA Scientists Available for Interviews Throughout Hurricane Season

June 1 marked the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends Nov. 30.

June 02, 2021
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NPR News: White House Suspends Drilling Leases In Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

White House Suspends Drilling Leases In Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Biden administration began reversing the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain to oil drilling, by suspending leases issued in the final days of the Trump administration.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2021

NPR News: Louisiana Is Facing A Coastal Restoration Conundrum

Louisiana Is Facing A Coastal Restoration Conundrum
Louisiana's $2 billion plan to divert the Mississippi River is getting pushback. The project is part of the state's effort to save a coast suffering one of the highest rates of land loss in the world.

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NPR News: Hurricanes, Drought And Fires: The U.S. Has An Intense Summer Ahead

Hurricanes, Drought And Fires: The U.S. Has An Intense Summer Ahead
Atlantic hurricane season kicks off on June 1, and it's supposed to be a slightly above average hurricane season. In the Western U.S., there's already a serious drought and elevated fire risk.

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NPR News: Why Jumping Spiders Spend All Night Hanging Out—Literally

Why Jumping Spiders Spend All Night Hanging Out—Literally
Little is known about the night-time habits of tiny creatures all around us. Take the jumping spider--it mysteriously can spend much of the night suspended in mid-air, hanging by a thread.

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NPR News: Why Jumping Spiders Spend All Night Hanging Out—Literally

Why Jumping Spiders Spend All Night Hanging Out—Literally
Little is known about the night-time habits of tiny creatures all around us. Take the jumping spider--it mysteriously can spend much of the night suspended in mid-air, hanging by a thread.

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NPR News: Alpha, Beta Instead Of Britain, South Africa. Why The WHO Is Renaming COVID Variants

Alpha, Beta Instead Of Britain, South Africa. Why The WHO Is Renaming COVID Variants
The new names won't replace the scientific names already assigned to new variants, but the WHO said it's making the change to help avoid fueling stigma towards nations where new variants arise.

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NPR News: WHO Will Turn To The Greek Alphabet To Help Avoid Stigma Around Coronavirus Variants

WHO Will Turn To The Greek Alphabet To Help Avoid Stigma Around Coronavirus Variants
The new names won't replace the scientific names already assigned to new variants, but the WHO said it's making the change to help avoid fueling stigma towards nations where new variants arise.

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NPR News: Biden Administration Wants Agriculture Subsidies To Help Fight Climate Change

Biden Administration Wants Agriculture Subsidies To Help Fight Climate Change
The White House wants to pay farmers for carbon in their soil. Sequestering carbon on farms is straightforward, but benefits are hard to measure. Some worry about creating another subsidy.

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