Science
The latest science news, photos and videos covering space, the environment, human development and more.
LATEST SCIENCE NEWS
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Two lunar landers launch to the moon aboard a SpaceX rocket
One of the missions is carrying 10 NASA science instruments to the moon. The other involves a "micro rover" to explore a region in the moon’s far north.
What does it mean to 'contain' a wildfire?
Containment refers to firefighting efforts meant to limit the spread of wildfires, using natural barriers and human-made hurdles such as trenches.
Drinking water could be contaminated in L.A. County areas affected by wildfires, experts say
Some communities have been instructed not to drink tap water as officials worry about fire-related contaminants entering the water system.
'Entirely foreseeable': The L.A. fires are the worst-case scenario experts feared
The blazes are the result of a combination of suburban sprawl in fire-prone areas, fierce Santa Ana winds, dry conditions fueled by climate change and the limits of firefighting.
The dangerous combination fueling the L.A. fires: Exceptional dryness and strong winds
With climate change altering rainfall patterns and making droughts more likely and intense, such destructive wildfires will continue to pose threats.
Last year was the hottest in Earth's recorded history
NASA found that 2024 was hotter than any other year since at least 1880. Previously, 2023 had been considered the warmest on record.
Scientists drill nearly 2 miles down to pull 1.2 million-year-old ice core from Antarctic
Analysis of the ancient ice is expected to show how Earth’s atmosphere and climate have evolved.
Water tanks went dry in Pacific Palisades, hampering efforts to fight fire
Three tanks and some fire hydrants temporarily lost water because of high demand. Experts said the system wasn’t built to fight a major blaze like this one.
Four fires grow, forcing more than 80,000 evacuations around L.A.
The Palisades Fire has already burned through almost 3,000 acres, while two other fires have destroyed a further 1,500 acres. Tens of thousands have been evacuated.
NASA overhauls plan to bring samples from Mars back to Earth
For more than 20 years, NASA has been inching toward the goal of retrieving samples that its Perseverance rover has been collecting on Mars and flying them to Earth.
Lead pollution in ancient Rome may have dropped average IQ, study finds
Researchers linked lead found in ice samples from Greenland to ancient Roman silver smelters, suggesting the pollution was pervasive enough to affect much of Europe.
