Gaza is vaccinating against polio. Is the virus a threat to the U.S.?
A campaign is ongoing to vaccinate children in Gaza after its first polio case in 25 years. The threat to the United States is only in communities with low vaccination levels.
By Mark Johnson
9/11 responders are getting dementia. They want the government to help.
Research shows 9/11 responders face higher rates of dementia and cognitive impairment.
By Dan Hurley
A city fires an officer charged with animal abuse after his K-9 died
The Savannah, Mo., Board of Aldermen voted to terminate Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler, whose K-9 Horus died in June of overheating inside Zeigler’s police SUV.
By Jonathan Edwards
Underfunded, aging NASA may be on unsustainable path, report warns
NASA is not focused enough on the future, fails to think strategically and has a mismatch between ambitions and budget, says a sweeping report by aerospace experts.
By Joel Achenbach
Shark biologists stumble into a deep-sea murder mystery
Porbeagle sharks aren’t known to have predators, but a new study says it recorded the first instance of the species being preyed upon by another massive shark.
By Kyle Melnick
About birds: Social learning, not environment, influences their nests
A recent analysis suggests the design of some birds’ nests varies because of culture, rather than genetics or environmental conditions.
By Erin Blakemore
Beloved whale suspected of spying for Russia was shot to death, activists say
Hvaldimir the beluga won hearts in Norway’s coastal communities after showing up wearing a harness that read “Equipment St. Petersburg.”
By Jonathan Edwards
Scientists use food dye found in Doritos to make see-through mice
Food dye transformed the skin of mice into a living window revealing blood vessels, muscle fibers and gut contractions, according to a new study.
By Carolyn Y. Johnson
Webb telescope detects what looks like a giant question mark in space
The “Question Mark Pair” is an optical illusion created by two galaxies that astronomers have observed in deep space with the James Webb Space Telescope.
By Joel Achenbach
Should influencers think twice before disabling their comments?
When influencers disable comments on their posts, viewers respond negatively and regard them as less likable.
By Lizette Ortega
Hvaldimir, beloved beluga whale and alleged Russian spy, found dead
The beluga whale was found in Norway wearing a St. Petersburg-marked harness, prompting speculation that he was a Russian intelligence asset.
By Leo Sands
Science is rewriting the history of horse domestication
Figuring out when, why and how horses became domesticated is a key step toward understanding the world we live in now.
By William Taylor
Why biologists are listening to soil — and what it’s telling them
Researchers searched for sounds produced by ants, worms and other creatures underground, soundscapes studied in the emerging field of ecoacoustics.
By Erin Blakemore
Two elephants at Ohio zoo will welcome calves by the same father
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is thrilled that two baby elephants will arrive in 2025.
By Amber Ferguson
Marmoset monkeys call each other by name, study suggests
Marmoset monkeys use a high-pitched “phee call” to name other monkeys, one of a short list of animals known to deploy names.
By Carolyn Y. Johnson
Namibia to cull elephants, zebras for their meat during major drought
The southern African country plans to distribute the meat of hundreds of animals, including hippos and antelopes, to support relief efforts.
By Victoria Bisset
The Marshmallow Test and other predictors of success have bias built in, researchers say
Executive function is a collection of cognitive skills essential to human life, but psychologists now say our tests contain cultural biases.
By Carolyn Y. Johnson
‘Worst nightmare’ venomous sea worms washing up on Texas shores, scientists say
Heading to the beach? Pack duct tape and vinegar for the bristle worm that, if touched, makes people feel like they’re on fire.
By Ben Brasch
What to know about ‘sloth fever’ as U.S., Europe warn of imported cases
Twenty cases of the Oropouche virus disease were reported in Florida and one in New York. Symptoms include fever and aches, and the virus poses a particular risk to pregnant women.
By Adela Suliman
Diabetes took over her life, until a stem cell therapy freed her
Scientists are making progress replacing the critical insulin-producing cells that are destroyed by the disease.
By Carolyn Y. Johnson