Category: Science

House Science Committee Holds Hearing on Ways to Advance Artificial Intelligence

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee holds a hearing at 10:00 a.m. ET on June 22 to “discuss ways the federal government can advance artificial intelligence (AI) in a trustworthy and beneficial manner for all Americans.”   …


Early Detection Through the Gut Could Change the Course of Alzheimer’s

It may soon be possible to learn whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease before they show symptoms by examining the bacterial makeup in their intestines, according to a Washington University School of Medicine study. Published June 14 in Science Translational Medicine, the study looked at the gut microbe community, called the microbiome, of 164 participants. Markedly…


Plantain: A First Aid Weed With Antibiotic, Antiviral, and Pain-Blocking Effects

In this series, “Herbal First Aid Kit,” we look at natural alternatives to modern first aid kits, which usually consist of medications made from synthetic chemicals. If you are looking for natural solutions for acute conditions, these herbs are safe, effective, and easily available. Plantain (Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata) may share a name with the banana-like…


House Digs Deeper Into Chinese-Owned Battery Company’s Rescinded Grant From Biden DOE

House Republicans have voiced worries about the Biden administration’s energy-related spending, questioning a Department of Energy (DOE) official about how a Chinese-owned battery manufacturer was on pace to get hundreds of millions in taxpayer money before the Biden administration yanked the money away last month. That company, Microvast, somehow qualified for a $200 million grant…


Resilient Purple Fairywrens Survive Record Flooding

Bird researchers are relieved to find that the majority of the endangered purple-crowned fairywrens (Malurus coronatus), a small, social bird found in dense Australian vegetation, survived one of the region’s worst flooding in January and were still breeding. Western Australia entered a state of emergency when ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie inundated the Kimberley region with unprecedented flooding,…


EPA Official Finally Testifies to House on Controversial Emissions Rules After Refusal in May

The House is no longer “Waiting for Goffman,” a top Environmental Protection Agency official who appeared before Congress on June 21 after declining to show up to a similar May 17 hearing. In both cases, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability wanted the Office of Air and Radiation’s Joseph Goffman to discuss his agency’s…


All Hail the Rising Sun! Stonehenge Welcomes 8,000 Visitors for the Summer Solstice

STONEHENGE, England—All hail the rising sun. Around 8,000 revelers gathered around a prehistoric stone circle on a plain in southern England to express their devotion to the sun, or to have some communal fun. Druids, pagans, hippies, local residents, and tourists, many clad in an array of colorful costumes and even antlers, stayed and celebrated…


Want to Be an Astronaut? Get Ready to Take Advantage of America’s Private Space Boom

Tickets are on sale now for a ride to space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s “spaceline” Virgin Galactic. The starting price? $450,000. Nearly two years after the historic flight that earned its founder his astronaut wings, the company revealed plans to launch its first two commercial spaceflights. The company also opened ticket sales for seats aboard…


US Coast Guard Gives Update on Search and Rescue Effort for Missing Titanic Tourist Submarine

First Coast Guard District Captain Jamie Frederick holds a news conference at 1:00 p.m. ET on June 21 to give updates on the search and rescue efforts for the submersible with five people aboard that has been missing in deep waters off the coast of Canada since Sunday. …


For the First Time, Anxiety Screening Recommended for All Adults Under 65

Adults aged 19 to 64 should undergo screening for anxiety disorders, according to a new recommendation by a group of independent medical experts. Their proposal, based on new evidence published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is the first time the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has suggested such screenings in adults, including…