Geoff Brumfiel

The International Space Station depends on a mix of U.S. and Russian parts. “I hope we can hold it together as long as we can,” says former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. NASA hide caption toggle caption NASA The International Space Station depends on a mix of U.S. and Russian parts. “I hope we can hold it together as long as we can,” says former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. NASA On the ground, tensions between the U.S. and Russia are running high. Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely claims the U.S. is working with Nazis in Ukraine, while President Biden calls Putin a […]

During its occupation of the Chernobyl nuclear site, Russia appears to have stationed troops in an area of high radioactive contamination, according to new satellite imagery obtained by NPR from the company Planet. The decision raises the possibility that Russia exposed its own soldiers to potentially unhealthy levels of radioactivity during its month-plus possession of the defunct nuclear facility. Experts say the levels are not nearly enough to cause sudden radiation poisoning, but they could potentially elevate the long-term risks of cancer for the soldiers. “You shouldn’t go into a contaminated site and have people camping out and digging in the […]

Iryna Holoshchapova, a Ukrainian refugee who fled the embattled city of Mykolaiv, shows a video on her smartphone of an apartment block on fire following a Russian attack. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Sean Gallup/Getty Images Iryna Holoshchapova, a Ukrainian refugee who fled the embattled city of Mykolaiv, shows a video on her smartphone of an apartment block on fire following a Russian attack. Sean Gallup/Getty Images As the war in Ukraine unfolds, many people are watching it on their phones. Social media is awash in photos, videos and satellite images. But some experts worry that the picture painted […]

Last week’s assault by Russian forces on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was far more dangerous than initial assessments suggested, according to an analysis by NPR of video and photographs of the attack and its aftermath. A thorough review of a four-hour, 21-minute security camera video of the attack reveals that Russian forces repeatedly fired heavy weapons in the direction of the plant’s massive reactor buildings, which housed dangerous nuclear fuel. Photos show that an administrative building directly in front of the reactor complex was shredded by Russian fire. And a video from inside the plant shows damage and a possible […]

Emergency diesel generators are providing power to critical safety systems at the Chernobyl nuclear site, but they only have enough fuel for 48 hours. The site is pictured here in April 2021. Efrem Lukatsky/AP hide caption toggle caption Efrem Lukatsky/AP Emergency diesel generators are providing power to critical safety systems at the Chernobyl nuclear site, but they only have enough fuel for 48 hours. The site is pictured here in April 2021. Efrem Lukatsky/AP The Chernobyl nuclear site has lost power, according to a Facebook post by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. According to the post, power was lost […]

A member of the civil defense takes a shooting position as a vehicle approaches the checkpoint in Gorenka, outside the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday. Russia renewed its assault on Ukraine’s second-largest city in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire over populated areas. Vadim Ghirda/AP hide caption toggle caption Vadim Ghirda/AP A member of the civil defense takes a shooting position as a vehicle approaches the checkpoint in Gorenka, outside the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday. Russia renewed its assault on Ukraine’s second-largest city in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire […]

Researchers were able to detect DNA from elephants at the Copenhagen Zoo simply by sampling the air nearby. IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima hide caption toggle caption IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima Researchers were able to detect DNA from elephants at the Copenhagen Zoo simply by sampling the air nearby. IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima A key part of protecting endangered species is figuring out where they’re living. Now researchers say they have found a powerful new tool that could help: vacuuming DNA out of the air. “This is a bit of a crazy idea,” […]

After listening to hours of bat pups in the wild, scientists have identified eight characteristics of babbling that are shared by human babies and the greater sac-winged bat. B.G. Thomson/Science Source Spend any time around a baby and you’re likely to hear some babbling. Now, new research shows baby bats can do it too. A paper published on Thursday in the latest issue of the journal Science finds similarities between the babbling of human infants and the babbling of the greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata) — a small species of bat that lives in Central and South America. The researchers believe […]

The COVID vaccines are safe an effective, but misinformation keeps many from taking the shot. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag hide caption toggle caption Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag The COVID vaccines are safe an effective, but misinformation keeps many from taking the shot. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag Misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines can appear almost anywhere: From an uncle’s social media post to a well-trusted news commentator. But where does it come from and why do some myths spread further than others? With the help of the Internet research firm Graphika, […]

President Biden told U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate whether the coronavirus spread after a lab leak in China. Scientists welcome the request, but many still think it came from the wild. (Image credit: Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images) Source link

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. John Raoux/AP hide caption toggle caption John Raoux/AP A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. John Raoux/AP A SpaceX rocket lifted off from Florida early Friday morning on what is becoming a routine mission, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from […]

Nearly a third of adults in the U.S. have gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine so far, but researchers warn that vaccine refusal may keep the country from reaching herd immunity. John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Nearly a third of adults in the U.S. have gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine so far, but researchers warn that vaccine refusal may keep the country from reaching herd immunity. John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Joyce Ann Kraner is eager for the pandemic […]

The Speaker of the House told colleagues she had spoken with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about keeping the nuclear codes from an “unhinged President.” (Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Source link

Four astronauts are scheduled to head to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky) hide caption toggle caption NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky) Four astronauts are scheduled to head to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky) Four astronauts are set to lift off Sunday night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX rocket bound for the International Space Station. The crewed flight will be the second for SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and the first since NASA officially certified the small spacecraft to carry people. Aboard will be NASA astronauts Mike […]

COVID-19 mortality rates are going down, according to studies of two large hospital systems, partly thanks to improvements in treatment. Here, clinicians care for a patient in July at an El Centro, Calif., hospital. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images COVID-19 mortality rates are going down, according to studies of two large hospital systems, partly thanks to improvements in treatment. Here, clinicians care for a patient in July at an El Centro, Calif., hospital. Mario Tama/Getty Images Two new peer-reviewed studies are showing a sharp drop in mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The drop is seen in […]