Science
The latest science news, photos and videos covering space, the environment, human development and more.
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Underground climate change: How heat is trapped under the surface, threatening buildings
Subways and buildings emit heat directly into the sublayers of the ground, which can deform the ground and cause city structures and infrastructure to crack.
Antarctic winter sea ice hits 'extreme' record low
“It’s not just a record-breaking year; it’s an extreme record-breaking year,” one scientist said.
U.S. aims to create nuclear fusion facility within 10 years, Energy chief says
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory first achieved successful nuclear fusion in December in a major breakthrough after decades of work.
New Orleans braces for drinking water emergency from drought-stricken Mississippi River
Lingering drought conditions have kept the Mississippi River at abnormally low levels and significantly weakened its flow, allowing salt water to creep in.
Rain pelts Pacific Northwest — and may end wildfire season
An already tragic wildfire season could have been worse owing to drought conditions, but rain from an atmospheric river has delivered much-needed water.
After summer's extreme weather, more Americans see climate change as a culprit, poll shows
In total, 64% of U.S. adults say both that they’ve recently experienced extreme weather and that they believe it was caused at least partly by climate change, up from 54% in April.
In a first, NASA returns asteroid samples to Earth
The collected rocks and soil could help scientists unlock secrets about the solar system and how life emerged on this planet.
Richard Branson has an urgent message for climate change deniers
Branson sat down with NBC News while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. This week he revealed his new climate change coalition, Planetary Guardians.
Northern lights activity is sky-high, and scientists say more is yet to come
An increase in space weather could lead to the greatest display of the northern lights in the past two decades.
Wildfire-prone California will allow property insurers to factor future climate risks into pricing
Unlike other states, California does not let insurance companies consider future risks when deciding how much to charge for an insurance policy.
NASA spacecraft delivering biggest sample yet from an asteroid
A NASA spacecraft will fly by Earth on Sunday and drop off what is expected to be at least a cupful of rubble it grabbed from the asteroid Bennu, closing out a seven-year quest.
