Science

July 17, 2020 1:38 AM

NASA pushes back launch date on Webb Space Telescope, citing COVID-19

The launch of the $10 billion spacecraft, which scientists hope will see back to the time when the first galaxies were formed, has been rescheduled for Oct. 31, 2021.

by Scott Neuman

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July 15, 2020 5:08 PM

Good news: This comet won't cause a mass extinction in 2020; also, it's really pretty

The celestial visitor should be visible just after sunset for anyone who wants to see it. Bring along the binoculars for an even better view.

by Geoff Brumfiel

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July 13, 2020 7:33 AM

Look out, Mars: Here we come with a fleet of spacecraft

Mars is about to be invaded by planet Earth — big time. The U.S., China and the United Arab Emirates are sending spacecraft to Mars in quick succession beginning this week.

by The Associated Press

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July 13, 2020 5:00 AM

CDC employees call out agency's 'toxic culture of racial aggression'

Pointing to the coronavirus's disproportionate impact on people of color, 1,007 workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call on the agency to declare racism a public health threat.

by Selena Simmons-Duffin and Pien Huang

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July 10, 2020 9:58 AM

Comet streaking past Earth, providing spectacular show

Comet Neowise swept within Mercury's orbit a week ago. Its close proximity to the sun caused dust and gas to burn off its surface and create an even bigger debris tail. Now the comet is headed our way, with closest approach in two weeks.

by The Associated Press

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July 9, 2020 1:00 AM

2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Brian Greene, Krista Tippett, Lulu Miller on understanding the universe

Physicist Brian Greene, and radio hosts Krista Tippett and Lulu Miller talk about the big questions of life at the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival.

by MPR News Staff

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July 8, 2020 11:31 AM

'Desperation science' slows the hunt for coronavirus drugs

Six months after COVID-19 started spreading around the globe, desperation rather than information is still driving many decisions about how to treat the disease. Now researchers are trying innovative ways to get answers faster while still doing good science.

by The Associated Press

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July 8, 2020 1:00 AM

2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Erik Larson on 'The Splendid and the Vile' and Walter Isaacson on 'The Code Breaker'

Erik Larson and Walter Isaacson speak at the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival about their books, “The Splendid and the Vile” and “The Code Breaker: The Tale of Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR and the Future of the Human Race.” Mitt Romney speaks about the U.S.-China relations.

by MPR News Staff

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July 7, 2020 6:37 PM

U of M Morris now carbon neutral on electricity

The latest milestone means the balance of the electricity the university uses is generated from clean energy sources that don’t give off carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change.

by Kirsti Marohn

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July 7, 2020 10:29 AM

The pandemic is pushing scientists to rethink how they read research papers

Faced with a glut of pandemic research from around the world, scientists are confronting their biases and learning to engage with science conducted at institutions they're unfamiliar with.

by Richard Harris

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