On a hill above Washington, D. C. , a team of scientists watches the sky. They belong to the U. S. Naval Observatory, or USNO for short. Their job is simple: keep track of the stars and the exact moment in time. Since 1873 a telescope at USNO has watched bright stars every night. The data
Digital health programs promise big changes by tackling multiple habits at once—like eating better, moving more, and reducing stress. But do they actually deliver results for regular people? Research shows these programs can help in some groups, but we don’t know if they work well for everyone. Most
A high school in Waukegan made a smart move by putting 932 solar panels on its big roof. The school used to pay a lot for electricity—now it saves over $94, 000 every year. That money now helps teens from families with fewer resources go to college instead of going toward power bills. The panels do
Ryland Grace returns from a trip to Tau Ceti after aging only four years, while Earth waits 14. This gap isn’t just storytelling—it’s basic physics. Moving close to light speed slows your personal clock, a concept called time dilation. Grace’s ship accelerates constantly, so his clock keeps ticking
Maine is about to get hit by two different weather systems over the next few days, starting with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain tonight that could mess up Friday morning drives. The worst of it will be in the northern and central parts of the state, where some areas might get several inches
Katie Stewart, a 31‑year‑old teacher from Wolverhampton, England, has turned yearly travel into a passion for Pittsburgh sports. Her first trip in 2022 began when she watched the Penguins win an NHL game that sparked a new love for the team. From that moment, she has visited every season except wint
These beads are made by linking a plant‑derived polymer, carboxymethyl cellulose, with a strong metal‑binding molecule called ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid). The result is a spherical material that can soak up lead and cadmium from water far better than many existing powders. In te
This year has brought warmer temperatures sooner than usual to Santa Clarita Valley, waking up rattlesnakes earlier and pushing them into areas where people walk, hike, or just hang out. Unlike some animals that hide from cold, these snakes actually prefer the heat and become active as soon as the s
Raccoons trash pandas are more than just pests rummaging through bins. Scientists at the University of British Columbia tested 20 captive raccoons with a clear box full of obstacles like latches and dials hiding a marshmallow prize. The team noticed something unexpected the raccoons didn’t just grab
In Mammoth Lakes, a ski town in California’s Eastern Sierra, three people lost their lives last year to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a rare illness caused by a rodent virus. The deaths shocked residents because the infections happened in winter, a season when the disease usually stays low. The v
