Science

Former CDC chief says we're losing focus on public health priorities
Dr. Julie Gerberding says there's a lot of consensus about how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We know what to do, but we don't do it. She thinks "alternative facts", and the dominance of social media are partly to blame.
California is on its way to having an avocado crop year-round
Americans ate 2 billion pounds of avocados last year; many came from Mexico. That's because avocados grow year-round in Mexico's climate, but not California's. Researchers are working to change that.
Poll: Most teens have taken social media break
Today's teenagers might not recall a time before social media. But nearly two-thirds of those surveyed say they have taken voluntary breaks from it.
Climate change and shifts in the migration patterns of birds
Anthropologist Barbara J. King explores links between global warming and migratory bird behavior as new research on white storks reveals some are wintering closer to home.
Cassini craft beams closest images ever taken of Saturn
The spacecraft is "showing us new wonders and demonstrating where our curiosity can take us if we dare," NASA's planetary science director says.
Recordings reveal that baby humpback whales 'whisper' to their mothers
Scientists recently tracked eight baby whales using special sound and movement recorders. The sounds the babies made turned out to be far different from the eerie songs of adult male humpbacks.
New evidence suggests humans arrived in the Americas far earlier than thought
Until now, the earliest signs of humans in the Americas dated back about 15,000 years. But new research puts people in California 130,000 years ago. Experts are wondering whether to believe it.
Supporters say the drones can better find missing people while saving the state money. But they're also preparing for pushback from those who fear drones could invade privacy.
Scientists create artificial womb that could help prematurely born babies
The device kept fetal lambs alive for about a month, allowing them to continue to mature. It has not been tested in humans, and some say the device raises ethical questions.