According to data from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, 2023 was a record year for launching satellites, probes, landers and more into space. But scientists worry those plumes of exhaust trailing behind rockets could be scattering harmful pollutants into the pristine upper layers of the atmosphere. John Yang speaks with freelance science journalist Shannon Hall to learn more.

Caitlin Clark is now the all-time leading scorer for NCAA women’s basketball. The Iowa superstar made history Thursday night when she broke the record on her home court, leading fans to erupt in cheers. Amna Nawaz reports.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the death of outspoken Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a main source for the Republicans’ Biden impeachment case getting indicted for lying, plus a busy week of Trump-related court news in New York and Georgia.

A year after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling toxic chemicals, many questions remain about safety standards for all trains, but especially those carrying hazardous chemicals. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins Geoff Bennett to discuss the Biden administration’s efforts to prevent future disasters, why rail accidents have increased, how Congress could help and more.

More than a year since a toxic train derailment devastated the small Ohio town of East Palestine, President Biden visited the community for the first time on Friday. The initial fire and controlled burn of chemicals a few days later have left residents concerned for their health and safety. Geoff Bennett reports.

World leaders gathered in Germany on Friday for the start of the annual Munich Security Conference. Nick Schifrin reports from the conference and sits down with one of the attendees, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, for an interview.

A New York judge on Friday fined Donald Trump and his business associates more than $350 million, ruling they engaged in a yearslong effort to inflate the value of their assets to defraud banks and insurance companies. Judge Arthur Engoron also barred Trump from running any business in the state of New York for three years. William Brangham joins Amna Nawaz to discuss the case.

Alexei Navalny was Vladimir Putin’s most prominent political opponent in Russia. Amna Nawaz talks with Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about Navalny’s reported death and legacy.

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny reportedly died on Friday at a remote Arctic prison where he was held. The anti-corruption campaigner and politician had long incurred the wrath of top Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, for exposing their hidden fortunes. Amna Nawaz reports on the global response to the news that Navalny has died.

As the war in Gaza rages, tensions are escalating on Israel’s Northern border. Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, which the U.S. labels a terrorist group, have traded fire since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Nick Schifrin spoke with Israelis who live near the border about the threat, their forced displacement and how their government has responded.

Kansas City is coping with the aftermath of the Super Bowl parade shooting that left one person dead and 22 others injured. Half of them were under the age of 16. The shooting left local officials asking themselves about what more they could do to protect the public when there was already a heavy police presence at the event. Geoff Bennett reports.

In our news wrap Thursday, Israeli forces raided the main hospital in southern Gaza a day after ordering thousands of refugees to leave the complex, Houthi rebels in Yemen fired on another British freighter in the Gulf of Aden, Russia and Ukraine traded missile fire, adding to the civilian death toll and the White House confirmed that Russia is developing a space-based, anti-satellite weapon.

A judge in New York City ruled Donald Trump will go on trial to face felony charges he falsified business records to cover up a sex scandal to protect his presidential campaign. The judge rejected Trump’s motions to dismiss or delay the case and told lawyers to prepare for trial starting March 25. The former president criticized the case as politically motivated. William Brangham reports.

The special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation charged a one-time informant with lying about President Biden and his son. Alexander Smirnov is accused of falsely claiming Ukrainian energy firm Burisma paid the Bidens $5 million apiece in 2015 and 2016. Laura Barrón-López breaks down the charges and how they undercut a key part of the House Republican impeachment inquiry into the president.

The debate over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in colleges and universities has been heating up around the country. The political and actual backlash to past DEI programs has been growing. John Yang breaks down more of what this dispute is about and what the stakes are in the world of higher education for our series, Race Matters.

Since the launch of 988, the three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, millions have made contact with counselors. But the support and services available after someone calls 988 largely depend on what state one lives in. Stephanie Sy reports on how Arizona’s crisis response network has become a leading model for crisis care.

In 1985, the biggest American pop stars all gathered in one Los Angeles studio, for one night only, to record "We Are the World," a song that raised tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for Africa. Amna Nawaz reports a new film documenting how the stars came together to make history.

The Republican nominee won’t be officially decided until the GOP convention in Milwaukee this July. But this past weekend in Virginia, nearly 2,000 college students held a Republican convention of their own. Judy Woodruff spoke with young Republicans and Democrats about their views on politics in America during this unusual primary season. It's part of her series, "America at a Crossroads."

As America braces for a rematch between President Biden and Donald Trump, polls show the ages of both likely nominees are troubling many voters this election year. We have perspectives from some voters who are over the age of 70 and Laura Barrón-López discusses what happens to our brains and memories as we age with Dr. Dan Blazer and Dr. Charan Ranganath.

Prabowo Subianto appears to be the winner of Indonesia's presidential election. Prabowo currently serves as Defense Minister and was accused of major human rights abuses, including overseeing the abduction of democracy activists. Indonesia is the world's third-largest democracy and sits at a crucial pivot point between China and the U.S. Geoff Bennett discussed the results with Ben Bland.