How Storm Surges Work—and Why They’re So Deadly
The deadliest part of a hurricane isn’t the wind–it’s water. Here’s what causes a storm surge, and which regions are most at risk.
How Computer Algorithms Make Predictions
These computer programs use artificial intelligence to look for patterns in data without human instruction.
Computers v. Crime Preview
In police departments and courts across the country, artificial intelligence is being used to help decide who is policed, who gets bail, how offenders should be sentenced, and who gets parole. But is it actually making our law enforcement and court systems fairer and more just? This timely investigation digs into the hidden biases, privacy risks, and design flaws of this controversial technology.
Saving Notre Dame’s Iconic Stone Vaulting
The water used to fight a fire at Paris’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and months of rainwater damaged the Cathedrals’ stonework but a team of geologist have a plan to save it.
Restoring Notre Dame's Iconic Stained Glass
After the fire, the team working on restoring the South Rose window noticed major changes to the original stained glass masterpiece.
Rebuilding Notre Dame
In April 2019, the world watched as a devastating fire almost destroyed Paris’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. Go behind the scenes with a team of engineers, masons, and timber workers tackling the daunting challenges of restoring the historic landmark.
Sharks Are Showing Up Earlier—and Staying Longer
Tiger sharks are being spotted off the coast of the New England earlier than usual, and they’re hanging around for longer. What's going on? And are they here to stay.
This Flood Barrier Could Save Venice
Venice is sinking, with sea level predicted to rise another 40 inches by the end of the century. Could a colossal network of flood barriers save it from the sea?
How Venice Was Built On a Swamp
Building a city on a lagoon has its challenges. Here's how the citizens of Venice accomplished this task centuries ago.
Saving Venice Preview
Rising seas and sinking land threaten to destroy Venice. Can the city’s new hi-tech flood barrier save it? Discover the innovative projects and feats of engineering designed to stop this historic city from being lost to future generations.
Ending HIV in America Preview
Almost 40 years after the discovery of HIV, could we be on the verge of ending the AIDS epidemic in America? How did scientists tackle one of the most elusive deadly viruses to ever infect humans? Can innovative drugs bring new infections to zero?
How Seaweed May Help Revive Our Oceans
In some parts of the ocean, like in the Gulf of Mexico, there is so little oxygen in the water that marine life is actually suffocating. Could kelp help, or is it mostly hype?
The Hidden Cause of Traffic Jams—and How to Solve Them
Some traffic jams seem to happen out of nowhere—it’s not rush hour, no construction, no accidents. These are called phantom traffic jams, generally caused by drivers tapping the brakes on and off. Could autonomous vehicles eliminate these traffic jams, and make our roads safer? Some researchers think so.
The False Promise of Cloning Your Pet
Departed pets can now live on through reproductive cloning. But many owners have been surprised to find that genetics aren’t everything—Fluffy the second turns out to be an animal all its own.
Why Distant Galaxies Look Red
The James Webb Space Telescope, a project 30 years in the making, launched in December 2021 and arrived at its destination point in January. The telescope will be able to see further into the infrared part of the spectrum than Hubble, and further back in time.
How Scientists Created JWST's First Test Image
A month after its launch, the next step for the James Webb Space Telescope was to align all 18 of its mirrors. Aligning the 18 mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope took extreme precision and allowed it to take its first image—a star amongst many galaxies.
NASA Reacts to the James Webb Space Telescope Images
This team of space scientists, visual developers and science writers have been working together since early June processing the images of celestial objects, and the spectra of the atmosphere of an exoplanet, for release to the public, so the world can see what Webb can do. They are the only team members who’ve had the privilege of seeing the images.
Ultimate Space Telescope Preview
Follow the dramatic story of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the most complex machine ever launched into space – in hopes of peering deeper back in time than ever before and answering some of astronomy’s biggest questions.
This Device Smells Diseases by Imitating a Dog's Nose
By studying dog noses, scientists at MIT are building an electronic nose that is learning to analyze odors to sniff out diseases. Could this tech someday be integrated into smartphones?
Humans May Have Lived in North America Earlier Than Thought
Ancient human footprints in White Sands National Park reveal that humans first arrived in North America thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
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