PBS NewsHour - Science

Imagine a future where the aging process can be delayed and more people live active, healthy and disease-free lives well into their 90s. That reality may be sooner than you think, according to Dr. Eric Topol, author of the new book “Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.” Ali Rogin speaks with Topol about the rapidly advancing science of healthy aging. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It may sound like the stuff of sci-fi movies, but diverting food waste from the landfill and converting it into electricity has become a real thing. William Brangham visited Ben & Jerry’s Vermont ice cream factory and the operations next door to find out how it works. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump unveiled his approach to the development of AI. Surrounded by some of the biggest names in tech, he signed three executive orders. One targets what Trump called "ideological bias" in AI chatbots, another aims to make it easier to build massive AI data centers and the third encourages the export of American AI tech. Amna Nawaz discussed the implications with Will Oremus. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. produces more plastic waste than any other country in the world. Last year, more than 35,000 tons of it was shipped to Malaysia, which received more discarded plastic from rich nations than any other developing country. But in June, Malaysian leaders effectively banned future shipments. John Yang speaks with Anja Brandon, director of plastics policy at Ocean Conservancy, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Cities, 28 of the most populous U.S. cities are sinking. It’s due to a phenomenon called land subsidence, exacerbated in many cases by humans extracting too much groundwater from underground aquifers. Ali Rogin speaks with Grist senior writer Matt Simon to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The 2015 Paris agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was thought to be the threshold for averting severe climate change impacts. But new research says even that level is too high to prevent the catastrophic consequences of sea level rise due to melting glaciers. John Yang speaks with Chris Stokes, one of the study’s authors, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Donald Trump went to Iowa on Thursday to start the countdown to the nation’s 250th Independence Day next year. To mark the anniversary, the nonpartisan Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress is looking at 250 years of U.S. innovation. John Yang speaks with Glenn Nye, the center’s president and CEO, about the project. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Provisions in the GOP policy bill would end a host of tax credits for renewable energy, including one that allows homeowners to recoup 30 percent of the cost of a rooftop solar system. Businesses say it could deal a serious blow to the industry. Geoff Bennett discusses the potential with Dan Conant of Solar Holler, a solar installation company in West Virginia, for our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Humpback whales are some of the largest creatures on Earth and live in every one of the planet’s oceans. Their seasonal migrations are among the longest of any mammal, stretching thousands of miles. Now, scientists are using AI-powered facial recognition technology to track the whales on their journeys, offering new insights into their habits and health. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

One of the largest challenges facing India: how to sustain food production for 1.4 billion people amid deteriorating soil quality, diminishing water supplies and climate change. For some, including hundreds of artificial intelligence startup companies, the challenge represents a business opportunity. From India, Fred de Sam Lazaro reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is one of the most famous and secretive companies in the world working to develop artificial general intelligence that would match or surpass the cognitive abilities of humans across every task. Investigative journalist Karen Hao joins Ali Rogin to discuss her new book, “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI," which delves into the company. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Researchers in Florida are testing a new gene-edited tree that they hope will be able to fight off the tiny insects that have devastated the state’s orange groves for years. Colleen Krantz of Iowa PBS reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A group of gray seals in Rhode Island are making a splash. They were rescued in March and April after becoming entangled in fishing gear and other debris near Block Island. Several were recently released after being rehabilitated. John Yang has the story. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Sharks have been cast as the ultimate villain ever since the movie “Jaws” was released 50 years ago this summer. The film tells the story of a great white shark terrorizing beachgoers, but in reality, humans pose the greater threat to sharks. Ali Rogin speaks with endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh, who wants to get that message out by swimming around Martha’s Vineyard, where “Jaws” was filmed. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The EPA has reportedly drafted a plan to eliminate all limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, according to documents obtained by The New York Times. Now, with the rise of artificial intelligence technology, demand on power plants is increasing, in large part due to AI’s reliance on data centers. Ali Rogin speaks with Kenza Bryan, climate reporter for The Financial Times, for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In late April, the Trump administration told hundreds of scientists and experts that they were no longer needed to compile the next national climate assessment, a flagship report mandated by Congress to catalog the ways climate change affects the country. John Yang speaks with Elizabeth Koebele, an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, who was among the recipients of that message. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Doctors announced this week that they have treated a newborn baby with a rare genetic disease using the world’s first personalized gene editing therapy. Geoff Bennett discussed the treatment and its potential with Dr. Peter Marks. He oversaw gene therapy treatment and vaccine safety and approval for the FDA before he left in March. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Cheetahs, the fastest mammals on Earth, are now in a race against extinction. It’s estimated that fewer than 7,000 exist in the wild. John Yang speaks with Laurie Marker, a woman who has already helped dramatically reduce one threat to cheetahs and is tackling new ones that have emerged, for our Weekend Spotlight. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The deep sea covers about two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, but according to a new study, humans are estimated to have observed less than .001 percent of the deep seafloor — an area roughly the size of Rhode Island. Stephanie Sy speaks with the study’s author, Katy Croff Bell, who is working to change that. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In a remote part of Alaska, global warming is being blamed for endangering a treasure trove of Indigenous artifacts. Archaeologists at one dig site near the Bering Sea say they’re in a race against time. Nelufar Hedayat reports for the nonprofit news organization Evident Media. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Earlier in April, doctors at the National Institutes of Health made a promising step in the fight against cancer, announcing an immunotherapy treatment was able to shrink gastrointestinal tumors for about a quarter of patients. But NIH staffing shortages, layoffs and cuts are threatening to delay the rollout of this promising development. William Brangham speaks with Dr. Steven Rosenberg for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Coral reefs are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem, providing habitats for all sorts of marine life and protecting coastlines from storm damage. But scientists say rising ocean temperatures are posing a grave threat to the future of the world’s reefs. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

After more than a decade of mapping billions of stars across the Milky Way and beyond, a groundbreaking spacecraft is retiring. The European Space Agency’s space-based observatory known as Gaia is leaving behind a legacy of stunning discoveries that changed what we know about the universe. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For years, Black women have used synthetic braids to help style their hair. But a recent study by Consumer Reports found that these fake hair strands can contain dangerous chemicals that pose a health threat. Ali Rogin reports on the history of braiding in Black culture and speaks with Adana Llanos, co-leader of the Cancer Population Science Program at Columbia University, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As the world races to curb climate change, scientists are taking aim at cows, a surprisingly potent source of greenhouse gases. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien traveled from California to Mexico and Australia to explore a bold idea that could make a big impact. It's part of our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Artificial, human-made reefs have been deployed around the country to enhance and protect coastlines. The Department of Defense is working to deploy them in waters off its coastal military bases with its “Reefense” project. Ali Rogin speaks with Catherine Campbell, who manages the program, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

While ocelots are widespread in South and Central America, in the United States they are on the brink of extinction. They were once overhunted for their coats, and now they face shrinking habitats. Researchers hope that the key to restoring this species can be found in fertility treatments. John Yang reports for our series, “Saving Species.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

What can centuries-old whaling ship logs tell us about today’s extreme weather? According to scientists, the answer is a lot. They’re using the information recorded by mariners going back hundreds of years to push the frontier of modern-day climate science. Special correspondent Pamela Watts with Rhode Island PBS reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Trump administration is waging a ‘wholesale assault on U.S. science’ that threatens the country’s health, economic development, national security and scientific preeminence. That's according to an open letter published by nearly 2,000 doctors, scientists and researchers. William Brangham discussed the letter with Dr. Steven Woolf, one of its authors. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The National Institutes of Health has terminated dozens of grants for scientific research projects related to vaccine use and hesitancy, informing researchers that their studies no longer aligned with the Trump administration’s priorities. Ali Rogin speaks with Sophia Newcomer, one of the researchers whose grant was cancelled, whose work focuses on health care access in rural communities. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This past week, the EPA said it is reconsidering the scientific finding that greenhouse gases are a danger to public health. This comes as research shows average global temperatures in 2024 likely rose above a 1.5 degree Celsius threshold that for years has been a red line for climate change. Ali Rogin speaks with Michael Mann at the University of Pennsylvania to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This past week, beavers were legally released into the English countryside for the first time since they were hunted into extinction there in the 17th century. Conservationists hailed it as a watershed moment for this keystone species, which helps combat flooding and drought by engineering the landscape with dams and channels. Alex Thomson of Independent Television News reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Sea turtles are considered one of the oldest living species on Earth, but it’s been a mystery where their babies go after heading out to sea. Known as their “lost years,” the lack of information makes it hard for conservationists to protect these turtles. Now, a team of marine scientists is working to change that. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is featuring two exhibitions that explore the relationship between movies and technology as part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide. PBS Student Reporting Labs Ebonie Shelley has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

NASA’s partnership with the private sector took a key step forward with a successful moon landing. The Blue Ghost lunar lander, built by the company, Firefly Aerospace, stuck the landing safely early Sunday, making it the first commercial spacecraft to do so. It's carrying a number of experiments for NASA as part of a larger effort to have private companies make deliveries. Miles O'Brien reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

At this year’s Oscars, there is a subplot of controversy over the use of artificial intelligence in the production of a number of nominated films, including some in the running for best picture. Katey Rich, awards editor at The Ankler and host of the podcast Prestige Junkie, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the long wait to return to Earth is almost over. They went to the International Space Station last June in a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They were supposed to return a week later, but because of problems with the Starliner, they’ve stayed at the station for over 250 days. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Williams, Wilmore and crewmate Nick Hague. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The origins of life on our planet remains one of science’s great mysteries. Now, a NASA mission that brought a piece of an ancient asteroid back to Earth has revealed that the building blocks of life may have been scattered throughout the solar system billions of years ago. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Beavers and the dams they build are not always embraced in the areas where they do their work. But there's a growing recognition that they also are building a kind of natural infrastructure that helps with water management and the climate. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien went to see the beavers at work during their busy season and has the story for our ongoing coverage of Tipping Points. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Trump and Republican candidates made rolling back federal protections for transgender people a big issue, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on TV ads, much of it focused on gender-affirming care for minors. Despite the attention, a new study finds that gender-affirming medications are very rarely prescribed to adolescents. John Yang speaks with KFF's Lindsey Dawson to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Eighty percent of all global trade travels by sea, and the ships carrying those goods account for 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Now, some shipping companies are taking a new tack as they try to navigate the industry to sustainability on the high seas. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Ever since the deadly wildfires began in Los Angeles two weeks ago, residents have largely turned to one app for the most up-to-date information. It's called Watch Duty and Stephanie Sy spoke to two members of the small team that makes it possible. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders