Should adults get a booster shot of measles and other childhood vaccines?
In Texas, at least 90 cases of measles have been reported in recent weeks across the northwest part of that state. Among those cases are five people who say they’ve been vaccinated. It’s not known whether those five cases were fully vaccinated. Whether you’re watching this unfold from Texas or elsewhere, you might be wondering: Should you look into getting a booster shot for measles or other infectious diseases?
Why the chance that an asteroid might hit Earth in 2032 keeps changing
An asteroid between 130 and 300 feet wide has a slight chance of hitting Earth in 2032 — but the precise odds have been a moving target since the space rock was first detected nearly two months ago. NASA’s latest estimate for the asteroid, known as 2024 YR4, is that it has just a 0.28% probability of striking Earth — about a 1 in 360 chance. But the agency had put the probability at 1.5% on Wednesday, and the day before that, NASA estimated the chances of a collision to be a record high of 3.1%, or 1 in 32.
Astronauts vs. Musk: Public spat ensues over claims that politics delayed a flight to Earth
Elon Musk and European astronaut Andreas Mogensen exchanged barbs online after Musk suggested in a recent interview that two NASA astronauts were left on the International Space Station “for political reasons.” The public spat on X came in response to remarks Musk made during a pre-taped, joint interview with President Donald Trump that aired Tuesday on Fox News. The pair was asked about NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been on the space station for the past eight months, after their Boei
Apple unveils a souped-up and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone
Apple has released a sleeker and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone in an attempt to widen the audience for a bundle of artificial intelligence technology that the company has been hoping will revive demand for its most profitable product lineup. The iPhone 16e unveiled Wednesday is the fourth-generation of a model that’s sold at a dramatically lower price than the iPhone’s standard and premium models. The previous bargain-bin models were called the iPhone SE, with the last version coming out in 2022.
Birds-of-paradise are sending secret color signals invisible to human eyes, scientists say
Many types of birds — such as hummingbirds, peacocks and parrots — are vividly colorful, but birds-of-paradise are especially flamboyant with hues of emerald, lemon, cobalt and ruby. Now, research has revealed these stunning birds are also sending secret color signals that are invisible to human eyes. Plumage and body parts of birds-of-paradise glow in certain areas when viewed under blue and ultraviolet, or UV, light, appearing bright green or yellow-green, scientists reported in a new study published February 12 in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
NASA strikes deal over layoffs of recent hires
NASA confirmed Thursday that the space agency may have sidestepped the sweeping layoffs it was expected to implement this week, potentially saving hundreds of newly hired employees and career professionals. In a statement, the agency said it worked with the Office of Personnel Management — which has been at the forefront of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce — on “a careful evaluation of our workforce and mission requirements.”
Measles outbreak grows bigger in rural Texas, and officials expect more cases
At least 58 new cases of measles have been reported across northwest Texas in recent weeks, state health officials said Tuesday, in a "highly contagious" outbreak that might be linked to lack of vaccination. A bulk of these new cases in rural northwest Texas are in Gaines County with 45 documented incidents of the disease, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
mRNA vaccines show promise in pancreatic cancer in early trial
Personalized mRNA vaccines show promise as pancreatic cancer treatment, a phase 1 clinical trial published Wednesday in Nature found. Fewer than 13% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live for more than five years, making it one of the deadliest types of cancer. That is, in part, because around 90% of cases are diagnosed when the disease is already advanced.
NASA looking for ways to destroy asteroid that could strike Earth, kill city
The chances of a giant space rock striking the Earth have decreased, but NASA and other space agencies are still devising a plan to obliterate it. Asteroid 2024 YR4, a recently discovered planetoid, now has a 1.5% probability of making impact with Earth, according to NASA.
Humanoid robots bust dance moves alongside humans
In a stunning display of technological prowess and cultural fusion, Unitree's H1 humanoid robots recently stole the show at China's Spring Festival Gala, performing alongside human dancers in a mesmerizing rendition of the traditional Yangge folk dance. This groundbreaking performance marks a significant milestone in the world of robotics and entertainment.