NASA, SpaceX launch crew to space station to retrieve stuck astronauts

The replacement crew for the International Space Station was launched late Friday, paving the way for the return home of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two NASA astronauts stuck on the space station for nine months. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:03 p.m. from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying Crew-10 … continue reading -> “NASA, SpaceX launch crew to space station to retrieve stuck astronauts”

Pi Day counts on never-ending numerical sequence for March 14 celebrations

March 14 is Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical constant of pi, representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. The holiday is observed on March 14 or 3/14 because 3.14 are the first three digits of the infinite number pi — 3.14159 … and on and on. The celebration of … continue reading -> “Pi Day counts on never-ending numerical sequence for March 14 celebrations”

Africa faces diabetes crisis, study finds

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Researchers warn that type 2 diabetes could affect millions more people in the coming decades after a study published this month revealed the disease is rising far faster among people in sub-Saharan Africa than previously thought. Take 51-year-old security guard Sibusiso Sithole, for example. Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes came as … continue reading -> “Africa faces diabetes crisis, study finds”

Report: US bird population is declining

The U.S. bird population is declining at an alarming rate, according to a report published Thursday by an alliance of science and conservation groups. Habitat loss and climate change are among the key contributing factors to the bird population losses, according to the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report. More than 100 of the … continue reading -> “Report: US bird population is declining”

Asteroid probe snaps rare images of Martian moon

PARIS — On the way to investigate the scene of a historic asteroid collision, a European spacecraft swung by Mars and captured rare images of the red planet’s mysterious small moon Deimos, the European Space Agency said Thursday. Europe’s HERA mission is aiming to find out how much of an impact a NASA spacecraft made when … continue reading -> “Asteroid probe snaps rare images of Martian moon”

White House withdraws nomination for CDC director

WASHINGTON — The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. David Weldon, a former Florida congressman, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Senate health committee announced Thursday morning that it was canceling a planned hearing on Weldon’s nomination because of the withdrawal. A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on … continue reading -> “White House withdraws nomination for CDC director”

Archaeologists find million-year-old fossil of a human ancestor

WASHINGTON — A fossil of a partial face from a human ancestor is the oldest in western Europe, archaeologists reported Wednesday. The incomplete skull — a section of the left cheek bone and upper jaw – was found in northern Spain in 2022. The fossil is between 1.1 million and 1.4 million years old, according to … continue reading -> “Archaeologists find million-year-old fossil of a human ancestor”

NASA’s newest space telescope blasts off to map the entire sky and millions of galaxies

NASA’s newest space telescope rocketed into orbit Tuesday to map the entire sky like never before — a sweeping look at hundreds of millions of galaxies and their shared cosmic glow since the beginning of time. SpaceX launched the Spherex observatory from California, putting it on course to fly over Earth’s poles. Tagging along were … continue reading -> “NASA’s newest space telescope blasts off to map the entire sky and millions of galaxies”

VOA Creole: MSF reports 150 new cholera cases in Haiti  

Medecins Sans Frontiere says cholera is on the rise in Haiti. The nongovernmental health organization, also known as Doctors Without Borders, says 150 Haitians were treated for cholera between Feb. 15 and March 6. The Cite Soleil neighborhood reported 19 infections. MSF expressed concern about the trend as Haitians have less access to clean water … continue reading -> “VOA Creole: MSF reports 150 new cholera cases in Haiti  ”

Measles cases rising in southwestern US as more states report infections

Measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico are now up to more than 250 cases, and two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines and has been … continue reading -> “Measles cases rising in southwestern US as more states report infections”

Monarch butterflies wintering in Mexico rebound this year

MEXICO CITY — The number of monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains west of Mexico City rebounded this year, doubling the area they covered in 2024 despite the stresses of climate change and habitat loss, experts said Thursday. The annual butterfly count doesn’t calculate the individual number of butterflies, but rather the number of acres they … continue reading -> “Monarch butterflies wintering in Mexico rebound this year”

US researchers and doctors rally for science against Trump cuts

WASHINGTON — Giving a new meaning to the phrase mad scientists, angry researchers, doctors, their patients and supporters ventured out of labs, hospitals and offices Friday to fight against what they call a blitz on life-saving science by the Trump administration. In the nation’s capital, a couple thousand gathered at the Stand Up for Science rally. … continue reading -> “US researchers and doctors rally for science against Trump cuts”

Cholera killed nearly 100 in Sudan over 2 weeks, aid group says

CAIRO — Nearly 100 people died of cholera in two weeks since the waterborne disease outbreak began in Sudan’s White Nile State, an international aid group said. Doctors Without Borders — also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF — said Thursday that 2,700 people have contracted the disease since Feb. 20, including 92 people who … continue reading -> “Cholera killed nearly 100 in Sudan over 2 weeks, aid group says”

SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight again ends in explosion

Nearly two months after an explosion sent flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another mammoth Starship rocket on Thursday, but lost contact minutes into the test flight as the spacecraft came tumbling down and broke apart. This time, wreckage from the explosion was seen streaming from the skies over Florida. … continue reading -> “SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight again ends in explosion”

Unvaccinated New Mexico adult tests positive for measles after death

A New Mexico resident who has died, tested positive for measles, the state health department said on Thursday, marking the second measles-related death in the United States in more than a decade. The unvaccinated adult patient did not seek medical care before death and was the first measles-related death in the state in more than … continue reading -> “Unvaccinated New Mexico adult tests positive for measles after death”

Ariane 6 rocket roars skyward carrying French military satellite

PARIS — An Ariane 6 rocket roared skyward with a French military reconnaissance satellite aboard Thursday in the first commercial flight for the European heavy-lift launcher. The rocket took off smoothly from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, quickly disappearing into thick clouds. Video images beamed back from the rocket showed the Earth’s beautiful colors … continue reading -> “Ariane 6 rocket roars skyward carrying French military satellite”

Canada reports increase in measles cases, urges vaccination

Canada is seeing a noticeable increase in measles cases this year, with more reported in the first two months of 2025 than all of last year, the country’s health agency said on Thursday and urged citizens to get vaccinated.  The Public Health Agency of Canada said it has recorded 227 measles cases as of March … continue reading -> “Canada reports increase in measles cases, urges vaccination”

Florida’s gentle giants: Manatees fight for survival

Collisions with boats are the cause of at least 20% of manatee deaths in Florida every year. But as Valdya Baraputri reports, that’s not the only threat faced by these gentle giants of the sea. Camera: Laurentius Wahyudi and Nabila Ganinda …

US firm targets moon landing with drill, rovers, hopping drone

WASHINGTON — A drill to search for ice. A 4G network test. Three rovers and a first-of-its-kind hopping drone. After becoming the first private firm to land on the moon last year, Intuitive Machines is aiming for its second lunar touchdown on Thursday, carrying cutting-edge payloads to support future human missions. The Houston-based company is targeting … continue reading -> “US firm targets moon landing with drill, rovers, hopping drone”

US stops sharing air quality data, raising scientists’ concerns

NEW DELHI — The U.S. government will stop sharing air quality data gathered from its embassies and consulates, worrying local scientists and experts who say the effort was vital to monitor global air quality and improve public health. In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press, the State Department said Wednesday that its air quality … continue reading -> “US stops sharing air quality data, raising scientists’ concerns”

Wounded Ukrainian veteran & choreographer gets prosthetic leg thanks to donations  

Ukrainians in Czechia raised nearly 19,000 dollars to help a Ukrainian war veteran and dancer get back on the floor. Yevhen Skripnichuk lost his leg while fighting the Russians. Omelyan Oshchudlyak has the story. Camera:  Yuriy Dankevych      …

James Harrison, whose blood plasma donations are credited with saving 2.4 million babies, dies at 88 

MELBOURNE, Australia — James Harrison, whose blood plasma donations are credited with An Australian man credited with saving 2.4 million babies through his record-breaking blood plasma donations over six decades, has died at 88, his family said Tuesday. James Harrison, a retired state railway department clerk, died in a nursing home on the central coast of … continue reading -> “James Harrison, whose blood plasma donations are credited with saving 2.4 million babies, dies at 88 “

Private lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon with special delivery for NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — A private lunar lander carrying a drill, vacuum and other experiments for NASA touched down on the moon Sunday, the latest in a string of companies looking to kickstart business on Earth’s celestial neighbor ahead of astronaut missions. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander descended from lunar orbit on autopilot, aiming for the … continue reading -> “Private lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon with special delivery for NASA”

Uganda reports second Ebola death, a 4-year-old, WHO says

KAMPALA, UGANDA — A second Ebola patient, a 4-year-old child, has died in Uganda, the World Health Organization said, citing the country’s health ministry. The fatality brings the number of confirmed cases in Uganda to 10. The East African country declared an outbreak of the highly infectious and often fatal hemorrhagic disease in January after the … continue reading -> “Uganda reports second Ebola death, a 4-year-old, WHO says”

Judge blocks Trump order threatening funding for transgender youth care

SEATTLE — President Donald Trump’s plan to pull federal funding from institutions that provide gender-affirming care for transgender youth will remain blocked on a long-term basis under a federal judge’s ruling in Seattle late Friday.  U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King previously granted a two-week restraining order after the Democratic attorneys general of Washington, Oregon and … continue reading -> “Judge blocks Trump order threatening funding for transgender youth care”