Bill Chappell - NPR
From tracking Santa to Chinese spy balloons, here’s what we know about NORAD
The air defense center was created in the 1950s, as a counter to a rival superpower. Now NORAD is front and center again, prompting questions about what it does — and how it copes with modern threats.
The very last 747 jet has been made, ending a run of more than 50 years
The reign of the mighty Boeing 747 has ended, as the company says the last plane left its assembly line this week after 54 years of production.
Fat Bear Week emerges from scandal to crown a new champion Tuesday
The park says its virtual ballot box was stuffed in Sunday's semifinal, won by the mammoth 747 — who faces a young upstart female named 901 in the final.
Why the U.N. chief says we are ‘one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation’
It's not the first time for such a dire warning. Here's a brief look at why Guterres and others are raising the alarm now.
NASA’s James Webb telescope captures groundbreaking images of distant galaxies
Thanks to the telescope's deep and sharp infrared images, Earthlings are getting a more detailed look at distant galaxies than was ever possible.
What we know about the deadliest U.S. bird flu outbreak in 7 years
Nearly 23 million birds have died as a highly pathogenic bird flu virus tears its way through farms and chicken yards. It has spread to at least 24 states in less than two months.
With Ukraine under attack, Kyiv’s residents rush to stock up and reach safety
NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reported that people are starting to panic: "The question is: Do you stay and get trapped, or do you run and face danger on road or bombing?"
President Biden hits Russia with new sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine
Missile strikes and military barrages struck Ukrainian targets from the country's northern, eastern and southern borders.
800,000 Americans have died of COVID. Now the U.S. braces for an omicron-fueled spike.
The coronavirus has now killed more than 800,000 people in the U.S., just two years after the first COVID-19 cluster was reported in Wuhan, China, and a year after vaccines were first rolled out.
19 U.S. states now have detected the omicron COVID-19 variant
States that have detected the variant range from Hawaii to Massachusetts. The reports are part of a new surge in COVID-19 cases.
The first U.S. case of the omicron variant has now been reported
A case in California marks omicron's arrival in the U.S. Cases have been found in more than 20 countries around the world, less than a week after the worrying new variant was first identified.
A lost hiker ignored rescuers’ phone calls, thinking they were spam
You can get a cellphone signal on the highest mountain in Colorado — and if you get lost hiking that mountain, you should probably answer your phone, even if you don't recognize the caller's number.
Fat Bear Week has a champion: Meet 480 Otis
Who is the fattest bear of all? For the fourth time, the answer is 480 Otis, a brown bear who didn't let his lack of two canine teeth stop him from packing on the pounds.
Get a fan and get vaccinated, the CDC says in its safety tips for the holidays
"When you have something spread by aerosol, you absolutely want more ventilation," Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, said in an interview with CBS.
Pfizer Submits Favorable Initial Data To The FDA On Kids’ COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
Pfizer and BioNTech are another step closer to seeking authorization for young children to receive the COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine, submitting data to the Food and Drug Administration that shows a "robust" antibody response and "favorable" safety outcomes in kids ages 5 to 11 who received the two-dose regimen in clinical trials.
Every national forest in California is closing because of wildfire risk
The U.S. Forest Service is closing every national forest in California, citing the extraordinary risk of wildfires.
Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22 1/2 years over George Floyd’s murder
A Minnesota judge sentenced Derek Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison Friday for the murder of George Floyd — a punishment that exceeds the state's minimum guidelines but falls short of prosecutors' request of a 30-year sentence.
FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15 age group
Until now, the Pfizer vaccine had been authorized only for people age 16 and older. Pfizer asked the FDA to broaden its emergency use authorization for the vaccine after announcing in late March that clinical trials found "100% efficacy and robust antibody responses" in study participants who were 12 to 15 years old.
Pfizer says FDA will soon authorize COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15 age group
A ruling should come "shortly," Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla told investors in a conference call Tuesday morning.
Children now account for 22% of new U.S. COVID cases. Why is that?
On Monday, the AAP said children represented 22.4% of new cases reported in the past week, accounting for 71,649 out of 319,601 cases. The latest report, drawn from data collected through April 29, illustrates how children's share of coronavirus infections has grown in recent weeks.