New observations and sharper tools are fueling the debate over a long-sought measurement of how fast the universe is expanding.
Why it matters: A resolution would determine whether scientists' model of the universe is broken or if it's missing something — and would answer key questions about the age, size and history of the universe.
An intense early season heat wave will strike the Pacific Northwest starting Friday, breaking records for several days from Oregon to Alberta. Both Seattle and Portland, Ore., may see their first 90-degree days of 2023
The big picture: The heat wave may last well into next week and pose a danger to public health, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) markedlyboosted the odds that an El Niño event will form in the tropical Pacific Ocean this summer, hastening climate change and altering global weather patterns.
The big picture: It could lead to the first year in which the global average surface temperatures bump up against the Paris Agreement's more stringent climate change target of 1.5°C (2.7°F) above preindustrial levels, Zeke Hausfather, climate research lead at payments company Stripe, told Axios.
Scientists on Wednesday published a first draft of a human "pangenome" that captures more of the genetic diversity in the human population.
Why it matters: It's a major development that could help researchers to find and better understand genetic variations linked to diseases and disorders. Genetic research and medical treatments have been hindered by a reliance on genomic data from white European populations.
