An ancient mega ape's massive size — clocking in at 10 feet tall and around 550 pounds — turned into an evolutionary disadvantage as it went extinct more than 200,000 years ago, according to new study published in Nature on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The new research helps scientists resolve a longstanding mystery surrounding the legendary Gigantopithecus blacki's disappearance from what's now China.
Bottled water contains more nanoplastic particles than previously thought, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
Why it matters: The tiny plastic nanoparticles are a growing concern for human health and the environment because of their ubiquity, ability to pass through biological barriers in animals, including humans, and their potentially toxic effects on living organisms.
One in a fusillade of winter storms is still producing heavy rain, snow and high winds in parts of New England after unleashing severe thunderstorms with embedded tornadoes across the Southeast U.S. Tuesday.
The big picture: At the storm's peak,196 million people were under wind advisories, warnings and watches, including entire states from Florida to Maine, as a powerhouse cold front associated with it pushed east.
A sprawling winter storm is blasting much of the U.S. with heavy snow, rain, tornadoes and powerful winds.
The big picture: The latest in a series of "powerhouse" storm systems to hit the U.S. over the next two weeks has killed at least four people, caused major travel disruptions, widespread power outages, and prompted road closures and water rescues as multiple regions face blizzard conditions, severe thunderstorms and flooding.
NASA is delaying its long-awaited return to the surface of the moon by a year over crew safety concerns.
Why it matters: The landing was one of two postponements to the Artemis program announced by the space agency, as it also pushed back a slingshot around the moon that was scheduled for next year.
Why it matters: Scientific discovery itself must speed up if the world is to address its challenges — from climate change to personalized treatments for cancer — fast enough to make a difference.
Alaska and United Airlines said Monday they found problems with loose hardware following the grounding of all their Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets due to last week's mid-flight door plug blowout.
The big picture: Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave airlines authorization on Monday to begin inspections of 737 MAX 9 planes after they were grounded following the Friday incident aboard an Alaska Airlines plane.
