Explore

Filmmaker Robert May Discusses Civil Discourse in 'Bucks County, USA' Documentary Series

Filmmaker Robert May Discusses Civil Discourse in 'Bucks County, USA' Documentary Series

Filmmaker Robert May, alongside Barry Levinson, has created a new five-part documentary series titled 'Bucks County, USA,' which explores civil discourse and division within a Pennsylvania swing county. The series, currently airing on PBS stations including WVIA, was filmed over four years, beginning during the COVID-19 pandemic. May emphasizes the importance of 'listening generously' and with respect to understand differing viewpoints. The documentary focuses on friendships in the deeply divided community, aiming to offer an impartial, human perspective beyond politics. May will participate in a panel discussion and preview of the film at the WVIA Public Media studios on November 19, 2026. The project was inspired by the visible division May observed during the pandemic and the desire to understand why opinions have led to such animosity. The series highlights the experiences of individuals from both sides of the political spectrum, including two teenage best friends, Evi and Vanessa, who hold opposing po...

Scientists Challenge True De-Extinction, Argue Genetic Engineering Creates Analogs, Not Restored Lineages

Scientists Challenge True De-Extinction, Argue Genetic Engineering Creates Analogs, Not Restored Lineages

Andrew Davinack and Charlotte K. Daniels of Wheaton College in Massachusetts have published an opinion paper in the journal *Biology Letters* challenging the concept of 'de-extinction' through genetic engineering. They argue that current biotechnological approaches, such as those used in the Dire Wolf Project by Colossal Biosciences, do not truly bring extinct species back to life. Instead, these methods create genetically engineered analogs of extinct animals. For instance, Colossal Biosciences modified cells from living gray wolves to produce animals with some characteristics of dire wolves. However, Davinack and Daniels contend that these are still genetically engineered gray wolves, not actual dire wolves, because the process does not restore the extinct species' evolutionary history or its original genetic diversity. They emphasize that even if an extinct animal's genetic makeup could be perfectly recreated, its original environment and ecological relationships, which were crucial to its evolution, ca...

Tullahoma's Hands-on Science Center Welcomes Riley the Axolotl, a Critically Endangered Species

Tullahoma's Hands-on Science Center Welcomes Riley the Axolotl, a Critically Endangered Species

The Hands-on Science Center (HOSC) in Tullahoma has introduced a new resident, Riley, an axolotl, which is a pale, feathery-gilled aquatic salamander. Riley resides in a carefully chilled tank, captivating both children and adults. Austin Sisco, executive director of HOSC, notes that axolotls are unique amphibians that remain in their larval stage permanently and must stay in water. Native to a single lake system in Mexico, axolotls are critically endangered in the wild but are thriving in captivity. Riley's poor eyesight necessitates food being placed directly in front of its mouth, often leading to amusing feeding reactions. The special tank maintaining Riley at 65 degrees year-round is an expensive but crucial part of its care. Riley is expected to turn one year old around January 2027, at which point its gender can be reliably identified, with an 85% chance of being male. The axolotl was named Riley in honor of a baby boy, a name chosen through a contest won by a third-grader.

PBS to Televise 'We Chose to Go to the Moon' Concert, Retelling Space Race History

PBS to Televise 'We Chose to Go to the Moon' Concert, Retelling Space Race History

PBS is set to televise 'We Chose to Go to the Moon,' a production that brings the history of the space race to life. This event, originally presented as a concert at Carnegie Hall last April, features Broadway stars, an orchestra, and a combination of film footage and still photographs. The production offers a radical retelling of the historical events surrounding the space race, aiming to provide a fresh perspective on this significant period. The televised version will allow a broader audience to experience the unique blend of live performance and historical documentation that characterized the original concert. This initiative by PBS highlights a continued effort to present historical narratives through innovative and engaging artistic formats, making complex historical events accessible and compelling for contemporary viewers.

H5N1 Avian Influenza Spreads from Illinois Backyard Poultry to Mammals, Study Confirms

H5N1 Avian Influenza Spreads from Illinois Backyard Poultry to Mammals, Study Confirms

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in an Illinois backyard poultry flock has been confirmed to have spread to a domestic cat and wild rats on the same property. This finding, detailed in a case study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, indicates the virus's ability to extend beyond avian species. The outbreak began in March 2025, leading to the loss of 100 out of 105 backyard birds. Subsequent testing of a deceased cat and wild rat from the farm confirmed H5N1 infection in both mammals. Dr. Leyi Wang, virology section head at the University of Illinois laboratory, led the team that examined the specimens. Genomic sequencing revealed nearly identical viral genomes across the chicken, cat, and rat samples, suggesting a shared infection source and a specific mutation associated with adaptation to...

NASDA Foundation Secures USDA Grant to Boost Veterinary Workforce in State and Regulatory Medicine

NASDA Foundation Secures USDA Grant to Boost Veterinary Workforce in State and Regulatory Medicine

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation has received a Veterinary Services Grant Program award from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This grant will fund a three-year project titled “Strengthening the Regulatory Veterinary Workforce,” designed to provide veterinary students with exposure to careers in state and regulatory veterinary medicine. The program will support nine veterinary students through paid, 10- to 12-week summer internships within State Animal Health Official offices. These internships will offer hands-on experience and mentorship, allowing students to learn about disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, animal health programs, regulatory activities, and stakeholder engagement. The NASDA Foundation will manage student recruitment, placement, and program support, with three students participating annually. Additionally, students will engage in professional development and networking opportunities, including the NASDA Ne...

California Kayak Fisherman Records Close Encounter with Great White Shark

California Kayak Fisherman Records Close Encounter with Great White Shark

A kayak fisherman in California, David Slavich, recently had a close encounter with a great white shark off the coast of Half Moon Bay, capturing the entire incident on video. Slavich reported hearing a splash behind him and turning to see a massive shark just feet from his kayak. He described the shark as larger than his 12.5-foot kayak, causing immediate panic. Prior to the encounter, a paddleboarder had warned Slavich about a shark in the area, but he dismissed the likelihood of encountering it. The video shows Slavich quickly reeling in his line as the shark approached, with its eye locking with his. The shark swam past his kayak without making contact, continuing on its way. Slavich, who spends considerable time in the water, views the incident as evidence that sharks are more curious than aggressive towards humans, despite the intense fear he experienced.

Phil Lord Directs 'Project Hail Mary' Film Adaptation

Phil Lord Directs 'Project Hail Mary' Film Adaptation

Phil Lord Directs 'Project Hail Mary' Film Adaptation

Deep-Sea Mollusk Discovered with Novel Organelle for Bacterial Symbiosis

Deep-Sea Mollusk Discovered with Novel Organelle for Bacterial Symbiosis

Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with international teams, have discovered a novel specialized organelle, named the 'dracosphera' (dragon ball), within the deep-sea mollusk *Chaetoderma shenloong*. This mollusk, found in cold seep environments of the South China Sea, has evolved this unique cellular structure to house and maintain a symbiotic relationship with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The dracosphera, a spherical structure wrapped in over 20 membrane layers, accommodates hundreds to thousands of these bacteria, providing the mollusk with its primary source of nutrients and energy. This discovery sheds new light on how deep-sea organisms adapt to extreme, oxygen-depleted environments and suggests a potential new pathway for organelle evolution.

At Sing Sing prison, incarcerated men get preview of new PBS documentary on nation's justice system

At Sing Sing prison, incarcerated men get preview of new PBS documentary on nation's justice system

Incarcerated men at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility have previewed a new docuseries on the history of the nation's criminal justice system

Scientists Discover Giant 66-Pound Rodent Fossil in Thailand, Rewriting Evolutionary History

Scientists Discover Giant 66-Pound Rodent Fossil in Thailand, Rewriting Evolutionary History

An international team of paleontologists, including scientists from McGill University, has discovered fossils of a previously unknown giant rodent species, *Yakamys sirindhornae*, in a mine in southern Thailand. This prehistoric rodent, estimated to have weighed approximately 30 kilograms (66 pounds), lived about 34 million years ago during the middle of the Paleogene period. The discovery consists of remarkably large fossilized teeth—a lower second molar and a lower incisor—recovered from the Bang Mark Pit at the Krabi lignite mine. This finding suggests that giant rodents appeared much earlier and in more diverse geographical locations than previously understood. The name *Yakamys* combines the Thai word for giant, 'yak,' with the Greek word for mouse or rat, 'mys,' while 'sirindhornae' honors Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her support of scientific research in Thailand. The research team utilized seven established methods based on tooth measurements to estimate the animal's body mass, indicating it...