Builders are back on site to rebuild Notre Dame
After a fire engulfed Notre Dame last year, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild the 850 year old cathedral within five years. COVID-19 put a slight dent in those plans, but now the workers are back on site this week to continue the effort. The rebuilding challenges have not been Read More...
Robots are already making contact-free deliveries in some American cities
You might not see many people walking down the sidewalk in downtown Fairfax, Virginia, during the pandemic, but it’s possible that you’ll see a robot. The city is the latest to partner with Starship Technologies, a company that makes small delivery robots and now operates a fleet of 20 in Read More...
How the coronavirus is forcing us to reconsider how we measure productivity
Since the period of the industrial revolution, we’ve used one primary scale to measure productivity: hours. But is this really an effective way to gauge actual performance or output? Not exactly. Measuring productivity in hours alone can discourage workers from being more efficient with their Read More...
These birds are helping endangered rhinos avoid trouble
Red-billed oxpeckers hitching rides on the backs of black rhinos are a common sight in the African bush. The birds are best known for feeding on pesky parasites found on a rhino’s skin. Now, new research suggests the birds may also serve as sentinels that help the endangered animals avoid humans, Read More...
Scuba divers are using ocean plastic to make face masks
While some people are heading outside in snorkeling masks as makeshift protection, a group of scuba divers is using their social distancing time to help people and the oceans. They're making face masks from plastic water bottles recovered from the oceans, as CNN reported. The masks are made by Read More...
A 6-year-old is running a jokes stand to keep his neighbors laughing
In Canada, a six-year-old by the name of Callaghan McLaughlin has taken to heart the old wisdom that laughter is the best medicine. For the past week, the youngster has been running a joke stand at the end of his driveway, offering free laughs to his neighbors and passersby. Through his jokes Read More...
Mangrove trees can protect vulnerable coastal communities from hurricanes
Climate change is making the impact of hurricanes and other storms more dangerous—and more expensive. As the costs loom over coastlines across the globe, vulnerable communities are looking for new ways to mitigate the economic impact. A promising approach would be to use existing natural habitats Read More...
NASA engineers use their incredible engineering capacity to build ventilator
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is typically busy with building spacecraft. But due to the increasing shortage of ventilators in hospitals, in the last month, the engineering lab has shifted in high gears to make the best use of its scientific capacity to develop the life-saving medical Read More...
Coping with loneliness during a pandemic
95 percent of Americans are under shelter in place orders to stop the spread of COVID-19, but the repercussions of loneliness can also be dangerous to our mental wellbeing. Calls to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline are up 300 percent. So how can we cope with loneliness during the pandemic? Read More...
Dive into underwater exploration with NOAA’s virtual diving experience
If you’ve always dreamed of diving in the oceans’ most beautiful habitats, you may have to wait a while to do so in person. Fortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) is making it easier than ever to see some beautiful underwater sights from the comfort of your Read More...