The Columbian

Science & Technology

Bobby the K9 retriever dog sniffs sweat samples in a test to detect the COVID-19 coronavirus through volatile organic compounds at the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on May 21.

Study: Dogs could sniff out COVID at airports

June 11, 2021, 6:04am Life

COVID-sniffing dogs could be used to detect the coronavirus at ports of entry, potentially reducing long waits at testing lines and strengthening efforts to contain transmission, according to a U.K. study. Read story

In this Dec. 30, 2010 photo provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a female North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3911 is entangled in fishing gear. By February 2011, she was dead. A study published by the journal Current Biology on Thursday, June 3, 2021, says the hulking giants of the deep, the North Atlantic right whales, are about three feet smaller than they were just 20 years ago. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA Permit #594-1759 via AP) (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA Permit No.

Endangered whales shrinking

June 8, 2021, 6:05am Life

One of the giants of the deep is shrinking before our eyes, a new study says. Read story

This washed ashore at New Jersey's Island Beach State Park. What is it?

Giant skull found on N.J. beach

June 8, 2021, 6:05am Life

A giant skull with something akin to tweezers for a mouth washed ashore in New Jersey, igniting a social media debate over what it might be — and more importantly — what killed it. Read story

Space station to welcome sea creatures

June 8, 2021, 6:01am Life

SpaceX launched thousands of tiny sea creatures to the International Space Station on Thursday, along with a plaque-fighting toothpaste experiment and powerful solar panels. Read story

The Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory, atop Hawaii's largest mountain in order to sample air free of local pollution. Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the air peaked in May 2021, scientists reported Monday.

Carbon dioxide levels hit 50% higher than pre-industrial time

June 7, 2021, 6:46pm Life

The annual peak of global heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air has reached another dangerous milestone: 50 percent higher than when the industrial age began. Read story

NASA selects 2 Venus missions to explore Earth’s ‘hellish’ neighbor

June 7, 2021, 10:21am Life

For decades, scientists who study Earth’s neighbor Venus have watched with dismay as NASA sends mission after mission to Mars. Read story

Jeff Bezos and brother are going to space as part of his Blue Origin rocket’s first manned launch

June 7, 2021, 10:13am Business

Jeff Bezos is shipping himself to space. Read story

A woman looks at the skyline from the Space Needle observation deck on Monday, August 20, 2018 in Seattle.

Looking to escape wildfire smoke in Washington this year? A new tool could help

June 7, 2021, 6:05am Latest News

When a supermassive smoke plume blanketed Washington last September, all eyes turned to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Read story

Many hoses connect to the side of the steeppass fish-sorting system at the Emiquon Preserve near Lewistown on May 17, 2021.

Facial recognition for fish? Researchers test technology on Asian carp in battle to stop invasive species

June 6, 2021, 2:45pm Nation & World

There may come a day on the Illinois River when a fish swims up a chute, slides through a scanner, and, after being recognized as a feared silver carp, is sorted and removed, eventually ending up in a carp burger on your dinner plate. Read story