Rebecca Hersher appears in the following:
Mother Bears Are Staying With Their Cubs Longer, Study Finds
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
In many parts of the world, it is illegal to shoot a brown bear with cubs. The restrictions have made mother bears more likely to spend an extra year with their cubs.
Former Coal Lobbyist On Tap For No. 2 Spot At EPA
Saturday, March 17, 2018
The man hoping to help lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Wheeler, is a former lobbyist for coal and natural gas companies. As a young EPA lawyer, he worked on hazardous chemical rules.
After Decades Of Air Pollution, A Louisiana Town Rebels Against A Chemical Giant
Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Neighborhoods around a Louisiana chemical plant have the highest cancer risk in the U.S. Residents felt powerless, until the Environmental Protection Agency released data on what they were breathing.
Report: Science On Gun Laws Is Lacking
Saturday, March 03, 2018
The RAND Corporation has published an unflattering report about U.S. gun policy. It identified only 62 studies testing the effectiveness of policies such as background checks and buying restrictions.
Lethal Pneumonia Outbreak Caused By Low Chlorine In Flint Water
Monday, February 05, 2018
Two new studies confirm that an outbreak of deadly Legionnaires' disease in Flint, Mich., was caused by the city's water crisis in 2014 and 2015.
Some Types Of Songs Are Universally Identifiable, Study Suggests
Thursday, January 25, 2018
To see if music really is a universal language, researchers gave people 14 second samples of songs from around the world and asked them to say what kind of song it is.
'Butterfly Tongues' Are More Ancient Than Flowers, Fossil Study Finds
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Scientists have discovered the proboscis butterflies use to suck nectar from flowers existed before flowers did. So: What were ancient butterflies using their long, tongue-like suckers for?
Amber-Trapped Tick Suggests Ancient Bloodsuckers Feasted On Feathered Dinosaurs
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
The tick was with a feather from a dinosaur that lived in the Cretaceous Period. Modern ticks love to bite mammals, and scientists have long wondered what the tiny vampires ate millions of years ago.
Climate Scientists Watch Their Words, Hoping To Stave Off Funding Cuts
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
After years of budget and political pressure, some climate scientists are changing the way they describe their research, and avoiding the term "climate change."
NASA Taps Young People To Help Develop Virtual Reality Technology
Friday, November 24, 2017
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center are hoping to use virtual reality technology to study space, and Earth, without leaving their offices. Talented high school students are helping.
Slow And Upbeat EPA Response To Hurricane Harvey Pollution Angers Residents
Monday, November 13, 2017
Hurricane Harvey caused industrial facilities to release an extra 5.98 million pounds of air pollution. Some people who live and work near the plants are frustrated with the federal response.
After Chemical Fires, Texans Worry About Toxic Effects
Thursday, November 02, 2017
Some residents and first responders are suing the chemical company Arkema, saying it didn't do enough to protect them from fires that started at one of its plants near Houston after Hurricane Harvey.
Digging In The Mud To See What Toxic Substances Were Spread By Hurricane Harvey
Monday, October 23, 2017
Hurricane Harvey dumped 50 inches of rain on parts of Houston. Scientists are now trying to identify contaminants spread by the storm, including those in mud at the bottom of the Houston Ship Channel.
Young Doctors Were Put To The Test After Vegas Mass Shooting
Monday, October 09, 2017
Surgical fellows at the only Level 1 trauma center in Las Vegas got their medical board certification just three days before the mass shooting, and tested all their training that night.
Why Counting Injuries Is Difficult
Wednesday, October 04, 2017
It's hard to get an exact number of the people shot during the massacre in Las Vegas, especially because of the enormous number of victims.
Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise
Monday, September 25, 2017
Researchers and physicians say a study suggesting a link between the flu vaccine and miscarriage in a limited population is cause for more research, not a reason to change vaccination recommendations.
An Accident On The Moon, Young Lawyers To The Rescue
Friday, September 22, 2017
Each year, law students argue hypothetical, futuristic case that takes place in space. This year, it's about who pays when two machines collide on the moon.
Air Pollution From Industry Plagues Houston In Harvey's Wake
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Flooding in Houston and utility outages led to belches of fumes from refineries and other industrial sites. Residents of a region already struggling with air pollution wonder: Is it safe to breathe?
Houston Methadone Clinics Reopen After Harvey's Flooding
Wednesday, September 06, 2017
Hurricane Harvey disrupted treatment for people addicted to opioids. Many need to get connected to a specialty clinic that can provide medication-assisted treatment.
In Texas, Concerns About Damage To Flooded Toxic Waste Sites
Monday, September 04, 2017
Environmental officials are inspecting toxic waste sites in southeast Texas that were flooded and potentially damaged last week.