As many parents can attest, babies often make telltale noises when they’re hungry. It turns out, newborn whales do the same thing.

Humpback whale calves signal their desire to eat by making barking, burping, begging and snorting sounds, according to a study published on Dec. 18 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological ...Read more

In a novel attempt to enforce a longstanding Minnesota rule protecting wild rice, the EPA is investigating U.S. Steel’s taconite mine, Keetac, for repeatedly releasing a rice-killing pollutant into surface waters.

The mine and tailings site in Keewatin broke sulfate limits set in two wastewater permits 299 times between 2019 and 2022, the EPA...Read more

Years after a wildfire threatened to wipe out a rare, genetically unique species in a tiny Colorado creek, it was found “thriving” in new streams, officials said.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently found evidence of the unique cutthroat trout surviving multiple years and even naturally reproducing in the wild — “a huge milestone in ...Read more

Regardless of how you celebrate end-of-year holidays, food is probably central to your winter festivities. And a trio of spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger – feature in many dishes and drinks and are an unmistakable part of the scent profile we associate with the holiday season.

As a plant scientist, I was curious to know how ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A coalition of environmental groups challenged California’s leading climate regulator Wednesday, alleging that a recent update to a leading climate program will create additional pollution in the state’s San Joaquin Valley.

Their lawsuit filed in Fresno county superior court calls on the California Air Resources Board...Read more

Monarch butterflies are among the most beloved insects in North America. They are brightly colored and unique, both as caterpillars and later as mature insects. Monarchs are found in every U.S. state except Alaska, so nearly everyone has seen a monarch flutter by on a warm day.

During their incredible yearly migration, monarchs travel...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Three men sought help at clinics or emergency rooms in Los Angeles County over a three-month period this year, each reporting severe diarrhea and a recent history of sexual contact with other men.

Stool cultures revealed that all three were infected with Shigella sonnei, a strain of Shigella bacteria that is resistant to five of...Read more

MIAMI — Monroe County has seven projects underway to elevate roads in the Florida Keys, keeping them dry even as rising sea levels threaten to leave them permanently underwater.

In a presentation this week, Chief Resilience Officer Rhonda Haag reported that five years ago, the county had no plans in motion to raise roads, even as residents ...Read more

One of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales is expected to die after becoming entangled in fishing gear near Nantucket along with a second whale, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

“North Atlantic right whales continue to be entangled at levels that could push this critically endangered species to ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Maryland officials have filed suit against W.L. Gore & Associates, the manufacturer of Gore-Tex, alleging that at least 13 of the company’s 14 facilities in Cecil County have contaminated the environment, including soil, air and groundwater, with “forever chemicals” for some 50 years.

Maryland’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday in...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Forest Service will buy more than 6,200 acres of land in St. Louis County, in a deal aimed at expanding the Superior National Forest and improving the management of wildlife habitat, officials announced Wednesday.

It’s likely the first of several moves after long discussions over ownership of significant parcels ...Read more

Archaeologists have unearthed a complete mastodon jaw along with additional bone fragments in the backyard of an Upstate New York home, officials announced Tuesday.

The “stunning prehistoric find” came after a homeowner in Scotchtown, some 65 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan, found “two unusual teeth concealed by plant fronds” on ...Read more

Say your nephew needs a Christmas present and you vaguely know what he’s into these days. A new Gift Finder feature on the Best Buy app lets users ask questions like, “What can I get for a 10-year-old who loves Minecraft?”

The artificial intelligence-powered chatbot responds with a list of products like the latest versions of the game, ...Read more

Ever since I reviewed the Turtle Beach Ear Force PX5, I had a vision of my perfect gaming headset. It would have many of the same features of that pioneering device but in a form factor that works fine outside the living room. I could wear it on a run and then take it with me to the office. When I return home, this headset could handle games ...Read more

This week a reader asks, “I would like to know if I should turn on Advanced Data Protection on my iPhone 16Pro? Seems like a lot of ‘scary’ steps so would appreciate your input.”

I like the reader’s take on this – turning on Advanced Data Protection means you are asking Apple to encrypt your iCloud data from end to end. You’ll ...Read more

I’ve spent an absurd amount of time and money on my gaming rig. I originally built a custom liquid-cooled PC during the pandemic and enjoyed the outstanding performance, quiet acoustics and the beautiful look of the machine. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. Disaster struck and my PC sprung a leak, and after much panicking, I salvaged what I ...Read more

We all do it. Some longer than others, but we can't escape staring at our digital devices for hours daily, often at very close range. Prolonged staring can result in digital eye strain. Gunnar Optiks computer glasses, which come in a variety of styles, are a solution for eye strain.

If you're not familiar with computer glasses, they can be ...Read more