In our news wrap Saturday, a pair of explosions destroyed the booster rocket and spacecraft of SpaceX's biggest rocket during a test launch in Texas, and Comcast joined the list of advertisers stepping away from Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, over concerns about antisemetic content. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Mississippi River is a superhighway for American agricultural products, but a warm fall and extreme drought conditions have contributed to its water levels dropping to record lows. Special correspondent Megan Thompson reports from Missouri on what conditions along this vital commercial route mean for farmers who rely on it to get their crops to market. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For Native American Heritage Month, as part of our "Hidden Histories" series, we bring you the story of John Herrington, a decorated naval officer and trailblazing astronaut. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This week's Nobel Prize announcements are highlighting groundbreaking work once again in the sciences and medicine. William Brangham has a conversation with one of the year's winners in medicine, whose work led to a profound change in tackling the pandemic. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Cities across the U.S. broke thousands of heat records this summer, but in many of them, some areas were hotter than others. These areas are known as urban heat islands, which can mean higher energy bills and unsafe conditions for residents. Blair Waltman-Alexin of Austin PBS, in partnership with Austin Vida, reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

You may have heard about a NASA probe that successfully brought some samples from a deep-space asteroid back to Earth. It took four billion miles to get them, but researchers believe it will be worth it. You also may be wondering just why scientists want these samples from what's essentially a huge rock flying through space. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien explains. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Sunday, House negotiations to avoid a government shutdown enter their final week, France is ending its military presence in Niger, talks continued in the auto workers and Hollywood strikes, NASA retrieved its first asteroid samples from space, Ethiopian Tigist Assefa broke the women's world record at the Berlin Marathon, and Megan Rapinoe is playing her final game with the USWNT. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Astronomers around the world are calling for international agreements to limit the spread of satellite constellations in space, with warnings that light pollution at night from the satellites damages vital scientific work. In Britain, the government is also being urged to impose new planning regulations to reduce light pollution to stop the loss of the nation's dark skies. Malcolm Brabant reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Abandoned fishing gear, often called "ghost gear," is breaking down in our oceans and adding to the problems brought by plastics and microplastics. But there was a recent effort to get the United Nations to enforce tougher regulations, and a coalition announced new funding to remove some debris in the Gulf of Maine. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Next Saturday, the autumn equinox will mark the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. For some, though, the real start of fall is when the leaves change color. But scientists say climate change is affecting both the timing and intensity of fall foliage. John Yang speaks with Bill Keeton, a professor of forest ecology at the University of Vermont, to learn more. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders