PBS News Hour - Science

It has been a week of record-breaking heat around the world. The average global temperature on Wednesday hit 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit, matching the record-high set just on Tuesday. The grim milestones are the latest in a series of climate change driven extremes. Amna Nawaz discussed these events and what to take from them with Mike Flannigan of Thompson Rivers University. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It's estimated there are fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales remaining. They are dying faster than they can produce and it's largely due to human causes. With so few left, experts are closely monitoring for new offspring and working to keep the whale from extinction. Science Correspondent Miles O'Brien reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The search for the origin of COVID-19 has highlighted the risks of viruses transmitted by certain species of bats. In the wild, they can incubate and spread diseases to other animals and humans. Dr. Neil Vora, a physician with Conservation International, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the global health concerns posed by an increasing number of interactions between humans and bats. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Albert Einstein theorized that as heavy objects move through space and time, they create ripple effects in the fabric of our universe. Now an international team of scientists have detected new evidence of that. Researchers found new signs of gravitational waves that are affected by huge movements such as the collision of black holes. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien breaks it down. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Sunday, more than 40 million people are expected to experience dangerous heat in the southern U.S., and the Coast Guard announced that it ended search and rescue operations for the Titan submersible and is shifting its priority to recovering the vessel's remnants from the ocean floor. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Thursday the missing submersible in the North Atlantic Ocean was destroyed in a "catastrophic implosion." Its debris was found on the ocean floor near the Titanic and all five people aboard were killed. William Brangham discussed the accident and what it could mean going forward with Jules Jaffe of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The search for the missing submersible in the North Atlantic Ocean intensified Wednesday. The day began with a surprise, reports of banging noises detected by sonar. The U.S. Coast Guard said it is still treating the mission as a search and rescue operation even as the supply of oxygen is likely dwindling for the five people aboard. Amna Nawaz reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Search operations are underway for a submersible that carries paying tourists to view the wreckage of the Titanic. The five-person craft is owned by OceanGate Expeditions and was reported overdue Sunday. It disappeared near where the Titanic went down in 1912 after hitting an iceberg. Geoff Bennett discussed the search effort with Kristin Romey of National Geographic. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The ocean is rapidly heating up, hitting record-breaking levels. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that ocean surface temperatures spiked in April and May to the highest levels recorded since the 1950s. All this could have dangerous consequences for aquatic life, hurricane activity and global weather patterns. Amna Nawaz discussed what's happening with Kevin Trenberth. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A small group of orcas is causing a lot of damage to boats off the Iberian Peninsula. Last month, killer whales rammed a boat continuously for over an hour, managing to remove the rudder. In another incident, three orcas repeatedly struck a yacht causing it to sink. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders