NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has set a new record for the longest spaceflight by an American. As of today, he has been in space for a full year, working on the International Space Station. Dr. Rubio broke the old record of 355 days in early September.
Published in “US”
Over the weekend, people around the world turned out in huge numbers to protest the burning of fossil fuels. The protests - the largest since before the coronavirus pandemic - were meant to send a strong message to political leaders: "Take climate action now."
On Friday, thousands of workers at three of the largest US car companies went on strike. The workers are part of the United Auto Workers union, and they're looking for better pay and job security, as car companies make the move to electric cars.
Coco Gauff is a rising US tennis star. On Saturday, the 19-year-old won her first Grand Slam championship by beating Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff's win makes her the youngest American to win a major tennis championship since 1999.
Torbjorn ("Thor") Pedersen is a Danish traveler who recently finished a trip around the world. But this wasn't just any trip. Mr. Pedersen spent nearly 10 years visiting every country in the world – and he did it all without flying.
On August 21, a cargo ship traveling from Singapore to Brazil became the first to try out a new kind of sail. The sail is expected to save fuel and cut pollution. If it works well, similar sails could become common on cargo ships over the next few years.
On August 29, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a huge change in the rules designed to protect America's wetlands. The EPA was forced to change the rules because of a Supreme Court decision that took away protection from most wetlands.
Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee is celebrating the birth of a very unusual baby giraffe. What makes this giraffe special is that it doesn't have any spots. The zoo is asking for help from the public to name the unique animal.
Recently, fans of self-driving cars have gotten some good news, followed by bad news. Two self-driving taxi companies were given permission to expand their work in San Francisco. But a string of accidents has led to new concerns about how safe the cars actually are.
A recent report from a United Nations group warns that using technology in classes may not help as much as many people believe. The report suggests that technology should be used less in schools, and that smartphones should be banned from classrooms.
On August 1, new rules went into effect in the United States that make it against the law to sell most incandescent light bulbs. These are older-style light bulbs that create light by heating a wire. The law is expected to save energy and help the environment.