December

Why the Southern U.S. Is Prone to December Tornadoes

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The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. On the night of Dec. 10-11, 2021, an outbreak of powerful tornadoes tore through parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois, killing dozens of people and leaving wreckage over hundreds of miles. Hazard climatologists Alisa Hass and Kelsey Ellis explain the conditions … Read more

Rare December Tornado Outbreak Was a ‘Worst-Case Scenario’

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The tornado outbreak that likely killed more than 100 people over the weekend was an anomaly in every way possible. The deaths were concentrated in a state—Kentucky—that has been relatively unscathed by tornadoes and tornado fatalities. The outbreak hit during a month when tornadoes are least likely to occur. And it struck at night, when … Read more

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Is Fueled for Late December Launch

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The new James Webb Space Telescope is topped off and one step closer to taking flight.  Mission team members have finished fueling the James Webb Space Telescope at ahead of its planned Dec. 22 launch from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, the European Space Agency announced Monday (Dec. 6). The fueling for Webb, which is an … Read more

December Fires Raise Concerns Over Remarkable Colorado Drought

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Two wildfires ignited in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies last weekend, pushing residents out of their homes and stretching the state’s fire season past its traditional endpoint. The Miner’s Candle Fire was first reported on Sunday near Idaho Springs, a city 30 miles west of Denver, and scorched roughly 20 acres. The West Ranch … Read more

Just Look at These Stunning Photos of Jupiter’s Giant Storms

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The latest images from the Juno mission at Jupiter include views of giant storms and vortexes on the gas giant world in amazing detail. A new batch of images recently arrived at Earth from JunoCam, the visible light camera onboard the Juno spacecraft. The camera has provided stunning views of Jupiter since the spacecraft’s arrival in 2016. … Read more

NIH Director Francis Collins to hand reins to acting Director Lawrence Tabak on 20 December | Science

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Lawrence Tabak, principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will become the agency’s acting director on 20 December—the day after current Director Francis Collins leaves his post, the Department of Health and Human Services said today. Collins, the physician-geneticist who has served as head of the $43 billion NIH for 12 years, … Read more