EPA says flood control project not subject to previous veto

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not object to a revised proposal for a massive flood-control project to pump water from parts of the Mississippi Delta, a regional administrator for the agency says.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-epa-subject-previous-veto.html

Colorado student, scientist named Time's 'Kid of the Year'

A 15-year-old Colorado high school student and young scientist who has used artificial intelligence and created apps to tackle contaminated drinking water, cyberbullying, opioid addiction and other social problems has been named Time Magazine's first-ever "Kid of the Year."

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-colorado-student-scientist-kid-year.html

Google AI researcher's exit sparks ethics, bias concerns

Prominent artificial intelligence scholar Timnit Gebru helped improve Google's public image as a company that elevates Black computer scientists and questions harmful uses of AI technology.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-google-ai-exit-ethics-bias.html

Officials: Rodents likely destroyed rare plants at mine

DNA evidence suggests rodents destroyed part of an area of an extremely rare desert wildflower being considered for endangered species protection at a contentious mine site in Nevada, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-rodents-rare.html

Japan awaits capsule's return with asteroid soil samples

Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully released a small capsule on Saturday and sent it toward Earth to deliver samples from a distant asteroid that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on our planet, the country's space agency said.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-japan-awaits-capsule-asteroid-soil.html

Research reveals how airflow inside a car may affect COVID-19 transmission risk

A new study of airflow patterns inside a car's passenger cabin offers some suggestions for potentially reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission while sharing rides with others.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-car-pandemic-windows.html