PBS NewsHour - Science

It is unbearably hot in India right now as a brutal heat wave scorches the region. While temperatures in some areas have surpassed 120 degrees Fahrenheit every year, the recent wave started early, leading to school closures, landfill fires and a crop crisis. Somini Sengupta, climate reporter for The New York Times and anchor of the Climate Forward newsletter, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, the Biden administration has determined that Russia is wrongfully detaining pro basketball star Brittney Griner, voters in Ohio and Indiana took to the polls, former President Trump's inaugural committee and business will pay $750,000 to settle allegations over his D.C. hotel, and rolling blackouts in India are cutting power to swaths of the country amid extreme heat. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Winds picked up Tuesday in several states, adding more trouble and complications for firefighters out west and in the plains states. Nearly a dozen large fires have burned over 340 square miles in six states recently and more than 3,500 firefighters and support personnel are battling the blazes. Stephanie Sy reports on the particular problems it's caused in Arizona, New Mexico and Nebraska. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Water levels around Southeast Virginia have risen nearly 20 inches over the past century and they are estimated to keep rising. These rising tides could pose a threat to farming, which has always been a part of coastal Virginia's economy. Sam Turken reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As leaders around the world search for cleaner energy solutions to fight climate change, a question has emerged: Could hydrogen be the clean fuel of the future? Planes, trains, cars and buses need lighter and longer-lasting power than batteries can provide, some scientists say. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien explores the possibilities of hydrogen-powered engines and whether they can deliver. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

We can still fight the worst of climate change, former Secretary of State John Kerry says. At an event sponsored by the Center for Global Development, anchor Judy Woodruff spoke with Kerry, the first presidential envoy on climate, about the cost of climate change, U.S. progress on climate goals and whether Congress will give money to help poorer countries adapt to the changing planet. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It was 50 years ago this weekend that giant pandas were first brought to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington. The historic program with China has fostered a collaboration between scientists and led to a conservation success story for the once endangered species. Geoff Bennett takes an up close look at these popular and precious animals. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei set a new record for the single longest spaceflight by an American after spending 355 days in orbit and surpassing the record held by retired astronaut Scott Kelly. Geoff Bennett recently spoke with Vande Hei about his journey in space and the adjustment on the ground since returning to Earth on March 30. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change laid out its latest report Monday stressing the critical need to implement dramatic cuts in greenhouse gasses to head off the worst impacts of climate change. Dave Roberts writes a newsletter and hosts a podcast called "Volts," which covers clean energy and the politics of climate policy. He joins William Brangham to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

American astronaut Mark Vande Hei returned to Earth Wednesday from the International Space Station along with two fellow Russian cosmonauts. He was in space for 355 straight days, longer than any American yet. But attention will return to private efforts Thursday as Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos, will launch its latest human flight. Miles O'Brien reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed a second booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for those over 50. It also applies to younger people with badly weakened immune systems. The move came as vaccinations have slowed markedly and as a new version of the omicron variant is spreading. William Brangham joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The past few years have led to record wildfires across the U.S. Decades of suppressing fires has led to overgrown forests, and a warming climate has increased their intensity and frequency. Christopher Booker reports from California on community-led efforts to preemptively set controlled fires, reducing the risk from large out-of-control fires while also restoring the ecological health of the forest. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden and the European Union on Friday announced new plans to enable Europe to become less dependent on Russian oil and gas. But for now, the Russian invasion has opened up much larger questions over our dependence on fossil fuels and the need to develop cleaner renewable energy. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports on how and why geothermal energy is attracting new interest. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Lawmakers joined President Biden at the White House Tuesday to celebrate the signing of a $1.5 trillion government funding bill that will provide money for an array of items, most notably the military and aid to Ukraine. But despite this victory the White House is upset by the loss of major COVID money. Amna Nawaz joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the details. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It is now more than two years since the WHO declared the COVID-19 emergency a pandemic, and last week the death toll topped 6 million people worldwide. While the U.S. in many ways appears to have moved into a new phase of the pandemic, the virus remains lethal for many. Ed Yong, a staff writer at The Atlantic who won a Pulitzer Prize for his pandemic reporting, joins William Brangham to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders