Ken Balcomb, researcher who championed orcas in the PNW, dies at 82

Ken Balcomb, a researcher who spent five decades studying the Pacific Northwest’s charismatic and endangered killer whales — and whose findings helped end their capture for display at marine parks in the 1970s — died Thursday following an illness. He was 82.

Russian space capsule leak likely caused by micrometeorite

A coolant leak from a Russian space capsule attached to the International Space Station was likely caused by a micrometeorite strike, a Russian space official said Thursday.

Geminid meteor shower peak: When and where you can see it

Some Americans will have clear skies during the meteor shower, but cloudy weather will make stargazing a challenge for many other people across the country.

Mars rover captures 1st sound of dust devil on red planet

What's a dust devil sound like on Mars? A NASA rover by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed directly overhead, recording the racket.

Fusion breakthrough is a milestone for climate and clean energy

Scientists announced Tuesday that they have for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it — a major breakthrough in the decades-long quest to harness the process that powers the sun.

'Quiet Sound' program offers hope for Southern Resident killer whales

Initial data shows 61-percent of commercial vessels voluntarily slowed down in Puget Sound to reduce noise for the endangered orcas.

Steve Aoki, T.O.P. among crew for SpaceX's privately-funded moon mission

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has selected eight people as crew members for his private flight around the moon on a SpaceX spaceship.

SpaceX blasts another batch of internet satellites into orbit -- for a competitor

It was another seemingly routine mission for SpaceX, which has now launched over 3,000 small satellites into space as the company builds out its Starlink constellation. But this time, the payload belonged to OneWeb, something of a Starlink competitor.

Drug to prevent Alzheimer's? Study to begin enrolling young participants in ultimate test

Unlike most other Alzheimer’s prevention trials, this one will enroll people up to 25 years before the expected onset of dementia. Some participants could be as young as 18.

NASA's most requested photo, the ‘Blue Marble', turns 50

It’s an iconic photo of our home planet: The wispy white clouds and ice caps swirling with the blues and tans of the land and sea – all standing in stark contrast to the blackness of space. But you may not know the full story behind this unique view of Earth.

Watch: Snow turns red rocks white in Utah's Bryce Canyon

The Utah national park had two inches of snow Tuesday night which helped create the picturesque winter scene.

No northern giant hornets found in Washington in 2022

Citizen trapping of northern giant hornets in northwest Washington ended Nov. 30 without any confirmed sightings of the hornets this year, state officials said Tuesday.