Science and Innovation

Northern Arizonans have a chance to see an annular solar eclipse this Saturday morning, with the sun 80 to 90% covered by the moon. The best views will be at Four Corners, where the moon will obscure the sun almost entirely, leaving only a bright fiery ring. Here's how to safely watch this rare celestial event.

Three healthcare clinics in northern Arizona will pilot a program aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses. The goal is to create tailored action plans for healthcare providers in communities that are vulnerable to extreme heat events.

A yearlong effort to craft recommendations for federal fire policy comes to a close today. The new report, submitted to Congress, focuses on ways to step up so-called “beneficial fire” that is managed for ecological health. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with one of the authors, Neil Chapman of the Flagstaff Fire Department.

A University of Arizona-led spacecraft mission will drop a capsule at supersonic speeds into Earth’s atmosphere for a landing in the Utah desert. The capsule carries a sample of asteroid rubble that contains clues to the origins of the solar system.

A remarkable science project is underway at Petrified Forest National Park to uncover the forgotten creatures of the Triassic period. It’s a time best known as the dawn of the dinosaurs, but frogs, lizards, and other small animals have their origins in the Triassic, too. Discovering their story requires microscopes, tweezers and a keen eye for the secrets of the past.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the pinyon jay may be eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports, environmentalists say their decline is primarily due to the eradication of pinyon juniper forests and to climate change.

The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to make a good showing this weekend, with little moonlight to interfere with the view. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports on how to watch.

An analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that two-thirds of national parks in the country are in counties that experienced at least one heat alert since the beginning of May. Some parks in the Southwest have been affected by heat alerts for more than 30 days.

A recent survey of 362 archaeological sites along the Colorado River through Grand Canyon shows most of them are eroding due to the influence of Glen Canyon Dam. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports.

A new study shows ponderosa pines in the Four Corners region rely heavily on the summer monsoon season to survive the current megadrought. But, it’s hard to predict if monsoon storms will strengthen or weaken with climate change. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with lead author Brandon Strange, a researcher from the University of Arizona.