Science Times: What Lies Beneath Jupiter’s Pretty Clouds

Plus: The Health Benefits of Coffee —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story June 15, 2021 NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill Mushballs and a Great Blue Spot: What Lies Beneath Jupiter's Pretty Clouds NASA's Juno probe is beginning an extended mission that may not have been possible if it hadn't experienced engine trouble when it first arrived at the giant planet. By Kenneth Chang Johannes Eisele/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A Top Virologist in China, at Center of a Pandemic Storm, Speaks Out The virologist, Shi Zhengli, said in a rare interview that speculation about her lab in Wuhan was baseless. But China's habitual secrecy makes her claims hard to validate. By Amy Qin and Chris Buckley Tony Campbell/Alamy 'Flying Treats': Can Dogs and Cats Snack Safely on Cicadas? Jittery pet owners are asking vets, animal poison control centers and Twitter. Read on for answers. By Jan Hoffman Gracia Lam Personal Health The Health Benefits of Coffee Drinking coffee has been linked to a reduced risk of all kinds of ailments, including Parkinson's disease, melanoma, prostate cancer, even suicide. By Jane E. Brody Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we're doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press Highlights From the 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse at Sunrise Weather and geography made it difficult to see the rare spectacle, but some intrepid people got an exciting view of the eclipse from unique vantage points. By The New York Times Maine Forest Service, via Associated Press Maine Residents Fend Off Poisonous Caterpillars The caterpillars, known as browntail moths, have tiny hairs that can cause skin rashes and even breathing issues for some people. By Jesus Jiménez Miguel Medina/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Humpback Whale Nearly Eats a Lobsterman, Then Thinks Better of It Michael Packard, a lobster diver in Provincetown, Mass., found himself inside the mouth of a whale on Friday morning, then was spit out. By Maria Cramer Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times, via Getty Images Trouble in Los Angeles County: Too Many Peacocks Some residents admire their beauty. Others complain about the noise, the aggression and the droppings. Now, officials are considering an ordinance to stop people from feeding peafowl. By Jacey Fortin Adam Dean for The New York Times Covid-Sniffing Dogs Are Accurate but Face Hurdles for Widespread Use Logistics, cost and official standards are needed for the dogs to fulfill their potential in medical fields. By James Gorman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE Sascha Steinbach/EPA, via Shutterstock Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere Hits Record High Despite Pandemic Dip Global emissions dropped last year, but the decline wasn't nearly enough to halt the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. By Brad Plumer How Severe Is the Western Drought? See For Yourself. Maps show that drought conditions are the most widespread and severe in at least 20 years, with reservoirs running dry. By Nadja Popovich Correction: June 11, 2021 Alan Burdick's essay in last Friday's newsletter misstated Jeff Bezos' destination on a forthcoming Blue Origin flight. He will travel to an altitude that is high enough to be considered outer space, but not enter orbit. SUBSCRIBE TODAY If you've found this newsletter helpful, please consider subscribing to The New York Times — with this special offer. Your support makes our work possible. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Nanographics GMBH/EPA, via Shutterstock A Conversation With … Scientist Opens Up About His Early Email to Fauci on Virus Origins In early 2020, Kristian Andersen wrote to Anthony Fauci about the possibility of an engineered coronavirus. His research has since dispelled those suspicions. By James Gorman and Carl Zimmer Sarahbeth Maney for The New York Times How the Virus Unraveled Hispanic American Families Deaths in Santa Clara County, Calif., highlight a terrible disparity of the pandemic: Covid-19 killed many Hispanic Americans at younger ages. By Roni Caryn Rabin and Lauren Leatherby Paul Sancya/Associated Press Many Post-Covid Patients Are Experiencing New Medical Problems, Study Finds An analysis of health insurance records of almost 2 million coronavirus patients found new issues in nearly a quarter — including those whose Covid infection was mild or asymptomatic. By Pam Belluck Katherine Taylor for The New York Times Distorted, Bizarre Food Smells Haunt Covid Survivors Long after some people have recovered from the virus, they find certain foods off-putting. By Deborah Schoch Dado Ruvic/Reuters Novavax Offers U.S. a Fourth Strong Covid-19 Vaccine The company's large U.S. trial found an efficacy rate of about 90 percent. But at this point, the nation is awash in other shots. By Carl Zimmer Which Groups Are Still Dying of Covid in the U.S.? Deaths have dropped precipitously since their January peak, but the coronavirus continues to claim several thousand lives per week. By Denise Lu Apu Gomes/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Reports of Severe Covid or Death After Vaccination Are Rare, but Not Unexpected No vaccine is ever 100 percent effective, experts say, stressing that the shots remain critical in reducing severe disease and death from the coronavirus. By Emily Anthes Kaiti Sullivan for The New York Times How to Reopen Offices Safely Flush the taps, focus on indoor air quality and consider getting creative about staff schedules. By Emily Anthes HEALTH Kayana Szymczak for The New York Times The C.D.C.'s New Leader Follows the Science. Is That Enough? By all accounts, Dr. Rochelle Walensky is a fierce advocate and an empathetic scientist. But C.D.C. advice must be better attuned to the real world, critics say. By Apoorva Mandavilli Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, via Getty Images F.D.A. Still Lacks a Permanent Chief, Despite Pressing, Weighty Problems With the pandemic easing, the federal agency's long-term agenda for drug approvals or new issues is languishing without a permanent commissioner. By Sheila Kaplan Csilla Cseke/EPA, via Shutterstock The Unlikely Pioneer Behind mRNA Vaccines Dr. Katalin Kariko has played a crucial role in bringing coronavirus vaccines to millions. She had to overcome years of doubt and disinterest to do so. Bilawal Arbab/EPA, via Shutterstock A Multibillion-Dollar Plan to End Polio, and Soon A global partnership announced plans to spend more than $5 billion to eradicate poliovirus. By Apoorva Mandavilli Flora Hanitijo for the New York Times The Pandemic Messed With Your Sleep. Here's How to Feel Rested Again. You can overcome 'coronasomnia.' Experts say it just takes practice building new and better habits. By Anahad O'Connor and Flora Hanitijo Phys Ed The Best Type of Exercise? A Blood Test Holds Clues Researchers are studying the proteins in blood to learn why some of us respond to certain forms of exercise better than others. By Gretchen Reynolds Three F.D.A. Advisers Resign Over Agency's Approval of Alzheimer's Drug The drug, Aduhelm, a monthly infusion priced at $56,000 per year, was approved this week despite weak evidence that it helps patients. By Pam Belluck and Rebecca Robbins Make a friend's day: Forward this email. Got this from a friend? 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