Science

Fire trucks are going electric, too. Portland and Redmond, WA, getting there first

You probably no longer blink an eye when an electric car passes by on the road. More novel battery-powered vehicles are soon joining the parade to help operators achieve their sustainability goals. Electric ferries are coming to Puget Sound and hybrid electric airplanes are being tested in Washington. Now, several Pacific Northwest fire departments have ordered their first electric fire trucks.

Environment

The Abstract: Stink bugs, penguins, and climate change, oh my

In this first episode of a new segment on scientific research in Washington state that we're calling "The Abstract," we’re exploring new revelations about how animals adapt to climate change and what that tells us about the future of ecosystems, including an unwelcome and foul-smelling new neighbor here in the Pacific Northwest, and an adorable Patagonian predator.

Science

Parasites have a bad rap but play an important role in the animal kingdom

New research points to a steep decline of parasites in Puget Sound fish. Climate change is the likely culprit.

Environment

Neighbors: Sea Slugs

Without a boat or special gear, a lot of Puget Sounds’ iconic creatures - from orcas to Dungeness crabs - remain out of our everyday reach. But there is one little guy you can find most any day on your neighborhood dock: sea slugs, also known by their scientific name, nudibranchs. We go looking for sea slugs with Soundside producer Alec Cowan, Luan Roberts and Karin Fletcher.

Year in Review: Tech, arts, science, and so much more

Bill Radke looks back at the stories from 2022 with Insider tech correspondent Katherine Long, KUOW’s Mike Davis, and science journalist Jane C. Hu.

All-new, all-electric commuter aircraft takes off on maiden flight from Moses Lake

An aircraft maker from Western Washington on Tuesday provided a glimpse at one possible future for sustainable air travel — electric commuter planes. Eviation celebrated the maiden flight of an all-new, short hop airliner named Alice in Moses Lake.

With a few cups of water, scientists use eDNA to study reclusive, rare creatures

A growing technology is helping scientists save time and effort when they study rare critters and vast places.

Environment

The disgusting, and fascinating, case of the worm in the oyster

If you’ve shucked an oyster from Washington State recently, you might have noticed something new. Black blisters on the meat of the oyster. Researchers are attributing many of these blisters to a parasite they’ve never seen before.

Arts & Life

Believing 'virtually anything that they want': The rise of the flat earth movement

The earth is round. Science has proved it. We, as a fact based news organization, feel comfortable stating that fact. But there are people who would disagree. Those people are called "flat earthers". A new book by reporter Kelly Weill documents the rise of the flat earth