Authoritative insight & opinion on technology, science, aviation, space and the environment.
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Welcome to the NEW MilesOBrien.com!
New look, same science coverage. After over 6 years of online presence, MilesOBrien.com has been updated for the modern age! In the coming weeks, we’ll be getting back on track with updating you on our latest stories. All the stories from our previous site are still viewable under the ‘News’ tab. This website has also…
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With major logistical challenges, companies face a bottleneck in vaccine distribution
The pace of vaccinations in the U.S. is failing to meet expectations, in part due to inadequate production and supply. But President Biden is planning to invoke the federal Defense Production Act in an effort to ensure companies, manufacturers and states get what they need. Miles O’Brien reports on what some companies are already doing…
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Battered by COVID-19, but skeptical of vaccinations
In the race to get COVID vaccines out the door, public health experts have labored over who should receive vaccinations first. But they also hope to find solutions to deep-rooted unfairness laid bare by the virus, with Black, LatinX and indigenous people more likely than white individuals to get COVID-19. But reluctance and mistrust over…
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The risks and rewards of Operation Warp Speed’s approach to vaccines
The race to develop vaccine candidates to prevent COVID-19 represents an unprecedented national and global effort. President Trump and some public health experts say encouraging early results from Pfizer and Moderna suggest the approach is working. But there are also questions about the risks of ramping up vaccine research and development at this scale and…
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How a COVID vaccine might work — and the challenges of distributing it
As drug companies around the world rush to develop candidates for coronavirus vaccines, Pfizer announced encouraging early data from its own trials Monday. What do the preliminary results show, and even if they are borne out, what challenges remain with regard to production and distribution of the vaccine? Science correspondent Miles O’ Brien joins William…
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How some election officials are trying to verify the vote more easily
How are state and local governments verifying the accuracy of the vote in this critical election year? One approach designed to simplify a major challenge for election officials as the ballots arrive is the risk-limiting audit, which enables double-checking only a sample of paper ballots to make sure they match electronic results. Miles O’Brien reports.…
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Will Georgia’s new voting machines solve election problems — or make them worse?
Protecting the American voting process from outside interference is a top priority this election season. But public and political opinion are divided over the best voting systems to prevent tampering. Miles O’Brien takes a look at the latest technology being used in Georgia — and whether it provides a stronger defense against meddling than the…
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What election officials think about paper ballots and voting machines
During this election, early and absentee voting are expected to reach record levels, with mail-in ballots drawing significant attention as a result. President Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that voting by mail is not safe or reliable — but what do election experts say is the best method? Miles O’Brien reports on the security…
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Trump says voting by mail isn’t reliable. What does the evidence show?
President Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power is tied to his criticism and false statements about voting by mail, which is expected to reach record levels in this election. Trump insists it can’t be trusted — but many state and local election officials disagree. Miles O’Brien reports on how voting by…
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A House panel says Boeing and the FAA failed on 737 Max safety. What needs to change?
The fatal crashes of two Boeing 737 Max jets that left 346 people dead resulted from multiple failures throughout the aircraft’s production and approval process. Now, a new and blistering report from Democrats on the House Transportation Committee reveals just how extensive those failures were — and underscores what needs to change. Science correspondent Miles…
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