Journalists and hurricane hunters discuss flying into hurricanes, the challenges and equipment funding of hurricane research, the launch of a center to monitor AI's impact on civil rights, and the FDA's approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines.
The research conducted on hurricane-hunter flights provides critical data for accurate hurricane forecasting, benefiting millions of people along coastlines.
The launch of a new center to monitor the impact of AI on civil and human rights highlights the need for transparency and regulation to prevent bias and hate speech from spreading.
Deep dives
Inside the Eye of the Hurricane
The episode takes listeners on a NOAA hurricane-hunter flight into Hurricane Lee. Scientists and crews collect vast amounts of data to understand storm systems that threaten the United States and Caribbean islands. The flight uses instruments to measure rainfall, wind speed, barometric pressure, and wave heights. The research conducted on these flights is critical for accurate hurricane forecasting, benefiting millions of people along coastlines.
Monitoring AI for Civil Rights
The podcast discusses the launch of a new center by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to monitor the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on civil and human rights. The center aims to assess how AI can perpetuate or fight racism, monitor human rights concerns, and come up with solutions and policies for responsible AI development. It highlights the need for transparency and regulation of AI to prevent bias and hate speech from spreading.
FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines
The FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, targeted against the dominant strains circulating earlier in the summer. These vaccines are expected to protect against the current dominant strain and new sub variants of Omicron. The approval comes in response to calls for faster availability of reformulated vaccines to combat the late summer surge. Health officials anticipate the need for continuous updates to COVID-19 vaccines, similar to annual flu shots, to address emerging strains.
What's it like to fly into the eye of a hurricane? Niala joins a team of NOAA Hurricane hunters tracking Hurricane Lee to understand the science gathered on these missions, and how it helps create the forecasts that millions depend upon.
Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi, Robin Linn and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.