National Zoo reopens for the first time in 19 weeks

After shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. reopened to the public for the first time in 19 weeks. Some indoor exhibits still remain closed for health and safety reasons. Chip Reid reports.

Invasion! Asian giant hornets have arrived

They can grow as large as 2½ inches and can slaughter a colony of thousands of honeybees in a matter of hours. And their sting? It's one of the most painful known to humankind. Vespa mandarinia, dubbed by The New York Times as "murder hornets," are the nation's latest invasive species, and correspondent Luke Burbank talks with entomologists and a beekeeper about the threats these insects pose and what's being done to keep them from establishing themselves in the U.S.

Is the United States "hitting bottom"?

1968 was a year that saw America tested over issues of race and war. In 2020, the country is being tested over issues of race and the pandemic. "Sunday Morning" senior contributor Ted Koppel talks with noted political figures and writers — former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Senator Tom Daschle, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writers Kathleen Parker and Anna Quindlen — about government dysfunction; the dangers of the Twitterverse; and the leadership needed to unite these United States.

How a volunteer group is using the latest tech to help senior citizens overcome loneliness

Social isolation has long been a problem for many of the country's senior citizens, and with many confined to their homes because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has become an even greater concern. A volunteer group made up of high school students is stepping up to help seniors using Zoom, the conference app that has exploded in popularity in recent months. They are called Generation Tech, and their mission has been to introduce the newest technology to older generations, even before the pandemic struck. Barry Petersen takes a look at how they are bridging the digital divide. (Courtesy: Wish of a Lifetime)

Venice begins testing floodgates to save iconic Italian city from destruction

The iconic waters of Venice, Italy have become an extreme threat due to frequent, massive flooding that has seen the city slowly sink for centuries. Now, a long-planned but controversial technology is being tested that could address the increasingly dire problem. Chris Livesay reports on the plans, and why they were not completed a decade ago.

House Democrats release plan to fight climate change

House Democrats have released a 500-page report with recommendations for government action to help fight climate change. Congresswoman Kathy Castor of Florida is the chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, and she joined CBSN to discuss the recommendations.

Nature: California's Mono Lake

"Sunday Morning" takes us to Mono Lake, east of Yosemite in California, known for its salty waters and mineral deposits. Videographer: Jamie McDonald.

Apple's Tim Cook on a "giant leap" in social progress

Tim Cook has been the CEO of Apple for nearly a decade now, and still carries on an Apple tradition: their Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts tomorrow (though in an age of social distancing, this marquee event will be virtual). "60 Minutes" correspondent John Dickerson talks with Cook about societal changes, corporate responsibility, and the role of smartphone cameras in helping advance social progress.

"Big Five" tech companies expand amid economic crisis

While many businesses are closing as a result of the coronavirus economic crisis, the country's five largest tech companies have continued to grow and invest in their future. New York Times technology reporter Mike Isaac joined CBSN to discuss why business is booming for Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Google.

Adapt or Die

The climate cycles that have driven mass extinctions, are shortening and becoming more severe. The species that can adapt to environmental changes survive, while others simply die off. CBSN Originals travels to the Galapagos Islands, a living laboratory in the crosshairs of climate change, to see if nature can outrun and outsmart climate change?

"Countdown 1945": Building the first atomic bomb

Fox News' Chris Wallace discusses his book, "Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World," which chronicles the efforts of President Truman and the top-secret Manhattan Project to create the weapon that would end World War II. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

First manned SpaceX mission launched without a hitch

SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Crew Dragon spacecraft with two astronauts to the International Space Station. Parts of the Falcon 9 landed successfully back on Earth to be used again for future missions. Retired Air Force Colonel Scott Caine joined CBSN to discuss this historic moment.

SpaceX to make history with its first manned launch

Saturday's liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station will be the first time humans will be launched by a private company's rocket. Retired Air Force Colonel Scott Caine joined CBSN to discuss this historic moment.

Campaigns turn to virtual events to find voters

On Tuesday, seven states and the District of Columbia will hold Democratic presidential primaries. Four of them were postponed from April and May due to the coronavirus pandemic. But that's not the only thing the virus has changed in this election cycle. Ed O'Keefe reports. 

SpaceX makes history with successful rocket launch

SpaceX made history Saturday with a successful rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center. The Falcon 9 launch was the first to carry American astronauts launched from American soil in nearly a decade, and the first time a private company has sent people to space. Mark Strassman reports.

An inside look at the Soyuz rocket facility in Moscow

After the U.S. retired its space shuttle program, Russia's Soyuz rocket capsule was the only way to send people to the International Space Station. SpaceX's successful launch Saturday most likely means an end to that monopoly. Elizabeth Palmer takes a tour of a Soyuz facility in Moscow.

SpaceX takes over small community in Texas

SpaceX broke ground on a facility in Boca Chica, Texas, in 2014. While the move has brought some economic development to the area, there's also been some concerns from residents who say SpaceX is tearing their town apart. Freelance journalist Rachel Monroe joins CBSN to discuss what it’s like living in the shadow of the aerospace company.

Elon Musk says SpaceX rocket launch is "a dream come true"

Wednesday's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch will be the first time a private company will send humans into orbit. SpaceX founder Elon Musk reflects on what this historic moment means to him. Mark Strassmann speaks to Musk and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine ahead of the launch.

Million animals, plants at risk of extinction due to human activities, U.N. report says

About one million species of animals and plants around the world are now at risk of extinction, in part due to pollution and over-fishing. A new United Nations report says nature is essential for our existence and a good quality of life, but point to a stark warning: humans are transforming the planet’s natural habitat at an unprecedented rate. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.

Green energy in West Virginia, the state of coal

Coal has been the backbone of West Virginia for generations until rising costs and cheaper fuel alternatives wiped out jobs by tens of thousands. Now, there's a new opportunity in the state and it's green. Adam Yamaguchi tells the story in a new CBSN Originals "Clinging to Coal."

2019 Atlantic hurricane season begins

June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season and forecasters predict at least two to four major storms this year. There’s a storm brewing over competing technologies that some say could hinder crucial forecasts. Meg Oliver reports.

FCC greenlights tougher restrictions on robocalls

Federal regulators are stepping up the war on robocalls. The problem has exploded to five billion calls a month, amounting to about 14 calls per person. But now the FCC has given the greenlight to phone companies to block them. Laura Podesta reports.