New research shows ancient chili peppers were likely growing in Southwestern states like New Mexico millions of years earlier than previously thought. Scientists believe birds - which, unlike people, lack heat receptors and don t wince, or worse - when eating the spicy "berry-like" fruits, and spread their seeds across vast areas. Now, researchers at the University of Colorado say a previously collected fossil shows they were growing in the Americas as much as 50 million years ago - much earlier than the 15 million years ago previously thought. .
A U.S. Supreme Court case that began in Idaho has weakened protections across the nation under the Clean Water Act. The justices on Thursday handed down a 5-4 decision that will undo federal safeguards for wetlands. .
For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says the tinder-dry weather pattern will lift later this year. The last time no part of Iowa was abnormally dry was in April 2020, according to the federal Climate Prediction Center s latest seasonal outlook. .