Around the world, plant and animal species are going extinct at a rate faster than any time in human history. The Endangered Species Act, signed into law 46 years ago, has succeeded in preventing hundreds of species on the list from going extinct, and has recovered 54 species. But new regulatory changes to the Act are being finalized by the Trump administration, which may weaken its ability to protect wildlife and habitat, and – say wildlife advocates – speed extinctions. Conor Knighton reports. Source

“Sunday Morning” takes us under the sea, at Cuba’s Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud). Videographer: Ziggy Livnat. Source

The grammar geek talks about the practice of choosing or requesting non-binary pronouns Source

As the founder, CEO and lead designer at SpaceX, a private company that makes rockets and spacecraft, Elon Musk envisions a time when his reusable rockets will bring people to the moon and Mars. He’s focused on humans becoming a “multi-planet species,” and on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, he speaks with Jeffrey Kluger (editor-at-large at Time magazine, and the co-author of “Apollo 13”) about his vision for the future. Source

The band ZZ Top is marking 50 years together, with a new remastered collection of their greatest hits, “Goin’ 50.” Jim Axlerod talks with guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard (the one without a beard) who are still working hard to make their pedal-to-the-metal, bluesy country rock seem so easy. Source

In her new touring show, the Australian writer, actress and comedian whose standup deftly intersects comedy and tragedy is even more revealing Source

Half a century later, the bluesy country rock band is still working hard to make it all look and sound so easy Source

Thanks in part to increased health consciousness, sales of carbonated water are bubbling over Source

On July 21, 1853, hundreds of acres of land in the center of Manhattan were set aside for parkland, ultimately developed into one of the world’s most glorious public spaces. Lee Cowan reports. Source

From Texas to the Great Lakes, and east to New England, a heat wave – in some areas in triple digits – is broiling the nation. So far, it’s blamed for at least six deaths. Meg Oliver reports. Source