NPR News: This week in science: Cellular 'robots,' sleeping penguins and a rediscovered echidna

This week in science: Cellular 'robots,' sleeping penguins and a rediscovered echidna
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Regina Barber and Aaron Scott of Short Wave about building cellular 'robots,' the bizarre sleeping habits of chinstrap penguins, and a lost echidna found again.

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Science - December 1, 2023 at 05:57AM - This week in science: Cellular 'robots,' sleeping penguins and a rediscovered echidna

NPR News: Holy Mole-y: A sniffer dog helps rediscover a rare mole

Holy Mole-y: A sniffer dog helps rediscover a rare mole
The De Winton's Golden mole was last spotted in 1936. But with the help of a mole-sniffing dog and new environmental DNA analysis, researchers are taking it off the most wanted lost species list.

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Science - November 30, 2023 at 05:00PM - Holy Mole-y: A sniffer dog helps rediscover a rare mole

NPR News: People likely aren't adapted to care for newborn babies alone, new study suggests

People likely aren't adapted to care for newborn babies alone, new study suggests
Allo parenting, in which non-biologic parents serve as a child's caregiver, is common in many parts of the world. Mothers have help provided by several others, including neighbors and older siblings.

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Science - November 30, 2023 at 05:57AM - People likely aren't adapted to care for newborn babies alone, new study suggests

NPR News: Climate funding is in short supply. So some want to rework the financial system

Climate funding is in short supply. So some want to rework the financial system
Efforts to boost climate financing have moved beyond national pledges. Now the focus is on overhauling organizations like the World Bank and providing countries debt relief.

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Science - November 28, 2023 at 05:00PM - Climate funding is in short supply. So some want to rework the financial system

NPR News: Why are sales so hard to resist? Let's unravel this Black Friday mystery

Why are sales so hard to resist? Let's unravel this Black Friday mystery
The human brain has to really fight the lure of a discount. Companies know this and use many tricks to push our buttons. But there's a way to outsmart them.

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Science - November 24, 2023 at 05:00PM - Why are sales so hard to resist? Let's unravel this Black Friday mystery

NPR News: Salty much? These brain cells decide when tasty becomes blech

Salty much? These brain cells decide when tasty becomes blech
Scientists say two separate brain circuits control how much salt we consume.

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Science - November 23, 2023 at 05:00PM - Salty much? These brain cells decide when tasty becomes blech

NPR News: What can trigger an itch? Scientists have found a new culprit

What can trigger an itch? Scientists have found a new culprit
This itchy microbe really touches a nerve. A common skin bacterium can directly interact with a nerve cell to trigger an itch, new study shows, suggesting possible new therapies for itchy conditions.

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Science - November 22, 2023 at 11:09PM - What can trigger an itch? Scientists have found a new culprit

NPR News: The world's worst industrial disaster harmed people even before they were born

The world's worst industrial disaster harmed people even before they were born
The 1984 gas leak in Bhopal, India, killed thousands. New research finds babies born to mothers who were pregnant at the time have suffered long-term impacts worse than those directly exposed.

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Science - November 22, 2023 at 09:28PM - The world's worst industrial disaster harmed people even before they were born

NPR News: Can we grow veggies on Mars? Fly larvae and synthetic soil may hold the answer

Can we grow veggies on Mars? Fly larvae and synthetic soil may hold the answer
A Texas undergrad is investigating how to grow vegetables on Mars — and has cultivated test samples of English peas in simulated Martian soil, with fertilizer from fly larvae.

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Science - November 22, 2023 at 05:00PM - Can we grow veggies on Mars? Fly larvae and synthetic soil may hold the answer

NPR News: How scientists are trying to save the insects that make life possible

How scientists are trying to save the insects that make life possible
There are more than a million insect species, but entomologists say they're declining at alarming rates. Scientists are trying to determine how to save these tiny creatures that prop up life on Earth.

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Science - November 22, 2023 at 06:12AM - How scientists are trying to save the insects that make life possible

NPR News: Army ants use collective intelligence to build bridges. Robots could learn from them

Army ants use collective intelligence to build bridges. Robots could learn from them
As army ants travel over uneven terrain, they link their bodies together to create bridges — a system that might give engineers insight into controlling robotic swarms.

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Science - November 21, 2023 at 05:00PM - Army ants use collective intelligence to build bridges. Robots could learn from them

NPR News: Two different brain circuits influence our taste for salt, study finds

Two different brain circuits influence our taste for salt, study finds
Two different brain circuits help regulate salt intake, according to a study in the journal Cell. One adjusts salt cravings, the other determines whether we find salty food delicious or disgusting.

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Science - November 21, 2023 at 05:57AM - Two different brain circuits influence our taste for salt, study finds

NPR News: A new study says the global toll of lead exposure is even worse than we thought

A new study says the global toll of lead exposure is even worse than we thought
A new study finds that 5.5 million adults worldwide died in 2019 from cardiovascular disease attributable to lead exposure, more than six times higher than a previous estimate.

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Science - November 20, 2023 at 11:35PM - A new study says the global toll of lead exposure is even worse than we thought

NPR News: Autoimmune disease patients hit hurdles in diagnosis, costs and care

Autoimmune disease patients hit hurdles in diagnosis, costs and care
Despite the prevalence of autoimmune conditions, like the thyroid disease Hashimoto's, finding help can prove frustrating and expensive. Patients may rack up big bills as they search for a diagnosis.

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Science - November 18, 2023 at 08:00PM - Autoimmune disease patients hit hurdles in diagnosis, costs and care

NPR News: SpaceX is attempting to launch its giant Starship rocket — again. Here's what to know

SpaceX is attempting to launch its giant Starship rocket — again. Here's what to know
A lot is riding on the launch, and Starship's ambitious design means that anything could happen.

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Science - November 18, 2023 at 05:02PM - SpaceX is attempting to launch its giant Starship rocket — again. Here's what to know

NPR News: "It feels like I'm not crazy." Gardeners aren't surprised as USDA updates key map.

"It feels like I'm not crazy." Gardeners aren't surprised as USDA updates key map.
The USDA is updating an important map for gardeners and growers picking plants and flowers. The new map shows the contiguous US is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the last map 11 years ago.

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Science - November 17, 2023 at 06:41PM - "It feels like I'm not crazy." Gardeners aren't surprised as USDA updates key map.

NPR News: Can we grow Veggies in space?

Can we grow Veggies in space?
A Texas undergrad is investigating sustainable agriculture systems for growing vegetables on Mars - and grew test samples of English peas in simulated Martian soil, with fertilizer from maggots.

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Science - November 17, 2023 at 05:48AM - Can we grow Veggies in space?

NPR News: NPR's Short Wave gives us the latest on black holes, sea turtles, and blood pressure

NPR's Short Wave gives us the latest on black holes, sea turtles, and blood pressure
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Regina Barber and Aaron Scott of Short Wave about a black hole nearly as old as the universe, how pollution plagues sea turtles, and a simple fix to cut blood pressure.

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Science - November 17, 2023 at 04:41AM - NPR's Short Wave gives us the latest on black holes, sea turtles, and blood pressure

NPR News: Only 51 of these U.S. whales remain. Little has been done to prevent their extinction

Only 51 of these U.S. whales remain. Little has been done to prevent their extinction
Rice's whales are one of the world's newly discovered whale species – and already one of the most endangered. Protections for the whales in the Gulf of Mexico are not coming fast.

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Science - November 16, 2023 at 05:00PM - Only 51 of these U.S. whales remain. Little has been done to prevent their extinction

NPR News: With a boost from John Oliver, pūteketeke soars to first in New Zealand bird contest

With a boost from John Oliver, pūteketeke soars to first in New Zealand bird contest
The water bird was named a conservation organization's Bird of the Century after the Last Week Tonight host took out billboard ads across the globe and hyped the threatened species on his show.

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Science - November 16, 2023 at 02:27AM - With a boost from John Oliver, pūteketeke soars to first in New Zealand bird contest

NPR News: Clouds made of sand make for a strange kind of rain on this hot planet

Clouds made of sand make for a strange kind of rain on this hot planet
On Earth, clouds and rain are made of water. But the James Webb Space Telescope has found that on a planet called WASP-107b, the rain and clouds are made of sand.

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Science - November 15, 2023 at 11:01PM - Clouds made of sand make for a strange kind of rain on this hot planet

NPR News: Climate change, fossil fuels hurting people's health, says new global report

Climate change, fossil fuels hurting people's health, says new global report
The latest Lancet Countdown, an annual analysis from the prestigious medical journal, underscores the vast and growing costs of fossil fuel burning on health.

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Science - November 15, 2023 at 06:30AM - Climate change, fossil fuels hurting people's health, says new global report

NPR News: How army ants' architecture demonstrates their collective intelligence

How army ants' architecture demonstrates their collective intelligence
As army ants travel over uneven terrain, they link their bodies together to create bridges — a system that might give engineers insight into controlling robotic swarms.

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Science - November 15, 2023 at 04:36AM - How army ants' architecture demonstrates their collective intelligence

NPR News: Scientists are beginning to understand how long COVID symptoms affect the brain

Scientists are beginning to understand how long COVID symptoms affect the brain
Many symptoms of long COVID are related to the brain. Now scientists are beginning to understand why brain fog, fatigue, and pain can linger for years after a person was infected.

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Science - November 15, 2023 at 04:36AM - Scientists are beginning to understand how long COVID symptoms affect the brain

NPR News: Remembering Dr. Roland Pattillo and his quest to honor the memory of Henrietta Lacks

Remembering Dr. Roland Pattillo and his quest to honor the memory of Henrietta Lacks
For decades, Dr. Roland Pattillo pushed to get Henrietta Lacks' name in the public eye. Lacks was a Black cancer patient whose cells were harvested and used for medical research without her consent.

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Science - November 14, 2023 at 04:35AM - Remembering Dr. Roland Pattillo and his quest to honor the memory of Henrietta Lacks

NPR News: What the Global South could teach rich countries about health care — if they'd listen

What the Global South could teach rich countries about health care — if they'd listen
In his book Decolonizing Healthcare Innovation, Dr. Matthew Harris argues wealthy countries ought to pay attention to innovative programs around the world instead of believing that "the West is best."

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Science - November 13, 2023 at 06:58PM - What the Global South could teach rich countries about health care — if they'd listen

NPR News: Hearing loss can lead to deadly falls, but hearing aids may cut the risk

Hearing loss can lead to deadly falls, but hearing aids may cut the risk
Falling is the top cause of injury for older adults and even mild hearing loss can increase the risk. But consistently wearing hearing aids may improve balance and prevent falls, a study finds.

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Science - November 13, 2023 at 05:00PM - Hearing loss can lead to deadly falls, but hearing aids may cut the risk

NPR News: A tiny deer and rising seas: How far should people go to save an endangered species?

A tiny deer and rising seas: How far should people go to save an endangered species?
The Key deer is losing the only place it lives, raising uncomfortable questions for the people tasked with keeping endangered species alive.

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Science - November 12, 2023 at 05:30PM - A tiny deer and rising seas: How far should people go to save an endangered species?

NPR News: Researchers rediscover an echidna named after David Attenborough

Researchers rediscover an echidna named after David Attenborough
Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, a mammal with a unique evolutionary history, was caught on camera for the first time. Researchers hope their find advances conservation efforts in remote Indonesia.

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Science - November 11, 2023 at 05:00PM - Researchers rediscover an echidna named after David Attenborough

NPR News: Rising ocean temperatures mean blue crabs are showing up in Maine lobster traps

Rising ocean temperatures mean blue crabs are showing up in Maine lobster traps
The crab usually associated with the mid-Atlantic is showing up in lobster traps in Maine. Scientists say it's due to the state's quickly warming ocean waters.

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Science - November 11, 2023 at 05:47AM - Rising ocean temperatures mean blue crabs are showing up in Maine lobster traps

NPR News: How a history of trauma is affecting the children of Gaza

How a history of trauma is affecting the children of Gaza
Even before the the current war, researchers documented the impact of conflict on children in Gaza. Now they worry that kids who are trapped on the battlefield face long-term impacts on mental health.

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Science - November 10, 2023 at 11:43PM - How a history of trauma is affecting the children of Gaza

NPR News: Pakistan is planting lots of mangrove forests. So why are some upset?

Pakistan is planting lots of mangrove forests. So why are some upset?
Pakistan is reforesting its river delta with mangrove forests nearly the size of Rhode Island. But why are some upset?

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Science - November 10, 2023 at 05:31PM - Pakistan is planting lots of mangrove forests. So why are some upset?

NPR News: Arkansas man receives the world's first whole eye transplant plus a new face

Arkansas man receives the world's first whole eye transplant plus a new face
The NYU medical team announced Thursday that Aaron James is recovering well from the dual transplant last May and the donated eye looks remarkably healthy.

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Science - November 10, 2023 at 02:57PM - Arkansas man receives the world's first whole eye transplant plus a new face

NPR News: The Kinsey institute faces possible separation from Indiana University

The Kinsey institute faces possible separation from Indiana University
Indiana University trustees will decide whether to partially sever the University's long standing ties with the famous organization.

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Science - November 10, 2023 at 04:50AM - The Kinsey institute faces possible separation from Indiana University

NPR News: Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024
Scientists have updated their forecast for the current solar cycle, which usually lasts about 11 years. Solar activity is now expected to peak earlier and to be stronger than previously thought.

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Science - November 9, 2023 at 05:00PM - Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

NPR News: No Daddy Shark in sight: Zoo greets a cute shark pup after apparent parthenogenesis

No Daddy Shark in sight: Zoo greets a cute shark pup after apparent parthenogenesis
What if the song "Baby Shark" stopped after just two stanzas? There's no Daddy Shark in sight at a Chicago-area zoo where an epaulette shark pup hatched this summer.

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Science - November 8, 2023 at 12:22AM - No Daddy Shark in sight: Zoo greets a cute shark pup after apparent parthenogenesis

NPR News: Tai chi helps boost memory, study finds. One type seems most beneficial

Tai chi helps boost memory, study finds. One type seems most beneficial
Research shows that a daily dose of tai chi, the slow-moving meditative, martial art can boost our body and brain. A new study finds adding word games to tai chi doubles the increase in memory.

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Science - November 6, 2023 at 05:00PM - Tai chi helps boost memory, study finds. One type seems most beneficial

NPR News: Research finds female frogs play dead to avoid mating with males

Research finds female frogs play dead to avoid mating with males
In some species of frogs, the females play dead to avoid mating with aggressive males. Dr. Carolin Dittrich, behavior ecologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, tells us more.

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Science - November 5, 2023 at 08:01PM - Research finds female frogs play dead to avoid mating with males

NPR News: This psychedelics researcher approached his death with calm and curiosity

This psychedelics researcher approached his death with calm and curiosity
Roland Griffiths spent the later stage of his career exploring the ways that psychedelic drugs, specifically psilocybin, could help patients with depression, addiction issues and even terminal cancer.

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Science - November 5, 2023 at 06:00PM - This psychedelics researcher approached his death with calm and curiosity

NPR News: Lessons from brain science — and history's peacemakers — for resolving conflicts

Lessons from brain science — and history's peacemakers — for resolving conflicts
Humans instinctually forge loyalties to groups to survive. Being aware of these impulses can help us deescalate arguments and find common ground. Some notable leaders in history show us how it's done.

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Science - November 4, 2023 at 05:00PM - Lessons from brain science — and history's peacemakers — for resolving conflicts

NPR News: Investigators will travel to Antarctica after claims of sexual assault at U.S. bases

Investigators will travel to Antarctica after claims of sexual assault at U.S. bases
Investigators with the National Science Foundation's watchdog office will travel to Antarctica to address years-long allegations of sexual misconduct at U.S. research bases.

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Science - November 4, 2023 at 02:12AM - Investigators will travel to Antarctica after claims of sexual assault at U.S. bases

NPR News: More medical gloves are coming from China, as U.S. makers of protective gear struggle

More medical gloves are coming from China, as U.S. makers of protective gear struggle
The federal government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to boost American production of medical gloves, but some companies say it's not enough when imported gloves have gotten cheaper.

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Science - November 3, 2023 at 04:15PM - More medical gloves are coming from China, as U.S. makers of protective gear struggle

NPR News: This week in science: Melting arctic ice, sea star anatomy and sleep deprived mice

This week in science: Melting arctic ice, sea star anatomy and sleep deprived mice
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Regina Barber and Aaron Scott of NPR's Short Wave about Antarctica's melting ice, the weird anatomy of sea stars, and how a sleepless night can ease depression in mice.

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Science - November 3, 2023 at 03:27AM - This week in science: Melting arctic ice, sea star anatomy and sleep deprived mice

NPR News: Enhance! HORNK! Artificial intelligence can now ID individual geese

Enhance! HORNK! Artificial intelligence can now ID individual geese
Yes, that's right, somebody has developed AI for goose faces.

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Science - November 2, 2023 at 04:01PM - Enhance! HORNK! Artificial intelligence can now ID individual geese

NPR News: Using AI to follow one goose in a flock could help with conservation efforts

Using AI to follow one goose in a flock could help with conservation efforts
Artificial Intelligence is coming to the animal kingdom. Researchers have used advanced facial recognition techniques to track individual geese in a population, and other animal species too.

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Science - November 2, 2023 at 03:25AM - Using AI to follow one goose in a flock could help with conservation efforts

NPR News: These American birds and dozens more will be renamed, to remove human monikers

These American birds and dozens more will be renamed, to remove human monikers
The official naming organization for birds in the U. S. is making a bold move, after concerns were raised about birds being named after people with questionable histories.

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Science - November 1, 2023 at 08:00PM - These American birds and dozens more will be renamed, to remove human monikers

NPR News: A 'tropical disease' carried by sand flies is confirmed in a new country: the U.S.

A 'tropical disease' carried by sand flies is confirmed in a new country: the U.S.
Leishmaniasis, a disease spread by a parasite carried by sand flies, is generally considered a tropical disease. Now, thanks to climate change, new research finds it's endemic to the United States.

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Science - November 1, 2023 at 04:20PM - A 'tropical disease' carried by sand flies is confirmed in a new country: the U.S.