Science

Father and son are now caregiver and care recipient. Robert Turner, Sr. was cheerful even though his day started with being discharged from the hospital.

Black men are a hidden segment of caregivers. It's stressful but rewarding, too

5:43pm May 21, 2024

by Ashley Milne-Tyte

Almost 40 percent of caregivers of older adults are men, and a third of that group is Black. But African American men face some issues other guys don't.

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The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is seen in this undated image from NASA. Areas of the glacier may be undergoing "vigorous melting" from warm ocean water caused by climate change, researchers say.

New research on Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier could reshape sea-level rise predictions

5:31pm May 21, 2024

by Joe Hernandez

At 80 miles across, Thwaites is the world's widest glacier. It has been nicknamed the "Doomsday Glacier" for the catastrophic effects its thawing could have on global sea-level rise.

A sea otter in Monterey Bay with a rock anvil on its belly and a scallop in its forepaws.

When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones

10:55am May 20, 2024

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Some otters rely on tools to bust open hard-shelled prey items like snails, and a new study suggests this tool use is helping them to survive as their favorite, easier-to-eat foods disappear.

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At age 90, America's first Black astronaut candidate has finally made it to space

7:08pm May 19, 2024

by Scott Neuman

Ed Dwight, a former Air Force test pilot who was passed over to become an astronaut in the 1960s, described his flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard as "life changing."

Science

Understanding elephant communication

5:19pm May 19, 2024

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with biologist Vesta Eleuteri regarding a study she authored about elephant communication.

Science

New images show a black hole collision

5:19pm May 19, 2024

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan about the James Webb Space Telescope's recent discovery of two distant black holes colliding.

Beethoven may have had lead poisoning

5:26pm May 18, 2024

by Ari Daniel

Samples of Beethoven's hair reveal he may have suffered from lead poisoning, which could explain some of the difficult physical maladies the composer suffered in his life.

This week in science: baobab trees, lizard-inspired building and stretching eyeballs

6:09pm May 16, 2024

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Regina Barber and Emily Kwong of Short Wave about the origins of baobab trees, lizard-inspired construction, and why outside play is beneficial for kids' eyesight.

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The Hubble Space Telescope in 2009, locked in a space shuttle's cargo bay, before the final repair work ever done.

Science

Private mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope raises concerns, NASA emails show

6:09pm May 16, 2024

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

When a private space traveler said he wanted to take a SpaceX capsule on a mission to improve the aging Hubble telescope, NASA studied the options. Internal emails show concern about the risk.

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Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs embraces Taylor Swift after defeating the San Francisco 49ers during this year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Swift, who flew in from Tokyo to attend the game, jokingly told him, "jet lag is a choice."

Taylor Swift joked that 'jet lag is a choice.' A sleep expert has thoughts about that

9:02am May 16, 2024

by Regina G. Barber

Plus, six tips on how to stay alert and minimize sluggishness when traveling rapidly across multiple time zones.