Chorus or cacophony? Cicada song hits some ears harder than others
Cicadas are the song of the summer, but this year’s large broods may be especially irritating for people on the autism spectrum who have hearing sensitivity.
Health & Safety
Stuck in a rut? How to appreciate your life again, according to science
After a while, even the most exciting relationships, jobs and environments lose their spark. But cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot says it's possible to fall back in love with life's small joys.
The human brain is hardwired to recognize faces. But what if you can't?
Humans are hardwired to see faces — even in inanimate objects. We have a lima bean-shaped part of our brains dedicated to facial recognition. But this process isn't always straightforward. Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder is one of 10 million Americans who are face blind, or struggle to recognize the faces of people they know. In her new book, Do I Know You? she dives into this, as well as the science of memory and imagination.
Want more episodes on the wonder of the human brain? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Want more episodes on the wonder of the human brain? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Will calling gun violence a 'public health crisis' change the political conversation?
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared gun violence a “public health crisis.” NPR's Juana Summers talks with Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine about the report.
High risk of famine across Gaza as hunger spreads, experts say
A new report by independent experts on famine says half a million people in Gaza are now facing starvation as the aid people depend on has dwindled.
Guilford County Emergency Services shares safety tips during extreme heat
Guilford County encourages residents to learn about the difference in heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses an excessive amount of water and salt, typically due to profuse sweating. Heat stroke, the most severe heat-related illness, occurs when the body loses its ability to regulate temperature.
Boy who died at nature therapy camp couldn't breathe in tentlike structure, autopsy finds
Medical examiners in North Carolina say a boy who died while enrolled in a nature therapy camp couldn't breathe in the tentlike structure he was sleeping in. The 12-year-old died in February in western North Carolina while participating in the Trails Carolina wilderness program for troubled youths.
The surgeon general declared gun violence a public health crisis. What does that do?
The nation's top doctor issued an advisory on Tuesday declaring gun violence a public health crisis and prescribing policy changes to treat it as such. It's both unprecedented and unenforceable.
Forgot where you put the keys? Experts (and a trivia buff) share tips to boost memory
"With practice, absolutely everyone can make their memory stronger," says Monica Thieu, a memory researcher and a four-time Jeopardy! contestant. Techniques to get you started.
Your gut microbes may influence how you handle stress
A new study finds people who are resilient in the face of stressful events have a different mix of bacteria in the gut than those who get more frazzled.