Astronomers Glimpse Distant Planetary Nursery
Images produced by a giant radio telescope array in Chile's Atacama desert show a nascent star and what's thought to be its solar system in the process of being born.
Science
Weekly Innovation: Harness Could Allow Dogs, Humans To Communicate
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a dog harness, equipped with speakers and vibrating motors, that could be used in search and rescue or to improve dog training.
What Does A GOP Majority Mean For Environmental Policy?
Melissa Block talks to New York Times reporter Coral Davenport about the impact of a GOP majority Congress on environmental policies.
Security Agents Often Miss When Passports Don't Match Faces
The people checking travelers' passports aren't great at catching fake or stolen documents. One solution might be to screen the screeners and only hire those with a talent for recognizing faces.
How Much Is That MRI, Really? Massachusetts Shines A Light
A state law now requires insurers to reveal prices of their medical tests, and the variation is amazing, bargain hunters say. An MRI of the back is $614 at one place, $1,800 at another.
Why Your Brain Wants To Help One Child In Need — But Not Millions
Donations to fight Ebola are lower than expected. One psychologist thinks the reason may be the impact of hopelessness. A really big problem makes people less likely to give.
From Blue Bleach To Hazmat Hacks, Students Take On Ebola Challenges
College students excel at thinking creatively under pressure. Now they're designing tools to confront the challenges of Ebola, including friendlier-looking protective gear and diagnostic aids.
America's T. Rex Gets A Makeover
Discovered in Montana in 1988, the Wankel T. Rex is a prize find — a nearly complete skeleton, now bound for display at the Smithsonian, in Washington, D.C. But first, those old bones need some work.
Republican Sweep Highlights Climate Change Politics In Alaska
GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is set to head the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It can be easier for her oil-reliant state to adapt to the changing climate rather than address its causes.
On The Trail To Preserve Appalachia's Bounty Of Heirloom Crops
With some 1,500 heirloom fruits and vegetables under cultivation, Appalachia is the most diverse foodshed in the U.S., Canada and northern Mexico. Among them is a beloved corn called Bloody Butcher.