Wild elephants may have names that other elephants use to call them
Forget names like "Dumbo"—wild elephants appear to have their own unique names that other elephants use while talking to them in low rumbles.
Science
A dog traveled nearly 4 miles to get help after its owner crashed into a ravine
The man was traveling with his four dogs when he ran off a remote road into a ravine in Oregon. One dog returned to where the man was camping with family, alerting them that something was wrong.
Wild elephants may have names that other elephants use to call them
Research on the rumbles of wild elephants suggest that these animals address each other with unique, name-like vocalizations. (Story aired on All Things Considered on June 10, 2024.)
From the physics of g-force to weightlessness: How it feels to launch into space
It feels like this is the summer of space launches. So, it's only appropriate that we kick off our new series Space Camp with a look at space launches. Throughout the series, Regina and Emily will plumb our universe to uncover the strange, wonderful things happening all around us. This episode, that entails answering a series of questions about getting to space: What does hurtling into space feel like? What physics are involved? And what's the "junk" in Earth's orbit?
Space Camp episodes drop every Tuesday in the Short Wave feed in addition to our regular episodes happening every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
For a full explainer of Newton's third law of motion, g-forces and visuals on his cannonball thought experiment, check out our digital story.
Have a particular aspect of space you want us to cover in a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!
Space Camp episodes drop every Tuesday in the Short Wave feed in addition to our regular episodes happening every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
For a full explainer of Newton's third law of motion, g-forces and visuals on his cannonball thought experiment, check out our digital story.
Have a particular aspect of space you want us to cover in a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!
FDA advisors strongly back new Alzheimer’s drug, despite risks and limitations
Advisors to the Food and Drug Administration have recommended unanimously that the agency approve the Alzheimer’s drug donanemab.
Climate change is deadly. Exactly how deadly?
Multiple federal and state government agencies count the number of deaths from extreme floods, wildfires, heat waves and hurricanes. They don't always agree on which deaths should be counted.
Illegal wildlife trade is booming. What does that mean for the confiscated animals?
Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest and most profitable crime sectors in the world. The illegal trade estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry. On a high level, that illegal trade causes problems for everything from global biodiversity to local economies and the balance of entire ecosystems. And on the immediate level, authorities are tasked with caring for confiscated animals and placing them in long-term care facilities.
One network launched last year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association for Zoos and Aquariums hopes to help. And with wildlife trafficking surging globally, the organizations are now in talks to expand the program to other parts of the country.
Read more about illegal wildlife trafficking and check out more photos in climate correspondent Nate Rott's full story.
Have other wildlife stories you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
One network launched last year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association for Zoos and Aquariums hopes to help. And with wildlife trafficking surging globally, the organizations are now in talks to expand the program to other parts of the country.
Read more about illegal wildlife trafficking and check out more photos in climate correspondent Nate Rott's full story.
Have other wildlife stories you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Creating a throw-away culture: How companies ingrained plastics in modern life
Plastic has become embedded in everyday life. That’s because for the last 70 years, the plastics industry convinced consumers to embrace the material for its low cost and disposability.
The week in space: Two lessons for NASA and their private space partners
This week, two brand new spacecraft launched: SpaceX's Starship and Boeing's Starliner. Each had distinct missions and challenges.
Box turtles. Coral. These illegally trafficked animals still need a good home
When authorities find wildlife that are being illegally trafficked, at ports or airports, the animals are often in terrible shape. Sick, starved, distressed. A pilot project in Southern California aims to get seized wildlife immediate care.