Science

Streets remained flooded in Cataño, Puerto Rico the day after Hurricane Fiona made landfall on the island.

Science

Why Latino people are on the front lines of climate change

5:01am September 21, 2022

by Rebecca Hersher

A wide range of Latino communities in the United States are affected by climate-driven storms, floods, droughts and heat waves, and are leading the charge to address global warming.

Prehistoric oceans in Kansas could hold clues about the future of life

5:26pm September 20, 2022

by David Condos

Scientists seeking to learn about prehistoric oceans have flocked to an unlikely place: western Kansas. And today, the fossils embedded in these Great Plains could hold clues about the future of life.

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A pharmacist prepares to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots during an event hosted by the Chicago Department of Public Health at the Southwest Senior Center on September 09, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.

How Biden's declaring the pandemic 'over' complicates efforts to fight COVID

1:20pm September 20, 2022

Biden's comments — made as officials try to convince Americans to get a new booster shot and the White House seeks $22 billion in new COVID funding — were "unfortunate," several epidemiologists said.

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In October 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda, nations around the globe agreed to phase out a category of dangerous greenhouse gases widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners. In 2022, the U.S. took steps to formally ratify the agreement.

The U.S. will officially phase down HFCs, gases trapping 1,000x more heat than CO2

11:24am September 20, 2022

by Laura Benshoff

The Senate is moving to ratify a climate treaty that would formally phase down the use of industrial chemicals found in air conditioners and refrigerators.

Why your bad boss will probably lose the remote-work wars

6:30am September 20, 2022

by Greg Rosalsky

Since 2020, office workers have waged an epic battle to work remotely. They're mostly winning.

Simply improving our breathing can significantly lower high blood pressure at any age. Recent research finds that just five to 10 minutes daily of exercises that strengthen the diaphragm and certain other muscles does the trick.

Daily 'breath training' can work as well as medicine to reduce high blood pressure

5:10am September 20, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

Research finds five to 10 minutes daily of a type of strength training for muscles used in breathing can help anyone reduce or prevent high blood pressure. The training can also help elite athletes.

People wait in line for food in Sindh province, Pakistan, on Sept. 19, 2022. The province was one of the hardest hit by recent deadly floods. A new analysis confirms that climate change likely helped cause the disaster.

Science

Climate change likely helped cause deadly Pakistan floods, scientists find

12:18pm September 19, 2022

by Rebecca Hersher

Extremely heavy rain fell in the hardest-hit provinces. About 75% more water is falling during the heaviest rainstorms in the region, according to a new scientific analysis.

Science

Scientists have found a mineral stronger than diamond

7:59am September 18, 2022

by Ayesha Rascoe

Scientists have found a mineral stronger than diamond. They say lonsdaleite could be used to fortify industrial tools like drill bits and saw blades - AND teach us about the evolution of earth.

Randall Munroe's 'What If? 2' answers the absurd science questions you didn't know you had

7:59am September 18, 2022

by Ayesha Rascoe

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with author Randall Munroe about his new book, "What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions."

A pharmacy in New York City offers vaccines for COVID-19 and flu. Some researchers argue that the two diseases may pose similar risks of dying for those infected.

Scientists debate how lethal COVID is. Some say it's now less risky than flu

4:19pm September 16, 2022

by Rob Stein

They argue the threat posed by COVID has lessened because of preexisting immunity and access to treatment. Plus, some deaths may be incorrectly blamed on COVID. Others caution it's too soon to tell.