SpaceX brings 4 astronauts home with midnight splashdown
The return of three Americans and one German marks the busiest period yet for Elon Musk's space taxi service.
Science
Scientists say endangered porpoise isn't doomed — so long as humans stop killing them
Fishing in the Gulf of California has nearly wiped out the vaquita marina. But a new genetic analysis offers hope for the engandered porpoise: the species can make a comeback, if humans protect it.
A popular program for teaching kids to read just took another hit to its credibility
Reading Recovery is one of the world's most widely used reading intervention programs for young children. A new study questions its long-term impact.
Lawsuit says a Black patient bled to death because of a hospital's culture of racism
The husband of a Black woman who died hours after childbirth in 2016 has sued Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, saying she bled to death because of a culture of racism at the renowned hospital.
If you've had omicron before, are you safe from infection by the new variants?
New versions of omicron are circulating in the United States and South Africa. Two new studies shed light on the potential for future surges — and the risk factor if you've already had omicron.
NASA is bringing rocks back from Mars, but what if those samples contain alien life?
NASA and the European Space Agency are gearing up to bring home a pristine sample of Martian rock. But given the small chance of life on the red planet, they have to grapple with safety questions.
Even when IVF is covered by insurance, high bills, surprises and hassles abound
Only 15 states require insurance to cover in vitro fertilization, a pricey path to parenthood. But expensive procedures and drugs can lead to unexpected bills even for the fortunate who are insured.
Google honors the Black inventor who likely inspired the phrase 'the real McCoy'
Elijah McCoy, the revolutionary Black inventor who was born 178 years ago today, came up with an idea for an automatic lubricator that kept engines oiled while they ran.
Why it took nearly 100 years for umami to be globally accepted as a distinct flavor
A Japanese chemist identified umami in the early 1900s, but it took a century for his work to be translated into English. NPR's Short Wave podcast looked into why it took so long to be recognized.
A new study tells us to hold the stereotypes on dog breeds
A new study published this week indicates that a dog's breed does not dictate its personality and temperament.