Do masks in school affect kids' speech and social skills?
Scientists say that for most children, masks in school aren't a major obstacle to learning or socializing. Students in classrooms find other ways to connect.
Science
A group unearths the forgotten history of women in archaeology
A group of archaeologists and paleontologists noticed the women of their field were being forgotten. So they made the Trowelblazers, an archive featuring female achievement in the "digging sciences."
COMIC: How a computer scientist fights bias in algorithms
Computer scientist Joy Buolamwini is on a mission to fight bias in algorithms. In this comic, Buolamwini discusses the way biased algorithms can lead to real world inequality — and what we can do.
Coronavirus FAQ: What does endemic mean — and are we there yet?
Two years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. Now there's talk that we may be approaching a new stage for SARS-CoV-2. Let's unpack the word "endemic."
Video analysis reveals Russian attack on Ukrainian nuclear plant veered near disaster
An NPR analysis of security footage and photos following the attack on Europe's largest nuclear power plant shows that many of the plant's critical safety systems were in the field of Russian fire.
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe: How can soil's superpowers help us fight climate change?
Earth's soil can store vast amounts of carbon. Biogeochemist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe says soil could be a powerful tool for fighting climate change - if only we stopped treating it like dirt.
Nizar Ibrahim: How did we unearth the largest predator in history?
The largest predator in history was bigger than a T. Rex and longer than a school bus. And it swam. Paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim shares his quest to uncover the Spinosaurus.
Even many decades later, redlined areas see higher levels of air pollution
"We see a really clear association between how these maps were drawn in the '30s and the air pollution disparities today," says an author of a study on the effects of the discriminatory policy.
Therapy dogs can help relieve pain in the ER
They have offered comfort at nursing homes, schools — even disaster sites. Now, a study shows that a 10-minute visit from therapy dogs can help relieve emergency room patients' pain.
Researcher finds 'stunning' rate of COVID among deer. Here's what it means for humans
Studies on white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania and Ontario offer evidence that the mammals are a reservoir for the coronavirus. What are the implications for the course of SARS-CoV-2?