Science

The European Union on Wednesday unveiled sweeping new legislation to help meet its pledge to cut emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% over this decade.

Europe Has An Ambitious New Climate Plan That Imagines A Dramatic Cut In Emissions

11:35am July 14, 2021

by The Associated Press

A sweeping proposal unveiled by the European Union on Wednesday would look to cut emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% by the end of this decade.

Fish are seen washed ashore at the Sanibel Causeway after dying in a red tide in 2018 in Sanibel, Florida.

At Least 600 Tons Of Dead Fish Have Washed Up Along Tampa Bay's Shore

9:12pm July 13, 2021

by Josie Fischels

The hordes of fish were killed by a red tide, a large "bloom" of toxic algae that appears on Florida's Gulf Coast about once a year. Experts say the bloom shouldn't be happening right now.

Though they're called ice worms, the creatures Hotaling (right) and his colleagues study on the glaciers of Mount Rainier can't handle the slightest bit of freezing. If temperatures dip even slightly below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), Hot

It's Summer, And That Means The Mysterious Return Of Glacier Ice Worms

12:24pm July 13, 2021

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

On mountaintop glaciers of Alaska, Washington and Oregon, billions of tiny black worms are tunneling upward to the barren, icy surface. What lures them, and how do they survive the frozen depths?

Aerial picture of a deforested area close to Sinop, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, taken on August 7, 2020. Mato Grosso is one of the leading producers of soybeans in the world.

Why Clearing Brazil's Forests For Farming Can Make It Harder To Grow Crops

11:02am July 13, 2021

by Dan Charles

Clearing natural forests in Brazil in order to grow crops like soybeans has actually made it harder to grow those crops. That's because deforestation makes the weather hotter and drier.

Dark, dank and secluded, the Gomantong Cave is a four-star hotel for bats.

Science

The Best Of Bats: Favorite Pieces From The NPR Archive

2:34pm July 12, 2021

We are marking 50 years of NPR with a look back at stories from the archive. For this collection, we take a look at our best stories on bats.

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The rocket plane carrying Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and other crew members takes off from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, N.M. Sunday, July 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Science

Richard Branson Has Completed A Historic Trip To The Edge Of Space On Virgin Galactic

2:28pm July 11, 2021

by Dave Mistich

Sir Richard Branson and a crew of three others grazed the edge of space Sunday morning in a rocket built by the British billionaire's company, Virgin Galactic.

Science

You Can Learn A Thing Or Two From Dinosaur Poop

8:50am July 11, 2021

There's a lot to be learned from fossilized dinosaur dung. Paleontologist Martin Qvarnstrom and entomologist Emmanuel Arriaga-Varela detail some of their discoveries.

A female Lymantria dispar moth lays her eggs on the trunk of a tree in Connecticut in 2008. In July 2021, the Entomological Society of America announced it was dropping the common name of this destructive insect that is also an slur against a group of peo

Insect Experts Will Change The Name Of The 'Gypsy Moth' And 'Gypsy Ant'

12:05pm July 10, 2021

by James Doubek

The Entomological Society of America says the common names for the two insects include a pejorative for Roma people. It's part of a wider effort to replace names that are inappropriate or offensive.

Mussels dying off at such a high rate will have a massive effect on both marine and terrestrial animals, biologists say.

Heat Wave Killed An Estimated 1 Billion Sea Creatures, And Scientists Fear Even Worse

8:05pm July 09, 2021

by Deepa Shivaram

An estimated 1 billion sea creatures, mostly mussels, died in the heat wave last week along Vancouver's shorelines. But the marine biologist taking count worries the actual number will be much higher.

Some Swarms Of Fireflies Will Synchronize Their Flashes. Here's How

6:26pm July 08, 2021

Scientists investigated the phenomenon of fireflies flashing in sync — and found that the insects may coordinate their strobing by watching others in the group.