Science

Creating a throw-away culture: How companies ingrained plastics in modern life

10:48am June 09, 2024

by Michael Copley

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.

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The week in space: Two lessons for NASA and their private space partners

9:20pm June 08, 2024

This week, two brand new spacecraft launched: SpaceX's Starship and Boeing's Starliner. Each had distinct missions and challenges.

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Box turtles. Coral. These illegally trafficked animals still need a good home

2:35pm June 08, 2024

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.

Joro spiders are back in the news. Here's what the experts really think about them

9:00am June 08, 2024

by Associated Press

Joro spiders — invasive, brightly colored, orb-weaving arachnids that have been spreading in the U.S. for the past several years — have captured the public's interest and horror once again. But spider experts say the jury's still out on the impact the spider will have.

Kyne wearing her hyperbolic plane dress. Author photo by Fabian Di Corcia.

Drag queen Kyne Santos explores how math is 'beautiful' in new book 'Math in Drag'

3:01am June 07, 2024

Kyne Santos was a student at the University of Waterloo when she began her math and her drag careers. She compares her double life to Hannah Montana, doing math equations at school by day and drag at night. You may already know Kyne from TikTok, where she makes educational videos about math, science, history and drag. And now, in her new book Math in Drag, Kyne explores the connections between math and drag: How both can be creative, beautiful and most of all, fun.

Want to hear us cover more math? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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Crows can count vocally like toddlers, research shows

10:20pm June 06, 2024

by Ari Daniel

Crows can count... out loud! They do so similarly to human toddlers who are learning to tally things up. A neuroscientist trained birds to produce a number of calls in response to random visual cues.

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A heat dome can bring dangerously high temperatures. What is it?

5:48pm June 06, 2024

by Bill Chappell

Much of the Southwest U.S. is experiencing extreme heat this week — with temperatures blazing past 100 degrees. And a phenomenon known as a heat dome is to blame.

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A fungus is turning cicadas into horny zombies — but don’t panic

2:18pm June 06, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

The fungus takes over cicadas’ lower halves and sex drives, fueling them to keep mating and spreading the disease in the process. That's why some scientists call them “flying salt shakers of death.”

Joro spiders are big and colorful, but they shouldn't be nightmare fodder

1:33am June 06, 2024

by The Associated Press

Researchers say the creatures pose little threat to humans but they are concerned about the growing prevalence of invasive species — a problem made worse by global trade and climate change.

The arguments for swapping lawns for more natural landscaping

10:11pm June 05, 2024

by Teresa Homsi

It’s lawnmower season but some homeowners and others say it’s time to shift from well-trimmed lawns to more environmentally friendly landscaping.

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