Science

One of the banana plants in the collection at the USDA's Tropical Agriculture Research Station in Puerto Rico. It's just one of many banana collections around the world that might just hold the key to stopping a fungus's deadly reach.

Our Favorite Banana May Be Doomed; Can New Varieties Replace It?

9:11pm January 11, 2016

by Dan Charles

The Cavendish banana and other beloved varieties are threatened by a fungus that's spreading around the world. Scientists are trying to find new varieties that will be resistant to the disease.

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Anatomy Of Addiction: How Heroin And Opioids Hijack The Brain

7:15pm January 11, 2016

by Jack Rodolico

Roughly 2.5 million Americans are addicted to heroin and opioids like Oxycontin. Researchers say addiction takes over the brain's limbic reward system, impairing decision making, judgment and memory.

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Lower-back pain is one of the top three reasons that Americans go to the doctor. But the solution can be a DIY project.

Forget The Gizmos: Exercise Works Best For Lower-Back Pain

5:12pm January 11, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Ditch the strap-on belts and shoe inserts, and definitely don't rest. Accumulating research shows that the best way to treat and prevent lower-back pain is to get off the couch.

Maryann Frazier, a researcher at Penn State's Center for Pollinator Research, checks on one of her experimental honeybee hives. Frazier is testing the effects of pesticides on honeybee colonies.

Science

A Hardier Honeybee That Fights Back By Biting Back

4:28pm January 11, 2016

by Lou Blouin

The parasitic varroa mite has been wiping out honeybee colonies globally since the late '80s. Now scientists and beekeepers have teamed up to selectively breed bees with a unique, mite-fighting trait.

Our Favorite Banana May Be Doomed. Can New Varieties Replace It?

4:08pm January 11, 2016

by Dan Charles

The Cavendish banana and other beloved varieties are threatened by a fungus that's spreading around the world. Scientists are trying to find new varieties that will be resistant to the disease.

Girls at dance practice during Season 1 of East Los High.

'East Los High' Isn't Just A Soapy Teen Drama — It's Also A Science Experiment

2:40pm January 11, 2016

by Maanvi Singh

Social scientists and health workers worked with screenwriters and studio execs to create a binge-worthy show designed to help young Latinas make healthy life choices.

What Does El Niño Precipitation Mean For California Drought?

3:28pm January 10, 2016

It's finally raining in California, but will the El Niño storms be enough to refill the state's reservoirs? Can the water be collected? Alice Walton of the LA Times talks with NPR's Rachel Martin.

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New Orleans Prepares For Mississippi River Flooding

8:13am January 09, 2016

by Tegan Wendland

The Mississippi River is expected to crest Sunday. Officials in low-lying New Orleans don't expect this time to be as bad as last month, but they're not taking any chances.

#NPRreads: 3 Stories To Check Out This Weekend

7:00am January 09, 2016

Read about how robots could save the Great Barrier Reef, why Americans work so much, and what art projects veterans are making to help them recover from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Finally, Some Good News For Manatees And Green Sea Turtles

5:56pm January 08, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

These two species have been in danger of extinction for decades, but have responded well to conservation efforts. Those measures are going to stay in effect.

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