'Play This Video Game And Call Me In The Morning'
Developers at Akili are working on a game they hope might one day be prescribed to treat mental health conditions like ADHD and depression. But first, they must get past the FDA.
Science
How Your Brain Remembers Where You Parked The Car
When people saw photos that linked a famous person with a famous place, it changed the behavior of certain neurons in their brains. And it changed their memories, too.
Papal Encyclical On Climate Change Puts Coal Country Catholics In Tough Spot
Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment is getting a thorough reading in Wyoming, which is the country's top coal-producing state. The letter presents a moral framework for approaching issues such as global climate change, but it's a difficult subject for Catholics in coal country.
U.S. Grants Patent For Free-Standing Space Elevator Tower
A Canadian company called Thoth Technology has patented a space elevator. The tower would rise some 12 miles into the sky, with a runway or launch pad on top.
Were Carbs A Brain Food For Our Ancient Ancestors?
Once ancient humans learned to cook, starchy foods could have given them a calorie bump that fueled the evolution of the human brain, British researchers argue in a new paper.
Chatty Marmosets Have Something To Say About Vocal Learning
Scientists have found that marmosets have the capability to learn calls from their parents. Studying the small monkeys may provide insights into developmental disorders in humans, like autism.
Titanium Rings Tough To Crack In Emergencies
A patient's ring was stuck, his finger dangerously swollen. Doctors tried everything to remove the ring — and finally hit upon a solution they hope will help other people.
Engineers Make Narcotics With Yeast. Is Home-Brewed Heroin Next?
The yeast produce only tiny amounts of the drug. But eventually, the technology could lead to better painkillers and other medicines. Drug officials worry the microbes could fall into the wrong hands.
Research Biologist Coins Term 'Kilo-Author' For Scientific Journal Articles
NPR's Robert Siegel interviews Zen Faulkes of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley about the term, which describes the trend of adding more names as contributors to science journal articles.
Decoding Nature: Identifying Sounds A Horned Owl Makes
A listener responded to our invitation to send recordings of backyard wildlife with audio of a spooky bird screech. An expert at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology helped solve the mystery.