Science

Researchers found Muusoctopus nursery grounds on a low-temperature hydrothermal vent off the shore of Costa Rica.

Researchers found a rare octopus nursery off the coast of Costa Rica

2:17pm July 03, 2023

by Joe Hernandez

It's only the world's third known octopus nursery. The research team may have also discovered a new species of Muusoctopus, a genus of small to medium sized octopus that lacks an ink sack.

Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya at their home in suburban Chicago.

He was diagnosed with ALS. Then they changed the face of medical advocacy

12:08pm June 30, 2023

After Brian Wallach was diagnosed with ALS, he and his wife Sandra Abrevaya threw themselves into advocating for patients. Everyone up to President Biden took notice.

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This week in science: gravitational waves, nature-inspired robots and Orca attacks

5:34pm June 29, 2023

Hosts of NPR's science podcast Short Wave talk about newly-discovered gravitational waves, a robot designed with inspiration from nature and why Orcas might be attacking boats near the European coast.

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The IceCube Lab under a starry, night sky, with the Milky Way appearing over low auroras in the background.

Science

Our own Milky Way is sending out neutrinos, the so-called 'ghost particles'

2:28pm June 29, 2023

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Scientists have detected these strange particles from outer space before, but this is the first time they've caught cosmic neutrinos from our own Milky Way

Back and neck pain affect millions of Americans. New research suggests that opioids may not make sense for treating certain kinds of acute back pain.

Opioids are overrated for some common back pain, a study suggests

9:41pm June 28, 2023

by Will Stone

New research calls into question prescribing the drugs even for short-term pain relief – especially given the risk of addiction.

This artist's impression shows a pair of supermassive black holes circling each other and sending out gravitational waves, which affect the bright, shining pulsars.

Science

Scientists have found signs of a new kind of gravitational wave. It's really big

8:00pm June 28, 2023

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Scientists say they've found evidence of a very long gravitational wave that could open a window onto supermassive black holes — and perhaps even other extreme, unseen objects in the universe.

Ancient women were hunters — and grandmas were the most skilled ones, study suggests

4:28pm June 28, 2023

by Nurith Aizenman

Scientists have long held that early human men did the hunting and women the gathering. A new review of data on foraging societies in modern times suggests that most women hunted.

March 1944: A cloud of ash hangs over Vesuvius during its worst eruption in more than 70 years. In the foreground is the city of Naples. The nearby towns of Massa and San Sebastiano were destroyed by the flow of lava. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

The Second Biggest Disaster at Mount Vesuvius

6:30am June 27, 2023

by Greg Rosalsky

Like an increasing number of national parks in the United States, Mount Vesuvius has begun rationing access with a quota system. The system has had some problems.

New research finds that people who try time-restricted eating can keep it up longer than people who count calories.

Intermittent fasting is as effective as counting calories, new study finds

11:28pm June 26, 2023

by Will Stone

Limiting when you eat to a six- or eight-hour window can help reduce caloric intake. While the weight loss isn't dramatic, it may be easier to stick to than counting calories.

Intermittent fasting may be equally as effective for weight loss as counting calories

6:32pm June 26, 2023

by Will Stone

When trying to lose weight, patients are often counseled to count calories, but this can be cumbersome and hard to stick with. New research finds that intermittent fasting can be just as effective.

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