Science

Science

1993's 'Jurassic Park' inspired some movie buffs to pursue the study of dinosaurs

5:05am June 26, 2023

Thirty years ago this month, Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park was released — and created such a splash that many fans ended up pursuing a career in paleontology.

When Kristie Fields was undergoing treatment for breast cancer nine years ago, a nurse suggested she go on the local news and ask for help with her medical bills. Fields says she and her husband quickly dismissed the idea.

'We're not doing that': A Black couple won't crowdfund to pay medical debt

5:05am June 26, 2023

by Noam Levey

Kristie Fields, a cancer patient in Virginia was urged to go public to seek help for her medical bills. But she worried about feeding hurtful stereotypes.

In patients with Alzheimer's disease, a substance called beta-amyloid can form toxic clumps in between neurons. Drugs like lecanemab are designed to remove amyloid-beta from the brain.

An Alzheimer's drug is on the way, but getting it may still be tough. Here's why

5:05am June 26, 2023

by Jon Hamilton

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to grant full approval to the Alzheimer's drug lecanemab by July 6. But access to the drug may still be limited.

Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques has his blood sampled on board the International Space Station for an experiment that examines the space-related changes that occur in blood and bone marrow.

Why do some people get rashes in space? There's a clue in astronaut blood

5:00am June 26, 2023

by Ari Daniel

A new study of astronaut blood finds that space travel reduces the expression of 100 genes related to the immune system.

After legalizing mushrooms, Denver hosted a psychedelic 'science' conference

7:59am June 25, 2023

by Jenna McMurtry

Denver last week hosted a psychedelic "science" conference. Colorado is working on rules to implement its recent legalization of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Therapists are already working with them.

An amateur astronomer points in the direction of a celestial object under exceptionally dark skies at Cherry Springs State Park in northern Pennsylvania earlier this month.

Science

For amateur astronomers, 'star parties' are the antidote to light-polluted skies

5:00am June 24, 2023

by Scott Neuman

Each year in northern Pennsylvania, hundreds of stargazers attend gatherings under increasingly rare dark skies to look for faint galaxies, star clusters and nebulae.

The interior of the Savannah remains a time capsule of the mid-century era in which it operated. The main lobby of the cruise ship welcomed paying passengers from 1962 to 1965.

Science

Step inside the world's only nuclear-powered passenger ship — built in 1959

4:16pm June 23, 2023

The Nuclear Ship Savannah offers a snapshot of a nuclear future that never quite came to pass.

Weekly news quiz: From 'no kill' meat to that billionaire cage match

6:52am June 23, 2023

by Holly J. Morris

Who or what is chicken? You decide in this week's NPR news quiz.

Astronaut study sheds light on what makes them get sick more easily in space

5:50pm June 22, 2023

by Ari Daniel

A new study of astronaut blood finds that space travel alters gene expression in a way that impacts the immune system.

Science

Monarch butterflies' white spots may help them fly farther, scientists say

5:08am June 22, 2023

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Researchers find that the white spots on the wings of monarch butterflies may help them fly farther. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on June 21, 2023.)