Humans

Luz Barajas took her son Carlos Cholico to get his flu shot at Crawford Kids Clinic in Aurora, Colo., last year. Health officials say there is some evidence the flu shot is more protective than the nasal flu vaccine.

CDC Urges Americans To Get A Flu Shot As Soon As Possible

2:49pm September 29, 2016

by Rob Stein

There's plenty of vaccine available this year, and the sooner people get vaccinated the better, federal health officials say. A recent drop in vaccination, especially among the elderly, concerns them.

A new study finds meerkats are the most murderous mammals.

Science

What Meerkat Murder Tells Us About Human Violence

6:49pm September 28, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

What is the most murderous mammal? A new study says it's the meerkat. But the study argues that over all of human history, humans are still more lethally violent than the average mammal.

A New York doctor says he has used the DNA of three adults to create a child for a couple from Jordan.

New York Fertility Doctor Says He Created Baby With 3 Genetic Parents

2:23pm September 28, 2016

by Rob Stein

The New York-based doctor has sparked praise and criticism by going to Mexico and using DNA from three adults to create a child for a couple from Jordan who lost two children to a genetic disorder.

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A new study suggests stress can diminish the benefits of more healthful food choices.

Chill Out: Stress Can Override Benefits Of Healthful Eating

11:21am September 28, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

Stress takes a toll on our bodies. And a new study suggests stress can diminish the benefits of more healthful food choices. But experts say a range of strategies can help people cope with stress.

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A new study out of Yale found that pre-K teachers, white and black alike, spend more time watching black boys, expecting trouble.

Bias Isn't Just A Police Problem, It's A Preschool Problem

9:45am September 28, 2016

by Cory Turner

A new study by researchers at Yale found that pre-K teachers, white and black alike, spend more time watching black boys, expecting trouble.

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Science

The Myth Of Coincidences And Why We Search For Their Meaning

5:11pm September 27, 2016

by Shankar Vedantam

NPR's Hidden Brain podcast looks at the math — and the myth — of coincidences. They are not as unlikely as they seem, and the psychological reasons behind why we can't help but search for meaning in them anyway.

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Politics & Government

Debating While Female: How Gender Affects Perceptions

5:29pm September 26, 2016

Pundits have said Hillary Clinton doesn't smile enough or is too emotional. These are familiar critiques, Anna Waters, a former high school debater-turned-coach, tells NPR's Ari Shapiro.

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Science

What's Your Sign? Look Again, Says NASA

8:41am September 25, 2016

If you rely on an insight from your daily horoscopes, you may have been looking at the wrong sign this whole time.

Science

Swedish Scientist Starts DNA Experiments On Healthy Human Embryos

4:33pm September 22, 2016

by Rob Stein

A scientist in Sweden has started experiments on healthy human embryos in which DNA is altered. The aim is to determine the causes of infertility. It's the first known use of so-called "gene-editing" tools on healthy human embryos, and critics say it could potentially lead society down a very dangerous path.

Easy and precise editing of DNA is making possible experiments with human embryos that raise a host of ethical questions.

Breaking Taboo, Swedish Scientist Seeks To Edit DNA Of Healthy Human Embryos

9:58am September 22, 2016

by Rob Stein

A Swedish biologist wants to change the genes of healthy human embryos to find ways to treat infertility and other diseases. The experiments intensify ethical questions about genetic engineering.

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