How Can We Ensure Our Survival As A Species?
Astronomer and cosmologist Lord Martin Rees asks whether our species will endure despite the many existential threats we face.
Humans
Virus Profilers Race To Figure Out What Makes Zika Tick
Though Zika was discovered in 1947, few scientists since had studied the virus. Now, while some check its genes, others turn to placental cells for clues to any link between Zika and birth defects.
Chinese Taste For Fish Bladder Threatens Tiny Porpoise In Mexico
The nets that ensnare the giant totoaba fish also trap and kill the world's smallest and rarest mammal: a porpoise called the vaquita.
Sorry, Bogie, A Sigh Is Not Just A Sigh
Sighs aren't just signs of resignation, relief or the blues. Involuntary sighs are vital to lung health, say scientists who think they have figured out the brain circuitry that controls the reflex.
Families Near The Huge Gas Leak Wonder: Is Home A Safe Place To Be?
Most health officials say the small amounts of benzene and other components of the natural gas still leaking in Southern California are probably not a health threat. Still, some parents worry.
OK, Google, Where Did I Put My Thinking Cap?
It can be too easy for students to Google an assignment before they stop to think about it. Some researchers say we're losing our critical thinking and memory skills by relying on the search bar.
Is It Time To Stop Using Race In Medical Research?
Medical researchers often use race to define health risks. But a geneticist and a sociologist say racial categories don't accurately reflect who people are, and that science has to change.
Florida Governor Ramps Up Mosquito Fight To Stay Ahead Of Zika
It's only a matter of time, Gov. Rick Scott figures, before the Zika virus shows up in Florida mosquitoes. He's called for increased spraying and other moves to keep Zika and other diseases in check.
'This Is Your Brain On Sports' Gets Inside Minds Of Players, Coaches And Fans
The new book, This is Your Brain on Sports, gets inside the minds of the players on the field, the fans in the stands, and the coaches on the sidelines. NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Tufts psychologist Sam Sommers and Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated about what sports tell us about how we think.
In Baby's 'First Bite,' A Chance To Shape A Child's Taste
Bee Wilson's new book, First Bite, examines how genetics, culture, memory and early feeding patterns influence the palate. She says babies are most open to new flavors between ages 4 and 7 months.