Humans

David Quammen's new book is an extended excerpt of his previous one, Spillover, which explored how dangerous pathogens jump from animals to people.

How 'The Hot Zone' Got It Wrong And Other Tales Of Ebola's History

2:13pm November 14, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Do people with Ebola actually cry tears of blood? What happens if the U.S. Army thinks you might have Ebola? We catch up with science writer David Quammen to discuss truths and myths about the virus.

These slides are part of a common screening test for colorblindness. Viewers with normal vision and those with color vision deficiencies usually see the number 12 in this one.

These X's Are The Same Shade, So What Does That Say About Color?

5:33pm November 11, 2014

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Never mind the physics. Color isn't just a particular wavelength of light, it turns out. It's a fascinating mix of context and what's happening outside and inside your head.

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How Catchy Songs Lodge Their Hooks In Your Ears

12:13pm November 09, 2014

"Wannabe," by the Spice Girls, is the catchiest song in the U.K., according to a new study. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Ashley Burgoyne, a computational musicologist from the University of Amsterdam.

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A recent study found obese women are more likely than other women to work physically demanding jobs, like the kind that call for hard hats. They're less likely to work in jobs that require a lot of interaction with clients and customers — jobs that, on

Obese Women Make Less Money, Work More Physically Demanding Jobs

7:34am November 09, 2014

by Rebecca Hersher

A 65 percent increase in a woman's weight is associated with a 9-percent drop in earnings. A recent study investigated what's behind that "obesity penalty," and why it hits women harder than men.

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Researchers found that passport screeners have an error rate of about 15 percent when they're evaluating whether faces match passport photos.

Security Agents Often Miss When Passports Don't Match Faces

6:26pm November 06, 2014

by Anne Miller

The people checking travelers' passports aren't great at catching fake or stolen documents. One solution might be to screen the screeners and only hire those with a talent for recognizing faces.

In 49 U.S. states, spotting the squished disc in this spinal MRI is still much easier than learning the price of the MRI in advance.

How Much Is That MRI, Really? Massachusetts Shines A Light

5:45pm November 06, 2014

by Martha Bebinger

A state law now requires insurers to reveal prices of their medical tests, and the variation is amazing, bargain hunters say. An MRI of the back is $614 at one place, $1,800 at another.

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Saah Exco was found alone on a beach in Liberia's West Point slum, naked and abandoned and likely an Ebola victim.Research suggests the story of one needy individual motivates charitable donors more than statistics about millions of sufferers.

Why Your Brain Wants To Help One Child In Need — But Not Millions

4:14pm November 06, 2014

by Shankar Vedantam

Donations to fight Ebola are lower than expected. One psychologist thinks the reason may be the impact of hopelessness. A really big problem makes people less likely to give.

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This gladiator tombstone was excavated in a cemetery for these ancient power athletes in what was once Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey.

Gladiator Gatorade? Ancient Athletes Had A Recovery Drink, Too

5:54pm November 04, 2014

by Maria Godoy

Gladiators guzzled a drink made from plant ash to help their bodies recover after a hard day of sword fighting, according to Roman accounts. New tests of old bones back up that idea.

A map of toxic waste sites can be combined with maps of waterways and cities to reveal potential health risks.

A Field Of Medicine That Wants To Know Where You Live

8:39am November 03, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

Where do you live? Health specialists think that simple question could make a difference in how doctors prevent and treat diseases for individuals. That's expanding its storied role in public health.

Daylight Saving Time is so last month. Some people can't wait for this kind of weather.

Science

Standard Time Starts, And The Summer-Haters Celebrate

10:27am November 02, 2014

by Rachel Martin

Some people have SAD — seasonal affective disorder — in reverse. For these people, today is the best day of the year.

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