A Microbe Hunter Plies Her Trade In Space
Meet Kate Rubins, a virus-hunter turned astronaut. When she sequenced DNA in space for the first time, she opened the door to a new era in space biology.
Humans
When It Comes To Politics and 'Fake News,' Facts Aren't Enough
In politics, it sometimes feels like we can't agree on basic facts. But according to neuroscientist Tali Sharot, facts are not enough — emotions may be the key to changing our minds.
The Saga Of The Irish Giant's Bones Dismays Medical Ethicists
Charles Byrne was about 7 feet 7 inches tall, an 18th century marvel whose height came from a pituitary tumor. He asked for privacy in death, but his skeleton is still on display in a London museum.
'Irresistible' By Design: It's No Accident You Can't Stop Looking At The Screen
Technology is designed to be addictive, offering gratification that's similar to that of drug abuse or gambling. Author Adam Alter says a new frontier could soon provide another escape from reality.
Old-Style Chemo Is Still A Mainstay In The Age Of Targeted Cancer Therapy
Scientists hunting cures for cancer hope to find therapies with fewer side effects. But there's also new evidence that old-style chemotherapy sometimes helps gentler treatments work better.
Beyond Lyme: New Tick-Borne Diseases On The Rise In U.S.
The world is seeing more and more new diseases, and the U.S. is no exception. We're living in a hot spot for tick-borne diseases. Some are deadly. The key to stopping them may be an unlikely critter.
Save Hide And Seek For The Playground: Why Kids Should See Their Veggies
Getting kids to eat veggies through subterfuge — say, spinach smoothies -- sets the bar too low, researchers say. Your child must actually learn to like veggies, weird textures and all. Here's how.
Some Plaque To Build A Theory On: Did Humans And Neanderthals Kiss?
NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the scientific discovery of Neanderthal dental plaque that indicates they might have kissed humans.
Malcolm Gladwell: Do More Choices Make Us Happier?
We assume that our choices come with prepackaged consequences. But author Malcolm Gladwell explains how we aren't simply passive recipients of our decisions.
Sheena Iyengar: Why Are Some Choices So Paralyzing?
Psycho-economist Sheena Iyengar explains how we can actively use choice as a tool to help us arrive at decisions we can live with.