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Science

Research Shows Birth Order Really Does Matter

6:43am July 04, 2017

by Shankar Vedantam

Compared to older siblings, second-born boys are more likely to go to prison, get suspended in school and enter juvenile delinquency. Why? Parents of first-borns are more invested in their upbringing.

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The frog Hyla sanchiangensis from eastern China is a descendant of one of three lineages that made it through Earth's last mass extinction 66 million years ago to flourish worldwide today.

Science

How Frogs Benefited From The Dinosaurs' Extinction

6:14pm July 03, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

Frogs are "master survivors," able to take advantage of the ecological vacuum left behind by extinct animals. Scientists say 9 in 10 frog species descended from three surviving frog lineages.

A double set of fences topped with barbed wire circles this outdoor decomposition site outside Grand Junction, Colo. The barrier thwarts prying eyes and protects the curious from an unpleasant surprise.

To Solve Gruesome Desert Mysteries, Scientists Become Body Collectors

10:39am July 01, 2017

by Rae Ellen Bichell

People are dumping corpses in the high desert of western Colorado. But those unloading bodies aren't criminal masterminds. They're scientists. And out here, the usual rules of human decay don't apply.

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Mammography has helped increase the early detection of breast tumors. Now, researchers say, the goal is to discern which of those tumors need aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy or radiation after surgery.

Tumor Test Helps Identify Which Breast Cancers Don't Require Extra Treatment

6:47pm June 29, 2017

Researchers say the test, which measures gene activity, can help avoid "overtreating" tumors that are not life-threatening. It might allow some patients to avoid radiation and chemotherapy.

Researchers monitored the health of these wild bees, from the species Osmia bicornis. They nest inside small cavities, such as hollow reeds.

Pesticides Are Harming Bees — But Not Everywhere, Major New Study Shows

6:22pm June 29, 2017

by Dan Charles

A huge new study conducted in 33 sites across Europe finds that seeds coated with neonicotinoid pesticides harm bees living nearby. The damage, though, depends on local conditions.

News Brief: Cardinal Denies Sexual Assault Charges, Travel Ban Details

7:44am June 29, 2017

Cardinal George Pell has been ordered to appear in an Australian court next month to face sexual assault charges. The Trump administration on Thursday will outline how the travel ban will work.

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Science

Listen Up! How Recognizing Sounds Can Help With Car Repairs

5:13am June 29, 2017

by Liz Gannes

Sounds leave cues about the wear and tear on cars, power tools and other devices. By identifying the sounds a startup aims to improve the repair and performance of vehicles, traffic signals and more.

New study shows child care centers don't necessarily hire the most qualified teachers.

Child Care Centers Often Don't Hire The Most Qualified Teachers, Study Shows

10:35am June 28, 2017

by Shankar Vedantam

Child care centers don't necessarily hire the most qualified teachers. A new study shows that child care centers pick applicants who are in the middle of the pack.

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From sports, to politics, to the stock market, we love to make (and hear) predictions. This week, Hidden Brain explores why the so-called experts are so often wrong, and how we can avoid the common pitfalls of telling the future.

Degrees of Maybe: How We Can All Make Better Predictions

9:00pm June 26, 2017

Pundits and prognosticators make predictions all the time: about everything from elections, to sports, to global affairs. This week, we explore why they're often wrong, and how we can all do better.

An international team of scientists believes it has solved the mystery of how eggs got their shapes.

How Do Eggs Get Their Shapes? Scientists Think They've Cracked It

4:31pm June 22, 2017

by Christopher Joyce

Eggs evolved over 300 million years ago and now come in all kinds of shapes, from Tic Tacs to teardrops to pingpong balls. After studying some 50,000 eggs, a team of researchers thinks it knows why.