Research News

Dan Gilbert says we're not great at predicting how much we will enjoy an experience in part because we fail to consider all of the details. We think a visit to the dentist will be terrible — but we're forgetting about the free toothbrush, the nice chat

Science

You vs. Future You; Or Why We're Bad At Predicting Our Own Happiness

12:01am August 23, 2016

by NPR Staff

Researcher Dan Gilbert says that human beings are the only animals that think about the future. But we don't always do the best job at predicting what will make us happy — or even who we will be.

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A plane sprays pesticide over the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami on Aug. 6. That's just one way health officials are battling back Zika-carrying mosquitoes in the area.

How Big, Really, Is The Zika Outbreak In Florida?

8:22pm August 22, 2016

by Michaeleen Doucleff

So far, health officials know of 37 confirmed cases of people who contracted Zika from mosquitoes in Miami. But computer models suggest the underlying outbreak in Miami is bigger — and spreading.

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Research Challenges Assumptions On Why Voters Support Trump

5:02am August 22, 2016

by Tamara Keith

The conclusion of new research shows supporters of Donald Trump are not experiencing economic anxiety driven by trade and immigration policies, which are common themes of his campaign.

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Sea ice melts off the beach of Barrow, Alaska, where Operation IceBridge is based for its summer 2016 campaign.

As July's Record Heat Builds Through August, Arctic Ice Keeps Melting

6:33pm August 19, 2016

by Christopher Joyce

July 2016 was Earth's hottest month on record. And Arctic ice has shrunk this year almost as much as it did in 2012 — the most severe melt to date.

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Science

Research Examines If Surgery Delays Affect Patients' Health Outcome

6:43am August 19, 2016

by Shankar Vedantam

Researchers find that long waiting times for surgery are not associated with worse health outcomes for patients. The study involved patients waiting for surgery in England.

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Better Burgers, More Healthful Hot Dogs: Could A Pinch Of Seaweed Be The Answer?

10:54am August 18, 2016

by Carolyn Beans

Processed meats used in hot dogs and hamburgers are high in levels of salt and fat. Some scientists want to boost these foods' nutritional profile by adding seaweed to the meats.

The condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is inherited and can be a killer. But some of the genetic mutations once thought linked to the illness are actually harmless, geneticists say.

Study Of Sudden Cardiac Death Exposes Limits Of Genetic Testing

8:57pm August 17, 2016

by Richard Harris

Some genetic tests for a common cause of sudden heart failure can be wrong, researchers say, because the underlying science didn't take into account racial diversity.

Scientists Engineer An Opioid That May Reduce Pain With Less Risk

5:20pm August 17, 2016

by Angus Chen

Opioids lock to a receptor in the brain that controls pain relief, pleasure and need. A new compound may offer relief without as much risk of addiction or overdose. But it's only been tested in mice.

Science

Why High-Income Households Benefit More From Product Innovations

5:05am August 16, 2016

by Shankar Vedantam

A Stanford University researcher finds that products purchased mainly by poor people were increasing in price much more quickly than those purchased by the wealthy.

How Big A Risk Is Acetaminophen During Pregnancy?

2:50pm August 15, 2016

by Richard Harris

A study found that behavioral problems were more common among children of women who took the pain reliever during pregnancy. But interpreting the results isn't as straightforward as you might expect.