Science

President Trump, pictured in New Delhi on Tuesday, will hold a news conference on Wednesday to discuss the threat of coronavirus.

Trump Administration Pressed On Coronavirus Preparedness

1:27pm February 26, 2020

by Miles Parks

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says there is "no plan" for potential outbreaks in the U.S. The White House says it has the situation "contained" and has requested emergency funding.

Science

'Hidden Brain': How 'Egocentric Bias' Can Lead Us Astray

7:58am February 26, 2020

by Shankar Vedantam

Asking a stranger for help can be stressful. But research shows that people are more likely to say yes than you may think. Researchers are studying our understated ability to influence others.

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'Mini' MRI Outperforms 3-D Mammograms In Detecting Cancer In Women With Dense Breasts

4:30pm February 25, 2020

by Allison Aubrey

A new study published in JAMA compares the effectiveness of abbreviated MRI and 3-D mammography to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts. It finds the mini MRI is more effective.

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A tank of water sits outside Milbourne's home.

Sell Or Stay? Australia's Fire Zone Experiment

11:33am February 25, 2020

After deadly 2009 wildfires, authorities offered to buy property to encourage people to move. Few accepted. The questions raised by Australia's experience are freshly urgent after its latest fires.

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"Mad" Mike Hughes' rocket takes off with what appears to be a parachute tearing off during its launch near Barstow, Calif. Hughes was killed when the rocket crashed Saturday.

Daredevil 'Mad' Mike Hughes Killed In Crash Of Homemade Rocket

7:41pm February 23, 2020

by James Doubek

Mike Hughes promoted himself as believing that the Earth was flat. He launched in homemade rockets with the goal of eventually flying to the edge of space to see for himself.

A huge screen displaying precautions against the new coronavirus is seen in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday.

Officials Scramble To Contain Coronavirus Outbreaks In South Korea, Iran And Italy

4:10pm February 23, 2020

by Bobby Allyn

Health officials are on high alert over the global spread of the illness that has infected nearly 77,000 people in China, with more than 2,400 deaths tied to the virus.

2 Of Paris Climate Negotiators Lay Out 2 Scenarios In Their New Book

7:27am February 23, 2020

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with climate scientists Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac about their new book, "The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis."

A growing field of science shows that friendship is vital to our health.

Survival Of The Friendliest: How Our Close Friendships Help Us Thrive

7:01am February 22, 2020

by Elena Renken

In her new book, Lydia Denworth makes the case for the vital necessity of friendship, tracing its effects on your genes, on your brain and even on animals like sheep and fish.

Satellite images show the effects of a prolonged warm spell on Eagle Island, in the far north of the Antarctic Peninsula, NASA says. An inch of snowpack melted in just one day, the agency says. The blue areas in snow on the right are ponds of melted water

'Antarctica Melts,' NASA Says, Showing Effects Of A Record Warm Spell

6:59pm February 21, 2020

by Bill Chappell

Taken just nine days apart, two images illustrate the impact a recent warm period had on the Antarctic Peninsula. NASA says such warmth "has become more common in recent years."

What could you possibly have to learn from a houseplant?

The Lessons To Be Learned From Forcing Plants To Play Music

6:00am February 21, 2020

by Sophie Haigney

It's not as mean as it might sound (though it does involve a little electrocution) and the results can be both beautiful and, well, eye-opening.