Science

How Helpful Are Face Masks In Preventing The Spread Of Disease?

4:11pm January 27, 2020

by Maria Godoy

As China continues to report a growing number of cases of Wuhan coronavirus, images of people wearing face masks have become ubiquitous. How effective are these masks in stopping the virus' spread?

Queue Listen Now

Coronavirus Case Confirmed In Arizona, Bringing U.S. Total To 5

5:44pm January 26, 2020

by Carrie Feibel

The CDC expects the number of confirmed cases of Wuhan coronavirus in the U.S. to increase — but says the overall health risk of disease transmission is the country is low.

This photo provided by NASA shows the view from NASA's Andrew Morgan's helmet cam as Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano works outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk Saturday.

Science

Astronauts Finish Spacewalk For Final Fix Of International Space Station Device

3:47pm January 25, 2020

by David Welna

Two astronauts aboard the International Space Station made their fourth foray outside the spacecraft to prolong the lifespan of a cosmic ray detector.

Science

A Travel Ban To Contain The Coronavirus Could Worsen Conditions In Wuhan

7:54am January 25, 2020

by Joe Palca

China is enforcing travel restrictions on several cities, affecting millions of people. But research shows that these measures are not effective. In fact, they might make the situation even worse.

Queue Listen Now

Roughly 1 in 10 infants were born prematurely in the U.S. in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drug Makena is widely prescribed to women at high risk of going into labor early, though the latest research suggests the m

Drug To Prevent Premature Birth Divides Doctors, Insurers And FDA Experts

11:23am January 24, 2020

by Emmarie Huetteman

An expert panel convened by the FDA says the drug Makena should be withdrawn from the market because a review of its effectiveness shows it doesn't work. But OB-GYNS who prescribe the drug disagree.

The Doomsday Clock reads 100 seconds to midnight, a decision made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that was announced Thursday. The clock is intended to represent the danger of global catastrophe.

The End May Be Nearer: Doomsday Clock Moves Within 100 Seconds Of Midnight

8:50pm January 23, 2020

by David Welna

The two-minute warning that had held over the past two years has now shrunk to 100 seconds before midnight on the Doomsday Clock set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Why are some warnings heard, while others are ignored?

Science

How To See The Future (No Crystal Ball Needed)

5:30pm January 23, 2020

When disaster strikes, we want to know, who screwed up? This week we explore the psychology of warnings: Why some warnings get heard, and why some of us are better at seeing what lies ahead.

Queue Listen Now

This chicken from Memphis Meats was produced with cells taken from an animal and grown into meat in a "cultivator." The process is analogous to how yeast is grown in breweries to produce beer.

Science

Ready For Meat Grown From Animal Cells? A Startup Plans A Pilot Facility

7:08pm January 22, 2020

by Allison Aubrey

Memphis Meats, a startup company that has just raised $161 million, says it has a "clear path" to bringing cell-based meats to market. Yet the company and its competitors face challenges.

H5N1 bird flu virus is the sort of virus under discussion this week in Bethesda, Md. How animal viruses can acquire the ability to jump into humans and quickly move from person to person is exactly the question that some researchers are trying to answer b

How Much Should The Public Be Told About Research Into Risky Viruses?

5:42pm January 21, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The U.S. government this week is pondering how much the public needs to know about funding decisions for studies and experiments that involve tinkering with already dangerous viruses.

More Data On The Midlife Crisis

6:30am January 21, 2020

by Greg Rosalsky

An economist uses a broad range of data from 132 countries to understand why middle age is such a drag.