Science

Recipients of the 2019 MacArthur fellowships, otherwise known as the "genius" grants. (Two of this year's fellows declined photographs.)

MacArthur 'Genius' Grant Winners Attest To 'Power Of Individual Creativity'

7:01am September 25, 2019

by Colin Dwyer

As usual, the more than two dozen winners in 2019 span a range of fields, from fiction and cartoons to neuroscience and theoretical geophysics. Now they've got one important accolade in common.

Ruby Johnson, whose daughter was recently hospitalized with a respiratory illness from vaping, testified before a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on lung disease and e-cigarettes on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

If E-Cigs Were Romaine Lettuce, They'd Be Off The Shelf, Vaper's Mom Tells Congress

9:51pm September 24, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

As numbers of vaping-related lung disease rise, a mom testifying before Congress compared the illness to a food poisoning outbreak and called on lawmakers to address the epidemic of teen vaping.

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a television interview in front of the West Wing of the White House, on Sept. 19, 2019. Wheeler has threatened to withdraw billions of dollars in federal highway money unless Calif

Trump Administration Escalates Battle Over Environmental Regulations With California

3:35pm September 24, 2019

by Jeff Brady

The Trump administration threatens to cut federal highway dollars for California over air pollution.

World Leaders Gather For United Nations Climate Summit

No Plan B: Youth Leading The Charge On Climate

2:38pm September 24, 2019

Young people are taking center stage in the fight against climate change.

An employee of the Boston biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks runs a gene sequencing machine through its paces. The company synthesizes thousands of genes a month, which are then inserted into cells that become mini factories of useful products.

As Made-To-Order DNA Gets Cheaper, Keeping It Out Of The Wrong Hands Gets Harder

1:30pm September 24, 2019

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Labs are churning out more and more synthetic DNA for scientists who want to use it to reprogram cells. Some say the technology has outpaced government safety guidelines put in place a decade ago.

Queue Listen Now

A girl receives the Ebola vaccine in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Doctors Without Borders Calls For More Transparency In Distribution Of Ebola Vaccine

5:47pm September 23, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

The international humanitarian group says the World Health Organization is restricting access to the vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the current outbreak has killed more than 2,100.

Greenpeace Protests Outside DNC Headquarters Urging The Party To Hold A Climate Change Debate

No Plan B: The Climate-Conscious Voter

1:11pm September 23, 2019

As temperatures rise, voters are making the climate a central issue in this presidential campaign.

A coal-fired power plant in central Poland. Global greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2018, and the world is on track for potentially catastrophic climate change in the coming decades.

U.N. Climate Summit Sets Stage For New National Emissions Promises

10:27am September 23, 2019

by Rebecca Hersher

Humanity is not on track to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. Delegations from nearly 200 countries are meeting to discuss promises they made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Queue Listen Now

On the advice of a co-worker, Dehne joined a six-week program through which she learned how to safely walk to ease her pain. Now Dehne briskly walks for exercise and enjoyment multiple times a week. Her knees, she says, "don't hurt me anymore."

Exercising To Ease Pain: Taking Brisk Walks Can Help

10:00am September 23, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

Never mind a runner's high — the buzz some people say they get after a run. Neuroscientist Benedict Kolber was more interested in how to generate pain relief via a brisk walk. It can really work.

Queue Listen Now

Science

What To Expect From The U.N. Climate Action Summit

5:06pm September 22, 2019

by Rebecca Hersher

World leaders are meeting in New York on Monday amid growing fear that promises countries have made to reduce emissions are insufficient to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

Queue Listen Now