Science

NIH Director On Why He Is Declining To Speak On Panels That Exclude Women

4:45pm July 01, 2019

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, about his decision to decline speaking on what he calls "manels" — panels that exclude women.

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Cocoa producers of the Yakasse-Attobrou Agricultural Cooperative gather cocoa pods in a certified Fair Trade-label cocoa plantation in Adzope, Ivory Coast.

Fair Trade Helps Farmers, But Not Their Hired Workers

3:29pm July 01, 2019

by Dan Charles

According to a new study of cocoa-producing cooperatives, Fair Trade certification boosts the income of small farmers, but those benefits aren't shared with their hired workers.

According to the facial feedback theory, the simple act of putting a smile on your face can boost your mood. But research shows it doesn't work for everyone and can make some people feel worse.

The Science Of Smiles, Real And Fake

5:03am July 01, 2019

by Maanvi Singh

According to the facial feedback hypothesis, the simple act of putting a smile on your face can boost your mood. But recent research shows pasting on a grin can have mixed results.

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Science

Scientists Study Human Cancer Genes In Plants

8:19am June 30, 2019

by Joe Palca

There are human cancer genes in plants. Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are studying what they and other human genes are doing there.

Emissions rise from the Duke Energy coal-fired Asheville Power Plant ahead of Hurricane Florence in Arden, N.C., in September 2018. Regulators are supposed to make sure Duke Energy delivers reliable power at the lowest possible cost — and that's always

North Carolina Tries To Clean Up Its Electricity

8:49am June 29, 2019

by Dan Charles

North Carolina's governor is promising to quickly cut greenhouse emissions but will need to convince Duke Energy, the state's dominant utility, to abandon coal and gas in favor of solar and wind.

A boy jumps into the water of the Trocadero Fountain in Paris on Friday, to find relief from the heat wave.

France Suffers Through Hottest Day In Its History — 113 Fahrenheit

8:36pm June 28, 2019

by Sasha Ingber

It comes as much of Europe, including Spain and Germany, sees record-breaking temperatures.

A child in Charlottesville, Va., uses eclipse glasses to safely watch the August 2017 solar eclipse.

Astronomers Collect 40,000 Used Eclipse Glasses In U.S. For People In South America

4:13pm June 28, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

"We were contacted by people all over the country who said, 'We'd like to collect glasses for you, how do we become a collection center?' " says Mike Simmons, president of Astronomers Without Borders.

This graphic shows the path of the solar eclipse on July 2 and how much you can see from different places. The yellow band represents the path of totality, or the areas in which a total eclipse will be visible. Other areas will be able to see a partial so

Get A Glimpse: Total Solar Eclipse Set To Pass Over South Pacific, South America

3:36pm June 28, 2019

by Joe Palca

The eclipse will happen on July 2. Its path of totality cuts across much of the south Pacific Ocean as well as Argentina and Chile — including a telescope that is one the world's largest.

Science

Hidden Brain: How Private Prisons Affect Sentencing

6:03am June 28, 2019

by Shankar Vedantam

In many states, convicted criminals are being housed in private prisons. New research finds that when a private prison opens, the length of criminal sentences modestly increases.

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An artist has reconstructed what ancient crocodile ancestors looked like, including some that very likely ate plants.

Science

Veggie Surprise: Teeth Of Ancient Crocs Reveal That Some Very Likely Ate Plants

8:14pm June 27, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

What do you imagine an ancient croc snacking on? Maybe a fish or a bird? For some relatives of modern crocodiles, a safer guess would be a big bunch of flowers.