Science

"Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history," a U.N. panel says, reporting that around 1 million species are currently at risk. Here, an endangered hawksbill turtle swims in a Singapore aquarium in 2017.

1 Million Animal And Plant Species Are At Risk Of Extinction, U.N. Report Says

6:35pm May 06, 2019

"Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity," says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who warns that species are being lost at an alarming rate.

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For drone design inspiration scientists look towards the way birds land.

Science

If Drones Had 'Claws,' They Might Be Able To Fly For Longer

5:24pm May 06, 2019

by Joe Palca

Small drones have a problem — their battery life runs out relatively quickly. A team of roboticists says it has created special landing gear that can help conserve precious battery life.

1A Across America: The Growing Trend Of The Four-Day School Week

4:27pm May 06, 2019

Nearly 560 districts in 25 states have embraced the four-day school week. What's the true cost of cutting class?

Future You is a monthly video series exploring how today's emerging science and technology could change what it means to be human by the year 2050.

Science

VIDEOS: Future You

3:48pm May 06, 2019

"Future You" is a monthly video series exploring how today's emerging science and technology could change what it means to be human by the year 2050 with NPR's Future Correspondent Elise Hu.

Stressed-out family caregivers who were taught how to reframe negative thoughts and focus on positive experiences actually reduced their anxiety and depression, a study found.

From Gloom To Gratitude: 8 Skills To Cultivate Joy

12:25pm May 05, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

Reaching out in kindness, mindful breathing and taking time daily to note positive moments and personal strengths are all part of a program that reduces anxiety and depression. But it takes practice.

Above, fresh mahi mahi harvested from the sea. A handful of cell-based seafood companies are attempting to create fresh fish species, including mahi mahi, in a lab — where they will be grown without a head, tail, skin or bones.

Seafood Without The Sea: Will Lab-Grown Fish Hook Consumers?

7:00am May 05, 2019

by Clare Leschin-Hoar

The seafood industry has some well-publicized problems: from overfishing to contaminants that make their way into fish. Now, a handful of startups aim to offer a "clean" alternative grown from cells.

Phil Gutis with his dog, Abe, who died last year. Gutis, who has Alzheimer's, hoped an experimental drug could help preserve his memories.

After A Big Failure, Scientists And Patients Hunt For A New Type Of Alzheimer's Drug

4:41pm May 03, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Now that so many experimental drugs targeting amyloid-beta have bombed, scientists are looking for different approaches for treating Alzheimer's, including a drug that failed as a cancer treatment.

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Emissions rise from three large smokestacks at a coal-fired power plant in Castle Dale, Utah, in 2017. Democratic presidential candidates are releasing plans to reduce U.S. emissions in order to head off the most dangerous consequences of global warming.

2020 Democrats Aim High With Climate Change Proposals

11:36am May 03, 2019

by Scott Detrow

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is centering his presidential campaign on combating climate change. On Friday, he rolled out his plan to shift the country to carbon-free energy.

As scientists learn more about the complex way genes combine and work together to create human traits, the idea of "designer babies" becomes less and less likely.

Why Making A 'Designer Baby' Would Be Easier Said Than Done

9:23pm May 02, 2019

by Richard Harris

Ethical concerns aside, the genetic ingredients for human traits are so complex that editing a few embryonic genes is unlikely to have much effect — or achieve the fantasy of enhancing humans.

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Freshwater shrimp from the species Gammarus pulex like this one, collected in Suffolk County in the U.K., were found to have traces of cocaine.

Traces Of Cocaine, Pesticides Detected In U.K. Shrimp

8:26pm May 02, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

Scientists collected freshwater shrimp at 15 locations in Suffolk. Shrimp from all of the sites were found to have detectable amounts of cocaine, and many had other drugs or pesticides.