The Sound Of The Golf Swing
Manufacturers work to perfect the sound drivers make when the ball is hit just right. Scott Simon talks with Tom Mase, who teaches mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University.
Science
Understanding Horizontal Gene Transfer In 'The Tangled Tree'
NPR's Scott Simon asks science writer David Quammen about horizontal gene transfer and how it changes how we think about humankind's place in the world. Quammen's new book is The Tangled Tree.
In Parts Of California Blanketed With Wildfire Smoke, Breathing Is 'A Chore'
As fires continue to rage in California, smoke is causing health problems for some residents. Public health officials warn against breathing polluted air.
Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend — Just Look Up
The shower will peak late Sunday night and early Monday morning, but you can also catch a good number of meteors in the middle of the night on Saturday. Find a dark spot and let your eyes adjust.
Are You Listening? Hear What Uninterrupted Silence Sounds Like
Inside the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington state, acoustics experts have attempted to preserve a location free of human-made noise. They call it One Square Inch of Silence.
Families Choose Empathy Over 'Tough Love' To Rescue Loved Ones From Opioids
Families are starting to adopt an approach that stresses compassion instead of harsh consequences for loved ones with addiction. Their goal? Keep them alive long enough to recover.
From A Million Eggs, Putting Together Clues About Science's Past And Future
Egg collecting was once a popular pastime. Now, the pristine specimens in one collection are a key resource for research on a range of topics, from the climate change to changes in bird populations.
NASA Braves The Heat To Get Up Close And Personal With Our Sun
A new NASA probe will get closer to our sun than ever before, to try to solve mysteries like why its atmosphere is so much hotter than its surface.
The Arid West Moves East, With Big Implications For Agriculture
An imaginary map line dividing East and West illustrates a climate boundary that has influenced how and where people live and work. Its eastward shift could predict changes in farming and ranching.
Scientists Discover The Secret Weapon Of Stomach Viruses
New research finds that stomach infections, like norovirus and rotavirus, have a special way to get to us hard — and fast. That knowledge could lead to new, more effective treatments.