Science

Scientists are in the early stages of developing new tests that could predict accurately if a woman is at risk of delivering her baby early.

Scientists Search For Causes Of Preterm Birth And Better Ways To Test For Risk

3:07pm July 22, 2018

by Sara Kiley Watson

Preterm birth, a leading cause of death in infants, remains stubbornly hard to prevent. Researchers are on the hunt for a better understanding of what causes it and better ways to diagnose risk.

Roman marbles are on display in the San Giovanni metro station, part of Line C of Rome's subway, in 2017.

Rome's Subway Expansion Reveals Artifacts From The Ancient Past

9:41am July 22, 2018

by Christopher Livesay

Construction on a new subway line has uncovered marble busts, frescoes, mosaics, even ancient peach pits, dating back nearly 2,000 years. Archaeologists have also found an ancient military barracks.

The way cows digest food takes a lot of energy and generates a lot of heat. This makes them lose their appetite and produce less milk.

As Milk Production Cools In Summer, Farmers Try To Help Cows Take The Heat

8:15am July 21, 2018

by Mose Buchele

From fans and misting water to creating a whole new breed of cow, farmers and researchers are fighting rising temperatures to keep the dairy industry from losing millions of dollars to "heat stress."

Girard Children's Community Garden in Washington, D.C. was created on a vacant lot and is now a thriving community space for neighborhood kids, many of whom are from low-income communities of color.

Replacing Vacant Lots With Green Spaces Can Ease Depression In Urban Communities

7:44pm July 20, 2018

by Rhitu Chatterjee

When researchers cleaned up vacant lots and planted grass and trees in poor neighborhoods in Philadelphia, residents' mental health improved.

Britain's Big Butterfly Count Begins, With David Attenborough Leading The Charge

4:05pm July 20, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

For the next three weeks, citizen volunteers in the United Kingdom will be tallying the painted ladies, peacocks and brimstones they see, to help create a nationwide count — and soothe their souls.

Sleep Scientist Warns Against Walking Through Life 'In An Underslept State'

1:53pm July 20, 2018

by Terry Gross

"Human beings are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep for no apparent gain," says sleep scientist Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep. Originally broadcast Oct. 17, 2017.

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A pharmacy technician prepares syringes containing an injectable anesthetic in the sterile medicines area of the inpatient pharmacy at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Doctors Raise Alarm About Shortages Of Pain Medications

12:46pm July 20, 2018

by Wade Goodwyn

A survey of anesthesiologists found that 95 percent say it is impacting patient care. Surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, intensive care unit doctors are also impacted.

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A coalition of groups in Washington, D.C., are attempting to count the cats in the District.

Washington, D.C., Is Counting All Its Cats. It Will Take 3 Years And $1.5 Million

6:52pm July 19, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

The nation's capital has a cat problem. And the first step toward fixing it, apparently, is to quantify it.

Barnacle geese have sped up their migration to their breeding grounds because of warming Arctic temperatures.

Migrating Arctic Geese Are Confused, Exhausted By Rising Temperatures

2:05pm July 19, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

Warmer weather means that barnacle geese fly faster to their breeding grounds, leaving them too tired to lay eggs right away. By the time they're ready, the babies have missed the best food.

Science

Three Dimensions, Endless Possibilities

1:56pm July 19, 2018

3-D printing isn't the future. It's changing the world we live in right now.