Science

What The Diet Of A 5,300-Year-Old 'Iceman' Says About Ancient Europeans

5:57pm July 13, 2018

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Frank Maixner about how scientists uncovered the last meal of a frozen hunter who died 5,300 years ago in the Alps. The stomach contents of the man show what ancient Europeans ate.

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This artist's impression shows the dust torus around a super-massive black hole. Black holes lurk at the centers of active galaxies. The jets emanating from the black hole send neutrinos hurtling into space.

Science

A 4 Billion Light-Year Journey Ends At The South Pole

8:04pm July 12, 2018

by Joe Palca

Ghostly particles called neutrinos can travel nearly unimpeded across the universe. For the first time, physicists have been able to pinpoint the origin of a powerful neutrino.

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Time outdoors leaves you vulnerable to tick bites and the diseases they can transmit. New research seeks to a better picture of the geographic spread of ticks that carry dangerous pathogens.

Researchers Study Thousands Of Ticks Collected By The People They Bit

7:42pm July 12, 2018

by Erin Blakemore

Researchers invited the public to help them study the geographic spread of ticks that carry pathogens that can sicken humans. People were eager to oblige by sending in the pesky bugs that bit them.

Explaining a Concept. To make something plain or comprehensible; to make understandable the nature or meaning of something.

Watch Your Mouth

3:02pm July 12, 2018

This week on the Hidden Brain radio show, we explore how the constantly evolving nature of languages can give us different ways of understanding ourselves as well as the world we live in.

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International Space Station (ISS), computer artwork.

NASA Needs Backup Plan To Maintain U.S. Presence At Space Station, Watchdog Says

10:50am July 12, 2018

by Giles Snyder

The Government Accountability Office released a report warning NASA that further delays in the space agency's commercial crew program could keep American astronauts from reaching the space station.

A New Look At An Old Way To Store Energy

5:40am July 12, 2018

by Dan Charles

Solar power is growing fast, but there need to be ways to store that power for use at night. The biggest energy storage technology involves pumping water up a mountain.

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"Don't come near me until the permethrin on your clothes has dried."

If You Spray Your Clothes With Permethrin, Be Careful Around The Cat

3:58pm July 11, 2018

by Jane Greenhalgh

Cat lovers were very concerned about our story on permethrin. How risky is the pesticide for Kitty? By minimizing their pet's exposure, cat owners can use the chemical safely, veterinarians say.

Science

Fresh Starts

10:44am July 11, 2018

Unpredictable things happen to us all the time. On this week's radio episode, we bring you two stories of loss and the change it brings.

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The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act still prohibits your insurer from using the results of genetic tests against you. But the ACA's additional protections may be in doubt if certain states get their way.

Has Genetic Privacy Been Strained By Trump's Recent ACA Moves?

8:02am July 11, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

As the Trump administration decides not to defend the Affordable Care Act's legal protections for people with pre-existing conditions, questions arise about health insurance and genetic information.

Science

Many Paleontologists Today Are Part Of The 'Jurassic Park' Generation

5:29pm July 10, 2018

Paleontology is experiencing a golden age, with a new dinosaur species discovered every 10 days on average. Those inspired by the film Jurassic Park as children are now exiting Ph.D. programs and injecting the field with new talent.

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