Science

The last remaining space shuttle external propellant tank is moved across the 405 freeway in Los Angeles on Saturday. The ET-94 will be displayed with the retired space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center.

A 66,000 Pound Space Shuttle Fuel Tank Is Parading Through The Streets Of LA

4:49pm May 21, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

ET-94, which is as tall as a 15-story building, is on a 16-mile trek through Los Angeles on its way to the California Science Center. It's set to be displayed with the space shuttle Endeavor.

Solar Impulse 2, the solar airplane of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Ande Borschberg, in preparation for the take off from Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma on Saturday.

Solar Airplane Attempting To Circumnavigate The Globe Takes Off From Tulsa, Okla.

2:14pm May 21, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Solar Impulse 2, the experimental plane attempting to fly around the world using only the sun's power, is heading toward Dayton, Ohio on the latest leg of its journey.

Rising Tides Force Thousands To Leave Islands Of Eastern India

6:55pm May 20, 2016

by Ari Shapiro

On the small Indian island of Ghoramara, many people have never heard of climate change. It has forced tens of thousands of people to move after their homes were swallowed by rising tides.

Queue Listen Now

A typical label includes safe cooking instructions. This label on blade-tenderized beef sold at Costco recommends 160 degrees as the minimum internal temperature, which doesn't require a three-minute rest time.

New Labels Warn That A Tender Steak Could Be A Little Dangerous

4:39pm May 20, 2016

by Lydia Zuraw

Mechanically tenderized meat — which has been punctured with needles to break down the muscle fibers and make it easier to chew — has a greater chance of being contaminated and making you sick.

The FDA is is expected to decide by May 27 whether a long-acting, implantable version of this anti-addiction drug, buprinorphine, will be available in the United States. The implant is more convenient, proponents say, and less likely to be abused.

FDA Considering Pricey Implant As Treatment For Opioid Addiction

2:56pm May 20, 2016

by Martha Bebinger

The FDA could soon approve an implantable form of a drug used to treat opioid addiction. While the approach helped patients avoid relapse in tests, its price may be prohibitive for some, doctors say.

Queue Listen Now

9-Year-Old Helps Shape Obama Administration's Approach To Science

10:11am May 20, 2016

The administration gathered feedback from students about what they want in STEM programs after Jacob Leggette encouraged the president to ask students their opinions at a White House science fair.

Queue Listen Now

What Can Today's Designers Learn From Nature?

8:36am May 20, 2016

by NPR/TED Staff

Science writer Janine Benyus believes innovators should look to nature when solving a design problem. She says the natural world is full of ideas for making things waterproof, solar-powered and more.

Every bit of steel in the car you drive has been measured as to its capability to withstand certain forces — pushing and pulling. Machines like this do the measuring.

How Do You Lift A Million Pounds Of Stainless Steel? Very Carefully

8:24am May 20, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The U.S. is the proud owner of the world's largest deadweight machine, used to calibrate high-tech measurement devices. Repairing it recently was risky, using 50-year-old tools. No toes were smashed.

Queue Listen Now

The cracked-dry bed of the Almaden Reservoir in San Jose, Calif., in 2014.

California Will Let Local Authorities Assess Water Conservation Goals Amid Drought

6:36pm May 19, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

This will replace mandatory state-driven standards. It's happening because California's drought — now entering its fifth year — is easing in some parts of the state but not others.

Science

WATCH: 'Robot Flies' Learn To Stick The Landing

5:07pm May 19, 2016

by Geoff Brumfiel

Researchers have created tiny robots that can perch on surfaces, which could someday make them useful for communications and surveillance.