Science

A slurry of cleaned silica sand flows into the wash plant, where it is washed in preparation for storage at the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Co.'s Maiden Rock facility in Maiden Rock, Wis.

Tighter, Controversial Silica Rules Aimed At Saving Workers' Lungs

1:36pm March 24, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Long known as a workplace hazard, silica dust can cause irreversible lung scarring and cancer. The Department of Labor expects its new limit to save about 600 lives a year. But industry is balking.

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Study Finds Climate Change Could Be Leading To Better Wine

5:42pm March 23, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

A new study in the journal Nature Climate Change finds weather plays a role in determining the quality of wine produced.

Earlier this year, beekeeper Brian Hiatt had millions of bees working to pollinate almond trees across California.

With Bees In Trouble, Almond Farmers Try Trees That Don't Need 'Em

2:44pm March 23, 2016

by Ezra David Romero

A relatively new variety of almond tree called Independence has some beekeepers nervous. These trees are self-fertile — meaning they technically don't need bees to pollinate their flowers.

The Israeli-built separation wall at Qalandia checkpoint, between the cities of Ramallah and Jerusalem. The watch tower shows signs of being vandalized with paint and fire.

What Happens When You Empathize With The Enemy

9:25am March 22, 2016

by NPR Staff

This week on Hidden Brain, the stories of two men who showed empathy for the other side and found themselves labeled "enemy" by their own people.

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Why Analysts Aren't Laughing At These Silly North Korean Photos

9:12pm March 21, 2016

by Geoff Brumfiel

North Korea's bombastic propaganda and unpredictable leadership have made it a topic of frequent parody. But experts say it's time to take the nation's nuclear capabilities more seriously.

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Standing water and abandoned tires make Houston's Fifth Ward hospitable for mosquitoes.

Houston Prepares Now For Zika's Potential Arrival This Summer

8:25pm March 21, 2016

by Joe Palca

When summer brings heat, humidity and mosquitoes, cities along the Gulf Coast may become gateways for Zika into the U.S. Impoverished areas are likely to bear the brunt, health officials say.

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Imagine "Boaty McBoatface" emblazoned on the side of this ship.

Meet The U.K.'s Cutting-Edge Research Vessel ... Boaty McBoatface?

5:52pm March 21, 2016

by Laura Wagner

In an online poll created to help Britain's Natural Environment Research Council name its new research ship, one entrant has racked up the most votes. The final decision, however, rests with the NERC.

A Martian gravity map shows the Tharsis volcanoes and surrounding flexure. The white areas in the center are higher-gravity regions produced by the massive Tharsis volcanoes, and the surrounding blue areas are lower-gravity regions that may be cracks in t

LOOK: Map Of Mars' Gravity Illuminates Planet's Interior

5:42pm March 21, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

The map released by NASA was made by tracking subtle variations in the planet's gravitational pull on orbiting spacecraft.

Science

Studies Suggest Multilingual Exposure Boosts Children's Communication Skills

5:25pm March 21, 2016

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Katherine Kinzler, associate professor of psychology and human development at Cornell University, about her research into the social skills developed by children raised in multilingual environments versus monolingual environments.

Hector Moreno checks a basement for lead paint in Baltimore. He is an environmental assessor with Green and Healthy Homes.

Baltimore Struggles To Protect Children From Lead Paint

4:56pm March 21, 2016

by Jennifer Ludden

Despite the attention to lead in water, the biggest health risk to children is still from lead paint. The city of Baltimore banned lead paint way back in 1950, but children continue to be poisoned.