Science

Greenbuild Conference Showcases Energy Saving Technology For Buildings

4:12pm November 30, 2015

Every year, the Greenbuild conference showcases technology intended to make buildings more environmentally friendly. We hear a couple of examples from a top 10 list of new building products.

For decades, astronomers believed there was another planet hiding just out of sight behind the sun. It wasn't until Albert Einstein that this belief was finally debunked.

A Star-Crossed 'Scientific Fact': The Story Of Vulcan, Planet That Never Was

3:20pm November 30, 2015

by NPR Staff

For decades, astronomers believed there was another planet in our solar system, tucked just out of sight. Then Albert Einstein figured out it wasn't there. Author Thomas Levenson explains.

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Kate and Scott Savett, of Allentown, PA, at an event of the Greater Delaware Valley chapter of the National MS Society, in Philadelphia, PA.

Patients Want To Price-Shop For Care, But Online Tools Unreliable

2:33pm November 30, 2015

by Elana Gordon

Savvy patients want the best medical care for the best deal, and online calculators seem like a great way to compare the cost of common scans and procedures. But many are inaccurate.

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Drought Turns Spotlight On Future Of California Farms

2:28pm November 30, 2015

by Ben Bergman

Half of all fruits, vegetables and nuts grown in the United States come from California. Despite four years of extreme drought, the state's agriculture industry is thriving for some farmers. Ben Bergman with member station KPCC reports.

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2 Degrees In Paris: The Global Warming Set To Dominate Climate Conversation

2:06pm November 30, 2015

As world leaders gather in Paris to talk about climate change, one phrase that will dominate conversations is "two degrees." Global leaders will discuss how to prevent global temperatures from warming by more than two degrees since the industrial revolution.

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A power-generating windmill turbine is seen in front of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris ahead of the COP21 World Climate Summit, which begins Monday.

Why Negotiators At Paris Climate Talks Are Tossing The Kyoto Model

10:48am November 30, 2015

by Christopher Joyce

The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 didn't slow down the gradual warming of the planet. Now governments meeting for a two-week summit are trying an a la carte approach.

Kyoto Treaty Fizzled, But Climate Talkers Insist Paris Is Different

3:53am November 30, 2015

by Christopher Joyce

The 1997 Kyoto treaty set targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions that many nations didn't meet. This time, stakes are higher and all countries will be asked to set and meet their own limits.

Recordings Might Sound A Silent Alarm About California Drought

5:11pm November 29, 2015

by Michel Martin

Bernie Krause is an audio ecologist. This year he noticed a precipitous drop in the sounds of one his favorite field recording sites, a change he attributes in large part to California's drought.

Loneliness May Warp Our Genes, And Our Immune Systems

7:18am November 29, 2015

by Angus Chen

Loneliness takes a toll on many aspects of health, in part because it activates a fight -or-flight immune response. That may have helped ancestors survive lonely exile, but can slowly kill us today.

What Will News Of Frank Gifford's CTE Mean For Football?

8:00am November 28, 2015

NPR's Scott Simon and Bloomberg View's Kavitha Davidson discuss the late Frank Gifford, concussions and the debate over locker room interviews.