Science

The process for investigating the Champlain Towers South collapse will involve trying to reconstruct parts of the building and look for how the critical pieces failed, structural engineering consultant John Pistorino says.

A Structural Engineer Explains How The Florida Condo Collapse Will Be Investigated

5:55pm June 29, 2021

by Noel King

John Pistorino has been hired to investigate the building collapse in Surfside, Fla. He says the process will involve trying to reconstruct parts of the building to see where critical pieces failed.

An artistic image of what happens when a monstrous black hole collides with — and gulps down — a neutron star the size of a large city.

Science

When A City-Size Star Becomes A Black Hole's Lunch, The Universe Roils

4:50pm June 29, 2021

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

It's a smackdown of one space monster by another: Scientists have made unprecedented observations of two black holes gobbling two neutron stars — among the weirdest space collisions ever detected.

Hilton Kelley's home in Port Arthur was damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The local environmental and health activist says many Black people in the city were denied FEMA assistance to repair their homes, which he attributes to systemic racism in how the agency

Science

Why FEMA Aid Is Unavailable To Many Who Need It The Most

5:01am June 29, 2021

by Rebecca Hersher

The people who need help the most after disasters are least able to get it from the federal government. Internal records show that FEMA knows it has a problem.

A computer-enhanced image of the HIV virus.

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

6:50pm June 28, 2021

by Nurith Aizenman

Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

Correlation, Not Causation: Brood X Cicadas And Regional Bird Deaths

6:07pm June 28, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Brian Evans from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center on the recent deaths of regional birds who ate Brood X cicadas.

Science

Patrick Doherty Inherited A Devastating Disease. A Breakthrough Stopped It

7:59am June 28, 2021

by Rob Stein

Scientists, for the first time, have used the revolutionary gene-editing technique CRISPR inside the body to treat a disease, potentially opening a new era in genetic medicine.

News Brief: Condo Collapse, Infrastructure Plan, Gene-Editing Breakthrough

7:38am June 28, 2021

Rescuers remain on the site of a collapsed Florida building. An infrastructure deal is on track after the president walked back an apparent veto threat. Scientists report a gene editing advancement.

Queue Listen Now

Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?

10:03am June 25, 2021

In 1998, Alasdair Harris went to Madagascar to research coral reefs. He's worked there ever since. He explains the true meaning of conservation he learned from the island's Indigenous communities.

Queue Listen Now

Sylvia Earle at TED2009, Session 7: Dream, Feb. 5, 2009, Long Beach, CA credit: TED / Asa Mathat

Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans

10:03am June 25, 2021

Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been exploring and working to protect our oceans for more than half a century. Her message has stayed the same: we're taking our oceans for granted.

Queue Listen Now

Asha de Vos speaking at TED Fellows talks, Session 1, TEDGlobal 2014, South, October 5-10, 2014, Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Ryan Lash/TED

Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?

10:03am June 25, 2021

Whales are more than just beautiful creatures—they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Marine biologist Asha de Vos explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea.

Queue Listen Now