In The World's 'Sixth Extinction,' Are Humans The Asteroid?
Scientists think an asteroid killed the dinosaurs. In today's extinction, humans are the culprit.
Science
What Microbes Lurked In The Last Public Restroom You Used?
A census of bacteria and viruses on the floors, toilets and soap dispensers of several bathrooms on a college campus turned up around 77,000 different types of organisms. Oh, joy.
'Queen Of Carbon' Among Medal Of Freedom Honorees
Audie Cornish speaks with Mildred Dresselhaus about receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in physics. The 84-year-old is a professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering at MIT.
New Bird Species Sings Sweetly In Sulawesi
Birds are one of the most widely studied forms of life on the planet. And, there are still new species out there to discover — as one young researcher found recently in a forest in Indonesia.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson Separates Fact From Fiction In 'Interstellar'
The astrophysicist has been tweeting about the science behind the film. In an interview with NPR, Tyson goes beyond those tweets, into wormholes, relativity and even some spoilers.
Climate Change To Make Lightning More Common, Study Says
Researchers writing in the journal Science say that if the rate of global warming goes unchecked, the frequency of lightning strikes will increase by 50 percent.
Could Magnets Help Lessen The Impact Of Concussions In Football?
A researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University is experimenting with putting magnets in football helmets to dull the impact. NPR's Tess Vigeland speaks with neuroscientist Raymond Colello.
Why People Take Risks To Help Others: Altruism's Roots In The Brain
In the face of natural disasters and disease, there are always people who step forward to help. Their brains may tell why. This story originally aired on Sept. 22 on Morning Edition.
Starfish Illness Harms Other Sea Creatures
Starfish in the Pacific northwest are being decimated by what's called wasting disease. Researcher Drew Harvell tells NPR's Scott Simon that warming seas are making it worse.
Shrinking Glaciers Could Squeeze Washington's Water Supply
Washington state is home to more glaciers than any other state in the lower 48. And they're receding faster than ever before.