Science

Still from the 'organic' McDonald's prank.

How 'Foodies' Were Duped Into Thinking McDonald's Was High-End Food

5:54pm November 04, 2014

by Maria Godoy

A viral video shows people lauding fare billed as an "organic" fast-food option that was actually McDonald's. It wasn't just pranksters playing tricks on these poor folks, but maybe their brains, too.

This gladiator tombstone was excavated in a cemetery for these ancient power athletes in what was once Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey.

Gladiator Gatorade? Ancient Athletes Had A Recovery Drink, Too

5:54pm November 04, 2014

by Maria Godoy

Gladiators guzzled a drink made from plant ash to help their bodies recover after a hard day of sword fighting, according to Roman accounts. New tests of old bones back up that idea.

An adult spotted lanternfly is seen, its wings spread to show a colorful hind wing. The invasive pest has sparked a quarantine in Pennsylvania.

Invasive Bug Prompts Quarantine In Pennsylvania Townships

3:07pm November 04, 2014

by Bill Chappell

The spotted lanternfly has officially arrived in the U.S., and leaders in Pennsylvania are hoping it won't be staying long.

Lots of bottles of various alcoholic drinks.

Seeking Proof For Why We Feel Terrible After Too Many Drinks

3:02pm November 04, 2014

Author Adam Rogers says there are lots of myths about what causes hangovers. His new book, Proof: The Science of Booze, explores these and other scientific mysteries of alcohol's effect on the body.

Queue Listen Now

Falling Oil Prices Make Fracking Less Lucrative

12:35pm November 04, 2014

by Jeff Brady

As oil prices dip, controversial and relatively expensive production methods, like oil sands and fracking, have become less profitable. Some drillers are already cutting back on plans for more wells.

Queue Listen Now

Modern Farmer has a particular fondness for stories about anything having to do with goats.

With Style And Silo, 'Modern Farmer' Melds Agrarian With Urban Hip

10:42am November 04, 2014

by Dan Charles

Modern Farmer is less than two years old but it's already won a National Magazine Award. "We're making fun of ourselves, in a way, because we don't know anything about farming," says the editor.

Alvin returns to research ship Lulu after a dive in the Atlantic Ocean over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, southwest of the Azores, in 2001.

Science

Alvin: The Little Submarine That Could

7:54am November 04, 2014

by MELISSA PANDIKA

The first research submarine capable of carrying passengers to and from the seafloor, Alvin has spent some 50 years plumbing the ocean's depths.

Science

Incorrect Command May Have Doomed Virgin Spaceship

6:23pm November 03, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

On Friday, an experimental space plane crashed in the Mojave desert, killing one of its pilots. Now new details have emerged about what went wrong in the moments before the crash.

Queue Listen Now

In Texas, The World's Biggest Bat Colony Is Saved From City Sprawl

3:39pm November 03, 2014

by Eileen Pace

The city of San Antonio and conservation groups teamed up to buy land threatened with development near the Bracken Bat Cave, summer home to millions of bat mothers and babies.

Queue Listen Now

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory say their new genetic toolkit to improve tomato yield without compromising flavor can be used in all varieties, from plum to cherry.

Science

A Non-GMO Way To Get More, Tastier Tomatoes

12:33pm November 03, 2014

by Joe Palca

Farmers want tomato varieties that yield more fruit. Consumers want tastier ones. How to resolve that tension? A new genetic toolkit could help growers maximize the best of both worlds.