Science

Patients with certain kinds of brain damage can wind up with locked-in syndrome: they may be able to think just fine, but are unable to communicate their thoughts to others. A recently published case study shows that a non-invasive brain-computer interfac

From Brain To Computer: Helping 'Locked-In' Patient Get His Thoughts Out

10:08am October 27, 2014

by NPR Staff

"When I first saw him he had a little bit of eye movement and that was really the only way he could communicate," says Eric Sellers, who helped a patient use a brain-computer interface to communicate.

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Science

'Freakish' Sunspot Wows Astronomers

10:07am October 27, 2014

by Scott Neuman

AR 2192, the largest sunspot seen since the beginning of the current 11-year cycle that started in 2008, is producing strong solar flares.

VIDEO: Talking While Female

8:12am October 27, 2014

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

For starters: Your voice is too squeaky, too loud; it lacks authority, is grating or obnoxious or unprofessional. Why is talking while female such an offense?

Fear Of Blowing Big Calls May Affect How Umpires Do Their Jobs

7:32am October 27, 2014

by Shankar Vedantam

New research suggests umpires are hesitant to make calls that change the course of the game, especially in games with high stakes.

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Google vice president Alan Eustace is lifted by a balloon into the stratosphere, in a record-breaking skydive over New Mexico Friday.

Science

'Near-Space Dive' Sets New Skydive Record, 25 Miles Above Earth

1:37pm October 25, 2014

by Bill Chappell

Google's Alan Eustace fell from an altitude of more than 135,000 feet, plummeting for some 15 minutes. The jump broke the record of 127,852 feet that Felix Baumgartner set in 2012.

Ebola Vaccine Tester Feels A 'Real Satisfaction'

11:57am October 25, 2014

Peter Hubbard is one of 20 volunteers in a human safety test of an experimental Ebola vaccine. He tells NPR's Scott Simon about why he signed up and how he has been feeling.

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Wanted: Wind Turbine Mechanic — Must Be Daredevil, Skilled With Hands

6:59pm October 24, 2014

by Stephanie Joyce

Wind power is a growing part of the energy mix in the United States. And more wind turbines means there are new jobs for people to install and repair them. The job requires a unique skill set.

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A selection of foods discussed by Shirley Corriher at the National Press Club on Oct. 22.

Science

A Wisecracking Biochemist Shares Her Kitchen ABCs

3:58pm October 24, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

Shirley Corriher, author of Cookwise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Cooking, has tips on taking the bitter bite out of coffee, and holding onto cabbage's red hue while it's in the pan.

The Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko smells of rotten eggs, drunk people and horses.

Science

European Scientists Conclude That Distant Comet Smells Terrible

12:35pm October 24, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

A European spacecraft has picked up a foul odor emanating from a comet called 67P/C-G. Imagine sharing a stable with a drunk person and a dozen rotten eggs.

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A rogues gallery of the viruses (left to right) that cause MERS, SARS, and influenza.

Scientists Fight For Superbug Research As U.S. Pauses Funding

12:33pm October 24, 2014

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Frustrated scientists argued Wednesday that making nasty viruses even worse in the lab provides crucial insight into preventing pandemics. Others say it just ups the risk a lab germ will start one.

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