National Science Foundation freezes grant review in response to Trump executive orders
The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.
Scientific research
Researchers say they've found the surprising source of a key piece of Stonehenge
Researchers may have solved a Stonehenge mystery — and raised another. They say its central Altar Stone somehow got to England from Scotland, hundreds of miles farther away than originally thought.
Scientists welcome new rules on marijuana, but research will still face obstacles
When marijuana becomes a Schedule III instead of a Schedule I substance under federal rules, researchers will face fewer barriers to studying it. But there will still be some roadblocks for science.
As he steps down as the head of NIH, he has a warning about future pandemics
Francis Collins has served longer than any other director of the National Institutes of Health since 1971. He tells NPR he did not anticipate the culture wars taking over scientific fact.
Mice That Hear Imaginary Sounds May Help Explain Hallucinations In People
An experiment that induced imaginary sounds in both people and mice could help explain how brain disorders like schizophrenia cause hallucinations.
The Pandemic Is Pushing Scientists To Rethink How They Read Research Papers
Faced with a glut of pandemic research from around the world, scientists are confronting their biases and learning to engage with science conducted at institutions they're unfamiliar with.
Chinese Researcher Who Created Gene-Edited Babies Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison
He Jiankui announced in November 2018 that he had created the world's first gene-edited babies. Scientists are concerned about unintended side effects that could be passed down to future generations.
Trust In Scientists Is Rising, Poll Finds
The proportion of people who say they have a "great deal" of confidence in scientists to act in the public interest increased from 21% in 2016 to 35% in 2019, according to the Pew Research Center.
Open Scientific Collaboration May Be Helping North Korea Cheat Nuclear Sanctions
New research shared exclusively with NPR suggests that Pyongyang is refining its weapons technology through open scientific research. China leads the way in scientific collaboration with North Korea.
China Expands Research Funding, Luring U.S. Scientists And Students
In a quest to rapidly advance its scientific depth and breadth, China is recruiting scientists from around the world. Some from the U.S. say the greater funding for school and research is freeing.