BREAKING NEWS: Science (2)

Top F.D.A. Official Overrode Scientists on Covid Shots

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:07:24 +0000

Records show that a top U.S. regulator rejected the recommendations of agency experts and limited the use of Covid vaccines.

Captive Primate Safety Act aims to curb illegal pet trade in the U.S.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:05:39 +0000

Wildlife trafficking is one of the world's biggest illegal trades, and the U.S. creates much of the demand for pet primates. Now there's a proposed ban on privately owning and breeding these animals.

Largest ever chunk of Mars which fell to Earth in meteor strike goes up for auction

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:03:55 +0000

The sale of the meteorite in New York later this month could break records

Researchers Unlock Ancient Egyptian Man's DNA

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:41:17 +0000

Sealed in a pottery vessel for over 4,500 years, the skeleton of an ancient Egyptian craftsman has now yielded the first complete genome from Egypt's Old Kingdom, offering a rare genetic window into the dawn of the Age of the Pyramids. The remains were found in 1902 inside a...

454 Hints That a Chatbot Wrote Part of a Biomedical Researcher’s Paper

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:00:05 +0000

Scientists show that the frequency of a set of words seems to have increased in published study abstracts since ChatGPT was released into the world.

Anne Merriman, ‘Mother of Palliative Care’ in Uganda, Dies at 90

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:35:45 +0000

A medical doctor and former nun, she found an affordable way to expand palliative care in the developing world, bringing pain relief to poor, terminally ill patients.

Scientist Use A.I. To Mimic the Mind, Warts and All

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:24:26 +0000

To better understand human cognition, scientists trained a large language model on 10 million psychology experiment questions. It now answers questions much like we do.

Secrets of ancient societies revealed through DNA from 4,000-year-old teeth

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:43:53 +0000

Ancient DNA has revealed links between the cultures of Egypt and Mesopotamia

More parm than good? Cheese may be what’s giving you nightmares, scientists say

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:22:10 +0000

The majority of those reporting poor sleep and nightmares were women

Ancient Egyptian history may be rewritten by DNA bone test

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:01:49 +0000

A DNA bone test on a man who lived 4,500 years ago sheds new light on the rise of Ancient Egypt.

In Rattling Japan Islands, 'It's Very Scary to Even Fall Asleep'

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:39:36 +0000

Upward of 600 people have made their home in Japan's Tokara Islands, a 12-island archipelago with seven inhabited islands between Japan's mainland and the island of Okinawa. Over the past couple of weeks, however, the chain has been hit by "more earthquakes than it has people," per the New York...

5 Examples of How Wildly Hot It Is in Europe

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Europe sizzled in its first major heat wave of the summer on Tuesday, with temperatures more typical of July and August, said Samantha Burgess of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Five examples of just how hot it is/has been on the continent, per the AP : Spain: Barcelona's Fabra...

Recent droughts are 'slow-moving global catastrophe' - UN report

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:31:51 +0000

It says drought has compounded poverty, hunger, and energy insecurity worldwide.

What's Happening in Your Gut May Affect Your Dreams

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

There's an old belief that eating cheese before bed triggers nightmares. Now, a study suggests there may be some truth to that, at least for those with a lactose intolerance. Researchers at the University of Montreal surveyed more than 1,000 undergraduate students in Alberta about their overall health, diet,...

NASA-Netflix Partnership Is a 'Sci-Fi Dream'

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:20:53 +0000

Netflix is teaming up with NASA to livestream rocket launches and other space events directly to its subscribers, the companies announced on Monday, "in a move that's equal parts sci-fi dream and Saturday afternoon plan," according to Netflix . Starting later this summer, Netflix viewers will be able to watch live...

Flying ant day 2025: When is it and why does it happen?

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:45:07 +0000

‘Nuptial flight’ sees insects rise up and take to the air in huge swarms to mate and seek out new colonies

Methane-tracking satellite backed by Bezos lost in space

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:19:08 +0000

A climate change mission suffered a setback as the $88 million MethaneSAT, backed by Jeff Bezos and New Zealand, has disappeared in space. Designed to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, the satellite encountered technical issues and stopped responding.

Scientists tracking ‘interstellar’ object that has come to us from another solar system

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:01:43 +0000

Scientists are using telescopes around the world to confirm the findings

Newsom calls on Trump to boost wildfire preparedness and 'make America rake again'

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Gov. Newsom challenged the Trump administration to match the state's investments in wildfire preparedness. In response, the administration criticized Newsom's own funding cuts.

I covered the L.A. fires in the Palisades. So I had my blood tested for lead

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Los Angeles County wildfires unleashed all kinds of contaminants once locked away in paints, plastics and elsewhere. Among the most concerning is lead, so, like hundreds of Angelenos, a reporter who covered the fires got his blood tested.

Researchers reveal what Ancient Rome smelled like – and it’s disgusting

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:38:30 +0000

The scents of decaying bodies and human waste would have mingled in the bustling streets

Groundbreaking study finds microplastics in semen and female reproductive fluid

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:30:41 +0000

A growing body of research warns that these nearly ubiquitous tiny particles, under 5mm in size, pose a threat to environmental and public health

Nasa space mission: Who is Anil Menon? Indian-origin astronaut set for his first mission to ISS in June 2026

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:29:15 +0000

Shubhanshu Shukla set to interact with students and ISRO scientists from space on July 4

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:10:40 +0000

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will interact with ISRO students and scientists from the International Space Station. The interaction will occur via ham radio on Friday. This event is part of the ARISS program. It aims to promote STEM education. The session will take place at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.

Could the Milky Way be headed for a collision?

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

The Andromeda galaxy lies just beyond (...OK, about 2.5 million light-years beyond) our galaxy, the Milky Way. For the past hundred years or so, scientists thought these galaxies existed in a long-term dance of doom — destined to crash into one another and combine into one big galactic soup. But today on the show, Regina and computational astrophysicist Arpit Arora explain why a recent paper out in the journal Nature Astronomy suggests this cosmic game of bumper cars may never come to a head at all.

Interested in more space episodes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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Dentist cracks centuries-old maths puzzle hidden in famous Leonardo Da Vinci drawing

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:45:06 +0000

Drawing could point to universal rule of design, researcher says

Bezos-backed methane-tracking satellite lost in space

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:13:34 +0000

A satellite backed by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been lost in space while carrying out an important climate change mission, New Zealand officials said Wednesday. Amazon founder Bezos pumped more than US$100 million into the project through his philanthropic Earth Fund.

Scientists define six traits that make a person ‘cool’ – and they transcend borders

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 05:08:39 +0000

Findings may help better understand role played by some traits in establishing social hierarchies

The U.S. Sends Lots of Plastic Trash Overseas. Malaysia Just Said No Thanks.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:05:25 +0000

No country receives more discarded plastic from wealthy countries, but shipments from the United States are no longer welcome.

G.O.P. Bill Adds Surprise Tax That Could Cripple Wind and Solar Power

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 01:31:44 +0000

Wind and solar companies were already bracing for Congress to end federal subsidies. But the Senate bill goes even further and penalizes those industries.

Space missions to watch in 2025 and beyond: Exploring the Moon, Mars, and distant worlds

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 01:30:00 +0000

In 2025, space exploration enters a new era with missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, led by NASA, ISRO, ESA, JAXA, and private companies. These missions aim to advance scientific knowledge, paving the way for human exploration and technological innovation. From lunar landers to interplanetary explorers, these missions will redefine humanity's place in the cosmos.

Sea Spiders Lack a Key Body Part and a Missing Gene Could Explain Why

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:57:37 +0000

Scientists have long sought to understand why sea spiders keep some of their most important organs in their legs.

Senate Version of Trump’s Policy Bill Ends Many Clean Energy Credits

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:50:25 +0000

By ending tax credits for wind and solar power, Senate Republicans may have jeopardized billions in investments in their own districts.

Will there be a drought where I live?

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:09:18 +0000

We take a look at river, reservoir and groundwater levels after a particularly dry few months.

Lucian Leape, Whose Work Spurred Patient Safety in Medicine, Dies at 94

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 22:57:07 +0000

Despite resistance from the medical establishment, he found systemic ways to reduce errors, paving the way for a global standard. Thousands of lives have been saved.

Taxpayer-funded satellite likely not recoverable after losing contact with the ground

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 22:26:39 +0000

The satellite received $29 million from the Government to grow the space industry.

Federal Judge Halts RFK Jr.’s Mass Firing Efforts at H.H.S. For Now

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:28:38 +0000

In an order on Tuesday, a judge found the Trump administration’s plans to drastically change the structure and mission of the Department of Health and Human Services was probably unlawful.

Pulsing Mantle Beneath Africa May Create a New Ocean

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:49:13 +0000

Deep beneath East Africa, scientists have discovered powerful forces at work that could eventually split the continent in two and create a brand-new ocean—though not for a long while. New research reveals that pulsing molten rock beneath Ethiopia is reshaping the land from below, offering a rare glimpse into...

The White House took down the nation's top climate report. You can still find it here

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:53:55 +0000

The National Climate Assessment is the most influential source of information about climate change in the United States.

(Image credit: Ethan Swope)

Sale of 23andMe Will Go Forward

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:40:00 +0000

Anne Wojcicki's bid to buy 23andMe , the genetic testing company she cofounded nearly 20 years ago, has received the court greenlight. That means Wojcicki's nonprofit TTAM Research Institute will purchase "substantially all" of San Francisco-based 23andMe's assets for $305 million, reports the AP . The transaction—which arrives more than three...

National Climate Report Website Goes Dark

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:08:40 +0000

The federal website hosting five legislatively mandated reports stopped working Monday afternoon.

Increases in salinity in seawater near the surface could explain some of the loss of Antarctic sea ice

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0000

New York Times: The study used data from satellites to track changes.

Need a Eureka Moment? There's a Special Kind of Nap for That

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:21:00 +0000

Struggling to solve a problem? Try a short nap, but not just any nap. A new study indicates people who enter the second of three stages of non-rapid eye movement sleep are likely to experience a "eureka" in the face of a problem. The study involved 90 people aged 18...

Scientists discover oldest rocks on Earth, over 4.16 billion years old

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:09:45 +0000

A groundbreaking discovery in northern Quebec has confirmed the existence of Earth's oldest known rocks, dating back 4.16 billion years. These ancient rocks offer a rare glimpse into the Hadean eon, a period of intense volcanic activity and Earth's chaotic beginnings. Scientists used radiometric dating techniques to accurately determine the rocks' age, providing valuable insights into the planet's formation.

Hardcore birders and casual sparrow spotters: Science needs you

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Ornithologists are seeking volunteers in California, Oregon and Washington for Project Phoenix, a multiyear project exploring birds' response to wildfire.

NASA alert! 120-foot airplane-sized asteroid 2025 MM to make closest flyby on Earth today; should we be concerned

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Space enthusiasts are tracking Asteroid 2025 MM. It is airplane-sized. It will safely pass by Earth this week. The asteroid will travel at a distance of 1.29 million kilometers. It is not a threat. Scientists will continue monitoring its path. This is because asteroid orbits can change. Continuous monitoring is essential for planetary defense. Sky surveillance is important.

William Haseltine discusses cuts to federal funding for scientific research

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:07:57 +0000

What are the consequences of slashing federal funding for scientific research? NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with William Haseltine, a scientist acclaimed for his medical research.

What to Know About Measles When Traveling

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:46 +0000

Summer travel raises fears that the highly infectious virus will spread. Here’s how to protect yourself and your family.

CNSA releases images of Earth and Moon by Tianwen-2 from 590,000 km in deep space

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 08:39:16 +0000

China's Tianwen-2 probe has commenced its decade-long deep space mission, capturing a stunning image of Earth and the Moon from 590,000 kilometers away. Launched on May 29, the probe will collect samples from asteroid Kamo’oalewa by 2027 and later investigate comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This dual-target mission aims to unlock secrets about the origin of the Moon, water, and life.

Axiom-4: Shubhanshu Shukla starts microgravity research with experiment on skeletal muscle degradation

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is conducting vital microgravity research aboard the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission. He's leading experiments, including a study on muscle degradation, to understand how space affects the human body. This Indo-international collaboration, involving ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, marks a significant step for India in space-based life sciences.