BREAKING NEWS: Science (2)

Huge COP29 climate deal too little too late, poorer nations say

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 15:56:22 +0000

Richer countries have promised £238bn a year, but campaigners say it is far from enough.

Earth’s temporary Mini Moon, 2024 PT5, set to depart and return in January

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:48:25 +0000

How a PhD student accidentally discovered a lost Mayan city in a Mexico jungle

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:07:29 +0000

City has ‘all the hallmarks of a Classic Maya political capital’

COP29 Climate Talks Get a Deal on Money, but Only After a Fight

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:02:42 +0000

The financing plan, which calls for $300 billion per year in support for developing nations, was immediately assailed as inadequate by a string of delegates.

Inscription on 2,600-year-old Turkish monument to mother of gods finally deciphered

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 13:39:44 +0000

Archaeologists use mid-morning sunlight and shadows to decipher ancient text

Mount Everest is getting taller every year – and now scientists think they know why

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 13:21:25 +0000

Study points to a river some 75km away from the peak as the surprise culprit for Everest’s changing height

Cats basically are liquid after all – pet owners already know that

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:43:37 +0000

Felines seem to assess their anatomical features before entering small spaces

Scientists decode when and how kissing evolved in humans – and it’s gross

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:35:22 +0000

Behaviour likely emerged from early humans sucking lips to remove parasites while grooming, researchers say

Lonely dolphin in Baltic Sea may be talking to itself

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 11:47:58 +0000

‘Self-talk’ may be byproduct of intrinsic need for social interaction, researchers say

4.45 billion years old rock reveals Mars may have held the ‘key ingredient for life’

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:42:03 +0000

Scientists have found evidence of hot water on Mars dating back 4.45 billion years, the earliest yet. A zircon grain in the 'Black Beauty' meteorite suggests the presence of hydrothermal systems during Mars' pre-Noachian period, potentially indicating early habitability.

With talks teetering, climate negotiators struck a controversial $300 billion deal

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:43:00 +0000

Representatives of developing countries and climate activists were furious over the outcome, saying $300 billion annually from industrialized countries is far short of what vulnerable nations need to better protect themselves from climate change.

(Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

In 'Points North' podcast, researchers try to save ash trees from extinction

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:52:59 +0000

5 Ways R.F.K. Jr. Could Undermine Lifesaving Childhood Vaccines

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:18:38 +0000

If he is confirmed as H.H.S. secretary, the longtime vaccine critic would be in a position to change the government’s immunization recommendations and delay the development of new vaccines.

Zoo Asks People to Capture Extremely Deadly Spider

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 21:30:00 +0000

The Sydney funnel-web spider is considered one of the world's deadliest spiders, with the most toxic venom of any of the dozens of funnel-web species in Australia. But instead of advising people to keep their distance, a zoo north of the city has asked the public to capture the spiders—...

Explained: Why Kiwis have stopped buying fake meat

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Will meatless meat ever appeal to the average Kiwi consumer? Researchers explain.

So Many Days Lost at the Doctor’s Office

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 15:25:38 +0000

Medical care can be wearying and time-consuming, especially for seniors. Researchers are beginning to quantify the burdens.

Climate change plays a role in global rise of dengue fever

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 13:47:53 +0000

Over 12 million cases of dengue fever were reported in 2024, the most ever. A study suggests climate change has likely played a significant role in the disease's expansion.

(Image credit: Juan Carlos Cisneros)

What a mollusc shell and fiber optic cables have in common

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 12:56:09 +0000

A heart cockle shell has been found to let in light through a design that resembles fiber optic cables. This could inspire everything from helping coral survive to designing new camera lenses.

(Image credit: Ruiqi Li)

Hundreds More Nazca Lines Emerge in Peru’s Desert

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:02:59 +0000

With drones and A.I., researchers managed to double the number of mysterious geoglyphs in a matter of months.

Atmospheric rivers aren't new. Why does it feel like we're hearing about them more?

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

(Image credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Dr Martin Makary Chosen to Head the FDA

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 02:15:51 +0000

A frequent Fox News commentator, Dr. Makary has a penchant for challenging the medical establishment, and stirred pandemic concerns with his views on Covid immunity and vaccine mandates.

Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore surviving on soup made from recycled urine: Report

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 02:04:45 +0000

Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunctioning spacecraft. Their eight-day mission has turned into a much longer stay, forcing them to rely on a limited food supply and recycled urine for drinking water until a SpaceX rescue mission in February 2025.

China's giant sinkholes are a tourist hit - but ancient forests inside are at risk

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 01:22:23 +0000

These caves were unexplored for thousands of years, protected by swirling mists and terrifying tales.

Iran Declares It Is Doing More Nuclear Enrichment After I.A.E.A. Rebuke

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:56:31 +0000

With thousands of advanced centrifuges on standby, Tehran says it is now spinning more, which could increase its stockpile of near-bomb-grade atomic fuel.

E.P.A. Proposes Limits on Nitrogen Oxides

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:23:57 +0000

Nitrogen oxides, a group of gases from the burning of fossil fuels, is linked to a range of health effects.

Can RFK Jr. Limit Ozempic Access as HHS Chief? Here’s What to Know

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:06:45 +0000

President-elect Donald J. Trump is set to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, where he would have limited power over drugs.

Previously Unknown Chemical Found in US Tap Water

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:04:00 +0000

Some ice for your chloronitramide anion? No, that's not a libation you'd find at the Tatooine cantina in Star Wars , but a new chemical by-product in our tap water that's finally been IDed, reports the Washington Post . Research published Thursday in the journal Science notes that US drinking water is...

Cluster of farmworkers diagnosed with rare animal-borne disease in Ventura County

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:07:59 +0000

A cluster of workers at Ventura County berry farms recently have been diagnosed with a rare disease often transmitted through sick animals' urine.

On Cape Cod, a Historically Bad Year for Beached Dolphins

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:28:00 +0000

Scientists say an unprecedentedly bad year for beached dolphins on Cape Cod might have to do with warming waters changing the availability of the animals' food, per the AP . The Massachusetts peninsula has a long history of marine mammal strandings, partially because of dramatic changes in the tide that sometimes...

Alcohol Deaths Have More Than Doubled in Two Decades, Study Finds

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:15:13 +0000

Americans are dying of illnesses related to alcohol at roughly twice the rate seen in 1999.

‘Carl the Collector’ Puts an Autistic Child (Well, Raccoon) in the Lead

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:11:35 +0000

Several recent TV series for adults have featured autistic lead characters. A new PBS show looks to expand that trend into children’s programming.

At COP29 Politicians Are Talking About Climate Change. Here’s What’s Happening.

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:13:32 +0000

Every month so far has seen floods, fires, smashed heat records or some combination of extreme weather. Little time remains for leaders to agree on what to do about it.

Searching for tiny dung beetles that clean the vast forest floor

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:18:56 +0000

Creating a census of the dung beetles of Massachusetts gives clues into the health of forests and fields.

(Image credit: STEVEN_KING)

Fin Whale Carcass Washes Ashore in Anchorage, Alaska

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:17:56 +0000

Crowds in Anchorage have braved freezing temperatures and slippery ice to see the hulking carcass of a rare fin whale, which washed ashore a few miles from downtown.

Will China step up if Trump takes a step back on climate change?

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:07:36 +0000

What it means for the global climate effort if another superpower comes to the fore, just as Trump steps back

At COP29, ‘Sewage Beer’ Is Just Fine

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:48:56 +0000

The hoppy pilsner from Singapore, where freshwater is scarce, is part of an effort to promote recycling solutions.

An Asteroid’s Destruction May Have Given Mars Rings, Then Moons

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:38:07 +0000

Scientists simulated a situation that may offer an improved explanation for how the Red Planet ended up with small Phobos and tiny Deimos.

A new bald eagle nest cam in Minnesota begins livestreaming Friday

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:17:09 +0000

A new bald eagle nest cam will begin livestreaming from Minnesota Friday. Viewers can watch live as the wild raptor pair builds their nest and raise their young.

SpaceX wants humans on Mars. Environmentalists say it's hurting Earth

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:00:14 +0000

SpaceX's Starship rocket took off again Tuesday for its sixth test flight. Crowds, including President-elect Donald Trump, gathered at the launch site in Texas to watch it fly part way around the world to the Indian Ocean.

Starship – the largest rocket ever built – is the dream of Elon Musk, who hopes to make humans a multiplanetary species. But building the rocket is having a real impact on Earth. The launch site is located in the middle of one of Texas' largest wildlife sanctuaries and environmentalists say every launch is causing damage.

Plus, how government regulation of launches may change in a second Trump administration.

Want to hear more on the future of space exploration? Email us your ideas to shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!

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Astronomers capture first close-up image of star beyond Milky Way

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 06:50:51 +0000

Astronomers have captured the first detailed images of a star beyond our Milky Way galaxy on the verge of a supernova. The star, WOH G64, is surrounded by an egg-shaped cocoon of gas and dust, indicating it is shedding its outer layers. This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the final stages of a star's life cycle before it explodes.

Meet Edwin Hubble, who revolutionised astronomy and expanded the universe

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 06:27:04 +0000

Edwin Hubble, a renowned astronomer, revolutionized our understanding of the universe. He proved the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way and discovered that the universe is expanding. His groundbreaking work, including the Hubble Classification Scheme and Hubble's Law, laid the foundation for modern cosmology and continues to inspire exploration through the Hubble Space Telescope.

Landslides Are a Growing Climate Threat. What Do We Know About The Risks?

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 01:06:53 +0000

Deadly landslides are becoming more common and large amounts of rain are a known trigger. An atmospheric river is dumping rain out West. What you should know about your risk.

Physicist Who Made Superconductor Claims Exits University of Rochester

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:58:08 +0000

Journals had retracted papers on superconductors that worked at room temperature and materials science that involved Ranga Dias.

Drug Overdose Deaths Are Declining Due to Changes in the Drug Supply

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:13:10 +0000

Experts are puzzling over which interventions are saving lives. The evolving illicit supply itself may hold important clues.

From Chimpan-A to Chimpanzee, These Apes May Have Humanlike Culture

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:00:05 +0000

Researchers describe a link between genetic relatedness and sophisticated tool use in primates in East and Central Africa, suggesting their culture is cumulative.

New Bald Eagle Cam Goes Live

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:24:00 +0000

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has relaunched its popular EagleCam, more than a year after the bald eagle nest seen in the original version came crashing to the ground. The new EagleCam went live this week on YouTube and the department's website , the Washington Post reports. The camera is...

First Close Up Picture of Star Outside Our Galaxy Shows a Giant About to Blow

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:39:30 +0000

Astronomers zoomed in on a stellar behemoth in the Larger Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy that orbits about 160,000 light-years from the Milky Way.

US Calls for Protecting Giraffes

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:05:00 +0000

In a first, the US government is looking to protect the world's tallest land animal under the Endangered Species Act. The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed adding three subspecies of northern giraffe to the Endangered Species List on Wednesday, saying the West African, Kordofan, and Nubian subspecies primarily found...

Covid-19: Omicron variant XEC ‘rising steadily’ in NZ as scientists watch for early signs of Christmas wave

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Recently arrived XEC now accounts for about a quarter of Covid-19 cases around NZ.

Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:36:28 +0000

The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.

(Image credit: Kiichiro Sato)