BREAKING NEWS: Science (2)

SpaceX Tries Again to Launch NASA’s Crew-10 Mission to the I.S.S.: How to Watch

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:11:50 +0000

The flight was scrubbed on Wednesday night, and the astronauts will return to the launchpad for their trip to the International Space Station.

Famous Climate Observatory’s Lease May End Because of DOGE

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:09:55 +0000

NOAA, the nation’s leading climate science agency, may lose dozens of offices, including one that is key to the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.

Video: Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:07:50 +0000

Earth’s shadow will block most of the light that illuminates the lunar surface, creating what is known as a blood moon.

Photos Show Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse Around the World

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:00:43 +0000

The first total lunar eclipse in more than two years lit up the sky last night as humanity, forever fascinated with the Earth’s only natural satellite, watched.

Why Are Cats Such a Medical Black Box?

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:55:01 +0000

Many aspects of feline health remain a mystery, even to experts. Our cat-owning reporter learned this the hard way.

Senators Grill Dr. Oz on Medicaid Cuts and Medicare Changes

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:51:03 +0000

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity, dodged queries about Republican plans to cut health insurance for the poor, and emerged unscathed on his ties to major industries.

Science Amid Chaos: What Worked During the Pandemic? What Failed?

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:44:51 +0000

As the coronavirus spread, researchers worldwide scrambled to find ways to keep people safe. Some efforts were misguided. Others saved millions of lives.

A Mathematical ‘Fever Dream’ Hits the Road

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:35:05 +0000

Meet “Mathemalchemy,” a traveling math-meets-art installation coming eventually to a dimension near you.

Countdown continues: NASA's space station mission prepares for evening launch

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:43:30 +0000

The NASA and SpaceX mission is on track to launch NASA's Crew-10 mission to the Space Station Friday night at 7:03 p.m. Stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore head back to Earth Wednesday.

NASA and SpaceX make second attempt this week to launch astronauts

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:12:02 +0000

The arrival of the new crew will pave the way for the return of two astronauts who have been "stuck" on the station since June of last year.

(Image credit: Terry Renna/AP)

Hunstman spiders in New Zealand: Movement of introduced insects driven by a warming climate, expert says

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Huntsman spiders are not the only insects establishing themselves in new parts of NZ.

Who’s Afraid of Lab-Grown Meat?

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:59:46 +0000

Mississippi became the third state to ban cell-derived meat, a product not for sale in the United States. But not all livestock producers are opposed to cultivated protein.

A U.S. influencer outrages Australians by snatching a baby wombat from its mom

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:55:52 +0000

Outdoor enthusiast Sam Jones left Australia after posting a video of herself separating a baby wombat from its mom on a dark road. Australians are cheering her departure and worrying about the animal.

(Image credit: Julian Stratenschulte)

Law firm Russell McVeagh says Mt Messenger wildlife permit ruling causing ‘big headaches’ for developers, Government

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Recent High Court decision finds permit issued to NZTA was unlawful.

The most severe storms of the year will be outside the nation’s ‘Tornado Alley,’ forecasters predict

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:40:08 +0000

‘Near-historic’ tornado activity last year resulted in the deaths of 54 people

New method to keep protein-based drugs stable without refrigeration

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:28:30 +0000

A team of researchers led by the recipient of a U.S. National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development grant has developed a new storage method for protein-based drugs that could potentially eliminate the need for refrigeration of…

Unique skeletal tissue may enable new regenerative medical treatments

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:25:33 +0000

Supported by multiple grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation, researchers have comprehensively characterized the properties of a unique type of skeletal tissue with the potential for advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine…

How Much Should Weight Loss Drugs Like Wegovy and Zepbound Cost?

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:00:05 +0000

A new study found that fair prices for medications like Wegovy and Zepbound would be hundreds less per month than they are now.

Poor sleepers are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, study suggests

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:50:49 +0000

Psychologists also found depression was a mechanism in conspiratorial beliefs

Photos: Across the U.S., sky gazers marvel at the blood moon lunar eclipse

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:22:17 +0000

As the moon moved through the shadow of the Earth, it was also being illuminated by light from the sun — causing the moon to appear as if dipped in a deep red hue in a stunning celestial sight.

(Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon)

Cutting-edge air quality monitoring strengthens public health nationwide

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:20:50 +0000

The fires that devastated many in Los Angeles in January 2025 not only scarred the landscape but also changed the air. A day after the Eaton fire burned through Altadena, California, chlorine levels in the atmosphere reached approximately 40 times…

Tiny ‘microlightning’ flashes inside water droplets may have sparked life on Earth

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Study says tiny electric discharges between water droplets can make building block molecules of life

World sleep day: Experts warn against use of over-the-counter sedatives for sleep disorders

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:20:30 +0000

Alaska Volcano Could Be Getting Ready to Erupt

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:21:56 +0000

A volcano near Alaska's largest city is showing new signs of unrest, with experts saying the likelihood of an eruption at Mount Spurr in the next few weeks or months has increased. The Alaska Volcano Observatory said Wednesday that it had measured during recent overflights "significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions,...

Video Shows Mars and Deimos Close Up During ESA’s Hera Flyby

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:02:43 +0000

The Red Planet and its tiny moon Deimos were recorded at a very near distance as the asteroid-chasing spacecraft completed a flyby on Wednesday.

Dr. Oz Faces Senators at Confirmation Hearing to Oversee Medicare and Medicaid

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:02:29 +0000

The Senate Finance Committee holds a confirmation hearing on Friday for Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity who is nominated to run major health programs for older Americans and the poor.

5 nature-inspired ways to bring joy and wonder into your life this spring

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Simple activities to help you better appreciate the birds, bees and flowers — and spend more time outside.

Love fruit? Thank dinosaur mass extinction

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:00:59 +0000

Move over, TikTokers. It's time to shine a spotlight on some of the earliest influencers around: dinosaurs. When these ecosystem engineers were in their heyday, forest canopies were open and seeds were small. But around the time most dinosaurs were wiped out, paleontologists noticed an interesting shift in the fossil record: Seeds got bigger — much bigger. There was a fruit boom. Did the death of these dinosaurs have something to do with it? And who are the modern day equivalent of dinosaur influencers? To find out, host Emily Kwong talks to Chris Doughty, an ecologist at Northern Arizona University.

Tell us what other tales of dino past you want us to regale you with by emailing us at shortwave@npr.org!

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

The Asian elephant population in Cambodia is more robust than previously thought

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:31:23 +0000

Some 400 to 600 Asian elephants are believed to remain living in the wild in Cambodia. Researchers said the study's findings underscore the potential of a "national stronghold" for the species.

(Image credit: The Flora & Fauna conservation/AP)

The unexpected knock-on effect of Trump's minerals 'deal of the century'

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:26:54 +0000

The president once derided attempts to develop new green technology as a "green new scam" - but his deal could help boost the US's potential in the sector

NASA study shows unexpected ocean level increase

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:15:38 +0000

The world's sea levels grew far more quickly and by a larger amount than anticipated in 2024, mostly due to warming water temperatures, a new NASA analysis shows.

Germany's Spies: COVID Likely Started in a Lab

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Germany's spy agency is in sync with the CIA in regard to the origins of COVID: Both think it likely originated in a lab in China. After its own analysis, Germany's BND foreign intelligence service thinks there's an 80% to 90% chance that the virus accidentally leaked from the Wuhan...

Global sea level rose faster than expected last year alarming scientists

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 21:24:58 +0000

Rising sea levels bring potentially deadly storm surge farther inland and impact urban infrastructure

NOAA to layoff 1,000 more workers at already depleted weather agency: ‘There’s going to be pain and a lot of it’

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:39:23 +0000

A former NOAA official says another round of ‘malicious’ layoffs will affect more than 1,000 additional employee

European spacecraft captures rare images of Mars moon Deimos

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:58:34 +0000

Hera snapped rare pictures of the mysterious Deimos from 5600km away.

White House Withdraws Nominee for C.D.C. Director

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:58:28 +0000

Dr. Dave Weldon was to have appeared on Thursday in a confirmation hearing before the Senate health committee. He has close ties to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary.

‘We Hear You, Mr. President’: The World Lines Up to Buy American Gas

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:57:23 +0000

Facing Trump tariff threats, governments and companies are proposing major investments in American liquefied natural gas projects.

Woman Who Lived to 117 Had Microbiota of a Child

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:52:51 +0000

After Maria Branyas died last year at age 117, genetics professor Manel Esteller said "she was dealt a great hand and has played her cards very well." The yogurt may have helped as well. Esteller and other researchers say Branyas had a gut biome "more typical of a child" than...

Bay of Plenty fireball captured on camera, lights up night sky

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:54:28 +0000

David Greig's camera recorded the fireball at 10.49pm on Wednesday night.

Total lunar eclipse tonight: Blood moon visible in Tauranga and Rotorua

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:45:00 +0000

Jupiter and Mars will be visible during the eclipse, weather permitting.

James Reason, Who Used Swiss Cheese to Explain Human Error, Dies at 86

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:31:21 +0000

Mistakes happen, he theorized, because multiple vulnerabilities in a system align — like the holes in cheese — to create a recipe for disaster.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000

...and what happens to the body when you spend a year in space?

Editor's Note: EPA says it will roll back climate rules. That could prove complicated

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:15:51 +0000

Announcing big changes to environmental rules doesn't undo facts on the ground overnight. Instead, EPA's announcement is the first step in what is likely to be a lengthy process to remake the rules and policies it targeted.

(Image credit: Tierney L. Cross)

The Narwal's Signature Tusk May Be Multipurpose

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:23:00 +0000

What is the point of a narwhal's signature tusk, which is actually just one, long spiraled tooth? The answer may be multifaceted, according to new research. Prior research indicates the lengthy tooth, rarely seen in females, is a sexual display, used to communicate a male's fertility —the larger the tusk,...

Elon Musk’s Starlink Pushes Its Way Into India

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:06:29 +0000

By signing deals with India’s two biggest telecom players, the tech tycoon and Trump adviser has improved his odds of breaking into an enormous market.

NASA's New Space Telescope Will Map the Entire Sky

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:39:00 +0000

NASA's newest space telescope has rocketed toward orbit to map the entire sky like never before—a sweeping look at hundreds of millions of galaxies and their shared cosmic glow since the beginning of time. SpaceX launched the SPHEREx—Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and...

Thousands of high-risk toxic sites unchecked due to lack of cash

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:01:49 +0000

BBC investigation finds nine out of ten high-risk contaminated areas have not been tested.

How to see the 'Blood moon' partial lunar eclipse

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:28:02 +0000

UK skywatchers will see a partial but still hopefully spectacular eclipse before dawn on Friday.

SpaceX Scrubs Launch of Crew-10 Astronauts for NASA to the I.S.S.

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:00:54 +0000

An issue with a ground system that supports the Falcon 9 rocket led to a postponement of at least one day of the latest rotation of space station crews.

'Blood Moon' Is Nearly Here

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:59:28 +0000

A total lunar eclipse will flush the moon red Thursday night into Friday morning across the Western Hemisphere, and the best views will be from North America and South America, reports the AP . How/when to watch: The eclipse begins at 11:57pm Eastern, and totality is at 2:26am, per...