Science : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1007 The latest health and science news. Updates on medicine, healthy living, nutrition, drugs, diet, and advances in science and technology. Subscribe to the Health & Science podcast. en Copyright 2023 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 14 Jan 2023 07:58:03 -0500 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Science https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1007 Why architectural marvels from Ancient Rome are still standing NPR's Scott Simon talks to Admir Masic, professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT, about what made concrete used by Ancient Romans so incredibly durable. Sat, 14 Jan 2023 07:58:03 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/14/1149245238/why-architectural-marvels-from-ancient-rome-are-still-standing https://www.npr.org/2023/01/14/1149245238/why-architectural-marvels-from-ancient-rome-are-still-standing NPR's Scott Simon talks to Admir Masic, professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT, about what made concrete used by Ancient Romans so incredibly durable.

]]> Scott Simon Screening at U.S. airports expands to try to detect new COVID variants The CDC has expanded screening of incoming international air travelers to try to more quickly spot any new variants that might emerge from China's massive COVID outbreak. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:51:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149182927/screening-at-u-s-airports-expands-to-try-to-detect-new-covid-variants https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149182927/screening-at-u-s-airports-expands-to-try-to-detect-new-covid-variants The CDC has expanded screening of incoming international air travelers to try to more quickly spot any new variants that might emerge from China's massive COVID outbreak.

]]> Rob Stein First orca whale to be stranded in southeast U.S. in decades showed signs of illness A killer whale more than 20 feet long died after beaching itself in Palm Coast, Fla. This is the third known orca to be stranded in the southeastern U.S. and the first since 1956, an official says. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:42:09 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149033824/orca-killer-whale-beached-florida https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149033824/orca-killer-whale-beached-florida

A killer whale more than 20 feet long died after beaching itself in Palm Coast, Fla. This is the third known orca to be stranded in the southeastern U.S. and the first since 1956, an official says.

(Image credit: Flagler County Sheriff's Office via AP)

]]> Kaitlyn Radde The UAE names the head of its main state oil company to lead COP28 The United Arab Emirates is preparing to host this year's global U.N. climate summit, but its pick to lead the talks is raising eyebrows. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:57:58 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148810078/the-uae-names-the-head-of-its-main-state-oil-company-to-lead-cop28 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148810078/the-uae-names-the-head-of-its-main-state-oil-company-to-lead-cop28 The United Arab Emirates is preparing to host this year's global U.N. climate summit, but its pick to lead the talks is raising eyebrows.

]]> Aya Batrawy Extracting DNA from Neanderthal urine — and other breakthrough technologies of the year MIT Technology Review has released its annual list of breakthrough technologies. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Amy Nordrum, an editor who helped put the list together. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:57:58 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148810057/extracting-dna-from-neanderthal-urine-and-other-breakthrough-technologies-of-the https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148810057/extracting-dna-from-neanderthal-urine-and-other-breakthrough-technologies-of-the MIT Technology Review has released its annual list of breakthrough technologies. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Amy Nordrum, an editor who helped put the list together.

]]> Exxon climate predictions were accurate decades ago. Still it sowed doubt Exxon's climate research decades back painted an accurate picture of global warming, according to a new scientific paper. Still, the oil company continued climate-denying policy efforts. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 14:13:37 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148376084/exxon-climate-predictions-were-accurate-decades-ago-still-it-sowed-doubt https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148376084/exxon-climate-predictions-were-accurate-decades-ago-still-it-sowed-doubt

Exxon's climate research decades back painted an accurate picture of global warming, according to a new scientific paper. Still, the oil company continued climate-denying policy efforts.

(Image credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Jeff Brady The FDA no longer requires all drugs to be tested on animals before human trials In a victory for animal rights advocates, drugmakers can take their products to human clinical trials using alternative testing methods that don't involve animals. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 06:03:19 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148529799/fda-animal-testing-pharmaceuticals-drug-development https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148529799/fda-animal-testing-pharmaceuticals-drug-development

In a victory for animal rights advocates, drugmakers can take their products to human clinical trials using alternative testing methods that don't involve animals.

(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

]]> Joe Hernandez Maryland girl finds ancient tooth from a 50-foot-long megalodon in the Chesapeake Bay Budding paleontologist Molly Sampson found the 5-inch megalodon tooth near Calvert Cliffs, Md., while trying out the new insulated waders she got for Christmas. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:48 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148441701/ancient-shark-tooth-megalodon-fossil-maryland-christmas https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148441701/ancient-shark-tooth-megalodon-fossil-maryland-christmas

Budding paleontologist Molly Sampson found the 5-inch megalodon tooth near Calvert Cliffs, Md., while trying out the new insulated waders she got for Christmas.

(Image credit: Alicia Sampson)

]]> Kaitlyn Radde Stargazers, here are the most exciting celestial events for 2023 Astronomer Jackie Faherty outlines the most exciting sky events you can put on your calendar in 2023, from eclipses to meteor showers and more. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148523089/celestial-events-2023-solar-lunar-eclipse-meteor-shower https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148523089/celestial-events-2023-solar-lunar-eclipse-meteor-shower

Astronomer Jackie Faherty outlines the most exciting sky events you can put on your calendar in 2023, from eclipses to meteor showers and more.

(Image credit: Emrah Gurel/AP)

]]> Julie Depenbrock NASA's Webb telescope has discovered its first exoplanet The exoplanet was found using a satellite and spectrography. It has a similar size as Earth, but is much hotter and completes its orbit around its star in two days. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 03:14:13 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148626359/nasa-webb-telescope-exoplanet https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148626359/nasa-webb-telescope-exoplanet

The exoplanet was found using a satellite and spectrography. It has a similar size as Earth, but is much hotter and completes its orbit around its star in two days.

(Image credit: Laura Betz/AP)

]]> Ayana Archie Conspiracy theorists hounded Grant Wahl's family when he died. Now they're back Grant Wahl's death at the Qatar World Cup set off conspiracy theories that persisted long after they were disproven. Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:00:46 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/11/1148141062/grant-wahl-death-covid-conspiracy-celine-gounder-qatar-vaccination https://www.npr.org/2023/01/11/1148141062/grant-wahl-death-covid-conspiracy-celine-gounder-qatar-vaccination

Grant Wahl's death at the Qatar World Cup set off conspiracy theories that persisted long after they were disproven.

(Image credit: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Juana Summers In praise of being late: The upside of spurning the clock People who lose track of time aren't rude, researchers say — they may just be listening to their inner timekeeper instead of an external clock. Living according to "event time" has its benefits. Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:00:45 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/11/1139782676/in-praise-of-being-late-the-upside-of-spurning-the-clock https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/11/1139782676/in-praise-of-being-late-the-upside-of-spurning-the-clock

People who lose track of time aren't rude, researchers say — they may just be listening to their inner timekeeper instead of an external clock. Living according to "event time" has its benefits.

(Image credit: Islenia Milien for NPR)

]]> Pien Huang Extreme weather, fueled by climate change, cost the U.S. $165 billion in 2022 The U.S. endured 18 separate billion-dollar disasters in 2022, highlighting the growing damages of human-caused climate change. Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:01:08 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1147986096/extreme-weather-fueled-by-climate-change-cost-the-u-s-165-billion-in-2022 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1147986096/extreme-weather-fueled-by-climate-change-cost-the-u-s-165-billion-in-2022

The U.S. endured 18 separate billion-dollar disasters in 2022, highlighting the growing damages of human-caused climate change.

(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

]]> Nathan Rott Forest lizards have genetically morphed to survive life in the city, researchers say The Puerto Rican crested anole has sprouted special scales to better cling to smooth surfaces like walls and windows and grown larger limbs to sprint across open areas, scientists say. Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:03:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1148150056/forest-lizards-genetically-morphed-cities https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1148150056/forest-lizards-genetically-morphed-cities

The Puerto Rican crested anole has sprouted special scales to better cling to smooth surfaces like walls and windows and grown larger limbs to sprint across open areas, scientists say.

(Image credit: Kristin Winchell/New York University via AP)

]]> The Associated Press The ozone layer is on track to recover in the coming decades, the United Nations says The ozone layer is a thin shield in the stratosphere that protects humans and the environment from harmful levels of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Tue, 10 Jan 2023 07:01:14 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1147977166/ozone-layer-recovery-united-nations-report https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1147977166/ozone-layer-recovery-united-nations-report

The ozone layer is a thin shield in the stratosphere that protects humans and the environment from harmful levels of the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

(Image credit: NASA via AP)

]]> Jaclyn Diaz