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Science

Sunday

Environment

Taking Stock Of America's Toxic Sites And The Millions Living Near Them

A National Geographic article looks at toxic waste sites in the U.S. and the more than 49 million Americans who live near them. NPR's Eric Westervelt talks with writer Paul Voosen about his piece.

Taking Stock Of America's Toxic Sites And The Millions Living Near Them

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Saturday

Millennials Might Be 'Generation Twin.' Is That A Bad Thing?

Mike (left) and Matt (right) Gragnani are 25-year-old identical twins. Together, they've been able to buy an apartment and start a business before many of their peers. Courtesy of Mike Gragnani hide caption

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Courtesy of Mike Gragnani

New Boom

Millennials Might Be 'Generation Twin.' Is That A Bad Thing?

Between 1981 and 2012, 1 million extra twins were born in the U.S. One economist says all of those twins could be hurting the economy — but another expert points out some perks of twinhood.

Millennials Might Be 'Generation Twin.' Is That A Bad Thing?

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Friday

How Dogs Understand What We Say

Do you want to go to the park? Mango Doucleff, of San Francisco, responds to her favorite command by perking up her ears and tilting her head. Michaeleen Doucleff/NPR hide caption

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Michaeleen Doucleff/NPR

Shots - Health News

How Dogs Understand What We Say

Dogs pay close attention to the emotion in our voices, but what about the meaning of words? A clever experiment with 250 canines shows that dogs understand more of our speech than previously thought.

How Dogs Understand What We Say

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Thursday

Can Breeders Cure What Ails Our Breast-Heavy Turkeys?

A 40-pound tom turkey flaps his wing as Chris Conley carries him to a pen at Raymond's Turkey Farm in Methuen, Mass., on Friday. The farm raises approximately 20,000 broad-breasted white turkeys per year. Elise Amendola/AP hide caption

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Elise Amendola/AP

The Salt

Can Breeders Cure What Ails Our Breast-Heavy Turkeys?

The standard commercial American turkey is the product of decades of intense selective breeding. But breeding for efficiency and size has created new health problems scientists must grapple with.

Tuesday

Ebola Is Changing Course In Liberia. Will The U.S. Military Adapt?

A helicopter's eye view of a new ETU, funded by USAID and built by Save the Children. Kelly McEvers/NPR hide caption

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Kelly McEvers/NPR

Goats and Soda

Ebola Is Changing Course In Liberia. Will The U.S. Military Adapt?

The U.S. had planned to build 17 treatment units across Liberia, one in each county's major town. Now that more cases are appearing in remote areas, the Army may need to rethink its strategy.

Ebola Is Changing Course In Liberia. Will The U.S. Military Adapt?

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How Can Vultures Eat Rotten Roadkill And Survive?

A turkey vulture makes quick work of a dead rabbit at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline park in Oakland, Calif. Sebastian Kennerknecht/Minden/Corbis hide caption

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Sebastian Kennerknecht/Minden/Corbis

Shots - Health News

How Can Vultures Eat Rotten Roadkill And Survive?

Vultures consume toxic bacteria that would sicken or kill humans. Stouter immune systems, colonies of helpful microbes and potent stomach acid may help the carrion eaters gorge with abandon.

How Can Vultures Eat Rotten Roadkill And Survive?

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As Ebola Pingpongs In Liberia, Cases Disappear Into The Jungle

A hand-drawn map on the wall of a rural clinic shows health workers where a woman with Ebola may be hiding. Kelly McEvers/NPR hide caption

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Kelly McEvers/NPR

Goats and Soda

As Ebola Pingpongs In Liberia, Cases Disappear Into The Jungle

A woman is thought to be spreading Ebola in a remote village. So health workers spend four hours trekking through the bush to track her down. By the time they make it, it's too late.

As Ebola Pingpongs In Liberia, Cases Disappear Into The Jungle

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Sunday

Why People Take Risks To Help Others: Altruism's Roots In The Brain

In the face of natural disasters and disease, there are always people who step forward to help. Their brains may tell why. This story originally aired on Sept. 22 on Morning Edition.

Why People Take Risks To Help Others: Altruism's Roots In The Brain

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Friday

Environment

Shrinking Glaciers Could Squeeze Washington's Water Supply

Washington state is home to more glaciers than any other state in the lower 48. And they're receding faster than ever before.

Shrinking Glaciers Could Squeeze Washington's Water Supply

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John Francis: How Do Years Of Silence Change Someone?

Environmentalist John Francis speaks about the 17 years of his life during which he never spoke a word. Andrew Heavens/Courtesy of TED hide caption

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Andrew Heavens/Courtesy of TED

TED Radio Hour

John Francis: How Do Years Of Silence Change Someone?

For almost three decades, John Francis has been a planetwalker, traveling the globe by foot and sail with a silent message of environmental responsibility. For 17 years he didn't speak a word.

John Francis: How Do Years Of Silence Change Someone?

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Megan Washington: How Does Singing Help Achieve Stillness?

"Singing for me is sweet relief. It is the only time when I feel fluent." - Megan Washington Jean-Jacques Halans/TED hide caption

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Jean-Jacques Halans/TED

TED Radio Hour

Megan Washington: How Does Singing Help Achieve Stillness?

Megan Washington is one of Australia's most popular singer-songwriters, and since childhood she has had a stutter. She discusses how she finds quiet and serenity in singing.

Megan Washington: How Does Singing Help Achieve Stillness?

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Gavin Pretor-Pinney: Why Should We Look At The Clouds More Often?

"Clouds are the most egalitarian of nature's displays 'cause we all have a great view of the sky" - Gavin Pretor-Pinney James Duncan Davidson/TED hide caption

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James Duncan Davidson/TED

TED Radio Hour

Gavin Pretor-Pinney: Why Should We Look At The Clouds More Often?

You don't need to plan a trip to find beauty and perspective. Just look up, says Gavin Pretor-Pinney, and stop for a moment every day to admire the beauty in the sky above and in our everyday lives.

Gavin Pretor-Pinney: Why Should We Look At The Clouds More Often?

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Pico Iyer: How Can We Find More Time To Be Still?

"In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still." -Pico Iyer Ryan Lash/TED hide caption

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Ryan Lash/TED

TED Radio Hour

Pico Iyer: How Can We Find More Time To Be Still?

Pico Iyer says sitting still and reflecting is hard work, but we bring so much more to our experiences and relationships when we make time to think.

Pico Iyer: How Can We Find More Time To Be Still?

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