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Science

Thursday

Fishermen Reeling Over Red Snapper Fishing Ban

Red snapper caught by commercial fishermen await shipment on a dock in South Carolina. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council/AP hide caption

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South Atlantic Fishery Management Council/AP

Business

Fishermen Reeling Over Red Snapper Fishing Ban

A federal ban on fishing for red snapper, one of the most prized saltwater fish, is set to take effect Jan. 4 -- part of an effort to bring back the species in the Atlantic Ocean. But coastal fishing towns that rely on business from anglers say the ban could take a huge economic toll.

Fishermen Reeling Over Red Snapper Fishing Ban

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Wednesday

Landowner Calls On Death To Save Her Farm

Joan Graham's idea is to turn her land into an environmentally friendly cemetery; she's betting that down the road, people will think twice before building a shopping mall on what was once a sacred human burial ground. David Baron for NPR hide caption

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David Baron for NPR

America's Shifting Ground

Landowner Calls On Death To Save Her Farm

A few years ago, trees started coming down across the road from Joan Graham's Michigan horse farm. She set in place a plan to conserve her land after her death by giving it to a conservancy. But just to be safe, she added a grave twist: She would have her body — and anyone else who wanted to join her — buried on the land.

Landowner Calls On Death To Save Her Farm

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Tuesday

Rare Rhinos Relocated In Effort To Keep Species Alive

Sudan, one of four endangered northern white rhinoceroses shipped to Kenya from a zoo in the Czech Republic, explores his new pen at the Ol Pejeta reserve near the town of Nanyuki in central Kenya. Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

Animals

Rare Rhinos Relocated In Effort To Keep Species Alive

The northern white rhinoceros was hunted to extinction by poachers in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Four of the last eight known northern whites in the world, two male and two female, were sent from a Czech zoo to Kenya, where scientists hope they will breed.

Rare Rhinos Relocated In Effort To Keep Species Alive

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Reflecting On A Decade Of Stem Cell Research

It's been more than 10 years since scientists first showed it is possible to grow embryonic stem cells. Despite political wrangling over the years, scientists have made advances in basic research. Still, there is a ways to go before stem cells can be used to treat disease.

Reflecting On A Decade Of Stem Cell Research

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Monday

Chevron Threatens To Leave Longtime Home

Smoke billows from a Chevron Corp. refinery in Richmond, Calif. The refinery is the largest producer of greenhouse gases in the state. Noah Berger/AP hide caption

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Noah Berger/AP

National

Chevron Threatens To Leave Longtime Home

Officials in Richmond, Calif., want to raise Chevron's taxes and are blocking refinery upgrades, pending environmental review. Chevron is California's largest greenhouse gas producer. While the company tries to improve its image, it's also hinting that it might be time to relocate.

Chevron Threatens To Leave Longtime Home

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Friday

Analysis

Looking Back At The Year In Science

Ira Flatow and a panel of science writers and editors discuss the top science stories of 2009, from the discovery of water on the moon to the unveiling of human ancestor Ardipithecus ramidus to public health controversies like the new mammography guidelines and the swine flu vaccine.

Looking Back At The Year In Science

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Your Health

The Truth About Holiday Hazards

Are mistletoe and poinsettia something to be worried about this time of year? Poison expert Edward Krenzelok explains how to avoid accidental poisonings this season, and how to keep the holidays toxin-free. Originally broadcast Dec. 26, 2008.

The Truth About Holiday Hazards

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Books

Taking On Santa Skeptics With Science

Attention unbelievers: A new book uses science to explain just how Santa is able to deliver so many presents in one night, how he knows whether you've been naughty or nice and how he stays trim eating so many cookies. Author Gregory Mone discusses his book The Truth About Santa.

Taking On Santa Skeptics With Science

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Author Interviews

Profiling Frank Oppenheimer

Author K.C. Cole writes about physicist and Exploratorium-founder Frank Oppenheimer in Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens. Cole, a friend of Oppenheimer's, digs into FBI files and personal memories to describe the complex man also called the "Uncle of the Atomic Bomb." Originally broadcast Aug. 7, 2009.

Profiling Frank Oppenheimer

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Research News

For Happiness, Spend Money On Experiences

A few duds under the tree? Return them for cash and go to dinner. Psychologists say people report feeling happier when they spend their money on experiences rather than objects. Study author Ryan Howell, from San Francisco State University, explains the results and speculates on whether the findings extend to gift-giving. Originally broadcast Feb. 13, 2009.

For Happiness, Spend Money On Experiences

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Thursday

Environment

Byproducts Of Urban Life Smother Chesapeake Bay

Despite 25 years and billions of dollars spent on cleanup efforts, the Chesapeake Bay remains one of the country's most polluted waterways. With waste of all kinds, each of the almost 17 million people living in the watershed contributes to the pollution.

Byproducts Of Urban Life Smother Chesapeake Bay

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Plastic Peril?

Waiting On Science To Say If Plastic Chemical Is Safe

The FDA has promised to reassess the safety of BPA — a widely used plastic additive that can act like estrogen in the body. Currently, the agency's position is that BPA exposure is too low to cause health effects, but some major studies of the chemical's safety are just beginning.

Waiting On Science To Say If Plastic Chemical Is Safe

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Environment

U.S., China Step Forward In Climate Debate

As the Copenhagen talks neared collapse last week, President Obama cut a last-minute deal with leaders from China and three other nations to curb greenhouse gases. It's unclear how they'll do that, but one thing is clear: The U.S. and China have become leaders that may shape the new climate diplomacy.

U.S., China Step Forward In Climate Debate

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Wednesday

What's Wrong With This Snowflake?

It has eight sides, which makes it a scientific "abomination," according to chemist Thomas Koop. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

What's Wrong With This Snowflake?

'Tis the season for images of snowflakes. Unfortunately, many artistic renderings of snow crystals show an eight-sided structure — something that can't occur in nature. So this year, one scientist decided to set the record straight.

What's Wrong With This Snowflake?

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Environment

Manure, Fertilizer Part Of Chesapeake's Problem

The federal government has been fighting pollution of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation's largest estuary, for 25 years. But harmful nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, continue to flow into its waters — and they're often traced to nearby fertilizer- and manure-laden farms.

Manure, Fertilizer Part Of Chesapeake's Problem

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