Science

Hurricane Maria, shown here as it neared Dominica on Sept. 18, is one of the storm names that has been retired.

After Deadly Storms, Agency Retires 4 Hurricane Names

5:12pm April 12, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate will no longer be on the U.N.'s official rotating list of storm names. The hurricanes killed hundreds of people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Dr. Katie Merriam, an OB-GYN resident in Charlotte, N.C., says she loves her mostly female work environment but also appreciates having male colleagues.

Male OB-GYNs Are Rare, But Is That A Problem?

2:50pm April 12, 2018

by Alex Olgin

Women outnumber men in obstetrics and gynecology residencies and medical practices in the U.S. Heads of training programs now wonder if they should go out of their way to recruit more men.

Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings are packed into containers at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center before being taken to a U.S. Coast Guard vessel for release in Boca Raton, Fla.

Science

Magnetic Fields Are A Big Predictor Of A Loggerhead Turtle's Genes

1:43pm April 12, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

You might expect turtles that live near each other or in similar environments would be genetically similar. But new research shows that magnetic fields actually have more to do with genetic likeness.

Barbara J. King points to some of her favorite science commentaries she has written for NPR.

A Thank You To NPR's Science Commentary Readers

1:29pm April 12, 2018

by Barbara J. King

For 6 1/2 years, Barbara J. King has written commentaries for NPR on everything from animals and anthropology to gender and higher education. Here, she offers up some of her favorite pieces.

Science

Really Random Numbers

5:19am April 12, 2018

by Joe Palca

Random numbers are essential for secure cyber communications. But making truly random numbers is harder than it seems. Now scientists have devised a way to make the most random random numbers ever.

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A new satellite, called MethaneSAT,will track methane emissions from oil and gas fields, as well as agriculture and natural sources. It's due for launch in three years.

Environmental Group Plans Methane-Tracking Satellite

7:30pm April 11, 2018

by Christopher Joyce

Scientists hope MethaneSAT will show where the potent greenhouse gas is coming from. Tracking methane in the air is difficult because it rises and spreads from the source.

The Milky Way as seen from Mono Lake, on the eastern flank of the High Sierra Mountains, on June 28, 2017, near Lee Vining, California.

Science
Arts

From The Big Bang To This Commentary

11:58am April 11, 2018

by Marcelo Gleiser

In 13.7, we aimed to present the passion, the drama, the social and intellectual relevance of science as one of the deepest expressions of engagement with the unknown, says physicist Marcelo Gleiser.

At a recent National LGBTQ Task Force conference in Washington D.C., Luis Felipe Cebas (right) from Whitman-Walker Health, talks with Sarah Fleming about PrEP, the pre-exposure drug that can help protect against HIV infection.

PrEP Campaign Aims To Block HIV Infection And Save Lives In D.C.

5:21pm April 10, 2018

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

PrEP is shorthand for a pill that prevents HIV infection, if taken daily. As Washington, D.C. aims to cut new infections in half by 2020, it hopes to quadruple the number of residents on the medicine.

Dan Ariely has found that "what separates honest people from not-honest people is not necessarily character, it's opportunity."

Science

Everybody Lies, And That's Not Always A Bad Thing

9:01pm April 09, 2018

When we think of lies, we think of the big stuff. We say, "I could never do something like that." But big lies start with small deceptions. Dan Ariely talks about why we lie and why we're honest.

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Deb Gangwish inspects soil on her farm near Shelton, Neb.

A Grass-Roots Movement For Healthy Soil Spreads Among Farmers

5:20pm April 09, 2018

by Dan Charles

America's farmers are digging soil like never before. A movement for "regenerative agriculture" is dedicated to building healthier soil and could even lead to a new eco-label on food.