Science

The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida says the way state scientists are killing iguanas is downright "brutal."

Science

Why Are Iguanas' Skulls Being Crushed In The Name Of Science?

3:31pm March 20, 2018

by Barbara J. King

A scientific project for killing invasive green iguanas in Florida has become the center of national attention. Anthropologist Barbara J. King looks at wildlife management and methods.

A color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of the surface of the human tongue. Taste buds are shown in purple. Doctors have known that as people pack on the pounds, their sense of taste diminishes. New research in mice suggests one reason why: Inflamma

Taste Buds Dull As People Gain Weight. Now Scientists Think They Know Why

2:01pm March 20, 2018

by Angus Chen

Doctors have known that as people pack on the pounds, their sense of taste diminishes. New research in mice helps explain what's going on: Inflammation brought on by obesity may be killing taste buds.

Cost, procrastination and a lack of insurance coverage are just a few of the reasons adults give health care providers for not getting vaccinated against shingles and other illnesses.

Shingles Is Nasty, And The New Vaccine Works Well. Why Do Adults Avoid Shots?

11:21am March 20, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

Beyond annual flu shots, older adults need protection against shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, federal health officials say. But many aren't getting vaccinated.

Science

Why Some Men Have A Harder Time Confiding In Others

6:10am March 20, 2018

by Shankar Vedantam

Many of us find our circle of friends gets smaller as we get older. Researchers say it is especially true for men and that social isolation can have grave effects on their physical and mental health.

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Scientists are finding that, just as with secondhand smoke from tobacco, inhaling secondhand smoke from marijuana can make it harder for arteries to expand to allow a healthy flow of blood.

Are There Risks From Secondhand Marijuana Smoke? Early Science Says Yes

11:09pm March 19, 2018

by Marissa Ortega-Welch

Now that marijuana is legal in more than 20 states, we all may be exposed to more marijuana on the street. Researchers warn that secondhand smoke from pot poses risks to the heart, lungs and arteries.

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Wendy Root Askew with her husband Dominick Askew and their son. When the little boy (now 6) was born, Root Askew struggled with postpartum depression. She likes California's bill, she says, because it goes beyond mandatory screening; it would also require

Lawmakers Weigh Pros And Cons Of Mandatory Screening For Postpartum Depression

7:38am March 19, 2018

by April Dembosky

California's legislature will soon take up a bill requiring doctors to screen new mothers. Many doctors oppose the idea, and similar laws elsewhere haven't increased the number of moms treated.

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A young man records a voice note. A new dating app called Waving lets you swipe right on someone based only off short voice profiles.

Science

Can You Choose A Romantic Partner Just By Their Voice? A Dating App Thinks So

9:26pm March 18, 2018

by Emily Sullivan

Waving is a Tinder-like app that lets users judge potential partners by their voice. An evolutionary psychologist provides some tips on sounding attractive.

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Science

Spot Fake News By Making It

8:03am March 18, 2018

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Sander van der Linden of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab about his online game which tries to teach players about fake news by making them produce it.

Science

How A Russian Nerve Agent Got To The U.K.

8:13am March 17, 2018

How was a nerve agent of a group called Novichok manufactured and sent into the U.K. to poison a former Russian spy? Richard Guthrie, a U.K.-based chemical weapons expert, talks with Scott Simon.

Former Coal Lobbyist On Tap For No. 2 Spot At EPA

5:00am March 17, 2018

by Rebecca Hersher

The man hoping to help lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Wheeler, is a former lobbyist for coal and natural gas companies. As a young EPA lawyer, he worked on hazardous chemical rules.