How Animals Hacked The Rainbow And Got Stumped On Blue
There's more than one way to make color, nature tells us. And more than one way to use it to your own advantage.
Science
Tumbling Oil Prices Give A Boost To Drivers During The Holidays
An OPEC meeting last week sent oil prices tumbling when the cartel decided not to restrict production to boost prices. Now some are predicting parts of the U.S. will see gas prices under $2 a gallon.
Ebola In The Air: What Science Says About How The Virus Spreads
Turns out, Ebola is transmitted through the air, but it's not very good at spreading through the airborne route. What in the heck does that mean? We dig into the science to clear up the kerfuffle.
A Bus Isn't The Only Thing That Can Be Powered By Poop
Human waste can help things grow and even cook your dinner. It might sound gross, but don't worry, the odor has been removed. Plus: It's good for the environment!
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.
Examining The Myth Of The 'Superhuman' Black Person
Social psychology researcher Kelly Hoffman has been researching white perceptions of black physicality as "superhuman" for the last three years. NPR's Eric Westervelt talks to Hoffman about her findings.
Medal For Discovery Of DNA's Double Helix Up For Bidding
Dr. James Watson is auctioning off the Nobel Prize medal he won for the discovery of the structure of DNA. Christie's auction house set the reserve price at $2.5 million.
The Mystery Of The Missing Brains
For decades, a rare collection of human remains sat in a basement closet at the University of Texas. A new book tells the story of that collection — and the enduring mysteries that surround it.
Search For Political Common Ground Is Difficult, Research Shows
New research into the nature of intractable political conflicts might shed some light on how to address the perennial arguments that break out across Thanksgiving tables.
Scientists Analyze Skeletal Remains From Vampire Graveyard
Lab scientists are trying to understand why some corpses buried in northwestern Poland were singled out for special anti-vampire treatments, such as putting a sickle around the neck.