SpaceX prepares to launch its mammoth rocket 'Starship'
Starship is the largest rocket ever built. The company hopes it will one day take people to the moon and Mars. But first it has to fly.
Science
Taylor Swift fans are upset over reports of her breakup. A psychologist explains why
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Professor Kate Kurtin of Cal State Los Angeles about parasocial relationships, following fan reaction over Taylor Swift's breakup with her long-time boyfriend.
Lake Tahoe's clear water is due to tiny creatures called Zooplankton, researchers say
Lake Tahoe's water is clearer than it's been in decades. Why? NPR's Ayesha Rascoe gets the answer from Geoffrey Schladow, Director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
New York City's newly appointed rat czar faces a tall order
New York City's mayor named its first "rat czar" to tackle the city's rat problem. What is scientifically most effective for tackling an overabundance of rats — and does New York City's plan align?
Why do some people get UTIs over and over? A new report holds clues
A new study looks at how urinary tract infections can affect DNA. And down the road that could lead to new treatments for the millions who get UTIs.
A rare fireball flew over Maine. Now there's a $25K reward for pieces of space rock
The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum is looking for meteorites from a rare fireball event near the Maine-Canada border. It's willing to pay anyone who can find them.
Goodbye fuzzy donut: The famous first black hole photo gets sharpened up
Scientists have created a new version of a historic black hole image that was first unveiled back in 2019. The central black nothingness now looks larger and darker.
The surprising science of how pregnancy begins
The start of pregnancy — as well as exactly when that happens — is a hot topic in some state legislatures and U.S. courts. Understanding the nuances of what happens when has never been more important.
Swimming pools and lavish gardens of the rich are driving water shortages, study says
Socioeconomic disparity is just as influential as climate change and population growth when it comes to explaining why so many cities are struggling with their water supply, researchers say.
What's the origin of the long-ago Swahili civilization? Genes offer a revealing answer
Genetic analyses back up what Swahili oral tradition has long held about ancestry of people from eastern Africa — that their ancestors are from Africa and abroad.