Science

Science

Research Looks At Starchy Diet's Role In Dogs' Evolution

9:37am February 15, 2013

by Veronique LaCapra

Some dogs need to be on specialized diets for health reasons, but most eat just about anything. That wasn't always the case, however. The domestic dog's ancestor, the wolf, ate only meat. Research suggests for dogs to live with humans, they had to adapt to a starchy diet.

Queue Listen Now

Perch exposed to the anxiety drug oxazepam were more daring and ate more quickly than fish that lived in drug-free water.

Traces Of Anxiety Drugs May Make Fish Act Funny

5:40pm February 14, 2013

by Richard Harris

Small amounts of the drugs that people take end up in wastewater and then in streams and rivers. It's usually not enough to harm the health of humans who swim in or drink the water. But there is growing evidence that pharmaceuticals in wastewater may affect wildlife.

Queue Listen Now

The heart Paym Rajabi biked for his girlfriend, Clare

Science

Guy Pumps Out A Valentine — Literally

1:47pm February 14, 2013

by Robert Krulwich

Last year a guy in San Francisco jumped on a bicycle, clicked on his GPS, clicked on an app, snapped on his helmet, and 27 miles, 2 1/2 hours and many calories later, he'd etched a valentine message onto a street map of San Francisco. That was nice. Now, a year later, it's getting really interesting.

A sockeye salmon that was caught from the research vessel Miss Delta off the coast of Vancouver is examined. The MSC has certified the fish as "sustainable" even though there is concern from scientists and environmentalists.

Conditions Allow For More Sustainable-Labeled Seafood

1:24pm February 13, 2013

Most fisheries certified by the MSC system have conditions that spell out how they have to change their operations to comply with MSC standards. But they can still be labeled "certified sustainable seafood" even though they have years to comply.

Queue Listen Now

Capt. Art Gaeten holds a blue shark that was caught during a research trip in Nova Scotia. Scientists are studying the impact of swordfish fishing methods on the shark population.

Is Sustainable-Labeled Seafood Really Sustainable?

1:19pm February 13, 2013

Industry demand for the "sustainable seafood" label, issued by the Marine Stewardship Council, is increasing. But some environmentalists fear fisheries are being certified despite evidence showing that the fish population is in trouble — or when there's not enough information to know the impact on the oceans.

Queue Listen Now

Prison provides an opportunity for networking with more seasoned criminals.

When Crime Pays: Prison Can Teach Some To Be Better Criminals

11:26am February 12, 2013

by Shankar Vedantam

Research from an Ohio sociologist has found that inmates "earn" illegal money in greater amounts after they serve time. Prison may serve as a classroom where inexperienced delinquents learn from hardened criminals — and become more dangerous criminals themselves.

Queue Listen Now

Science

Tracking Privacy and Ownership In An Online World

1:03pm February 11, 2013

Your phone knows where you are. Social networks know who your friends are, and what you ate last night. How much of your personal data is really yours to control? Khaliah Barnes of the Electronic Privacy Information Center helps sort out the politics and policies of privacy.

Queue Listen Now

Turkey vulture droppings can strip paint, kill grass and sicken pets. The droppings also smell really bad.

Vultures Beware: Virginia Town Targets Flock Of Unwanted Visitors

7:34am February 11, 2013

by Liz Baker

In the town of Leesburg, Va., a flock of 200 turkey vultures takes over suburban backyards every few years. Despite their seeming abundance, the birds are protected by federal law, so the residents called in backup for some official vulture harassment.

Queue Listen Now

A child poses for a picture in front of an astronaut space suit at the Kennedy Space Center on the eve of the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour July 14, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

To Infinity And Beyond: Would-Be Astronauts Keep Faith In Uncertain Era

4:58pm February 10, 2013

by NPR Staff

As NASA moves away from manned missions, the private sector is taking on the task. Those hoping for a ride are as eager as ever, and space exploration hasn't lost a bit of its luster.

Queue Listen Now

The team found one penguin chick that didn't make it.

Penguin Poop Leads Ice Researchers To Unknown Colony

8:55pm February 08, 2013

by NPR Staff

A team of researchers from the British Antarctic Survey stumbled upon some interesting satellite images in 2009: a trail of penguin poop that showed signs of a huge colony of emperor penguins. A team of researchers finally made it out to visit the 9,000-strong colony last December, marking the first human contact the animals had experienced.

Queue Listen Now