The Distracting Draw Of Smartphones
A new study finds that a person's attention is depleted just by having a smartphone in sight.
Science
News Brief: Bahamas Recovery, Vitamin E And Vaping, City Heat And Poverty
Recovery and rescue efforts are underway in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. Also, health officials are looking at the role of vitamin E and vaping in respiratory illnesses.
Vitamin E Suspected In Serious Lung Problems Among People Who Vaped Cannabis
New York officials say tests found high levels of vitamin E in cannabis vaping products used by people who developed lung damage. But it's only one of many possible causes still under investigation.
Scientists Unveil Weed Breathalyzer, Launching Debate Over Next Steps
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed the latest tool to detect THC — the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — in a person's breath.
'They Just Panic': Elderly Residents Face Evacuation Challenges During Storms
Evacuating away from a hurricane is difficult for elderly people who are ill, don't have access to transportation or live on a fixed income. Slow, rainy storms such as Dorian are particularly tough.
Trees Are Key To Fighting Urban Heat — But Cities Keep Losing Them
Trees are one of the best ways to fight deadly urban heat, but U.S. cities lose millions every year. And many low-income areas are starting at a disadvantage.
The Other Twitterverse: Squirrels Eavesdrop On Birds, Researchers Say
A squirrel wondering if it's safe enough to forage for food apparently listens for the reassuring chatter of nearby birds, a study finds.
![Bags of heroin, some laced with fentanyl, picked up in a 2016 New York City drug bust. "Basically, [fentanyl] is so cheap to produce and it's so powerful, that drug dealers began realizing it was a way to increase their profits," Fentanyl, Inc. author Ben](http://wfdd-live.s3.amazonaws.com/images/story/Fentanyl-As-A-Dark-Web-Profit-Center-From-Chinese-Labs-To-US-Streets-757101225-1567623610.jpg)
Fentanyl As A Dark Web Profit Center, From Chinese Labs To U.S. Streets
Fentanyl, Inc. author Ben Westhoff says the opioid, while useful in hospitals, is killing more Americans as a street drug than any other in U.S. history. Here's how it moves from China to your corner.
WATCH: Walmart Is Discontinuing Some Ammo Sales. Here's Why It Matters
Not all bullets are created equal. This video compares the damage caused by different kinds of rounds.
How High Heat Can Impact Mental Health
A new NPR probe found low-income areas in dozens of major U.S. cities are more likely to be hotter than wealthier ones, and people with severe mental illness are impacted by that increase in heat.