Science

A moment from Embodied Labs' virtual reality video of Clay Crowder, a fictional 66-year-old man with incurable lung cancer. In this scene, Clay's family gathers around his bed, reassuring him that it's OK to let go of life.

Virtual Reality Helps Hospice Workers See Life And Death Through A Patient's Eyes

12:18pm December 27, 2018

by Kathleen Burge

A Maine medical school and nearby hospice center are trying out a VR program aimed at fostering more empathy for dying patients among health workers-in-training. Not everyone is sold on the idea.

Ash spewing from Mount Etna is seen from the Italian city of Catania on Monday. A 4.8 magnitude earthquake followed, early Wednesday morning.

Sicily Is Shaken By Earthquake As Mount Etna Erupts Once Again

7:40pm December 26, 2018

by Laurel Wamsley

The volcano erupted two days ago, triggering 1,000 mostly small tremors. At least 10 people were injured and a number of buildings were damaged in Wednesday's quake.

A cubesat, like this briefcase-sized MarCO, was key to relaying telemetry during the recent InSight mission to Mars. It was the first time this kind of mini-spacecraft had flown into deep space.

Science

What's Next For Tiny Satellites?

4:09pm December 26, 2018

by Joe Palca

Two briefcase-sized satellites gave the control room of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in November what scientists had never been able to get before: real-time information about a spacecraft's landing.

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A tractor plows soil where a failed wheat crop once stood on Matt Isgar's ranch and farm in Hesperus, Colo. Isgar is hoping the soil will get enough moisture in coming months so he can plant pinto beans next season.

There's A Lot At Stake In The Weekly U.S. Drought Map

2:32pm December 26, 2018

by Grace Hood

As drought has deepened across the West, much attention is paid to a colorful map that shows the hardest-hit areas. The scientists who update the map each week face enormous pressure to get it right.

'Reluctant Psychonaut' Michael Pollan Embraces 'New Science' Of Psychedelics

1:47pm December 26, 2018

by Terry Gross

Author Michael Pollan experimented with mushrooms, LSD and other psychedelics while researching his latest book, How to Change Your Mind. Originally broadcast May 15, 2018.

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Japan once labeled its whaling vessels with prominent "Research" tags. The country will resume commercial whaling hunts in 2019. Here, the whaling ships Yushin Maru (right) and Yushin Maru No. 2 are seen before leaving for the Antarctic Ocean for a whale

Japan Embraces Commercial Whaling, Pulls Out Of Global Alliance That Banned It

1:22pm December 26, 2018

by Bill Chappell

Japan is leaving the International Whaling Commission, which put a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s. The country will allow commercial hunts for the first time in 30 years next July.

Science

2018: A Big Year In Space

4:32pm December 25, 2018

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

This past year was a weird and eventful one for news from outer space. We saw everything from a red sports car being shot off the planet to a detailed new map of our Milky Way to a mysterious hole drilled in the International Space Station.

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Science

The Good News About These Short Days

4:14pm December 25, 2018

Astrophysicist Adam Frank says to stop cursing the darkness of this time of year and enjoy its place in our cosmic concert.

Science

What Gifts Are The Best? Social Science Researchers Investigate

7:37am December 25, 2018

by Shankar Vedantam

A study shows gift-givers and gift-recipients differ on ideas about best gifts. Whereas recipients prefer sentimental gifts, gift-givers tend to opt for presents that match the recipients' interests.

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Research inspired by soccer headers has led to fresh insights into how the brain weathers hits to the head.

Bad Vibes: How Hits To The Head Are Transferred To The Brain

10:47am December 24, 2018

by Jon Hamilton

A question about heading soccer balls inspired a series of experiments to understand how the brain changes shape when someone's head takes a hit.

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