Science

A June ad for campsites in the small town of Madras, Ore., anticipates the influx of tourists expected in the prime viewing location for the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.

A Total Eclipse Will Sweep The U.S. In August, And People Are Going Nuts For It

7:05pm June 30, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

NASA says a partial eclipse will be visible throughout the country. But within a "path of totality" from Oregon to South Carolina, an eclipse industry is booming.

A grizzly bear roams near Beaver Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., in 2011.

Wildlife Activists Plan Lawsuits To Protect Yellowstone Grizzlies

5:24pm June 30, 2017

by Scott Neuman

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe and The Humane Society are among the organizations that will sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep the iconic carnivore on the endangered species list.

Patrick McGovern, scientific director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project at the University of Pennsylvania Museum, delves into the early history of fermentation in his latest book.

Meet The Indiana Jones Of Ancient Ales And Extreme Beverages

3:35pm June 30, 2017

by Courtney Columbus

Patrick McGovern searches for and studies the residues of fermented drinks that can be thousands of years old — and then re-creates them. His new book explores these brews and their cultural value.

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Research Offers Insight Into Psychopathic Behavior, With The Help Of Some Caring Rats

2:01pm June 30, 2017

by Eddie Garcia

Neuroscientists at Duke University are looking at how the brain makes empathetic decisions.

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A 15th-century Bible depicts a couple suffering from the blisters of bubonic plague. The same bacterium that ravaged medieval Europe, where the disease was known as the "black death," occasionally re-emerges.

The Plague Is Back, This Time In New Mexico

8:46pm June 29, 2017

by Rae Ellen Bichell

In medieval times, they called it "the black death." It's still around, routinely cropping up in the U.S. This time, the New Mexico Department of Health reports three cases.

Mammography has helped increase the early detection of breast tumors. Now, researchers say, the goal is to discern which of those tumors need aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy or radiation after surgery.

Tumor Test Helps Identify Which Breast Cancers Don't Require Extra Treatment

6:47pm June 29, 2017

Researchers say the test, which measures gene activity, can help avoid "overtreating" tumors that are not life-threatening. It might allow some patients to avoid radiation and chemotherapy.

Researchers monitored the health of these wild bees, from the species Osmia bicornis. They nest inside small cavities, such as hollow reeds.

Pesticides Are Harming Bees — But Not Everywhere, Major New Study Shows

6:22pm June 29, 2017

by Dan Charles

A huge new study conducted in 33 sites across Europe finds that seeds coated with neonicotinoid pesticides harm bees living nearby. The damage, though, depends on local conditions.

Potential annual damages are shown on the county-level in a scenario in which emissions of greenhouse gasses continue at current rates. Negative damages indicate economic benefits.

Mapping The Potential Economic Effects Of Climate Change

6:16pm June 29, 2017

by Christopher Joyce

Scientists and economists predict what parts of the U.S. may get hit hardest by climate change. A new study goes county by county to gauge the potential cost of global warming.

Researchers Analyze Economic Impact Of Climate Change In The U.S.

4:31pm June 29, 2017

by Christopher Joyce

A team of scientists and economists claims they've come up with the most thorough analysis of the cost of climate change in the U.S. Most of the country will suffer economic loss in addition to higher mortality from heat waves and loss of agriculture productivity by 2100. But like all predictions far into the future, this one has a wide range of outcomes and could be overshadowed by new technology still to be invented.

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Maryland Farmer Fights To Keep Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Alive

4:29pm June 29, 2017

by Ari Shapiro

The Chesapeake Bay cleanup depends heavily on farmers taking steps to keep runoff from entering the bay. But the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to help them do it has been controversial. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to one Maryland farmer who changed his mind about the EPA efforts to clean up the bay.