How Elections Influence Judges
Social science research looks at the relationship between how judges rule and how they are influenced by election campaigns.
Science
Eating Chocolate, A Little Each Week, May Lower The Risk Of A Heart Flutter
The latest evidence that a chocolate habit may lower your risk of heart disease: A study finds people who ate small amounts of chocolate several times a week had a lower risk of atrial fibrillation.
Fitness Trackers: Good at Measuring Heart Rate, Not So Good At Measuring Calories
A study of seven popular fitness trackers found they are generally good at measuring heart rate, but may mislead consumers about how many calories they have burned.
Miami's Zika Outbreak Began Months Before It Was First Detected
Travelers infected with the Zika virus in the Caribbean brought it to South Florida multiple times before officials realized it had reached the U.S., an analysis of virus genomes finds.
Doctors Once Thought Bananas Cured Celiac Disease. They Saved Kids' Lives — At A Cost
In the early 20th century, kids with the disease faced severe malnutrition, even death. The banana-based diet doctors came up with seemed to cure them — but led kids back to foods that made them sick.
How The Biggest Animal On Earth Got So Big
Whales might be the largest animals on the planet, but they haven't always been so huge. Researchers say the ocean giants only became enormous fairly recently, and over a short period of time.
3.3 Million-Year-Old Fossil Sheds Light On How The Spine Evolved
It's hard evidence that the type of spinal segmentation and numbering found in modern humans emerged 3.3 million years ago, the scientists say. The remarkable fossil was discovered in Ethiopia.
At 94, Lithium-Ion Pioneer Eyes A New Longer-Lasting Battery
In 1980, John Goodenough's work led to the lithium-ion battery, now found in everything from phones to electric cars. He and fellow researchers say they've come up with a faster-charging alternative.
Me, Myself, and IKEA: What Our Love For Swedish Furniture Says About Narcissism
In general, people show a subtle bias toward the self. This is why we love the IKEA furniture we've built, and gravitate toward others with the same name. But there are much larger implications, too.
International Eel Smuggling Scheme Centers On Maine
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Bill Trotter, a fishery and environmental reporter for the Bangor Daily News, about the illegal eel fishing scheme in Maine.