Forget Chess. A.I. Masters Wickedly Complex, Chinese Game Of 'Go'
In a milestone for computers, a machine learned to play and has now beaten the European champion of the game.
Science
Big Zika Virus Outbreak Unlikely In The U.S., Officials Say
The spread of Zika is probably limited by window screens and other mosquito-control measures in common use in the U.S. Also, the primary mosquito that carries Zika has a somewhat limited range.
Why The Southeast Could Become The Napa Valley Of Oysters
Oysters from the Pacific Northwest have long been the most coveted for their sweet, mild flavor. But they now have more competition from Southeast oysters cultivated from Virginia down to Florida.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson Gets Into A Rap Battle With B.o.B Over Flat Earth Theory
The famed astrophysicist got into a Twitter spat with the rapper, which then turned into a bona fide rap battle.
New Jersey River Polluters Fund Toxic Fish Swap — But There's A Snag
Passaic River polluters are telling local fishermen to trade contaminated catch for healthy tilapia. But there's no disposal plan for the toxic fish, and residents don't want them to be incinerated.
Marvin Minsky, Who Pioneered Artificial Intelligence Research, Dies At 88
NPR's Robert Siegel speaks to Ray Kurzweil, the inventor and futurist, and founder of Kurzweil Technologies, Inc., about Marvin Minsky. Minsky, who was a founding father of artificial intelligence, has died at the age of 88.
Doomsday Clock Stays At 3 Minutes To Midnight
Despite the progress represented by the Iran nuclear deal, rising tensions between the U.S. and Russia, North Korea's nuclear tests and other conflicts mean the world is still close to catastrophe.
Journal Editors To Researchers: Show Everyone Your Clinical Data
The world's leading medical journals have a proposal that could transform medical science: Researchers would have to publicly share their clinical data to get their studies published.
A Judge's Guidance Makes Jurors Suspicious Of Any Eyewitness
A 2012 New Jersey law was meant to help juries discern factors that make eyewitness testimony strong versus weak. But research suggests a judge's instructions make jurors discount all such testimony.
World's Oldest Tea Discovered In An Ancient Chinese Emperor's Tomb
Archaeologists found the 2,100-year-old tea leaves in the tomb of a Han dynasty emperor, suggesting tea was highly valued. But was the emperor drinking tea as we do, or using it as medicine?