Their Masters' Voices: Dogs Understand Tone And Meaning Of Words
When humans talk to dogs, the canine brains seem to separate the meaning of the words from the intonation used and to analyze each aspect independently.
Science
Scientists Looking For Alien Life Investigate 'Interesting' Signal From Space
Russian astronomers detected an unusual radio signal last year. The SETI Institute says it's too soon to say whether the signal came from intelligent life-forms — but researchers are checking it out.
Surfers And Scientists Team Up To Create The 'Perfect Wave'
Surfers once deemed man-made waves weak and mushy compared to the best that break along the coast. Then engineers and an 11-time world champion surfer showed just how good an artificial wave can be.
Baby Simulator Doesn't Deter Teenage Pregnancies, Study Indicates
A study in The Lancet medical journal shows the prevention program didn't appear to have long-term effects on reducing risks of teenage pregnancy. Renee Montagne talks to lead author Sally Brinkman.
Researchers Test The Effects Of Background Music On People
Despite being aware that the background music on a documentary about sharks was manipulating them, viewers found they were unable to keep the music from producing a sense of upliftment or of menace.
Your Gut's Gone Viral, And That Might Be Good For Your Health
Think of it as a gift within a gift. Some beneficial gut bacteria contain viruses called "bacteriophages." And some of these phages now have been associated with good intestinal health in humans.
Scientists Divided Over How Lucy Died
A new study suggests the 3.2 million-year-old hominin died when she fell from a tree and fractured her bones. But other paleoanthropologists say the breaks happened after she died.
A Robot That Harms: When Machines Make Life Or Death Decisions
An artist has designed a robot that purposefully defies Isaac Asimov's law that "a robot may not harm humanity" — to bring urgency to the discussion about self-driving and other smart technology.
NASA Completes Year-Long Mars Simulation In Hawaii
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Carmel Johnston, the mission commander of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation crew, about what it was like to complete a year-long simulation of Mars.
323 Reindeer Killed In Lightning Storm In Norway
The reindeer died on a mountain plateau in central Norway. "I don't remember hearing about lightning killing animals on this scale before," says a Norwegian environmental official.