Science

Human stem cells, in this case made from adult skin cells, can give rise to any sort of human cell. Some scientists would like to insert such cells into nonhuman, animal embryos, in hopes of one day growing human organs for transplantation.

Should Human Stem Cells Be Used To Make Partly Human Chimeras?

6:37pm November 06, 2015

by Rob Stein

The National Institutes of Health has issued a moratorium on funding work that puts human stem cells into nonhuman embryos. The concern is that hybrids might develop human brain cells, sperm or eggs.

Queue Listen Now

A vowel sound like "e" can still sound clear through the dense vegetation in Hawaii.

Did The Language You Speak Evolve Because Of The Heat?

5:27pm November 06, 2015

by Angus Chen

People speak very differently depending on where they live, and the climate and environment might have something to do with that. Crisp English consonants don't carry well in the rain forest.

Some Texans Puzzled By Keystone XL Pipeline Rejection

4:56pm November 06, 2015

by Mose Buchele

President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline provoked cheers from environmental groups and a little bit of head scratching in the state of Texas.

Juvenile Chinook salmon swim in the American River in California. The state's salmon fishery, which revolves around fall-run Chinook, has been estimated to be worth $1.4 billion, with the fish finding their way into markets and restaurants.

Big Trouble Looms For California Salmon — And For Fishermen

4:32pm November 06, 2015

by Alastair Bland

Thanks to a blazing hot summer and unusually warm water, early counts of juvenile winter-run Chinook are at extreme low levels. To protect them, regulators may restrict ocean fishing.

Obama: Keystone XL Pipeline Would Undercut U.S. Leadership On Climate Change

4:30pm November 06, 2015

President Obama announced Friday that he rejected a permit to allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The controversial project would have carried oil harvested from tar sands in Canada.

Canada's Trudeau Expresses Disappointment In U.S. Decision On Keystone XL

4:21pm November 06, 2015

by Jeff Brady

Canadian Company TransCanada took a blow Friday when President Obama announced he was rejecting its request to build the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would have helped transport hundreds of thousands of barrels of Canadian tar sands oil from Alberta to U.S. refineries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed disappointment.

New York Attorney General Launches Investigation Into ExxonMobil

3:05pm November 06, 2015

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Neela Banerjee of Inside Climate News about the investigation into the allegations ExxonMobil knew more about climate change than it told investors and the public.

Queue Listen Now

#NPRreads: The Core Of Addiction And The Views Of Tiger Woods' Former Caddie

2:56pm November 06, 2015

by Laura Wagner

Also this week: The story of a 60-year-old United Airlines pilot and runner who finished the New York City Marathon in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 27 seconds.

Science

Hypercarnivores: Understanding The Past & Preserving The Future

2:07pm November 06, 2015

by Shawn Fitzmaurice

SciWorks Radio is a production of 88.5 WFDD and SciWorks, the Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County, located in Winston-Salem.

Queue Listen Now

The region where two mining dams failed in southeastern Brazil is seen in this satellite image. According to Yahoo, one of the dams that failed is at bottom right.

Mine Wastewater Floods Countryside In Brazil After 2 Dams Fail

12:16pm November 06, 2015

by Bill Chappell

The flooding overwhelmed houses, leaving a coating of mud — and in one case, setting a car atop a structure's walls. Rescue crews are still looking for survivors. At least one person has died.