Here is the latest Science News from National Public Radio.
Banned From National Forest, For-Profit Mushroom Pickers Go Underground
Last year’s forest fires have produced a bumper crop of coveted morel mushrooms in Montana’s northwestern forests. But the Forest Service isn’t issuing commercial licenses in some prime picking spots.
With Water In Short Supply, California Ranchers Grow Their Feed Indoors
The extended drought in California has farmers looking for ways to use less water. Among them, growing feed indoors using hydroponics. The new diet is making some Central Valley sheep very happy.
Gonorrhea Is Becoming Untreatable, U.N. Health Officials Warn
The World Health Organization released new treatment guidelines that acknowledge an entire class of antibiotics is now all but useless against the sexually transmitted disease.
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.
Scientists Looking For Alien Life Investigate ‘Interesting’ Signal From Space
Russian astronomers detected an unusual radio signal last year. The SETI Institute says its too soon to say if the signal came from intelligent lifeforms — but they’re 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘Mars Mission’ Crew Emerges From Yearlong Simulation In Hawaii
Six people spent that time living in a dome on a rocky volcanic plain on the island of Hawaii. The NASA-funded experiment was meant to simulate a long-term settlement on Mars.
When The Biggest Earthquake Ever Recorded Hit Chile, It Rocked The World
In 1960, all of Chile shook violently for more than 10 minutes. That quake along the western coast of South America was so big it changed the way people see the world.
Audits Of Some Medicare Advantage Plans Reveal Pervasive Overcharging
Federal audits of 37 Medicare Advantage health plans cited 35 for overbilling the government. Many plans, for example, claimed patients with depression or diabetes were sicker than they actually were.
A Hero For The Arts And Sciences: Upcoming Marvel Covers Promote STEAM Fields
The five covers feature the company’s heroes — including Spiderman, Iron Man, and the Hulk — all engaging in activities educators have been trying to promote.
After Losing Half A Beak, Grecia The Toucan Becomes A Symbol Against Abuse
After the famous toucan received a prosthetic replacement, it’s story has helped spark a national movement against harming animals in Costa Rica, where a new anti-abuse bill is also gaining traction.
National Day Of Mourning Commences In Italy After Earthquake
Funerals are being held today for some of the more than 260 killed in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that shook central Italy reducing many villages to rubble. Relief efforts are underway.
Why Do We Only See Dragonflies In The Summer?
NPR’s Scott Simon speaks to Dr. Jessica Ware about dragonflies in this next installment of the summer series “What’s Bugging You?”
Ramen Noodles Are Now The Prison Currency Of Choice
Ramen will buy anything from smuggled fruit to laundry services from fellow inmates, a study at one prison finds. It’s not just that ramen is tasty: Prisoners say they’re not getting enough food.
Guess How Many Zika Cases Showed Up At The Olympics?
Before the games, computer scientists weren’t worried about the spread of Zika. But some public health experts were. What does the data show?
Protected Marine Area Near Hawaii Is Now Twice The Size Of Texas
The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument was created by President George W. Bush. Now President Obama is quadrupling it in size — making it the biggest marine reserve in the world.
Planned Parenthood Joins Campaign To Rid Miami Neighborhoods Of Zika
The organization is going door to door in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. The goal: Reach 25,000 households in six weeks with information about Zika prevention and family planning services.
Native Americans Protest New Oil Pipeline In North Dakota
Native Americans and environmentalists are protesting a pipeline slated to carry a half a million barrels of crude daily from North Dakota to Illinois. But the oil industry says the pipeline is safe.
Native Americans Protest New Oil Pipeline In South Dakota
Native Americans and environmentalists are protesting a pipeline slated to carry a half a million barrels of crude daily from North Dakota to Illinois. But the oil industry says the pipeline is safe.
New Virus Breaks The Rules Of Infection
A virus is generally like a little ball with a few genes. Now scientists have found one that’s broken up into five little balls — as if it were dismembered.
Oil #5: Imagine A World Without Oil
Last of five episodes. We follow the Planet Money oil to a gas station. And we ask: What would our world look like if there were no fossil fuels?
Study Of Breast Cancer Treatment Reveals Paradox Of Precision Medicine
A genetic test of breast cancer tumors helped identify women whose survival odds would not be greatly improved by chemotherapy. But that test isn’t as precise as women and doctors might like.
WATCH: Squishy ‘Octobot’ Moves Autonomously
The robot designed by a team from Harvard University moves without the help of any rigid parts. Researchers say it is the first proof-of-concept design for an entirely soft, autonomous machine.
Watch: A Slow-Motion Sneeze Looks A Lot Like Breathing Fire
What happens when you let loose with a juicy one? A lab of MIT mathematicians and physicists are taking a close look, with the goal of improving public health.
Here’s Looking Achoo! Debunking The Sneeze
Let’s look deeper into your nose and all of its mysteries, shall we? Are you a snatiator? And does tweezing your eyebrows really make you sneeze?
This Planet Just Outside Our Solar System Is ‘Potentially Habitable’
It’s not exactly close — 25 trillion miles from Earth, say the scientists who spotted it. But that might be near enough for further exploration. It’s about Earth’s size, with mild temperatures.
Climate Change Complicates Predictions Of Damage From Big Surf
Earth’s changing climate has made the quest to understand wave behavior more important than ever, scientists say. Rising seas, storm surge and dune and reef erosion all shape Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Berkeley’s Soda Tax Appears To Cut Consumption Of Sugary Drinks
According to a new study, the nation’s first soda tax succeeded in cutting consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. But there’s uncertainty about whether the effect will be permanent.
Persistent Drought Kills Millions Of Trees In California Forests
Years of drought have strained California’s forests, killing millions of trees and fueling wildfires.
Radio Rookies: Reformed Catcaller Explores Roots Of Street Harassment
Growing up, Jared Marcelle watched as older men catcalled women in his Brooklyn neighborhood. He thought it was normal, so as a teenager Marcelle and his friends became those guys. But now he’s changed.
Health Officials Struggle To Fight Deadly Sepsis Infections
Although a CDC study released today found that 80 percent of cases develop outside the hospital or at a nursing home, many people still don’t know about this lethal medical condition.
Japan Offers ‘Dementia Awareness’ Courses To City Workers
Japan expects 7 million cases of dementia among its long-lived residents by 2025. It has started training pharmacists, bankers and postal workers in how to recognize the signs and be supportive.
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