Friday, February 28, 2025

Smooshing for Science: A Flat-Out Success

Written by Henry Manelski, Ph.D. student at Purdue University The Perseverance team is always looking for creative ways to use the tools we have on Mars to maximize the science we do. On the arm of the rover sits the SHERLOC instrument, which specializes in detecting organic compounds and is crucial in our search for […]

February 28, 2025
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NASA Uses New Technology to Understand California Wildfires

The January wildfires in California devastated local habitats and communities. In an effort to better understand wildfire behavior, NASA scientists and engineers tried to learn from the events by testing new technology. The new instrument, the Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST), was tested when NASA’s B200 King Air aircraft flew over the wildfires […]

February 28, 2025
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What’s Up: March 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA

A Fast-Moving Planet and a Crimson Moon! Catch Mercury if you can, then stay up late for a total lunar eclipse, and learn the truth about the dark side of the Moon. Skywatching Highlights All Month – Planets Visibility: Daily Highlights: March 7-9 – Catch Mercury: Look for Mercury beginning about 30 minutes after sunset […]

February 28, 2025
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Jamie Dunn

Project Manager – Goddard Space Flight Center Growing up near Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Jamie Dunn — now a project manager for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope — naturally became interested in planes. While he initially wanted to be a pilot, he chose aerospace engineering as a college major. “I originally had […]

February 28, 2025
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Langley Laboratory Apprentice at Work

An apprentice at Langley Laboratory (now NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia) inspects wind tunnel components in this image from May 15, 1943. During World War II, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the precursor to NASA, employed apprentices (which NASA has since transitioned into internships) to support meaningful jobs in data computing, […]

February 28, 2025
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NPR News: To ease the energy crisis, we're going to need better batteries

To ease the energy crisis, we're going to need better batteries
Batteries are everywhere. They're in our phones, our remote controls, smart-watches, electric cars and so much more. They could also be the solution to a problem that renewable energy companies have faced for years: How to store the mass amounts of energy they produce for later use. Some companies are using batteries to make renewable energy accessible 24/7. Today, we dig into how the technology is rapidly progressing with Cooper Katz McKim, a producer from fellow NPR podcast The Indicator from Planet Money. Listen to The Indicator's three-part battery series. Have questions about the future of technology? Contact us at shortwave@npr.org. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Thursday, February 27, 2025

NPR News: Katy Perry and Gayle King are heading to space as part of an all-female Blue Origin crew

Katy Perry and Gayle King are heading to space as part of an all-female Blue Origin crew
The crew was selected by Bezos' fiancée, journalist Lauren Sánchez, who will also be on the brief suborbital flight scheduled for this spring.

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NPR News: Alzheimer's was taking her memory, so she started taking a new drug

Alzheimer's was taking her memory, so she started taking a new drug
Myra Solano Garcia, who has Alzheimer's, says the drug Kisunla may be one reason she can still drive, cook, and sing.

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Commodity Classic Hyperwall Schedule

NASA Science at AMS Hyperwall Schedule, January 13-16, 2025 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #401) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Hyperwall Agenda below. MONDAY, JANUARY 13 6:10 – 6:25 PMThe Golden Age of Ocean Science: How NASA’s Newest Missions Advance the Study of Oceans in our Earth SystemDr. Karen St. Germain6:25 […]

February 27, 2025
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NASA Installs Heat Shield on First Private Spacecraft Bound for Venus

Engineers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, Bohdan Wesely, right, and Eli Hiss, left, complete a fit check of the two halves of a space capsule that will study the clouds of Venus for signs of life. Led by Rocket Lab of Long Beach, California, and their partners at the Massachusetts Institute […]

February 27, 2025
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Intuitive Machines-2 Lifts Off

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander (IM-2) soars upward after liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The lander is set to land on the Moon on March 6. The NASA science and technology demonstrations aboard the lander will, once […]

February 27, 2025
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NASA’s Hubble Provides Bird’s-Eye View of Andromeda Galaxy’s Ecosystem

Located 2.5 million light-years away, the majestic Andromeda galaxy appears to the naked eye as a faint, spindle-shaped object roughly the angular size of the full Moon. What backyard observers don’t see is a swarm of nearly three dozen small satellite galaxies circling the Andromeda galaxy, like bees around a hive. These satellite galaxies represent […]

February 27, 2025
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NASA Selects Participating Scientists to Join Lucy Asteroid Mission

NASA has selected eight participating scientists to join its Lucy mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. These asteroids are remnants of our early solar system trapped on stable orbits associated with – but not close to – the planet Jupiter.  NASA’s Lucy in the L4 Trojans Participating Scientist Program supports scientists to carry out new investigations […]

February 27, 2025
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NPR News: Some Mardi Gras parade planners ban plastic beads to cut back on waste

Some Mardi Gras parade planners ban plastic beads to cut back on waste
Mardi Gras can make a lot of trash, adding up to millions of pounds each year. Now, some parades in New Orleans are cutting down on their environmental footprint by banning plastic beads.

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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Sols 4464-4465: Making Good Progress

Written by Lauren Edgar, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center Earth planning date: Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 Over the weekend Curiosity drove about 48 meters (about 157 feet) to the southwest, continuing to march along on our traverse past Texoli butte and Gould Mesa. I was on shift as the LTP today, and it […]

February 26, 2025
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Milky Way on the Horizon

NASA astronaut Don Pettit used a camera with low light and long duration settings to capture this Jan. 29, 2025, image of the Milky Way appearing beyond Earth’s horizon. At the time, the International Space Station was orbiting 265 miles above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile just before sunrise. Pettit is part […]

February 26, 2025
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6 Things to Know About NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer

The small satellite mission will map the Moon to help scientists better understand where its water is, what form it’s in, how much is there, and how it changes over time. Launching no earlier than Wednesday, Feb. 26, NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer will help resolve an enduring mystery: Where is the Moon’s water? After sharing a […]

February 26, 2025
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NASA Open Data Turns Science Into Art

An art display powered by NASA science data topped the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, CA throughout December 2024. Nightly visitors enjoyed “Synchronicity,” a 20-minute-long video art piece by Greg Niemeyer, which used a year’s worth of open data from NASA satellites and other sources to bring the rhythms of the Bay Area to life. […]

February 26, 2025
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 to Discuss Space Station Mission, Upcoming Return

Media are invited to hear from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts during a news conference beginning at 11:55 a.m. EST, Tuesday, March 4, from the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore will discuss their return to Earth on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, […]

February 26, 2025
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Headquarters and Center Chief Counsel Contacts

Headquarters Centers

February 26, 2025
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NASA Stennis Flashback: Learning About Rocket Engine Smoke for Safe Space Travel

NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is widely known as the nation’s largest rocket propulsion test site. More than 35 years ago, it also served as a hands-on classroom for NASA engineers seeking to improve the efficiency of space shuttle main engines. From 1988 to the mid-1990’s, NASA Stennis engineers operated a […]

February 26, 2025
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NPR News: Meet the 'wooly devil,' a new plant species discovered in Big Bend National Park

Meet the 'wooly devil,' a new plant species discovered in Big Bend National Park
The plant, formally known as Ovicula biradiata, is especially notable for being the simultaneous discovery of a new species and genus. It was found with help from the community science app iNaturalist.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2025

NASA’s EZIE Launching to Study Magnetic Fingerprints of Earth’s Aurora

High above Earth’s poles, intense electrical currents called electrojets flow through the upper atmosphere when auroras glow in the sky. These auroral electrojets push about a million amps of electrical charge around the poles every second. They can create some of the largest magnetic disturbances on the ground, and rapid changes in the currents can […]

February 25, 2025
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Sharing PLANETS Curriculum with Out-of-School Time Educators

Out of school time (OST) educators work with youth in afterschool, community, and camp programs. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning in OST can be challenging for multiple reasons, including lack of materials and support for educators. The NASA Science Activation program’s PLANETS project – Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, […]

February 25, 2025
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Diamonds from NASA’s X-59

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft took another successful step toward flight with the conclusion of a series of engine performance tests. During maximum afterburner testing, a test demonstrating the engine’s ability to generate the thrust required for supersonic flight, the aircraft showed off a phenomenon known as Mach diamonds, seen in this image from […]

February 25, 2025
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NPR News: The odds of a 'city-killer' asteroid hitting Earth have fallen to zero

The odds of a 'city-killer' asteroid hitting Earth have fallen to zero
After weeks at the top of the Sentry list at the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer considered a threat to Earth.

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NASA’s Europa Clipper Uses Mars to Go the Distance

The orbiter bound for Jupiter’s moon Europa will investigate whether the moon is habitable, but it first will get the help of Mars’ gravitational force to get to deep space. On March 1, NASA’s Europa Clipper will streak just 550 miles (884 kilometers) above the surface of Mars for what’s known as a gravity assist […]

February 25, 2025
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NPR News: 50 years after a seminal conference, big questions about biotechnology remain

50 years after a seminal conference, big questions about biotechnology remain
In 1975, researchers met to discuss the emerging field of biotechnology. The issues surrounding the field today are familiar.

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NPR News: Trump funding freeze includes payments to keep the Colorado River flowing

Trump funding freeze includes payments to keep the Colorado River flowing
President Biden promised billions in funds to farmers and others to not take water from the Colorado River. President Trump is halting some of those funds, leaving questions about the river's future.

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NPR News: This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains

This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains
A year and a half ago, neuroscientist Kamilla Souza got the call she'd been waiting for: A baby humpback whale had died just offshore. She wanted its brain. That's because scientists know little about the brains of whales and dolphins off the Central and South American coasts. Studying them, like Kamilla is doing, can teach scientists about the inner workings of these animals — about their behavior and how they're adapted to living underwater. So, she has to race against time to save the brains. The heat in this area of Brazil accelerates decomposition. Minutes matter. This episode was reported by Ari Daniel. Read more of Ari's reporting. Curious about other biology research happening around the world? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org!

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NPR News: This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains

This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains
A year and a half ago, neuroscientist Kamilla Souza got the call she'd been waiting for: A baby humpback whale had died just offshore. She wanted its brain. That's because scientists know little about the brains of whales and dolphins off the Central and South American coasts. Studying them, like Kamilla is doing, can teach scientists about the inner workings of these animals — about their behavior and how they're adapted to living underwater. So, she has to race against time to save the brains. The heat in this area of Brazil accelerates decomposition. Minutes matter. This episode was reported by Ari Daniel. Read more of Ari's reporting. Curious about other biology research happening around the world? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org!

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Monday, February 24, 2025

NASA to Provide Coverage of Progress 91 Launch, Space Station Docking

NASA will provide live launch and docking coverage of a Roscosmos cargo spacecraft delivering approximately three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 91 spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 4:24 p.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 27 (2:24 a.m. Baikonur time, Friday, Feb. 28), on […]

February 24, 2025
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NPR News: The Panama Canal needs more water. The solution is a dam that could displace thousands

The Panama Canal needs more water. The solution is a dam that could displace thousands
More than 2,000 people could be displaced by the construction of the Río Indio dam. The Panama Canal Authority says the dam solves a long-term water shortage problem.

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NASA Invites Media to Observe FireSense Prescribed Burn at Kennedy

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida invites media to attend a prescribed fire campaign event hosted by the NASA FireSense Project, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Campaign activities will occur from Monday, April 7, to Monday, April 21. The FireSense campaign activities will test cutting-edge models and demonstrate […]

February 24, 2025
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Simulation Tools

The Simulation and Graphics Branch produces several software tools to facilitate building and operating simulations. Many of these are available to download and are linked below. The Trick Simulation Environment provides a common set of simulation capabilities that allow domain experts to concentrate on domain-specific models rather than simulation-specific functions like job ordering, input file […]

February 24, 2025
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NASA Names Acting Associate Administrator, More Leadership Changes

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro announced Monday Vanessa Wyche will serve as the acting associate administrator for the agency at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective immediately. Wyche, who had been the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is detailed as Petro’s senior advisor leading the agency’s center directors and mission directorate associate administrators. […]

February 24, 2025
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Station Science Top News: Feb. 21, 2025

Improving space-based pharmaceutical research Researchers found differences in the stability and degradation of the anti-Covid drug Remdesivir in space and on Earth on its first research flight, but not on a second. This highlights the need for more standardized procedures for pharmaceutical research in space. Long-term stability of drugs is critical for future space missions. […]

February 24, 2025
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NASA Invites Media to Attend Alabama Space Day 2025

Media are invited to attend the 2025 Alabama Space Day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and aerospace industry partners will host the annual public event to celebrate Alabama’s […]

February 24, 2025
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NASA Marshall Reflects on 65 Years of Ingenuity, Teamwork 

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is celebrating its 65-year legacy of ingenuity and service to the U.S. space program – and the expansion of its science, engineering, propulsion, and human spaceflight portfolio with each new decade since the NASA field center opened its doors on July 1, 1960. What many Americans likely call to […]

February 24, 2025
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NASA University Research Program Makes First Award to a Community College Project

Great ideas, and the talent and passion that bring them to life, can be found anywhere. In that spirit, NASA’s University Student Research Challenge (USRC) in 2024 selected its first group of community college students to contribute original research to the agency’s transformative vision for 21st century aviation. The student-led group, from Cerritos Community College […]

February 24, 2025
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NPR News: Scientists to meet 50 years after conference that set limits on genetic engineering

Scientists to meet 50 years after conference that set limits on genetic engineering
Fifty years ago today, scientists met to set safety limits on the new field of genetic engineering. This week researchers meet again to discuss big questions as biotechnology grows more powerful.

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NPR News: What happens to your body when you're under anesthesia?

What happens to your body when you're under anesthesia?
Picture a relaxing scene. Maybe a beach in Tahiti, your toes in the sand, a cold drink in hand. Now imagine your favorite music playing in the background. If Dr. Alopi Patel were your anesthesiologist, that's exactly what she'd have you do while you waited on an operating table for surgery. Today, she takes us on a journey through the history and science of this cornerstone of modern medicine. Curious about other breakthroughs in the history of science? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Sunday, February 23, 2025

NPR News: Pod Corner: The Other Moonshot

Pod Corner: The Other Moonshot
An excerpt from "The Other Moonshot," a podcast from LAist Studios and Reasonable Volume.

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NPR News: This rare, intelligent species of crow is taking flight in Hawaii again

This rare, intelligent species of crow is taking flight in Hawaii again
Hawaiian crows are extinct in the wild and are found nowhere else on Earth. Now, a small group, safeguarded in captivity, has been released in the forests of Maui.

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Friday, February 21, 2025

NASA Marks Artemis Progress With Gateway Lunar Space Station

NASA and its international partners are making progress on Gateway – the lunar space station that will orbit the Moon as a centerpiece of the agency’s Moon to Mars architecture.

February 21, 2025
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NPR News: Bad wellness advice is all over social media. These creators are pushing back

Bad wellness advice is all over social media. These creators are pushing back
A growing group of content creators are trying to counteract misleading and false wellness claims online from influencers hawking supplements and unproven remedies.

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NASA’s PUNCH Mission to Revolutionize Our View of Solar Wind 

Earth is immersed in material streaming from the Sun. This stream, called the solar wind, is washing over our planet, causing breathtaking auroras, impacting satellites and astronauts in space, and even affecting ground-based infrastructure.  NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission will be the first to image the Sun’s corona, or outer […]

February 21, 2025
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NPR News: Lab mice may give 'first aid' to unconscious mates

Lab mice may give 'first aid' to unconscious mates
New research suggests mice may exhibit revival-like behaviors to help unconscious mice recover faster.

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Hubble Spies a Spiral That May Be Hiding an Imposter

The sparkling spiral galaxy gracing this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is UGC 5460, which sits about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. This image combines four different wavelengths of light to reveal UGC 5460’s central bar of stars, winding spiral arms, and bright blue star clusters. Also captured in the upper […]

February 21, 2025
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NPR News: Room for dessert? Here's why your brain says yes to sugar

Room for dessert? Here's why your brain says yes to sugar
Ever eat a full meal ... and find you still have room for dessert? If so, you're not alone. Sugar is a quick form of energy that many people crave — even when they're full. Today, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina G. Barber dive into a new study on the neural origins of the "dessert brain." Want us to cover more neuroscience on the show? Let your voice be counted by emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Thursday, February 20, 2025

55 Years Ago: Preps for Apollo 13 and 14, Apollo 12 Crew on World Tour

With two months to go before flight, the Apollo 13 prime crew of James Lovell, Thomas Mattingly, Fred Haise, and backups John Young, John Swigert, and Charles Duke continued to train for the 10-day mission planned to land in the Fra Mauro highlands region of the Moon. Engineers continued to prepare the Saturn V rocket […]

February 20, 2025
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In Memoriam: Berrien Moore III [1941–2024]

Berrien Moore III, Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma (OU), director of the National Weather Center in Norman, OK, and Vice President for Weather and Climate Programs, died on December 17, 2024. Berrien earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina in 1963 and a doctorate […]

February 20, 2025
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Artemis II Rocket Booster Stacking Complete

Engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida completed stacking the twin SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters – seen in this Feb. 19, 2025, photo – inside the Vehicle Assembly Building for the agency’s Artemis II crewed test flight around the Moon. During stacking operations, which began Nov. 20, 2024, technicians used a massive overhead crane to […]

February 20, 2025
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NASA Stennis Teams Install New Production RS-25 Engine for Upcoming Hot Fire

NASA marked a key milestone Feb. 18 with installation of RS-25 engine No. E20001, the first new production engine to help power the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on future Artemis missions to the Moon. The engine, built by lead SLS engines contractor L3Harris (formerly Aerojet Rocketdyne), was installed on the Fred Haise Test Stand […]

February 20, 2025
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Summary of the Joint NASA LCLUC–SARI Synthesis Meeting

Introduction The NASA Land-Cover and Land-Use Change (LCLUC) is an interdisciplinary scientific program within NASA’s Earth Science program that aims to develop the capability for periodic global inventories of land use and land cover from space. The program’s goal is to develop the mapping, monitoring and modeling capabilities necessary to simulate the processes taking place and […]

February 20, 2025
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NPR News: Bird enthusiasts flock to northern Minnesota in hopes of seeing a great gray owl

Bird enthusiasts flock to northern Minnesota in hopes of seeing a great gray owl
Bird enthusiasts are flocking to Minnesota in hopes of catching a glimpse of a great gray owl. They're one of North America's largest owl species and many have flown down from Canada to find food.

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Wednesday, February 19, 2025

NPR News: The USDA fired staffers working on bird flu. Now it's trying to reverse course

The USDA fired staffers working on bird flu. Now it's trying to reverse course
The USDA says "several" staffers working on the bird flu response were terminated over the weekend, and "we are working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters."

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How Long Does it Take to Get to the Moon… Mars… Jupiter? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 51

So how long does it take to get from Earth to the Moon, to Mars or to Jupiter? As with most things in life, the answer is: it depends.

February 19, 2025
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NASA Selects New Round of Student-Led Aviation Research Awards

NASA has selected two new university student teams to participate in real-world aviation research challenges meant to transform the skies above our communities. The research awards were made through NASA’s University Student Research Challenge (USRC), which provides students with opportunities to contribute to NASA’s flight research goals. This round is notable for including USRC’s first-ever […]

February 19, 2025
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NPR News: Is Trump preparing to cancel America's ride back to the moon?

Is Trump preparing to cancel America's ride back to the moon?
President Trump launched the Artemis program to return U.S. astronauts to the moon for the first time since Apollo. Now, the plan could be a casualty of the cost-cutting drive overseen by Elon Musk.

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NPR News: New in Peru: 27 species previously undiscovered by science

New in Peru: 27 species previously undiscovered by science
What happens when a team of scientists and local Awajún guides go on a 38-day trip into the Alto Mayo region of Peru? Over 2000 species are identified, of course! Tucked in this lush landscape where the Amazon basin meets the Andes mountains, were 27 species of animals previously unknown to science. It makes us wonder, what else is out there that the scientific community hasn't seen? And who already knows about it? Check out photos of all the critters we mentioned — and more! Other ecosystems or critters you think would make a good episode? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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NPR News: New in Peru: 27 species previously undiscovered by science

New in Peru: 27 species previously undiscovered by science
What happens when a team of scientists and local Awajún guides go on a 38-day trip into the Alto Mayo region of Peru? Over 2000 species are identified, of course! Tucked in this lush landscape where the Amazon basin meets the Andes mountains, were 27 species of animals previously unknown to science. It makes us wonder, what else is out there that the scientific community hasn't seen? And who already knows about it? Check out photos of all the critters we mentioned — and more! Other ecosystems or critters you think would make a good episode? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

NPR News: More than 150 false killer whales stranded on a beach in Australia's Tasmania state

More than 150 false killer whales stranded on a beach in Australia's Tasmania state
The reasons for the beachings are unclear. Reasons could include disorientation caused by loud noises, illness, old age, injury, fleeing predators and severe weather.

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Past Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station Publications

October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 This eighth annual report provides an overall highlight of research results published from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 from investigations operated on the space station. Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023) (PDF, 19.6 MB). List of Archived […]

February 18, 2025
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Annual Highlights of Results 2024: Key Takeaways, Introduction, and Bibliometric Analyses

Key Takeaways Introduction The International Space Station is a state-of-the art laboratory in low Earth orbit. Since the year 2000, distinguished researchers from a myriad of disciplines around the world have been sending equipment and investigations to station to learn how space-related variables affect the human body, plant and microbial life, physical processes, equipment function, […]

February 18, 2025
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2024 Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station Science

The 2024 Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station is now available. This new edition contains updated bibliometric analyses, a list of all the publications documented in fiscal year 2024, and synopses of the most recent and recognized scientific findings from investigations conducted on the space station. These investigations are sponsored by NASA and all […]

February 18, 2025
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Station Science Top News: Feb. 14, 2025

Modeling properties of thunderstorm discharges Researchers report detailed physical properties of different types of corona discharges, including single- and multi-pulse blue discharges linked to powerful but short-lived electrical bursts near the tops of clouds. These details provide a reference for further investigation into the physical mechanisms behind these discharges and their role in the initiation […]

February 18, 2025
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What is an Engineer? (Grades K-4)

This article is for students grades K-4. Engineers solve problems. They use science and math to create new things or make things work better. There are different kinds of engineers. They work on different kinds of projects. Some engineers design buildings or machines. Others find ways to move heat, power, or water from one place […]

February 18, 2025
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NPR News: Human gene variant alters the voices of mice

Human gene variant alters the voices of mice
A new study shows that giving mice the human version of a gene changes their squeak, suggesting some of the genetic underpinnings of language.

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NPR News: Like a snake eating its own tail: What happens when AI consumes its own data?

Like a snake eating its own tail: What happens when AI consumes its own data?
Asked ChatGPT anything lately? Talked with a customer service chatbot? Read the results of Google's "AI Overviews" summary feature? If you've used the Internet lately, chances are, you've consumed content created by a large language model. These models, like DeepSeek-R1 or OpenAI's ChatGPT, are kind of like the predictive text feature in your phone on steroids. In order for them to "learn" how to write, the models are trained on millions of examples of human-written text. Thanks in part to these same large language models, a lot of content on the Internet today is written by generative AI. That means that AI models trained nowadays may be consuming their own synthetic content ... and suffering the consequences. View the AI-generated images mentioned in this episode. Have another topic in artificial intelligence you want us to cover? Let us know my emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Monday, February 17, 2025

NPR News: In Colorado, climate-related projects are feeling the freeze on federal funding

In Colorado, climate-related projects are feeling the freeze on federal funding
Courts have ordered the Trump administration to lift its freeze on federal funding, but lots of CLIMATE-related spending is still paused. In Colorado, the freeze has hit affected many projects.

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NPR News: Possible cuts to NIH funding could affect research in Alabama

Possible cuts to NIH funding could affect research in Alabama
Possible cuts to NIH funding could significantly impact research institutions in Alabama, a state that has voted overwhelmingly for President Trump.

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Cookies, Cream, and Crumbling Cores

Perseverance’s drives over the last few weeks have doubled back several times. Why such an unconventional route? Team scientists have been delighted to find new kinds of rocks that could be the oldest ever found on Mars and are eager to collect samples. Perseverance embarked on the Crater Rim Campaign in search of ancient uplifted […]

February 17, 2025
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NPR News: A former NASA scientist has big dreams for his small business. Will Trump dash them?

A former NASA scientist has big dreams for his small business. Will Trump dash them?
Ryan Dowdy, a former NASA food scientist, won a USDA innovation grant to further develop a meal replacement bar for first responders. Trump's freeze on government awards has jeopardized those plans.

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Sols 4454-4457: Getting Ready to Fill the Long Weekend with Science

Earth planning date: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 Curiosity is continuing to make progress along the strategic route, traversing laterally across the sulfate (salt) bearing unit toward the boxwork structures. The team celebrated the completion of another successful drive when we received the downlink this morning, and then we immediately got to work thinking about what’s […]

February 17, 2025
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NPR News: Could this particle 'clean up' a cosmic mystery?

Could this particle 'clean up' a cosmic mystery?
Physics has a bit of a messy problem: There's matter missing in our universe. Something is there that we can't see but can detect! What could this mysterious substance be? A lot of astronomers are searching for the answer. And some, like theoretical particle physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, think a hypothetical particle called the axion may make this problem a little ... tidier. That's right: hypothetical. Scientists have never seen one, and don't know if they exist. So today, we point our cosmic magnifying glasses towards the axion and ask how scientists could find one — and if it could be the neat solution physicists have been searching for. Help shape the future of Short Wave by taking our survey: npr.org/shortwavesurvey Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Sunday, February 16, 2025

NPR News: Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciation Week in Oregon aims to change that

Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciation Week in Oregon aims to change that
Students at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon are trying to bring more attention to one of the world's smaller and often overlooked plants with this year's seventh annual Moss Appreciation Week. (This story first aired on Morning Edition on February 14, 2025.)

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NPR News: Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciation Week in Oregon aims to change that

Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciation Week in Oregon aims to change that
Students at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon are trying to bring more attention to one of the world's smaller and often overlooked plants with this year's seventh annual Moss Appreciation Week. (This story first aired on Morning Edition on February 14, 2025.)

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Saturday, February 15, 2025

NPR News: In Colorado, climate-related projects are feeling the freeze on federal funding

In Colorado, climate-related projects are feeling the freeze on federal funding
In Colorado, the federal funding freeze has hit projects from a brownfield cleanup in Pueblo to "once in a lifetime" funding for solar projects in Native communities.

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NPR News: Bonus Episode: The Aphasia Choir

Bonus Episode: The Aphasia Choir
There are at least two million people in America who have thoughts and ideas they can't put into words. People who have had strokes or traumatic brain injuries often live with aphasia: difficulty using language, both written and spoken. But music mostly originates in the undamaged hemisphere of the brain, and people with aphasia can often sing. Today in our bonus episode, in partnership with the podcast Rumble Strip, we meet a member of The Aphasia Choir of Vermont. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

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Friday, February 14, 2025

NASA Sets Coverage of Firefly’s First Robotic Commercial Moon Landing

With a suite of NASA science and technology on board, Firefly Aerospace is targeting no earlier than 3:45 a.m. EST on Sunday, March 2, to land the Blue Ghost lunar lander on the Moon. Blue Ghost is slated to touch down near Mare Crisium, a plain in the northeast quadrant on the near side of […]

February 14, 2025
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An Afternoon of Family Science and Rocket Exploration in Alaska

On Tuesday, January 28th, Fairbanks BEST Homeschool joined the Geophysical Institute for an afternoon of rocket exploration, hands-on activities, and stargazing inside a planetarium. This event was free and open to the public. Despite their frigid winter weather, 200 attendees were curious about the scientific endeavors of Alaska-based researchers alongside cutting-edge investigations conducted by NASA […]

February 14, 2025
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NPR News: 'Moss Appreciation Week': a lot of celebration for a very little plant

'Moss Appreciation Week': a lot of celebration for a very little plant
Moss Appreciation Week is packed with events both scientific... and also silly. Moss walks, moss talks, moss movies, crafting moss-themed Valentines, and a "gastropod derby" with snails and slugs (for whom moss is a nice moist microclimate).

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A Stellar Bouquet

This image, released on Feb. 12, 2025, is the deepest X-ray image ever made of the spectacular star forming region called 30 Doradus. By combining X-ray data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue and green) with optical data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (yellow) and radio data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (orange), this […]

February 14, 2025
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NPR News: Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciation Week in Oregon aims to change that

Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciation Week in Oregon aims to change that
Students at Lewis & Clark College are trying to bring more attention to one of the world's smaller and more humble plants with this year's seventh annual Moss Appreciation Week.

Read more on NPR

NPR News: The truth behind your Valentine's Day flowers

The truth behind your Valentine's Day flowers
The beauty of bouquets comes with a cost to the cloud forests of Colombia, the largest exporter of flowers and foliage to the United States.

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NPR News: Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciaction Week in Oregon aims to change that

Moss doesn't get a lot of love. Moss Appreciaction Week in Oregon aims to change that
Students at Lewis & Clark College are trying to bring more attention to one of the world's smaller and more humble plants with this year's seventh annual Moss Appreciation Week.

Read more on NPR

Thursday, February 13, 2025

NPR News: In Panama economic needs threaten to erase a way of life

In Panama economic needs threaten to erase a way of life
Panama has been looking for solutions to a long-term problem. Every time a ship passes through the Panama Canal, more than 50 million gallons of fresh water from Lake Gatun pour out into the ocean. Nobody ever thought Panama could run out of water. It is one of the rainiest countries in the world. But a couple years ago, a drought got so bad that the canal had to reduce traffic by more than a third - which had a huge impact on global shipping. The Panama Canal needs more water. Authorities have decided to get it by building a dam in a spot that would displace more than 2,000 people along the Rio Indio. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org Email us at considerthis@npr.org

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Giving NASA’s CADRE a Hand

One of three small lunar rovers — part of a NASA technology demonstration called CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration) — is prepared for shipping in a clean room on Jan. 29, 2025, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The project is designed to show that a group of robots can collaborate to […]

February 13, 2025
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NASA’s SPHEREx Space Telescope Will Seek Life’s Ingredients

Where is all the water that may form oceans on distant planets and moons? The SPHEREx astrophysics mission will search the galaxy and take stock. Every living organism on Earth needs water to survive, so scientists searching for life outside our solar system, are often guided by the phrase “follow the water.” Scheduled to launch […]

February 13, 2025
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In the Starlight: Tristan McKnight Brings NASA’s Historic Moments to Life  

For more than a decade, Tristan McKnight has been a driving force behind some of NASA’s most iconic events, orchestrating the behind-the-scenes magic that brings each historic moment to life while sharing the agency’s advancements with the public.  As a multimedia producer on the audiovisual team at Johnson Space Center in Houston, McKnight produces and […]

February 13, 2025
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Headquarters and Center Chief Counsel Contacts

Headquarters Centers

February 13, 2025
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Heart Health

Science in Space: February 2025 February was first proclaimed as American Heart Month in 1964. Since then, its 28 (or 29) days have served as an opportunity to encourage people to focus on their cardiovascular health. The International Space Station serves as a platform for a variety of ongoing research on human health, including how […]

February 13, 2025
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Webb Maps Full Picture of How Phoenix Galaxy Cluster Forms Stars

Discovery proves decades-old theory of galaxy feeding cycle. Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have finally solved the mystery of how a massive galaxy cluster is forming stars at such a high rate. The confirmation from Webb builds on more than a decade of studies using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope, […]

February 13, 2025
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Lunar Space Station Module Will Journey to US ahead of NASA’s Artemis IV Moon Mission

A key element of the Gateway lunar space station has entered the cleanroom for final installations after completing environmental stress tests.

February 13, 2025
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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

NPR News: Photos: See what happened at the Westminster Dog Show

Photos: See what happened at the Westminster Dog Show
A 5-year-old giant schnauzer named, Monty, won the Best In Show title at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

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15 Years Ago: STS-130 Delivers Tranquility and Cupola to Space Station

On Feb. 8, 2010, space shuttle Endeavour began its 24th trip into space, on the 20A assembly mission to the International Space Station, the 32nd shuttle flight to the orbiting lab. The STS-130 crew included Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts, and Mission Specialists Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick, and Robert Behnken. During the […]

February 12, 2025
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NPR News: What National Institutes of Health funding cuts could mean for U.S. universities

What National Institutes of Health funding cuts could mean for U.S. universities
What do National Institutes of Health funding cuts mean for universities? We ask Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the journal Science and former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill chancellor.

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NASA Telescopes Deliver Stellar Bouquet in Time for Valentine’s Day

A bouquet of thousands of stars in bloom has arrived. This composite image contains the deepest X-ray image ever made of the spectacular star forming region called 30 Doradus. By combining X-ray data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue and green) with optical data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (yellow) and radio data from the […]

February 12, 2025
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NASA Successfully Joins Sunshade to Roman Observatory’s ‘Exoskeleton’

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team has successfully integrated the mission’s deployable aperture cover — a visor-like sunshade that will help prevent unwanted light from entering the telescope — to the outer barrel assembly, another structure designed to shield the telescope from stray light in addition to keeping it at a stable temperature. “It’s […]

February 12, 2025
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NPR News: His genes forecast Alzheimer's. His brain had other plans.

His genes forecast Alzheimer's. His brain had other plans.
Doug Whitney was supposed to develop Alzheimer's by 50. Now scientists are trying to understand why his brain remains healthy at 75.

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NASA Glenn Holds Day of Remembrance 

NASA observed its annual Day of Remembrance on Jan. 23, honoring the members of the NASA family who lost their lives in the pursuit of exploration and discovery for the benefit of humanity. The annual event acknowledges the crews of Apollo 1 and the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia.  NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro and […]

February 12, 2025
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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

NASA Invites Media to Artemis II Moon Mission Activities at Kennedy

Media are invited to visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, to capture imagery of the agency’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft and twin SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters for the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon. The event is targeted for Friday, March 7. Subject matter experts from NASA and industry partners […]

February 11, 2025
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Space Shuttle Endeavour Takes Flight

Blue mach diamonds from the main engine nozzles and bright exhaust from the solid rocket boosters mark the successful launch of space shuttle Endeavour 25 years ago on Feb. 11, 2000. The STS-99 mission crew – including astronauts from NASA, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), and the European Space Agency (ESA) – […]

February 11, 2025
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NPR News: Trump says 'we're going back to plastic straws.' Is the paper straw dead?

Trump says 'we're going back to plastic straws.' Is the paper straw dead?
President Trump has signed an executive order decrying the "irrational campaign against plastic straws" and directing federal agencies to stop buying paper straws.

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NASA’s Mini Rover Team Is Packed for Lunar Journey

A trio of suitcase-size rovers and their base station have been carefully wrapped up and shipped off to join the lander that will deliver them to the Moon’s surface. Three small NASA rovers that will explore the lunar surface as a team have been packed up and shipped from the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in […]

February 11, 2025
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NASA’s X-59 Turns Up Power, Throttles Through Engine Tests

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft took another successful step toward flight with the conclusion of a series of engine performance tests. In preparation for the X-59’s planned first flight this year, NASA and Lockheed Martin successfully completed the aircraft’s engine run tests in January. The engine, a modified F414-GE-100 that powers the aircraft’s flight […]

February 11, 2025
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Building Blocks for Enhanced Mission Execution

BBEME Course Description: An interactive learning series designed to highlight critical interactions and various engagements across all GSFC locations, Facilities, and Institutes that lead to mission success. Themes include: strategic goals, current developments, mission success critical topics Instructional Strategy: •Facilitated panel discussions •Leadership engagements •One-on-one interactions •Facilitated case studies BBEME Workshops have been previously offered at […]

February 11, 2025
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NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures Colorful Clouds Drifting Over Mars

While the Martian clouds may look like the kind seen in Earth’s skies, they include frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice. Red-and-green-tinted clouds drift through the Martian sky in a new set of images captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover using its Mastcam — its main set of “eyes.” Taken over 16 minutes on Jan. 17 […]

February 11, 2025
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NESC Key In-Progress Technical Activities

The portfolio of current NESC technical activities reaches across mission directorates and programs encompassing design, test, and flight phases. ISS PrK Independent Assessment The NESC is assessing the ongoing leak in the ISS Russian segment, PrK, the segment’s remaining life, and how to manage the risk of potential failure.  Orion Crew Module Heatshield Avcoat Char Investigation The […]

February 11, 2025
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Connecticut Students to Hear from NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Students from Rocky Hill, Connecticut, will have the chance to connect with NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Don Pettit as they answer prerecorded science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related questions from aboard the International Space Station. Watch the 20-minute space-to-Earth call at 11:40 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 18, on NASA+ and learn how to watch […]

February 11, 2025
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Art Inspired by Exploration: NASA Unveils Architecture Art Challenge Winners

NASA asked artists to imagine the future of deep space exploration in artwork meant to inspire the Artemis Generation. The NASA Moon to Mars Architecture art challenge sought creative images that represent the agency’s bold vision for crewed exploration of the lunar surface and the Red Planet. The agency has selected the recipients of the […]

February 11, 2025
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NASA Supports GoAERO University Awardees for Emergency Aircraft Prototyping

With support from NASA, the international GoAERO Prize competition recently announced funding for 14 U.S. university teams to build innovative new compact emergency response aircraft.  The teams will develop prototype versions of Emergency Response Flyers, aircraft intended to perform rescue and response missions after disasters and in crisis situations. The flyers must be designed to […]

February 11, 2025
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Monday, February 10, 2025

Shari Miller: Keeping the Mission and the Environment In Balance

Shari Miller, Wallops Flight Facility National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Manager and Wallops Natural Resources Manager, tracks the environmental impact of Wallops missions to promote mission success while also protecting Wallops Island's diverse ecosystems and wildlife.

February 10, 2025
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Jeremy Schnittman: Looking Into the Mystery of Black Holes

Astrophysicist Jeremy Schnittman hopes to have one of his theories about black holes proven someday.

February 10, 2025
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Meloë Kacenelenbogen Eyes the Future of Air Quality, Climate Research

A mentor of research scientist Meloë Kacenelenbogen once shared a sentiment from French author André Gide: “You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Kacenelenbogen pushes beyond her comfort zone to explore the unknown. Name: Meloë S. KacenelenbogenFormal Job Classification: Research scientistOrganization: Climate and Radiation Laboratory, Science […]

February 10, 2025
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NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas Sinking, Rising Along California Coast

The elevation changes may seem small — amounting to fractions of inches per year — but they can increase or decrease local flood risk, wave exposure, and saltwater intrusion. Tracking and predicting sea level rise involves more than measuring the height of our oceans: Land along coastlines also inches up and down in elevation. Using […]

February 10, 2025
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NASA Scientists Spot Candidate for Speediest Exoplanet System

Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the fastest-moving exoplanet system, nearly double our solar system’s speed through the Milky Way. The planetary system is thought to move at least 1.2 million miles per […]

February 10, 2025
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Newly Minted Ph.D. Studies Phytoplankton with NASA’s FjordPhyto Project

FjordPhyto is a collective effort where travelers on tour expedition vessels in Antarctica help scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Universidad Nacional de La Plata study phytoplankton. Now project leader Dr. Allison Cusick has a Ph.D.! . Dr. Cusick studies how melting glaciers influence phytoplankton in the coastal regions. She wrote her doctoral dissertation […]

February 10, 2025
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Euclid Discovers Einstein Ring in Our Cosmic Backyard

Euclid, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission with NASA contributions, has made a surprising discovery in our cosmic backyard: a phenomenon called an Einstein ring. An Einstein ring is light from a distant galaxy bending to form a ring that appears aligned with a foreground object. The name honors Albert Einstein, whose general theory of […]

February 10, 2025
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NPR News: Scientists grow human-like teeth in pigs

Scientists grow human-like teeth in pigs
Scientists have grown human-like teeth in a pig's mouth. The research could lead to replacement teeth for people that are stronger than caps, crowns or implants.

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NPR News: What are 'mirror cells' and why do some scientists warn against creating them?

What are 'mirror cells' and why do some scientists warn against creating them?
For people with two hands, one is usually dominant. On a molecular level, life takes this to the extreme. All of the DNA in earthly living things twists to the right, whereas the protein building blocks favor a kind of left-handed chemistry. But in recent years, scientists have worked toward a kind of mirror version of life. The technology to make mirror life likely won't exist for at least a decade. Still, a group of concerned scientists published a 299-page technical report calling for a stop to the science. New York Times science columnist Carl Zimmer explains how a mirror microbe could wreak havoc on life on Earth in the future. Check out the full technical report and Carl's full article. Curious about other controversial research? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Sunday, February 9, 2025

NPR News: See Spot run: Photos from a historic Puppy Bowl

See Spot run: Photos from a historic Puppy Bowl
The pups from Team Fluff weren't the only winners. See freeze-frame highlights from the 21st edition of the Puppy Bowl.

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NPR News: Searching the entire sky for the secrets to our universe

Searching the entire sky for the secrets to our universe
A new telescope could launch as early as late February. SPHEREx will look into deep space and also search for organic molecules.

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Friday, February 7, 2025

NPR News: Farmers are worried after Trump released billions of gallons of water in California

Farmers are worried after Trump released billions of gallons of water in California
Last week, the Trump administration released significant amounts of water from two dams in California's Central Valley, with Trump claiming the action would have prevented the Los Angeles fires. Water experts say that's not true, and farmers who rely on that water for agriculture say its release now may wind up hurting them later in the season.

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Hubble Goes Supernova Hunting

A supernova and its host galaxy are the subject of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image. The galaxy in question is LEDA 132905 in the constellation Sculptor. Even at more than 400 million light-years away, LEDA 132905’s spiral structure is faintly visible, as are patches of bright blue stars. The bright pinkish-white dot in the […]

February 07, 2025
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Golden Moon over the Superdome

The full moon rises over the Superdome and the city of New Orleans, Louisiana on Monday evening, January 13, 2025. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility where several pieces of hardware for the SLS (Space Launch system) are being built. For more than half a century, NASA Michoud has been “America’s Rocket […]

February 07, 2025
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NPR News: "Unprecedented": White House moves to control science funding worry researchers

"Unprecedented": White House moves to control science funding worry researchers
If the Trump administration continues targeting DEI in science and seeking to slash funding, American science will look fundamentally different.

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NPR News: "Unprecedented": White House moves to control science funding worries researchers

"Unprecedented": White House moves to control science funding worries researchers
If the Trump administration continues targeting DEI in science and seeking to slash funding, American science will look fundamentally different.

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NASA Explores Earth Science with New Navigational System

NASA and its partners recently tested an aircraft guidance system that could help planes maintain a precise course even while flying at high speeds up to 500 mph. The instrument is Soxnav, the culmination of more than 30 years of development of aircraft navigation systems. NASA’s G-IV aircraft flew its first mission to test this […]

February 07, 2025
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Thursday, February 6, 2025

NASA CubeSat Finds New Radiation Belts After May 2024 Solar Storm

Key Points The largest solar storm in two decades hit Earth in May 2024. For several days, wave after wave of high-energy charged particles from the Sun rocked the planet. Brilliant auroras engulfed the skies, and some GPS communications were temporarily disrupted. With the help of a serendipitously resurrected small NASA satellite, scientists have discovered […]

February 06, 2025
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NASA’s Ethics Program

NASA’s Ethics Program provides training and counsel to NASA employees and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the agency-wide ethics program. Headquarters and Center Chief Counsels ethics officials support the ethics program in their respective localities. A list of ethics officials at each NASA location can be found here: Headquarters and Center Ethics Officials. […]

February 06, 2025
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Hsiao Smith

Deputy Observatory Manager – Goddard Space Flight Center Growing up in Malaysia and Singapore, Hsiao Smith — now the deputy observatory manager for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope — never imagined she’d have a career at NASA. But when she moved near NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, things quickly fell into […]

February 06, 2025
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More Than 400 Lives Saved with NASA’s Search and Rescue Tech in 2024

Did you know that the same search and rescue technologies developed by NASA for astronaut missions to space help locate and rescue people across the United States and around the world?  NASA’s collaboration with the international satellite-aided search and rescue effort known as Cospas-Sarsat has enabled the development of multiple emergency location beacons for explorers […]

February 06, 2025
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NPR News: Spinal stimulation restored muscles wasted by rare genetic disorder

Spinal stimulation restored muscles wasted by rare genetic disorder
Three patients with spinal muscular atrophy had improved muscle strength and could walk farther after a month of daily spinal stimulation.

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NPR News: Don't give a hoot about sports? The Superb Owl might be for you

Don't give a hoot about sports? The Superb Owl might be for you
What began as an accidental misspelling or an online joke has soared into a cultural phenomenon.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Sols 4443-4444: Four Fours for February

Earth planning date: Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 Another successful weekend plan left us about 23 meters (about 75 feet) farther down our Mount Sharp Ascent Route (MSAR), with all our science data downlinked to Earth and the planet clocks aligned once more. We only have until 18:26 Pacific time to get this Monday’s plan uplinked […]

February 06, 2025
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Apollo 14 Moon Landing

This Feb. 5, 1971, photo gives an excellent view of the Apollo 14 lunar module on the Moon’s surface after landing. At left, we can see that the astronauts – Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell – deployed the U.S. flag before taking this photo of the lunar module. Shepard and Mitchell touched down in the […]

February 05, 2025
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NASA Goes Live: First Twitch Stream from Space Station

For the first time, NASA is hosting a live Twitch event from about 250 miles off the Earth aboard the International Space Station, bringing new audiences closer to space than ever before. Viewers will have the opportunity to hear from NASA astronauts live and ask questions about life in orbit. The event will begin at […]

February 05, 2025
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NPR News: Why polar bear fur doesn't freeze

Why polar bear fur doesn't freeze
New research finds grease that coats polar bear fur contains a specialized mixture of chemicals that make it resistant to freezing

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NPR News: Farmworkers feed the country, but who protects them from wildfire smoke?

Farmworkers feed the country, but who protects them from wildfire smoke?
Thousands of farmworkers labored in fields in Ventura County, Calif. in late January in wildfire smoke. They have little to no protection from its harmful effects.

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NPR News: Farmworkers feed the country, but who protects them from wildfire smoke?

Farmworkers feed the country, but who protects them from wildfire smoke?
Thousands of farmworkers labored in fields in Ventura County, Calif. in late January in wildfire smoke. They have little to no protection from its harmful effects.

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NPR News: Why polar bear fur doesn't freeze

Why polar bear fur doesn't freeze
A new study reveals how polar bears manage to get wet in the cold without freezing.

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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

En Route to Jupiter, NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Images of Stars

The spacecraft’s star trackers help engineers orient the orbiter throughout its long journey to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Three months after its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the agency’s Europa Clipper has another 1.6 billion miles (2.6 billion kilometers) to go before it reaches Jupiter’s orbit in 2030 to take close-up images […]

February 04, 2025
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In the Starlight: Anika Isaac’s Mission to Counsel NASA’s Workforce

An interesting fact about Johnson Space Center’s Anika Isaac, MS, LPC, LMFT, LCDC, CEAP, NCC, is that there are more letters following her name than there are in it. A licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, and chemical dependency counselor with several other certifications, Isaac has been a fixture of Johnson’s Employee Assistance Program […]

February 04, 2025
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NASA’s Cloud-based Confluence Software Helps Hydrologists Study Rivers on a Global Scale

Rivers shape ecosystems and economies, yet hydrologists have limited tools to study them. Enter Confluence—a groundbreaking, open-source framework leveraging NASA’s SWOT mission and HLS data to estimate river discharge and sediment levels worldwide. Hosted by PO.DAAC, Confluence delivers rapid, global insights, revolutionizing hydrology with cloud-based efficiency. A game changer for river monitoring.

February 04, 2025
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NPR News: The moon's grand canyons were carved in the blink of an eye

The moon's grand canyons were carved in the blink of an eye
The Earth's Grand Canyon took millions of years to carve, but the moon's grand canyons took about ten minutes.

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Straight Shot: Hubble Investigates Galaxy with Nine Rings

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a cosmic bullseye! The gargantuan galaxy LEDA 1313424 is rippling with nine star-filled rings after an “arrow” — a far smaller blue dwarf galaxy — shot through its heart. Astronomers using Hubble identified eight visible rings, more than previously detected by any telescope in any galaxy, and confirmed a […]

February 04, 2025
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Persevering Through Science

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover continues to live up to its name, pushing forward in search of ancient Martian secrets. Following a brief period of system verification and remote testing, our operations team is back at full strength, and Perseverance has been hard at work uncovering new geological insights. We began our latest campaign at […]

February 04, 2025
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Monday, February 3, 2025

Sols 4441-4442: Winter is Coming

Earth planning date: Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 Here in Earth’s northern hemisphere, the days are slowly getting longer, bringing with them the promise of an end to winter. While we are anticipating the return of warmer temperatures, just over 100 million kilometers (more than 62 million miles) away, Curiosity is starting to feel the bite […]

February 04, 2025
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NASA Awards Contract for Airborne Science Flight Services Support

NASA has awarded Dynamic Aviation Group Inc. of Bridgewater, Virginia, the Commercial Aviation Services contract to support the agency’s Airborne Science Program. The program provides aircraft and technology to further science and advance the use of Earth observing satellite data, making NASA data about our home planet and innovations accessible to all. This is an […]

February 03, 2025
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How Does the Sun Behave? (Grades K-4)

This article is for students grades K-4. The Sun is a star. It is the biggest object in our solar system. The Sun is about 93 million miles away from Earth and about 4.5 billion years old. The Sun affects Earth’s weather, seasons, climate, and more. Let’s learn about how the Sun behaves. Why is […]

February 03, 2025
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NPR News: National Science Foundation says it will unfreeze grant money after court order

National Science Foundation says it will unfreeze grant money after court order
While NSF is still reviewing how its grants comply with Trump executive orders, it says it will continue to paying existing grants

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30 Years Ago: STS-63, First Shuttle and Mir Rendezvous Mission 

The first shuttle mission of 1995, STS-63 included several historic firsts. As part of Phase 1 of the International Space Station program, space shuttle Discovery’s 20th flight conducted the first shuttle rendezvous with the Mir space station, in preparation for future dockings. The six-person crew included Commander James Wetherbee, Pilot Eileen Collins – the first […]

February 03, 2025
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The Drive for Better Fuels NASA Employee

Two words come to Tim Stiglets’ mind when he thinks about NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi – growth and opportunity. The Waveland, Mississippi, resident has experienced both in his career at the south Mississippi NASA center. He started as a summer intern onsite with Lockheed Martin in 2002. When The University […]

February 03, 2025
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Station Nation: Meet Tandra Gill Spain, Computer Resources Senior Project Manager in the Avionics and Software Office 

For astronauts aboard the International Space Station, staying connected to loved ones and maintaining a sense of normalcy is critical. That is where Tandra Gill Spain, a computer resources senior project manager in NASA’s Avionics and Software Office, comes in. Spain leads the integration of applications on Apple devices and the hardware integration on the […]

February 03, 2025
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NPR News: Vagus nerve stimulation may tame autoimmune diseases

Vagus nerve stimulation may tame autoimmune diseases
The next big advance in treating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis could be tiny pulses of electricity delivered to the vagus nerve.

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NPR News: After land abandonment, should we tend nature or set it free?

After land abandonment, should we tend nature or set it free?
Ecologist Gergana Daskalova moved back to the small Bulgarian town of her childhood. It's a place many people have abandoned — and that's the very reason she returned. At the same time as land is being cleared around the world to make room for agriculture, elsewhere farmland is being abandoned for nature to reclaim. But what happens when people let the land return to nature? This episode, science reporter Dan Charles explains why abandoned land has conservationists and researchers asking: If we love nature, do we tend it or set it free? Read more of Dan's reporting for Science Magazine and NPR. Want us to cover other about ecology, biodiversity or land science stories? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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NPR News: After land abandonment, should we tend nature or set it free?

After land abandonment, should we tend nature or set it free?
Ecologist Gergana Daskalova moved back to the small Bulgarian town of her childhood. It's a place many people have abandoned — and that's the very reason she returned. At the same time as land is being cleared around the world to make room for agriculture, elsewhere farmland is being abandoned for nature to reclaim. But what happens when people let the land return to nature? This episode, science reporter Dan Charles explains why abandoned land has conservationists and researchers asking: If we love nature, do we tend it or set it free? Read more of Dan's reporting for Science Magazine and NPR. Want us to cover other about ecology, biodiversity or land science stories? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Sunday, February 2, 2025

NPR News: Your ears can't prick up, but your ear muscles sure try

Your ears can't prick up, but your ear muscles sure try
Humans actually have vestigial muscles that activate when listening closely to something, even though people lost the ability to really move their ears about 25 million years ago.

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NPR News: What counts as a good night's sleep, according to science

What counts as a good night's sleep, according to science
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Professor Nicole Tang about sleep quality and why it's difficult to define and measure.

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NPR News: Inside a top-secret US nuclear facility in the Nevada desert

Inside a top-secret US nuclear facility in the Nevada desert
A group of journalists were allowed to tour a weapons laboratory deep underground in Frenchman Flat, Nevada. NPR's science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel was among them.

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NPR News: What counts as a good night's sleep, according to science

What counts as a good night's sleep, according to science
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Professor Nicole Tang about sleep quality and why it's difficult to define and measure.

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NPR News: Astronomers are tracking an asteroid that could hit Earth in 2032

Astronomers are tracking an asteroid that could hit Earth in 2032
The odds are about 1% that the football field-sized object could hit the Earth, but that makes it the closest call in more than 20 years.

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Saturday, February 1, 2025

NPR News: Understanding the science of daily stress

Understanding the science of daily stress
In this excerpt from KCUR's podcast "Seeking A Scientist," host Kate the Chemist set out to understand the science behind everyday stress and some helpful ways to cope.

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NPR News: Not too hard, not too soft, rotting fruit is just right - for fruit fly maggots

Not too hard, not too soft, rotting fruit is just right - for fruit fly maggots
It turns out, a maggot's preference for rotting fruit has as much to do with texture as taste. Researchers are looking into figuring out why and what neurons are responsible.

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