Environment Researchers Assess Results in Grand Canyon Restoration Effort October 31, 2005 • Twice over the last 10 years, the federal government has released massive floods into the Grand Canyon. The floods were intended to restore sandbars, or beaches that have been disappearing since the Colorado River was dammed in the 1960s. Now, scientists are trying to figure out if the effort was worth it.
Obituaries 'Buckyball' Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley Dies October 31, 2005 • Scientist Richard Smalley helped discover a new form of carbon, known as "buckyballs," for which he shared a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996. His research helped launch the field of nanotechnology. Smalley died last week at age 62, after a six-year battle with cancer.
Environment Preserving Bat Caves in Michigan October 31, 2005 • Michigan is home to some of the deepest mine shafts in the world. Most of the mines were abandoned decades ago, but they're finding a new and valuable use -- as habitat for bats. Sandy Hausman reports that environmentalists want to make sure the mines stay open for the bats, but closed to people.
Environment 'Encounters with the Wise Guys' of Nature October 30, 2005 • Canadian nature writer Candace Savage speaks about her book Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys. Part science, part poetry, it's been called a celebration of crow consciousness.
Research News Scientists Identify Dyslexia Gene October 28, 2005 • Yale University researchers say they have found the gene responsible for dyslexia. The discovery might enable early testing of children for a predisposition to reading difficulties. But even though the scientists are sure they have isolated the gene, others are not convinced just yet.
Environment Farming the Wind on the Gulf Coast of Texas October 27, 2005 • The demand for wind and other renewable energy resources continues to rise in the face of high oil prices. Noah Adams speaks with Ira Flatow, host of NPR's Talk of the Nation Science Friday, about a new proposal to build a wind farm on the coast of Galveston, Texas.
Chimps Indifferent to Others' Welfare October 27, 2005 • While humans may go out of their way to help someone or generally just "do a good deed," research being published in the journal Nature suggests chimpanzees don't always have that compulsion. In one experiment chimps were indifferent to helping one another, even when helping didn't require extra effort.
Scientists Create New Gene Map October 27, 2005 • In work funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute, a global team of scientists has created a genetic map called the HapMap. Researchers hope it will help them track down the genes for a variety of illnesses, from cancer to Alzheimer's.
Tribes, Nutritionists Clash on Fry Bread October 26, 2005 • Most tribes in the United States eat fry bread, a staple of Native American cooking. But its lack of nutritional value is causing concern that the delicacy is making health problems among American Indians worse.
News Bush Medicaid Proposal Criticized October 25, 2005 • The Bush administration and the nation's governors want to close loopholes that allow middle- and upper-class senior citizens to stash assets in order to qualify for Medicaid-paid nursing home care. But consumer advocates say some of the changes could disqualify innocent seniors who help their grandchildren pay for college or give to their churches, then need care later on.
Environment Richard Pombo and the Endangered Species Act October 24, 2005 • Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) has campaigned for years against the Endangered Species Act. The House of Representatives recently approved a rewrite of the law that would make it more friendly to landowners. The roots of Pombo's passion to protect private property lie in the ranch town where he grew up.
World Watching Wilma from the Hurricane Center October 23, 2005 • By Sunday morning Wilma was a Category 2 hurricane as it headed into the Gulf of Mexico. Its next target is likely to be the west coast of Florida, with landfall expected Monday. It could pick up strength as it crosses the Gulf.
Environment Rat's Tale Highlights Difficulty of Tracking a Pest October 23, 2005 • A Norwegian rat braves the waters of the South Pacific to escape a scientist hot on his trail. New Zealand rodent biologist James Russell went through epic efforts to track a member of a cunning invasive species.
Katrina & Beyond A Look Inside Hurricane Wilma October 21, 2005 • The 12th hurricane of a busy Atlantic season is already a storm for the record books, with pressures that are the lowest for any recorded Atlantic-basin storm. Why did it move to a Category 5 so fast?
Katrina's Effect on Scientific Research October 21, 2005 • Beyond the devastating effects most know about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there was an impact on medical research in New Orleans. How did longstanding research projects weather the storm?