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Science

Tuesday

Friday

Research News

Research Effort Eyes Link Between Poverty, Obesity

A joint research project at the universities of California and Washington seeks to discover if there is an identifiable link between obesity and poverty. What can be learned from going grocery shopping with a young mother who lives on $800 a month? NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.

Research Effort Eyes Link Between Poverty, Obesity

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Thursday

Research News

Bison Bones Shed Light on Demise of Large Mammals

About half of the large mammals in North America went extinct about 12,000 years ago. Scientists have long debated whether that was caused by hunting or climate change. A new study of ancient bison bones sheds light on the mystery. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

Bison Bones Shed Light on Demise of Large Mammals

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Environment

Flawed Study May Imperil Florida Panther Habitat

There's a dispute in South Florida over what type of land the endangered Florida panther needs to survive. The conflict centers on allegations of bad science and coercion of federal employees. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports.

Flawed Study May Imperil Florida Panther Habitat

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Wednesday

National

Possible U.S. Mad Cow Case Tests Negative

After five days of uncertainty, the Department of Agriculture says that a suspect animal has tested negative for mad cow disease. Many in the beef industry are asking why the USDA alarms consumers and the markets by releasing information about mad cow testing before final results are in. NPR's Greg Allen reports.

Possible U.S. Mad Cow Case Tests Negative

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Tuesday

National

Farm-Bred Turkeys Make Comeback

Since the 1950s, breeds of turkeys that used to run around family farms have been replaced by a faster-growing type that's good for factory farming. But more farmers are rediscovering these older breeds that had all but disappeared. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

Farm-Bred Turkeys Make Comeback

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Monday

Sunday

Space

Physicists Decry Bush's Mars Mission Plan

Although space exploration is one of President Bush's top priorities, his plan to send humans to the moon and Mars is being criticized by the American Physical Society, which represents 43,000 physicists. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports that the scientists are concerned that the expensive program announced by the president in January will be detrimental to ongoing scientific programs and projects.

Physicists Decry Bush's Mars Mission Plan

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Saturday

Research News

Study Probes Roots of Human Empathy

A body language experiment at Harvard reflects a shift in thinking among neuroscientists about how humans, primates and other mammals respond to emotion in others, from fear to joy. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

Study Probes Roots of Human Empathy

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Friday

Spanish Scientists Discover Fossil of Ancient Ape

The fossil remains of an ancient Spanish ape may help explain a key event in evolution. Scientists say the skeleton offers clues about how our ancestors stopped swinging from trees and started walking upright. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

Spanish Scientists Discover Fossil of Ancient Ape

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Anthropology Update: Spanish Scientists Discover Ape Fossil

Researchers in Spain say they've made a fossil find that could be close to the last common ancestor of all great apes and humans. We'll find out about the new member of the family tree.

Anthropology Update: Spanish Scientists Discover Ape Fossil

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Education

Teaching Evolution

A Pennsylvania school district has mandated that a theory called "intelligent design" be taught along with evolution in public schools. We take a look at that and other recent challenges to teaching evolution in public schools.

Teaching Evolution

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