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Sunday

CDC Panel Endorses Johnson & Johnson's One-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 12-0, with one recusal, to recommend the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people aged 18 and older. Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

CDC Panel Endorses Johnson & Johnson's One-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to endorse the emergency use of a single dose of a vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson. A study showed it was 66% effective in the U.S.

Saturday

Scientists Talked To People In Their Dreams. They Answered
Virginia State Parks/Flickr

Scientists Talked To People In Their Dreams. They Answered

Scientists have found that two-way communication is possible with someone who is asleep and dreaming. Specifically, lucid dreaming — dreaming while being aware you're dreaming.

Scientists Talked To People In Their Dreams. They Answered

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Friday

Joy Buolamwini: How Do Biased Algorithms Damage Marginalized Communities?
Courtesy of TED

TED Radio Hour

Joy Buolamwini: How Do Biased Algorithms Damage Marginalized Communities?

Data, numbers, algorithms are supposed to be neutral ... right? Computer scientist Joy Buolamwini discusses the way biased algorithms can lead to real-world inequality.

Joy Buolamwini: How Do Biased Algorithms Damage Marginalized Communities?

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Colette Pichon Battle: How Can We Prepare For The Next Hurricane Katrina?
Stacie McChesney / TED

TED Radio Hour

Colette Pichon Battle: How Can We Prepare For The Next Hurricane Katrina?

Sea level rise will displace millions by 2100 — and the Louisiana bayous, where Colette Pichon Battle lives, may disappear entirely. She describes how we can avert the worst when disaster strikes.

Colette Pichon Battle: How Can We Prepare For The Next Hurricane Katrina?

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Micro Wave: Let's Talk About Urine

Urine samples for analysis in test tubes. Science Photo Library/Getty Images hide caption

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Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Short Wave

Micro Wave: Let's Talk About Urine

There are lots of misconceptions around urine. Can urine cure athlete's foot? Or really treat a jellyfish sting?

Micro Wave: Let's Talk About Urine

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Thursday

Health

COVID-19 Variant Found In New York City Worries Researchers

Scientists have spotted yet another potentially worrisome coronavirus variant, a strain that has a mutation that may help it evade vaccines, and seems to be spreading fast in New York City.

COVID-19 Variant Found In New York City Worries Researchers

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'Hunt, Gather, Parent' Offers Lessons Collected Around The World

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans, by Michaeleen Doucleff Avid Reader Press hide caption

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Avid Reader Press

Author Interviews

'Hunt, Gather, Parent' Offers Lessons Collected Around The World

NPR's Michaeleen Doucleff found that parenting books she read after becoming a mom left a lot out. When she went through a tough period with her daughter, she traveled the world in search of guidance.

'Hunt, Gather, Parent' Offers Lessons Collected Around The World

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The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint?

Can the epigenetic effects of experiences be inherited? Eternity in an Instant/Getty Images hide caption

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Eternity in an Instant/Getty Images

Short Wave

The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint?

Descendants of trauma victims seem to have worse health outcomes. Could epigenetics help explain why? Bianca Jones Marlin and Brian Dias walk us through the field of epigenetics and its potential implications in trauma inheritance.

The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint?

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Wednesday

America's Energy Future: How Gas Companies Are Fighting To Block Climate Rules

Tyler Hollon, who works for a construction company in Utah, says eliminating natural gas from apartment buildings can reduce costs. Hollon's company now shares its designs and budgets with other builders. "The reason we're giving it away is to clean up the air," Hollon says. "We want everybody to do it. It's everybody's air that we're all breathing. Makes my mountain bike ride that much easier." Kim Raff for NPR hide caption

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Kim Raff for NPR

Consider This from NPR

America's Energy Future: How Gas Companies Are Fighting To Block Climate Rules

Natural gas utilities face a bleak future in a world increasingly concerned about climate change. An NPR investigation shows how they work to block local climate action and protect their business.

America's Energy Future: How Gas Companies Are Fighting To Block Climate Rules

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Health

3rd COVID-19 Vaccine May Be Available Soon In The U.S.

The Food and Drug Administration has released its assessment of an application from Johnson & Johnson for emergency use authorization for its vaccine. It finds the vaccine safe and effective.

3rd COVID-19 Vaccine May Be Available Soon In The U.S.

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New Evidence Shows Fertile Soil Gone From Midwestern Farms

Soil on hilltops in this photo is lighter in color, revealing a loss of fertile topsoil. Evan Thaler for NPR hide caption

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Evan Thaler for NPR

New Evidence Shows Fertile Soil Gone From Midwestern Farms

One third of the cropland in the upper Midwest has entirely lost its fertile topsoil, according to a new study. Other scientists doubt that figure, but agree that soil loss is a big problem.

New Evidence Shows Fertile Soil Gone From Midwestern Farms

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Biden's Straight-Talking CDC Director Has Long Used Data To Save Lives

Dr. Rochelle Walensky likens the call she got from the Biden team, asking her to lead the CDC amid a pandemic, to a hospital alarm that goes off when a patient's heart has stopped. "I got called during a code," she says. "And when you get called during a code, your job is to be there to help." Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

Shots - Health News

Biden's Straight-Talking CDC Director Has Long Used Data To Save Lives

WBUR

Dr. Rochelle Walensky says scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were "muzzled" and "diminished" by the Trump team, especially during the pandemic. She aims to fix that.

Biden's Straight-Talking CDC Director Has Long Used Data To Save Lives

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