Constructing Life Creates Questions of Ethics February 29, 2008 • Scientists are getting closer to creating artificial life in the lab. But is society ready for custom-made organisms? Synthetic biology has the potential to dramatically change fields from agriculture to medicine to zoology. But what protections need to be in place as research proceeds?
Diversions Why Do We Have Leap Years? February 29, 2008 • The actual time between two yearly solar events works out to be 365.2422 days — resulting in almost one full extra day every four years. The federal government's chief of time and frequency explains the finer points of telling time.
Research News Bacteria Assists in Formation of Ice and Snow February 29, 2008 • Chances are, that pile of snow in your yard contains bacteria — but not because it's dirty. New work in the journal Science suggests that bacteria may have played an important role in forming those snow crystals. Researchers explain the connection between microbiology and meteorology.
Animal Research: A Discussion of Ethics February 29, 2008 • One of the most contentious topics in medical research is the issue of experimentation on animals. How well do animal models predict what might happen in humans? What alternatives to animal testing exist, and how well do they work?
Environment Vigilante Safeguards Oaxaca's Sea Turtles February 29, 2008 • All turtle species living off of Mexico's coasts are listed as endangered, but their plight is improving, thanks in part to the efforts of a local veterinarian. He keeps poachers at bay by moving eggs from their original nest to his guarded turtle camp.
Medical Procedure Designed for Jehovah's Witnesses February 29, 2008 • One of the most e-mailed stories at NPR.org this week is a profile of Dr. Michael Lill, who developed a way for Jehovah's Witnesses to receive bone marrow transplants without the blood transfusions their faith prohibits.
Research News Researchers Unlock Secret of How Bats Fly February 29, 2008 • Scientists who study bats have never understood exactly how these winged mammals can stop and hover in mid-air without falling to the ground. Now they have their answer, according to a study in the journal, Science.
America's Shifting Ground A Donkey's Tale: When Urban Sprawl Encroaches February 28, 2008 • Sweet Water Red Gambler was forced out of Golden Valley. The donkey's crime? Nocturnal braying that kept a neighbor up. Now, anyone who wants to move into this suburb near Reno is warned in advance about the smells and sounds of its chickens, goats and horses. Residents hope the disclosure will help protect their rural lifestyle.
Migraine Treatment, Prevention in Black Women February 28, 2008 • According to a recent study, African Americans tend to report higher levels of headache pain but are less likely to get treatment. TNT sportscaster Pam Oliver is an advocate for women suffering from migraine headaches. She talks with Farai Chideya about what causes painful headaches and what can be done to help.
Books Memoirs of Meth Addiction from a Father and a Son Fresh Air February 26, 2008 • Drug addiction doesn't just affect the addict, it changes the whole family. Journalist David Sheff and his son Nic join Fresh Air to talk about Nic's addiction to methamphetamine and the separate memoirs they've written about the experience.
Food The Amazing Power of the Beet February 26, 2008 • One of the most e-mailed stories at NPR.org is about beets. The root vegetables aren't just for salad anymore — they are also being used for melting snow and ice. Reporter Amanda Rabinowitz at WKSU in Kent, Ohio, explains.
Food Dinner Decodes the Mystery of Taste February 26, 2008 • Scientists Stuart Firestein and Terry Acree host "How and Why Things Taste the Way They Do" — meals where diners learn the latest discoveries in olfactory science as they eat.
Hair Samples Used to Trace Movement February 26, 2008 • Scientists have developed a new tool for tracking a person's movements — hair analysis. Researchers have discovered the link between drinking water, which varies from one region to another, and human hair, which acts as a geographic marker.
Food Taking the Pain Out of Cooking with Onions February 25, 2008 • Cooks who love onions but hate what the vegetables can do to their eyes may soon find relief, thanks to a group of scientists in New Zealand. The team says it has genetically altered an onion so it's missing an enzyme that's essential for an onion's pungent punch.
Research News Therapists Look to Wii Games for Rehab Benefits February 25, 2008 • A game system popular with teens is finding its way into rehabilitation centers. The Nintendo Wii, controlled by users' movements, is being used to help patients recovering from stroke or closed-head injuries. Therapists say the games can ease the sometimes unpleasant task of rehab.