Science

A view of soybeans being planted on a farm in Balfour, South Africa on Oct. 20, 2021. Regenerative agriculture is a loosely defined term, but generally involves promoting on-farm soil health and carbon sequestration through practices like cover cropping and no-tilling.

Big food companies commit to 'regenerative agriculture' but skepticism remains

4:26pm November 03, 2022

by Dana Cronin

Ahead of the U.N. climate change conference, CEOs of huge food corporations, including Mars, PepsiCo and McDonald's, are making regenerative agriculture commitments.

Gabriel Jorgewich Cohen began researching whether turtle species — and other vertebrates thought to be mute — make sounds by recording his own pet turtles. The hydrophone used for recording can be seen on the left.

Science

Dozens of species were assumed to be mute — until they were recorded making sounds

3:36pm November 03, 2022

by Laurel Wamsley

Some animals like birds and frogs are famous for the sounds they make. But have you ever heard a turtle talk? Most turtles were thought to not make sounds at all — before researchers went deep.

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Minnesota Republican Scott Jensen has appeared with numerous anti-vaccine activists. Their support may have helped him win the state primary for governor.

Vaccines used to be apolitical. Now they're a campaign issue

6:26pm November 02, 2022

by Geoff Brumfiel

Advocates for inoculation are distressed by what they see as a new political focus on an old public health measure.

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Science

A 100-year study could help save box turtles

11:53am November 02, 2022

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

An ambitious long-term study of box turtles seeks to study the population across North Carolina to determine the health of the species over a hundred years.

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The Box Turtle Connection has plans for a time capsule that will contain letters from volunteers who are a part of the study to future ones.

Science

Why this study of box turtles will plod along, slow and steady, for 100 years

9:20am November 02, 2022

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

This wrinkled ol' pal, found across much of the U. S., may be in decline. A huge study in North Carolina plans to track box turtles for 100 years, to learn how to best protect them.

A doctor points to PET scan results that are part of Alzheimer's disease research. Much work in the field focuses a substance called beta-amyloid. A new study could test whether that's the right target.

What causes Alzheimer's? Study puts leading theory to 'ultimate test'

4:46pm November 01, 2022

by Jon Hamilton

Researchers are launching a make-or-break study to test the conventional wisdom about what causes Alzheimer's disease.

After a dose of ketamine, special video games that offered a depressed player positive feedback, in the form of smiling faces or encouraging words, seemed to boost the length of time the drug quelled depression.

Smiling faces might help the drug ketamine keep depression at bay

5:02am October 31, 2022

by Jon Hamilton

In a recent small study, the antidepressant effects of ketamine lasted longer when an intravenous dose was followed with computer games featuring smiling faces or words aimed at boosting self-esteem.

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Gandalf, a 16-year-old stallion and likely the oldest on the range, at Wild Horse Ranch in Siskiyou County, California in March 2022. Gandalf has been usurped by a younger stallion that allows him to continue to be part of the family band, a twist on the usual family band make-up that typically consists of a lone band stallion.

Preventing wildfire with the Wild Horse Fire Brigade

7:00am October 30, 2022

by Stephanie O'Neill

William Simpson wants to deploy the wild horses across public lands, to live and graze — and ultimately, prevent the worst wildfires.

A recent study found that adding strangers to the mix of people we speak with might increase our happiness.

Science

Talking to strangers might make you happier, a study on 'relational diversity' finds

7:00am October 29, 2022

A study finds that we are happier the more we talk with different categories of people — colleagues, family, strangers — and the more evenly our conversations are spread out among those groups.

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Lea Bossler speaks at an event at the Capitol in September organized by the opposition group Compassion for Montana Families.

Abortion is on the ballot in Montana. Voters will decide fate of the 'Born Alive' law

4:48pm October 26, 2022

by Olivia Weitz

Voters in the state are being asked to approve a law declaring that an embryo or fetus is a legal person with a right to medical care if born prematurely or survives an attempted abortion.