What Makes Wagyu Beef Smell So Good? Science Explains
The Japanese beef is considered a luxury, with plenty of fat and its super-soft texture. New evidence could explain what's behind its sweet smell.
Science
Um, Uh, Huh? Are These Words Clues To Understanding Human Language?
Tiny filler words in human rapid-fire conversation hold the key to understanding how language is unique, according to a new book. But anthropologist Barbara J. King raises some questions.
Brain Scientists Look Beyond Opioids To Conquer Pain
The search is on for opioid alternatives that can block pain without causing addiction. One promising candidate: snail venom.
In D.C., Brain Science Meets Behavioral Science To Shed Light On Mental Disorders
The Society for Neuroscience meeting is taking place in Washington, D.C., this weekend. Researchers there are focusing on how to find the biological underpinnings of mental disorders.
3-Plus Tons Of Supplies Headed To International Space Station After Virginia Liftoff
The Sunday launch of an Antares rocket from Wallop Islands has some 7,400 pounds aboard. The rocket was developed by private firm Orbital ATK, which conducts supply missions for NASA.
The Answer To Life, The Universe — And Everything? It's 63
Over time, the expansion of the cosmos and the passage of light has unlocked 63 orders of magnitude to us, each one a new opportunity for novelty and complexity, says guest blogger Caleb Scharf.
iPTF14hls: The Star That Won't Die
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Iair Arcavi, postdoctoral fellow in astrophysics at UC Santa Barbara, about the strange behavior of supernova iPTF14hls. This star doesn't seem to want to die.
Pittsburgh's Microgrids Technology Could Lead The Way For Green Energy
Pittsburgh wants to become a model for cutting edge energy supply. Researchers in the city are planning a network of microgrids.
Scientists Start To Tease Out The Subtler Ways Racism Hurts Health
The biological effects of lifelong exposure to racism or other sorts of discrimination can be complicated, scientists say, but likely tap into the same mechanisms as other types of chronic stress.
Terra Incognita: 'The Planet Factory' And 'The Undiscovered Islands'
Two new books about unreal islands and yet-to-be-real planets have much to tell us about what human beings want to know when we look around at the world — life is uncertain, and our fears need maps.