Science http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1007&ft=1&f=1007 The latest health and science news. Updates on medicine, healthy living, nutrition, drugs, diet, and advances in science and technology. Subscribe to the Health & Science podcast. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 20 May 2013 18:37:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Science http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1007&ft=1&f=1007 Measuring The Power Of Deadly Tornadoes Tornado strength is currently measured on what is called the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which gives the tornado a rating from 0 to 5 based on estimated wind speeds and the severity of the damage. Mon, 20 May 2013 18:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185610261/measuring-the-power-of-deadly-tornadoes?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185610261/measuring-the-power-of-deadly-tornadoes?ft=1&f=1007 Tornado strength is currently measured on what is called the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which gives the tornado a rating from 0 to 5 based on estimated wind speeds and the severity of the damage.

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]]> Forecasters Had Chance To Warn Moore, Okla., Before Tornado Melissa Block talks to Jon Hamilton about the science of tornadoes. Mon, 20 May 2013 20:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185631833/forecasters-had-chance-to-warn-moore-okla-before-tornado?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185631833/forecasters-had-chance-to-warn-moore-okla-before-tornado?ft=1&f=1007 Melissa Block talks to Jon Hamilton about the science of tornadoes.

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]]> The Little Metronome That Wouldn't Take a metronome. Then take another. Then another. Set them ticking at different times. Look. Lift. (That's the key part.) Watch. Then Laugh. Because you will be dumbfounded. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/05/17/184815141/the-little-metronome-that-wouldnt?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/05/17/184815141/the-little-metronome-that-wouldnt?ft=1&f=1007 Take a metronome. Then take another. Then another. Set them ticking at different times. Look. Lift. (That's the key part.) Watch. Then Laugh. Because you will be dumbfounded.

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]]> Can A Piece Of Hair Reveal How Much Coke Or Pepsi You Drink? People are notorious for under-reporting what they consume — they lie, forget or just guess wrong. For researchers who want to know how much soda we're drinking, a high-tech analysis technique could help. Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/17/184797227/can-a-piece-of-hair-reveal-how-much-coke-or-pepsi-you-drink?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/17/184797227/can-a-piece-of-hair-reveal-how-much-coke-or-pepsi-you-drink?ft=1&f=1007 People are notorious for under-reporting what they consume — they lie, forget or just guess wrong. For researchers who want to know how much soda we're drinking, a high-tech analysis technique could help.

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]]> If Your Shrink Is A Bot, How Do You Respond? A computer-simulated woman named Ellie is designed to talk to people who are struggling emotionally and take their measure — 30 times per second. Researchers hope their technology, which reads a person's body language and inflections, will yield diagnostic clues for clinical therapists. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/182593855/if-your-shrink-is-a-bot-how-do-you-respond?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/182593855/if-your-shrink-is-a-bot-how-do-you-respond?ft=1&f=1007 A computer-simulated woman named Ellie is designed to talk to people who are struggling emotionally and take their measure — 30 times per second. Researchers hope their technology, which reads a person's body language and inflections, will yield diagnostic clues for clinical therapists.

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]]> Bans Of Same-Sex Marriage Can Take A Psychological Toll When several states passed laws banning same-sex marriages, researchers found that the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer. Conversely, stress-related disorders dropped after the legalization of gay marriage in one state. Researchers say negative media portrayals and loss of safety were contributing factors. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184829036/bans-of-same-sex-marriage-can-take-a-psychological-toll?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184829036/bans-of-same-sex-marriage-can-take-a-psychological-toll?ft=1&f=1007 When several states passed laws banning same-sex marriages, researchers found that the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer. Conversely, stress-related disorders dropped after the legalization of gay marriage in one state. Researchers say negative media portrayals and loss of safety were contributing factors.

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]]> The Unsuccessful Quest For A Universal Language Within science circles, trying to come up with a new universal language was a trendy past-time in the 17th Century. Even the man who discovered gravity, Sir Isaac Newton, took a stab at it. Arika Okrent, editor-at-large at TheWeek.com, talks about its failure to catch on with Weekends on <em>All Things Considered</em> host Jacki Lyden. Sun, 19 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185348917&ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185348917&ft=1&f=1007 Within science circles, trying to come up with a new universal language was a trendy past-time in the 17th Century. Even the man who discovered gravity, Sir Isaac Newton, took a stab at it. Arika Okrent, editor-at-large at TheWeek.com, talks about its failure to catch on with Weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden.

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]]> Not Your Grandpa's RV: This Roving Lab Tracks Air Pollution Atmospheric scientist Ira Leifer installed special air sensors on a camper, then drove from Florida to California, measuring methane levels all along the way. More than 6,000 readings later, he found some noticeable spikes, especially around petrochemical plants and urban areas like Los Angeles. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184863769/not-your-grandpas-rv-this-roving-lab-tracks-air-pollution?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184863769/not-your-grandpas-rv-this-roving-lab-tracks-air-pollution?ft=1&f=1007 Atmospheric scientist Ira Leifer installed special air sensors on a camper, then drove from Florida to California, measuring methane levels all along the way. More than 6,000 readings later, he found some noticeable spikes, especially around petrochemical plants and urban areas like Los Angeles.

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]]> David Foster Wallace Tells Us About Freedom What do you get when you get a college diploma? To hear David Foster Wallace tell it, you get a muscle that will help you forever after — in shopping lines, overcrowded parking lots, in traffic jams. This muscle, he says, frees you when the world gets painfully dull. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/05/17/184785020/david-foster-wallace-tells-us-about-freedom?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/05/17/184785020/david-foster-wallace-tells-us-about-freedom?ft=1&f=1007 What do you get when you get a college diploma? To hear David Foster Wallace tell it, you get a muscle that will help you forever after — in shopping lines, overcrowded parking lots, in traffic jams. This muscle, he says, frees you when the world gets painfully dull.

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]]> Scientists Agree On Climate Change, Why Doesn't The Public? A new study confirms that the vast majority of scientists who research the climate accept that the planet is warming and human beings are largely responsible. Yet a large slice of the American public believes that scientists are deeply split about global warming. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845126&ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845126&ft=1&f=1007 A new study confirms that the vast majority of scientists who research the climate accept that the planet is warming and human beings are largely responsible. Yet a large slice of the American public believes that scientists are deeply split about global warming.

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]]> Resetting the Theory of Time Generations of physicists have claimed that time is an illusion. But not all agree. In his book <em>Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe</em>, theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that time exists--and he says time is key to understanding the evolution of the universe. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775924/resetting-the-theory-of-time?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775924/resetting-the-theory-of-time?ft=1&f=1007 Generations of physicists have claimed that time is an illusion. But not all agree. In his book Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe, theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that time exists--and he says time is key to understanding the evolution of the universe.

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]]> Researchers Report Cloning Advance For Producing Stem Cells Scientists reported this week in the journal <em>Cell</em> that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=1007 Scientists reported this week in the journal Cell that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research.

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]]> Insects May Be The Taste Of The Next Generation, Report Says A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says insects offer a huge potential for improving the world's food security. Peter Menzel, co-author of <em>Man Eating Bugs</em>, describes some insect-based cuisine and the western aversion to creepy-crawly snacks. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775920/insects-may-be-the-taste-of-the-next-generation-report-says?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775920/insects-may-be-the-taste-of-the-next-generation-report-says?ft=1&f=1007 A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says insects offer a huge potential for improving the world's food security. Peter Menzel, co-author of Man Eating Bugs, describes some insect-based cuisine and the western aversion to creepy-crawly snacks.

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]]> Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our <em>Desktop Diaries</em> series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1007 Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our Desktop Diaries series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making.

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]]> When Great Scientists Got It Wrong In <em>Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein</em>, astrophysicist Mario Livio explores the colossal errors committed by scientific greats, from chemist Linus Pauling's botched model of DNA, to Charles Darwin's failure to understand genetics--the very mechanism of natural selection. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775928/when-great-scientists-got-it-wrong?ft=1&f=1007 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775928/when-great-scientists-got-it-wrong?ft=1&f=1007 In Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein, astrophysicist Mario Livio explores the colossal errors committed by scientific greats, from chemist Linus Pauling's botched model of DNA, to Charles Darwin's failure to understand genetics--the very mechanism of natural selection.

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