Humans http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1129&ft=1&f=1129 Humans en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 22 May 2013 13:01:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Humans http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1129&ft=1&f=1129 Research Reveals Yeasty Beasts Living On Our Skin While studying microorganisms on humans is not new, tracking fungi is. In a census of sorts, scientists checked the skin of healthy volunteers. They found an expansive ecosystem of silent inhabitants. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/22/185821644/research-reveals-yeasty-beasts-living-on-our-skin?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/22/185821644/research-reveals-yeasty-beasts-living-on-our-skin?ft=1&f=1129 While studying microorganisms on humans is not new, tracking fungi is. In a census of sorts, scientists checked the skin of healthy volunteers. They found an expansive ecosystem of silent inhabitants.

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]]> The Art And Science Of Motivation Graduation season is upon us and that means a slew of uplifting commencement speeches trying to motivate young adults to greatness. Science and experience tell us that everyone is motivated differently, so how do speakers, coaches and business managers inspire people? Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185809739/the-art-and-science-of-motivation?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185809739/the-art-and-science-of-motivation?ft=1&f=1129 Graduation season is upon us and that means a slew of uplifting commencement speeches trying to motivate young adults to greatness. Science and experience tell us that everyone is motivated differently, so how do speakers, coaches and business managers inspire people?

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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=1129 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=1129 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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]]> 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=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=1129 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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]]> 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=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775928/when-great-scientists-got-it-wrong?ft=1&f=1129 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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]]> 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=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1129 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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]]> Giving It Away You can give away almost anything — your time, money, food, your ideas. Giving helps define who we are and helps us connect with others. Thanks to the Internet and a rise in social consciousness, there's been a seismic shift not only in what we're giving, but how. In this hour, stories from TED speakers who are "giving it away" in new and surprising ways, and the things that happen in return. Fri, 17 May 2013 09:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181684003/giving-it-away?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181684003/giving-it-away?ft=1&f=1129 You can give away almost anything — your time, money, food, your ideas. Giving helps define who we are and helps us connect with others. Thanks to the Internet and a rise in social consciousness, there's been a seismic shift not only in what we're giving, but how. In this hour, stories from TED speakers who are "giving it away" in new and surprising ways, and the things that happen in return.

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]]> How Do You Get People To Pay For Music? Don't make people pay for music, says musician Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer, she examines the new relationship between artist and fan. Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:47 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181868750/how-do-you-get-people-to-pay-for-music?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181868750/how-do-you-get-people-to-pay-for-music?ft=1&f=1129 Don't make people pay for music, says musician Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer, she examines the new relationship between artist and fan.

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]]> Do We Have The Wrong Idea About Charity? Activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta calls out the double standard that drives our broken relationship to charities. Instead of equating frugality with morality, he asks us to start rewarding charities for their big goals and accomplishments.<strong> </strong> Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:47 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181693499/do-we-have-the-wrong-idea-about-charity?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181693499/do-we-have-the-wrong-idea-about-charity?ft=1&f=1129 Activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta calls out the double standard that drives our broken relationship to charities. Instead of equating frugality with morality, he asks us to start rewarding charities for their big goals and accomplishments.

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]]> How Can You Give A Community Better Health? Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA — in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs. He hopes to offer some alternative to fast food in a community where "the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys." Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:46 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181691507/how-can-you-give-a-community-better-health?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181691507/how-can-you-give-a-community-better-health?ft=1&f=1129 Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA — in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs. He hopes to offer some alternative to fast food in a community where "the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys."

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]]> When Is the Right Time To Give? Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos tells a story of an act of heroism that didn't go quite as expected — but that taught him a big lesson: Don't wait — give now.<strong> </strong> Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:46 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181685278/when-is-the-right-time-to-give?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181685278/when-is-the-right-time-to-give?ft=1&f=1129 Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos tells a story of an act of heroism that didn't go quite as expected — but that taught him a big lesson: Don't wait — give now.

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]]> Stem Cell Milestone Revives Intense Ethical Debate Scientists in Oregon have achieved something that has eluded researchers for years. They have created stem cells that are tailored to individual patients, made from cloned embryos. That would open the door to treating many diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and many others. But researchers face ethical dilemmas. Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399430/stem-cell-milestone-revives-intense-ethical-debate?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399430/stem-cell-milestone-revives-intense-ethical-debate?ft=1&f=1129 Scientists in Oregon have achieved something that has eluded researchers for years. They have created stem cells that are tailored to individual patients, made from cloned embryos. That would open the door to treating many diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and many others. But researchers face ethical dilemmas.

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]]> Cloning, Stem Cells Long Mired In Legislative Gridlock The news that scientists have successfully cloned a human embryo seems almost certain to rekindle a political fight that has raged, on and off, since the creation of Dolly the sheep. It's a fight that has, over the past decade and a half, produced a lot of heat and light and not a lot of policy. Thu, 16 May 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184261714/cloning-stem-cells-long-mired-in-legislative-gridlock?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184261714/cloning-stem-cells-long-mired-in-legislative-gridlock?ft=1&f=1129 The news that scientists have successfully cloned a human embryo seems almost certain to rekindle a political fight that has raged, on and off, since the creation of Dolly the sheep. It's a fight that has, over the past decade and a half, produced a lot of heat and light and not a lot of policy.

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]]> When The Missing Return, Recovery Is Long, Too More than 300 freed abductees are part of an online community they call the RooterHood, where they can share their stories, their fears, and get help. Wed, 15 May 2013 15:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183954138/when-the-missing-return-recovery-is-long-too?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183954138/when-the-missing-return-recovery-is-long-too?ft=1&f=1129 More than 300 freed abductees are part of an online community they call the RooterHood, where they can share their stories, their fears, and get help.

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]]> With Rising Seas, America's Birthplace Could Disappear By the end of the century, ocean levels could rise by 2 or 3 feet. That's enough to flood the colonists' first settlement at Jamestown, Va. And it's putting pressure on archaeologists to get as many artifacts out of the ground as quickly as possible — before it's too late. Tue, 14 May 2013 15:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/178809495/with-rising-seas-americas-birthplace-could-disappear?ft=1&f=1129 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/178809495/with-rising-seas-americas-birthplace-could-disappear?ft=1&f=1129 By the end of the century, ocean levels could rise by 2 or 3 feet. That's enough to flood the colonists' first settlement at Jamestown, Va. And it's putting pressure on archaeologists to get as many artifacts out of the ground as quickly as possible — before it's too late.

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