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The Salt
When Resistance Is Futile: Bring In The Robots To Pull Superweeds
February 14, 2013 After years of being burned by Roundup, weeds like palmer amaranth, marestail and giant ragweed have evolved resistance to the herbicide. To fight them, scientists are now looking to a concept that seems straight out of sci-fi.
Shots - Health News
Would You Open Your Checkbook For Science?
February 14, 2013 Crowd funding has proved popular for bands raising money to produce a new album and for producers of documentary films. Now scientists are getting into the act, and some are raising money from the very people they're studying.
Krulwich Wonders...
Guy Pumps Out A Valentine — Literally
February 14, 2013 Last year a guy in San Francisco jumped on a bicycle, clicked on his GPS, clicked on an app, snapped on his helmet, and 27 miles, 2 1/2 hours and many calories later, he'd etched a valentine message onto a street map of San Francisco. That was nice. Now, a year later, it's getting really interesting.
Joe's Big Idea
Scientist Gets Research Donations From Crowd Funding
February 14, 2013 What do you do when you're a scientist and you have no job and no money for your research? If you're Ethan Perlstein, you try crowd funding. He raised $25,000 to investigate where the drug methamphetamine is stored in the brain.
The Salt
Marine Stewardship Council Responds To NPR Series On Sustainable Seafood
February 13, 2013 NPR "did not present a complete or balanced view" of its program, the MSC writes in a statement.
Asia
Did North Korea Test A 'Miniature' Nuclear Bomb?
February 12, 2013 North Korea's latest nuclear weapons test is much more powerful than the previous two, according to estimates made by instruments that measure seismic waves from the blast. But it's hard to verify North Korea's claim that the test was of a miniaturized nuclear weapon.
All Tech Considered
This App Uses The Power Of You To Report The Weather
February 12, 2013 A new smartphone app allows users to document falling precipitation in their location. The mPING app aims to help weather officials program radar to determine exactly what's falling near you. For example, is it hail or mixed rain?
Under The Label: Sustainable Seafood
For A Florida Fishery, 'Sustainable' Success After Complex Process
February 12, 2013 Environmentalists, together with the Marine Stewardship Council, say that Day Boat's story reflects the good that the MSC system can do. But critics say the vigorous certification process is inconsistent.
The Salt
Most Americans Eager To Buy Seafood That's 'Sustainable'
February 12, 2013 Consumers are increasingly being marketed seafood with labels that are supposed to certify that it's good for the environment. We asked about consumers' seafood eating habits and whether they prefer to buy "sustainably caught" fish.
Krulwich Wonders...
What Is It About Emily?
February 12, 2013 A channel on YouTube lets you see what goes on deep in the bowels (excuse the expression) of a natural history museum. There are dead things in jars, drawers and basements, but best of all, there's Emily, who hosts the show. She's a volunteer curatorial assistant/storyteller who could make a thumbtack interesting.
Under The Label: Sustainable Seafood
Conditions Allow For More Sustainable-Labeled Seafood
February 12, 2013 Most fisheries certified by the MSC system have conditions that spell out how they have to change their operations to comply with MSC standards. But they can still be labeled "certified sustainable seafood" even though they have years to comply.
The Salt
Pig Manure Reveals More Reason To Worry About Antibiotics
February 11, 2013 Manure from pig farms doesn't just contain residues of antibiotics used in livestock. It also carries high concentrations of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a new study of Chinese pig farms finds. And researchers say "it's a global problem."
Under The Label: Sustainable Seafood
Is Sustainable-Labeled Seafood Really Sustainable?
February 11, 2013 Industry demand for the "sustainable seafood" label, issued by the Marine Stewardship Council, is increasing. But some environmentalists fear fisheries are being certified despite evidence showing that the fish population is in trouble — or when there's not enough information to know the impact on the oceans.
Krulwich Wonders...
The Egg Makes Its Move In A New Version Of Which Came First: The Chicken Or the Egg?
February 11, 2013 Everybody knows you need a chicken to lay an egg. Everybody knows you need an egg to produce a chicken. What nobody knows is how the cycle started. Here's a new take, that leans eggwards — and it's fun to watch.