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Science

Thursday

Environment

Mount St. Helens

Researchers upgrade the chance of a mild to moderate volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens to 70 percent — possibly occurring within days. The mountain in Washington state was the site of a catastrophic surprise eruption in 1980. Hear Ley Garnet of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Mount St. Helens

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Space

First X-Prize Flight a Success for SpaceShipOne

Are we witnessing the birth of a commercial space flight industry? Day to Day technology contributor Xeni Jardin reports on Wednesday's launch of SpaceShipOne. The craft is the top competitor in the race for the Ansari X-prize, a global competition to build the first viable commercial spaceship. The winning team is set to receive a $10-million award.

First X-Prize Flight a Success for SpaceShipOne

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National

One Man's Junk Is Another's Marvel

Jim Williams never met a piece of electronics he didn't like. The Silicon Valley electrical engineer collects and cherishes what few of us notice: the inner workings of modern machines. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports.

One Man's Junk Is Another's Marvel

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Environment

DNA Testing May Curb Illegal Ivory Trade

Delegates from 160 nations are gathering in Thailand for a meeting on international trade in endangered species. They will discuss new genetic research that makes it easier to trace poached ivory. NPR's John Nielsen reports.

DNA Testing May Curb Illegal Ivory Trade

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Wednesday

Space

Detecting the Earth's Hum for What It Is

The earth hums, emitting a tone too low for human ears to detect. Geophysicists have finally located the source of the noise. As they report in this week's issue of the journal Nature, it comes from the globe's largest oceans during winter, apparently the result of powerful winter storms. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports.

Detecting the Earth's Hum for What It Is

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Obituaries

John Mack, Author of Lawrence Book, Dies in London

Dr. John Mack died Tuesday in London, the victim of an auto accident. Dr. Mack, a Harvard professor, wrote A Prince of Our Disorder, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of T.E. Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia. Years later, he did controversial research on people who claimed they had been abducted by aliens. NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with a friend and colleague of Dr. Mack, Dr. Robert Jay Lifton of the Harvard Medical School.

John Mack, Author of Lawrence Book, Dies in London

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Researchers Track Humans to Common Ancestor

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with science writer Steve Olson about his article in the current issue of the journal Nature. With professors Joseph Change and Douglas Rohde, Olson writes that a new statistical model shows that all human beings have a common ancestor, who lived just 3,500 years ago.

Researchers Track Humans to Common Ancestor

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Calif. Earthquake a Preview of the 'Big One'?

A 6.0 earthquake rattled central California on Thursday -- is it a harbinger of the "Big One?" NPR's Alex Chadwick talks with Andrew Michael of the Menlo Park Earthquake Hazard Team about the earthquake near the rural California village of Parkfield, and the challenge of forecasting temblors.

Calif. Earthquake a Preview of the 'Big One'?

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Monday

National

Injury Risks in Florida Rise after Hurricane

As officials and rescue teams in central Florida assess damage from the area's third hurricane of the season, they report a rise in injuries and accidents. Statistically, more dangers emerge in the days after a hurricane has struck, according to relief workers. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports.

Injury Risks in Florida Rise after Hurricane

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Environment

Species Might Lose Protection

The Bush administration considers removing several animals from the Endangered Species List, saying the populations are now large enough to survive without protection. But ecologists say headcounts are only one way to measure whether a species has recovered. Hear NPR's John Nielsen.

Species Might Lose Protection

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Sunday

Environment

Turning Toilet Water into Tap Water in California

For decades, countries around the world have tackled the problem of depleted water resources by recycling treated sewage into drinking water. Orange County, Calif., is building a huge facility to turn treated sewage into drinking water. Rob Schmitz of member station KPCC reports.

Turning Toilet Water into Tap Water in California

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Friday

Tuesday