NPR Topics: Science https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=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 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:07:24 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Topics: Science https://www.npr.org/sections/science/ Trump administration rolls back a key protection for imperiled wildlife The Trump administration finalized a rule Friday that changes how agencies enforce the Endangered Species Act. The administration narrowed the definition of "harm" under the landmark law. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:48:40 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5890025/trump-administration-imperiled-wildlife https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5890025/trump-administration-imperiled-wildlife

The Trump administration finalized a rule Friday that changes how agencies enforce the Endangered Species Act. The administration narrowed the definition of "harm" under the landmark law.

(Image credit: Carolyn Kaster)

]]> The Associated Press This week in science: California wolves, the world's bugs, and the earliest quasars NPR's science podcast <em>Short Wave<em></em> talks about why wolves are thriving in California, a new estimation of the world's insect species and the universe's earliest quasars.</em> Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:01:44 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5877428/this-week-in-science-california-wolves-the-worlds-bugs-and-the-earliest-quasars https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5877428/this-week-in-science-california-wolves-the-worlds-bugs-and-the-earliest-quasars NPR's science podcast Short Wave talks about why wolves are thriving in California, a new estimation of the world's insect species and the universe's earliest quasars.

]]> Regina G. Barber EPA proposes weakening heavy-duty truck pollution rules The Trump EPA calls Biden-era rules for cutting pollution from heavy trucks "unworkable." The proposed changes have been celebrated by trucking groups and denounced by environmental groups. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:03:41 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5886354/epa-heavy-duty-truck-emissions https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5886354/epa-heavy-duty-truck-emissions

The Trump EPA calls Biden-era rules for cutting pollution from heavy trucks "unworkable." The proposed changes have been celebrated by trucking groups and denounced by environmental groups.

(Image credit: Brandon Bell)

]]> Camila Domonoske A new kind of robot swims the seas and soars the skies Inspired by diving birds, roboticists built the lightweight machines to move from water to air. The design may one day lead to robots that can monitor and sample the coastal ocean. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:01:11 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5885040/robot-flying-aerial-aquatic-mit-birds https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5885040/robot-flying-aerial-aquatic-mit-birds

Inspired by diving birds, roboticists built the lightweight machines to move from water to air. The design may one day lead to robots that can monitor and sample the coastal ocean.

(Image credit: Raphael Zufferey)

]]> Ari Daniel Extreme heat on Independence Day will be America's new normal, experts say In cities across the U.S., parades were canceled and events were delayed because of the heat. Meanwhile, emergency rooms saw a high number of people with heat-related illnesses. Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:24:32 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5883704/extreme-heat-july-4th-climate https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5883704/extreme-heat-july-4th-climate

In cities across the U.S., parades were canceled and events were delayed because of the heat. Meanwhile, emergency rooms saw a high number of people with heat-related illnesses.

(Image credit: Amid Farahi)

]]> Ava Berger A rare flower is in a superbloom in the Rocky Mountains Green gentian wildflowers are in a major superbloom in the alpine meadows of Colorado. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to David Inouye, a researcher who has been studying these magnificent flowers for decades. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:04:21 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/05/nx-s1-5877757/a-rare-flower-is-in-a-superbloom-in-the-rocky-mountains https://www.npr.org/2026/07/05/nx-s1-5877757/a-rare-flower-is-in-a-superbloom-in-the-rocky-mountains Green gentian wildflowers are in a major superbloom in the alpine meadows of Colorado. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to David Inouye, a researcher who has been studying these magnificent flowers for decades.

]]> Ayesha Rascoe Scientists are using 'superworms' as a safer, efficient way to clean animal skeletons To clean animal skeletons used for research and education, scientists are turning to a new type of beetle larva. These "superworms" provide an efficient solution to a difficult challenge. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 07:43:41 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/04/nx-s1-5877609/scientists-are-using-superworms-as-a-safer-efficient-way-to-clean-animal-skeletons https://www.npr.org/2026/07/04/nx-s1-5877609/scientists-are-using-superworms-as-a-safer-efficient-way-to-clean-animal-skeletons To clean animal skeletons used for research and education, scientists are turning to a new type of beetle larva. These "superworms" provide an efficient solution to a difficult challenge.

]]> Ari Daniel Researchers have created a synthetic cell that can adapt and learn survival skills Scientists have created the most advanced synthetic cell yet made in a laboratory. They've dubbed it "Spudcell," echoing Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:47:44 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/02/nx-s1-5877819/researchers-have-created-a-synthetic-cell-that-can-adapt-and-learn-survival-skills https://www.npr.org/2026/07/02/nx-s1-5877819/researchers-have-created-a-synthetic-cell-that-can-adapt-and-learn-survival-skills Scientists have created the most advanced synthetic cell yet made in a laboratory. They've dubbed it "Spudcell," echoing Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.

]]> Rob Stein Scientists volunteer their time to document biodiversity in the Smokey Mountains Volunteer scientist spend their time tracking living things in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's all part of an important science project. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:09:01 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5853184/scientists-volunteer-their-time-to-document-biodiversity-in-the-smokey-mountains https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5853184/scientists-volunteer-their-time-to-document-biodiversity-in-the-smokey-mountains Volunteer scientist spend their time tracking living things in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's all part of an important science project.

]]> Katie Myers Lone star ticks are covering much of the U.S. Here's what you need to know It's a tick that hunts you down and transmits a potentially dangerous allergy to red meat. <em>The New Yorker</em> writer Burkhard Bilger discusses the lone star tick and the risks of alpha-gal syndrome. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:20:16 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5877341/lone-star-ticks-are-covering-much-of-the-u-s-heres-what-you-need-to-know https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5877341/lone-star-ticks-are-covering-much-of-the-u-s-heres-what-you-need-to-know It's a tick that hunts you down and transmits a potentially dangerous allergy to red meat. The New Yorker writer Burkhard Bilger discusses the lone star tick and the risks of alpha-gal syndrome.

]]> Terry Gross