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In a decade of drug overdoses, more than 320,000 American children lost a parentNew research documents how many children lost a parent to an opioid or other overdose in the period from 2011 to 2021. Bereaved children face elevated risks to their physical and emotional health.
Venus and Earth used to look like 'twin' planets. What happened?Earth, Mars and Venus all looked pretty similar when they first formed. Today, Mars is dry, cold, and dusty; Venus has a hot, crushing atmosphere. Why did these sibling planets turn out so different?
A look at the sea slug utility belt, from solar power to stealing stingsEmily gets super nerdy with former host Maddie Sofia get as they dive into the incredible world of nudibranchs in this encore episode. Not only are these sea slugs eye-catching for their colors, some of them have evolved to "steal" abilities from other organisms — from the power of photosynthesis to the stinging cells of their venomous predators. These sea slugs are going to blow your mind!
You can email Short Wave at shortwave@npr.org.
Scientists study the mysteries of bird migration in the mountains of Los AngelesEvery spring, a remarkable sight unfolds in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles, as thousands of songbirds fly north.
Plants can communicate and respond to touch. Does that mean they're intelligent?Climate journalist Zoë Schlanger says research suggests that plants are indeed "intelligent" in complex ways that challenge our understanding of agency and consciousness. Her book is The Light Eaters.
Launch for Boeing Starliner's first crewed ride into space has been scrubbedBoeing's Starliner program has been plagued with delays and design problems for several years.
NASA's chief is worried about China getting back to the moon first. Here's whyNASA Administrator Bill Nelson told NPR he sees the U.S. in an urgent race with China to find water on the moon, and that he trusts SpaceX, despite Elon Musk's increasingly controversial profile.
Largest-ever marine reptile found with help from an 11-year-old girlA father and daughter discovered fossil remnants of a giant ichthyosaur that scientists say may have been the largest-known marine reptile to ever swim the seas.
'Stealing the past': A spat between twins leads to a theory of disputed memoriesIt's not unusual for siblings to quibble over ownership of something — a cherished toy, a coveted seat in the car — or whose fault something is. If you're Mercedes Sheen, you not only spent your childhood squabbling with your sister over your memories, you then turn it into your research career. Mercedes studies disputed memories, where it's unclear who an event happened to. It turns out these memories can tell us a lot about people — they tend to be self-aggrandizing — and how the human brain remembers things.
Check out more of NPR's series on the Science of Siblings.
Curious about more science about memories? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
When PTO stands for 'pretend time off': Doctors struggle to take real breaksWhat's a typical vacation activity for doctors? Work. A new study finds that most physicians do work on a typical day off. In this essay, a family doctor considers why that is and why it matters.
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