Science
Mass. bills would ban PFAS in food packaging, kid's toys and more
More than a dozen states already ban PFAS in some consumer products. Research has linked the toxic "forever chemicals" to health problems including kidney cancer. But some business groups warn...
Bald eagles in Washington, D.C., leave failed nest
In April, at a bald eagle's nest in Washington, D.C., there was much anticipation about eggs that were expected to hatch near the end of the month. Unfortunately, the nest...
The megalodon was the apex predator of its day
Some were four times the size of today's great whites.
For some chronically ill Mass. residents, food is medicine
New research shows people on Medicaid who receive medically-tailored meals are less likely to need hospital care or land in emergency departments.
What scientists have learned about how the brain extracts words from speech
When you’re listening to a familiar language, you hear individual words. But what if you don’t know the language?
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Neuroscientist diagnosed with terminal cancer contemplates mind-body connection in health
Five year after a terminal cancer diagnosis, David J. Linden is still here, and he's still thinking about how his own mind is contemplating the end of his life.
Feds predict 'below normal' Atlantic hurricane season for 2026
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association expect eight to 14 named storms to develop during the 2026 hurricane season, which begins on June 1. Up to three could...
What tiny structures in our cells can tell us about our genes
Tiny structures in cells called speckles were first discovered more than a century ago.
Dartmouth researchers find rain in New England is consolidating into bigger storms amid climate change
The northeastern United States and southern Quebec are expected to see more rain due to climate change, but more of that rain will likely fall in large storms like the...
Inside a rare syndrome that makes you drunk — without consuming any alcohol
The existence of auto-brewery syndrome, and emerging research on how the gut microbiome may affect human behavior, could have ramifications for the criminal legal system.
Birds are facing new challenges. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is here to help
Ahead of the biggest day in birding, we take an inside look at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, home to millions of audio clips of birds from around the world....
Many people now trust AI with their feelings. And therapists want to talk about it
Mental health clinicians have started asking clients how they use generative artificial intelligence chatbots to support their emotional well-being. Some clinician-researchers are building platforms to educate people about chatbots' strengths...
AI can detect breast cancer risk before humans. Why it may take hospitals a while to adopt the tech
Researchers are studying a machine learning-powered warning system for breast cancer. It works by detecting subtle changes in a mammogram that humans can't spot, but could soon become cancer.
Endless Thread presents "The Midnight Rebellion," a new adventure fiction podcast
Lost in a watery wasteland, Joule must find her way home. She needs YOUR help. The Midnight Rebellion, a new podcast from WBUR, Boston’s NPR. Follow to find out when...
The marine life living in the Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military has guided a couple of American-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. But a few weeks ago, another sort of vessel sailed right into the...
The doctor is in — or is it AI?
If you’ve been to a medical appointment lately, it’s likely that your doctor was using some form of artificial intelligence. Increasingly, diagnostic AI tools are entering doctors' offices and hospitals,...
Feral hogs are invading Texas suburbs
An estimated 3 to 4 million feral hogs live in Texas, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to crops and moving more frequently into growing suburban areas.
A tick bite can trigger allergic reactions to meat. Cases are rising in Massachusetts
Alpha-gal syndrome, a rare but dangerous – and sometimes fatal – condition, makes people allergic to red meat and occasionally to products made from mammals, like dairy.
Washington, D.C., biologists wait for bald eagles to hatch
Wildlife biologists in the nation's capital are monitoring a massive bald eagle nest where eaglets are expected to appear any day now.
Saturn's mysterious hexagon-shaped storm has internet conspiracy theories swirling
Endless Thread goes to space! First, host Ben Brock Johnson goes deep on radio signals of unknown origin, with an assist from real-life radio astronomer and Reddit MVP Yvette Cendes,...