Science
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...
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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,...
What a peaceful transition of power in a naked mole rat colony teaches researchers about the animal
Naked mole rats are known for being hairless and living cooperatively, until there's a bloody succession war to replace their queen.
Mass. gets mixed grades on air pollution in annual report
Three Massachusetts counties have some of the cleanest air in the country, according to the American Lung Association. But experts say that wildfire smoke and federal rollbacks threaten to undo...
11 | Seek the Seawall
Joule and the others take a boat to the harbor in the dead of night. How are they supposed to find the machine in the dark? Don’t ask us, we...
10 | Hide
Joule jumps into the slime pile to avoid getting speared. Smart. But unexpected news threatens her plans, and she seeks advice from a Scottish guy who reads a lot.
9 | Swim for It
We strongly discourage crossing rivers if you don’t know how to swim. Joule does not take our advice.
8 | Find the Warden
Chaos erupts at the Bunker Hill Work Camp for a Brighter Future, but Joule is on a mission. Finally, someone hears her out. Be Bright, be right!
7 | Get to the Copter
She haz to get to zee copter! Joule ditches the kid and goes after the flying thing with chrome tentacles. She meets someone without a head, and then gets herself...
6 | Make for the Marsh
Electricity never felt so scary. With Bright’s shockbolting tins in hot pursuit, Joule and the others flee Mud Market, but will they make it to the marsh in time? More...
5 | Stand Up
Psh! Seaweed? No thanks. Joule introduces herself to Buggy’s sibling, who is ... moody. Then an old lady gives a math quiz.