This week in science: The fluid dynamics of crowds, a bird fossil and morning mindsets NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Emily Kwong and Regina Barber of Short Wave about the fluid dynamics of crowds, an early fossil of a modern bird and new data on how people's moods change through the day. Regina Barber Emily Kwong Play AudioListen 8 mins
"Unprecedented": White House moves to control science funding worry researchers If the Trump administration continues targeting DEI in science and seeking to slash funding, American science will look fundamentally different. Jonathan Lambert
NIH announces new funding policy that rattles medical researchers The National Institutes of Health has dramatically changed its grant-making terms by limiting how much it will disburse for costs such as equipment and administration. Rob Stein
Trump administration makes deep cuts to science funding Cuts to costs, temporary freezes on grants, executive orders that go against the laws grants are supposed to follow — the early weeks of the Trump presidency are already drastically changing science. Rob Stein Jonathan Lambert Play AudioListen 6 mins
Why clearing the brush around Los Angeles won't reduce the wildfire danger After thousands of homes were destroyed, many are looking for ways to make Los Angeles safer from wildfires. But clearing dense shrubs on the hillsides could actually make the fire danger worse. Lauren Sommer Play AudioListen 4 mins
Space telescope finds rare 'Einstein Ring' of light in nearby galaxy An Einstein Ring was discovered by the European Space Agency's Euclid space telescope in September 2023. Chandelis Duster
Trump says 'we're going back to plastic straws.' Is the paper straw dead? President Trump has signed an executive order decrying the "irrational campaign against plastic straws" and directing federal agencies to stop buying paper straws. Jacob Fenston
Trump funding freeze could leave communities on their own as climate threats grow Without federal support, American communities will struggle to deal with a challenge as pervasive as climate change, market analysts and environmental advocates say. Michael Copley
His genes forecast Alzheimer's. His brain had other plans. Doug Whitney was supposed to develop Alzheimer's by 50. Now scientists are trying to understand why his brain remains healthy at 75. Jon Hamilton Play AudioListen 4 mins
January wasn't expected to break global temperature records. But it did. The planet has been shattering heat records for the past two years. That was expected to ease in January—and the fact that it didn't has climate researchers worried. Alejandra Borunda
