Nearly 4,000 NASA employees opt to leave agency through deferred resignation program The employees who have chosen to leave the agency amount to about 20% of NASA's workforce. Chandelis Duster
Scientists study how people would react to a neurotic robot personality in real life Neurotic robots are a staple of science fiction. One study recently found that neurotic traits in a robot can make them seem more relatable. Nell Greenfieldboyce
This flesh-eating parasite is a potential threat to herds across the country NPR's Scott Simon speaks with entomologist Edwin Burgess about a plan to combat flash-eating maggots threatening U.S. livestock. It involves breeding billions of flies and dropping them from planes. Scott Simon
Primate pet ownership fuels a brutal industry. This bill could slow it down For most pet primates in the United States, life is marked by chronic stress, malnutrition and illness — if they survive at all. A bill in Congress would aim to make ownership of captive primates illegal in all 50 states. Stephanie O'Neill
People like extroverted robots — but they relate to the neurotic ones Neurotic personalities are a staple of science fiction. Researchers who study how people react to robot personalities have recently found that neurotic traits in a robot can make them seem more relatable. Nell Greenfieldboyce
This week in science: ocean spiders, baby planets and the odds of having a boy or a girl The Short Wave team talks about spider origins, why the odds of having a girl or a boy aren't 50-50, and what the Orion constellation reveals about the life cycles of stars. Rachel Carlson
Scientists say they're getting closer to creating artificial blood For decades, scientists have been trying to create artificial blood to alleviate shortages and prevent people from bleeding to death.
Rare blue ghost fireflies flutter beyond their Southern Appalachian home A rare blue ghost firefly is known to flicker in the southern Appalachia region. Now, they've been spotted in central Kentucky.
Have all girls or all boys? Study suggests the odds aren't 50/50 A study analyzed decades of births and found that larger families showed a distinct tendency toward all girls or all boys, rather than a mix. Scott Neuman
Hurry up! Scientists predict today will be (slightly) shorter than normal Earth doesn't rotate exactly on schedule. Scientists believe that today is going to be about a millisecond short of a typical 24-hour day. Nell Greenfieldboyce
