Need a break from politics? Marvel at the 'Vanishing Treasures' of the natural world With 23 short essays on creatures ranging from the wombat to the spider, Katherine Rundell's new book is essential reading for anyone whose wonder could use a jumpstart. Maureen Corrigan Play AudioListen 9 mins
Amateur mathematician finds the new largest prime number Luke Durant, a researcher and amateur mathematician, has identified the largest new prime number known to humankind. The newly discovered prime number is 2 to the power of 136,279,841, then minus one. Mallory Yu Christopher Intagliata Play AudioListen 4 mins
The mystery of a trove of dinosaur fossils in China There's an area in China that's home to a huge trove of dinosaur fossils. It was thought to be caused by a volcanic eruption. But new evidence has come to light about how it likely came to be. Ari Daniel Play AudioListen 4 mins
Frail chimps headed from New Mexico to Louisiana sanctuary About two dozen chimpanzees deemed too feeble to be moved a few years ago will be going to Chimp Haven after all. The NIH said originally they'd be kept in New Mexico for their own safety. Nell Greenfieldboyce Play AudioListen 3 mins
New DNA evidence upends what we thought we knew about Pompeii victims The findings, which used DNA from the plaster casts of people who died in the Mt. Vesuvius eruption two millennia ago, challenge the traditional gender and familial assumptions about the Pompeiians. Emma Bowman
Dinosaurs unearthed in China may have ended with a collapse, not a catastrophe There's an area in China that's home to a huge trove of dinosaur fossils. It used to be thought it was formed through a Pompeii-like volcanic eruption, stopping dinosaurs in their tracks. But new evidence has come to light about how it likely came to be. Ari Daniel Play AudioListen 4 mins
Wildlife experts looks for new ways to count wolves in Alaska On Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, wildlife managers are trying new techniques to count local wolves so they can determine how many can be hunted. Limiting the quota is controversial in the community. Jack Darrell Play AudioListen 4 mins
Taurid meteor shower to light up the night sky. Here's how you can see it The North and South Taurids occur every year in September, October, and November. They may have originated from a comet that broke up about 10,000 years ago. Chandelis Duster
Trump's reelection casts a shadow over the start of global climate negotiations Trump's return to the White House raises questions about whether the country will continue working on global climate initiatives. Jeff Brady Michael Copley Lauren Sommer Julia Simon Nate Perez
Alzheimer's timeline shows changes start as trickle, become torrent A study of cells from 84 brains finds that Alzheimer's has two distinct phases, and that one type of neuron is especially vulnerable. Jon Hamilton
