Category: Science

They say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, but for computer scientists, two birds in a hole are better still.

Roman dead were often cremated, so the ancient mass grave in Vienna is a rare find.

When quantum computers become commonplace, current cryptographic systems will become obsolete. Scientists are racing to get ahead of the problem and keep our data secure.

A man in his early 20s received a transplant of his own sperm-producing stem cells, which had been frozen since his childhood, in an attempt

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is on April 30. To celebrate, NPR wants to know how your pet has changed your life. We would also love to see photos of your purr-fect fur-ever friend. (Image credit: MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images)

A new study suggests genetic changes allow horses to produce more energy, while minimizing the toll the energy takes on cells. (Image credit: Darrell Gulin/Getty Images)

Running an entire marathon takes a lot of energy. Neuroscientist Carlos Matute knows this: he’s run 18 of them. He wondered how runners’ bodies get the energy they need to make it to the finish line. His new research in the journal Nature Metabolism may be the first step in answering the question – and suggests their brains might be (temporarily) depleting a fatty substance that coats nerve cells called myelin. Have other questions about the brain? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org ! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave .

The Acer Swift Go 14 AI offers great battery life but won’t otherwise blow you away.

Test your knowledge of the secrets of snakes in this quiz.

Researchers have used a mind-reading brain implant to continuously play a paralyzed person’s thoughts through a speaker, allowing them to talk again.

We find out whether the Dark Skys DS-FX competes with the best star projectors on the market.

Has the sun already reached solar maximum? New data suggests Solar Cycle 25 may have peaked earlier than expected. Find out what this means.

Using a mathematical model, scientists explored how the human brain might represent information about physical spaces and about people, places and things. Turns out, it may process both in a similar way.

NPR’s Short Wave brings us the stories of how running a marathon could change your brain, fermenting food in space, and the mystery of how bats in flight avoid colliding with each other.