Francis Collins has served longer than any other director of the National Institutes of Health since 1971. He tells NPR he did not anticipate the culture wars taking over scientific fact.
Millions of years ago Nevada was home to a variety of dinosaurs, but it had long been thought none of those were unique to the state. That just changed. First discovered in 2008, fossilized bones of the creature were pieced together over the last 13 years. It’s now verified and certified, and it has been named Nevadadromeus Schmitti, a plant-eating animal the size of a large dog.
The World Weather Attribution initiative has issued a report that said July's historic flooding in Europe is more likely to happen today due to global warming.
African TV execs say it's unlike any show for kids that's been produced and broadcast on the continent — especially with its focus on women presenters and scientists.
A former sous chef at Antarctica's McMurdo Station is making cakes inspired by her colleagues' research projects. She says cake can be a gateway to conversations people might otherwise shy away from.
A new study in Brazil finds that urban apartments have more diverse fungi — some healthy, some potentially not — than villages in the Amazon rainforest.
GMO opponents say they want more rigorous testing by the FDA. But the study reinforces the idea that people may be reticent to learn facts they find morally upsetting, says one of the researchers.
The remarks, which also included a claim that a Hindu god created the dinosaurs, sparked an uproar among scientists and congress organizers and on Twitter.
The physicist's posthumous book highlights his belief in the rationality of nature and on our ability to uncover its secrets — and a faith in science's ability to solve humanity's biggest problems.
Through science commentary, we created a place for exploration of deep, complex issues. There's a hunger in all of us for more than just facts — we hunger for meaning, says astrophysicist Adam Frank.
In 13.7, we aimed to present the passion, the drama, the social and intellectual relevance of science as one of the deepest expressions of engagement with the unknown, says physicist Marcelo Gleiser.
For years, 13.7 has brought opinions on science and culture to NPR's online readers. Commentator Tania Lombrozo reflects on her time writing for the blog, and on the science and culture of writing.
How can we succeed in creating and perpetuating a culture that values and promotes truth? Cognitive scientist Tania Lombrozo considers the science of fake news — and how to protect ourselves.
Some scientists want to change the old-fashioned way scientific advancements are evaluated and communicated. But they have to overcome the power structure of the traditional journal vetting process.
Commentator Adam Frank interviews physicist Clifford Johnson, who has taken a new approach to the exploration of questions about the nature of the universe — the graphic novel.
There are many reasons women leave careers: It's not fair to assume they have not met the mark; some are making positive choices for more impactful, and varied, lives, says 13.7 guest Patricia Fara.
The best way to defend everything we really do know, according to science, is to begin by admitting our own ignorance — to ask "What don't you know?," says astrophysicist Adam Frank.
When was the last time you got really excited by good science depicted in a movie? Anthropologist Barbara J. King joined scientists last week in helping producers make more accurate TV and movies.
There's more to the scientific method than what you learn in high school: Scientists argue with each other, too, and the participation of nature, whose say is absolute, is key, says Adam Frank.
In science, and in life, there is an artful balance between being cautious and adventurous; to find the balance takes experimentation, tolerance for mistakes, and humility, says Marcelo Gleiser.
Do people like Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins impact public opinion on how science and religion relate? Tania Lombrozo considers a study on the influence of big-name scientists on the debate.
