Science

January 3, 2017 12:00 AM

How humans can get to Mars, and why we'd want to go

Pascal Lee and Andy Weir talk about the promise and peril of humanity's first in-person exploration of an alien planet: Mars.

by MPR News Staff

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January 2, 2017 1:43 PM

2017: Looking ahead to the year in science

From genetics, to space to ethics, Kerri Miller's guests preview what they think will make science headlines in 2017.

by Jeff Jones

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December 30, 2016 8:36 AM

As a rough year ends, we turn to the cosmos for some perspective

As 2016 winds down, we take a moment to contemplate the billions of years that led to 2017 and the billions more yet to come.

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December 29, 2016 4:00 AM

As we leave more digital tracks, Amazon Echo factors in murder investigation

Arkansas police have served a warrant to Amazon looking for possible recordings from a murder scene. Privacy advocates have predicted a wave of cases involving smart home devices and gadgets.

by Alina Selyukh

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December 28, 2016 9:44 AM

A brief history of food emoji: Why you won't find hummus on your phone

There are burgers and sushi, and even the salacious eggplant, but where are the dumplings and salad? Creating a more culturally diverse menu of food emoji is harder than you think.

by Laura Oliver

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December 26, 2016 7:28 PM

Vera Rubin, who confirmed existence of dark matter, dies at 88

The astrophysicist's groundbreaking research on spiral galaxies provided evidence of invisible dark matter. She was a pioneer in an era when women were excluded from many astronomy programs.

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December 26, 2016 12:05 PM

Feeling less than grateful? Some people are just wired that way

Gratitude is linked to better physical and mental health. But some people are wired in a way that that they place less value on it. And quickie exercises to boost gratefulness may not pay off.

by Katherine Hobson

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December 23, 2016 10:46 AM

Rare snowfall blankets dunes in the Sahara

An amateur photographer in Algeria captured beautiful images of a rare phenomenon this week: the red and white swirl of snow dusting sand dunes in the Sahara.

by Maggie Penman

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December 20, 2016 12:00 PM

This Christmas song brought to you by the world's tiniest radio receiver

Engineers made a radio receiver with building blocks the size of two atoms. One benefit of a radio so small you can barely see it: The machine works at extremely high temperatures.

by Rebecca Hersher

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December 20, 2016 10:09 AM

This doll may be recording what children say, privacy groups charge

Privacy advocates have filed a complaint with U.S. regulators about the Internet-connected doll called My Friend Cayla. They say the toy can record and transmit everything children say to it.

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