Banned From National Forest, For-Profit Mushroom Pickers Go Underground

Extinct ‘Micro Lion’ Is Named For Sir David Attenborough
Microleo attenboroughi was a tiny, marsupial lion that lived some 18 million years ago. Paleontologists in Australia said they named it after the famed naturalist “for his dedication and enthusiasm.”

Beyond Slurpees: Many Japanese Mini-Marts Now Cater To Elders
Convenience is in the eye of the generation. Increasingly, corner markets in Japan target the 27 percent of residents over 65 — offering nursing care advice and home delivery of meals and groceries.

Do You Read Terms Of Service Contracts? Not Many Do, Research Shows
During an experiment, people consented to sharing their private information with the NSA, and to surrendering their first-born as payment for access to a fictitious social networking site.

You vs. Future You; Or Why We’re Bad At Predicting Our Own Happiness
Researcher Dan Gilbert says that human beings are the only animals that think about the future. But we don’t always do the best job at predicting what will make us happy — or even who we will be.

How Big, Really, Is The Zika Outbreak In Florida?
So far, health officials know of 37 confirmed cases of people who contracted Zika from mosquitoes in Miami. But computer models suggest the underlying outbreak in Miami is bigger — and spreading.

Flooding In Louisiana Raises Questions About Timing, Urgency Of Warnings
More than a dozen people have died and tens of thousands of homes have been damaged by floodwaters. Local authorities and residents wonder if something more could have been done to lessen the toll.

In Drought-Stricken California, There’s No Longer A Fire “Season”
The state now sees wildfires that are on average bigger than ever and that burn through more of the year. Cal Fire’s Southern Region information officer Michael Mohler speaks to Rachel Martin.

What It’s Really Like To ‘Walk’ In Space
The International Space Station conducted a spacewalk this week to mark 15 years in space. Three people who’ve walked in space share their miraculous — and miserable — experiences.

Louisiana Ignored Dire Forecasts And Flash Flood Warnings
Tens of thousands in Louisiana were surprised by floods last week. In a changing climate, what more can be done to warn communities that the weather can do things they aren’t used to?

‘Googly-Eyed’ Stubby Squid Captures Internet’s Attention
Researchers from the Nautilus exploration vessel came upon the bright purple creature with giant eyes. It may look like a cartoon character, but it’s real. It’s also pretty tough, a researcher says.

‘Googly-Eyed’ Stubby Squid Captures Internet’s Attention
The crew of the exploration vehicle Nautilius came upon one ocean creature that tickled their respective fancy.

After IVF, Some Struggle With What To Do With Leftover Embryos
Nearly a million embryos are in frozen storage in the U.S. Some couples feel ambivalent, even after their family is complete, so put off deciding what to do with what some call their ‘maybe babies.’

Sting’s Brain Scan Reveals Clues About How The Musical Mind Works
When Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, a McGill University cognitive neuroscientist, mapped the brain of musician Sting in 2007, he found that a musically trained mind will make deep connections to different types of music.

As July’s Record Heat Builds Through August, Arctic Ice Keeps Melting
July 2016 was Earth’s hottest month on record. And Arctic ice has shrunk this year almost as much as it did in 2012 — the most severe melt to date.

Montana Officials Close Yellowstone River To Fight Fish-Killing Parasite
An extraordinary effort to limit a widespread fish kill comes a week before the centennial celebration of the National Park Service.

300 Miles Above Us, Astronauts Give The Space Station A New Door
Two American astronauts are installing a new docking port that will allow astronauts traveling with private companies to enter the International Space Station.

Research Examines If Surgery Delays Affect Patients’ Health Outcome
Researchers find that long waiting times for surgery are not associated with worse health outcomes for patients. The study involved patients waiting for surgery in England.

Artisanal Food Waste: Can You Turn Scraps Into Premium Products?
Entrepreneurs hope that, instead of paying bottom dollar for produce that might otherwise have ended up in the landfill, customers will pony up for high-end foods made from rescued ingredients.

Threatened By Rising Seas, Alaska Village Decides To Relocate
Rising sea levels have eroded Shishmaref for many years. Now, the Inupiat Eskimo village has voted to move. One resident told NPR that it’s a matter of protecting their unique community.

For Pete’s Sake, Don’t Sleep or Swim in Your Contact Lenses
Contact lenses seem safe and easy, but a CDC analysis shows people can get serious eye infections from them. The usual culprits: wearing them too long and failing to be meticulous about cleaning.

Alaskan Village Votes To Relocate Amid Climate Change Fears
Residents of Shishmaref, Alaska, voted this week to relocate their village to escape rising sea levels. NPR’s Ari Shapiro talks to Esau Sinnok, a Sishmaref native and an Arctic Youth ambassador, about the decision to move.

Eating Yogurt Is Not Enough: Rebalancing The Ecosystem Of ‘The Microbes Within Us’
Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes, says someday we might be able to improve our health by taking probiotics, but “we are still in the very early stages of working out how to do this.”

The Amazing Pedal-Powered Brain Race: The Finish Line
These middle schoolers built a 200-pound human brain on wheels. Will it survive the eight-hour race through the streets of Baltimore?

Better Burgers, More Healthful Hot Dogs: Could A Pinch Of Seaweed Be The Answer?
Processed meats used in hot dogs and hamburgers are high in levels of salt and fat. Some scientists want to boost these foods’ nutritional profile by adding seaweed to the meats.

Study Of Sudden Cardiac Death Exposes Limits Of Genetic Testing
Some genetic tests for a common cause of sudden heart failure can be wrong, researchers say, because the underlying science didn’t take into account racial diversity.

Scientists Engineer An Opioid That May Reduce Pain With Less Risk
Opioids lock to a receptor in the brain that controls pain relief, pleasure and need. A new compound may offer relief without as much risk of addiction or overdose. But it’s only been tested in mice.

Federal Court Blocks Challenge To Social Cost Of Carbon
Economists call it the social cost of carbon. A single number that is supposed to reflect all of the costs society incurs when people burn fossil fuels. That number is now part of federal regulations, and some industries aren’t happy.

What Does It Take To Map A Walrus Hangout? 160 Years And A Lot Of Help
Groups of walruses are vulnerable to disturbances, but it’s hard to avoid them if you don’t know where they are. A new tool from U.S. and Russian researchers draws on history to protect the animals.

How To Catch The Biggest Wave In The Universe
An L-shaped machine in Louisiana is hunting for some of the most powerful waves in existence: gravitational waves. This wave detector acts like a giant tape measure to capture bends in space and time.

White House Announces New Fuel Efficiency Standards For Trucks, Buses
The Obama administration has announced new fuel efficiency standards for trucks and buses.

Short Answers To Big Questions: The Power Of Earth’s Magnetic Field
All Things Considered asked listeners to ask our resident astrophysicist big questions, so we can give you short answers. Today we explore magnetic fields and explain why they are so powerful on Earth.

‘Roaring Wind’ Examines Extreme Weather, And The Power Of Air
Biologist Bill Streever sailed from Texas to Guatemala while doing research for his new book, And Soon I Heard a Roaring Wind. He says the wind was working against him “most of the time.”

Why High-Income Households Benefit More From Product Innovations
A Stanford University researcher finds that products purchased mainly by poor people were increasing in price much more quickly than those purchased by the wealthy.

The Physics And Psychology Of ‘The Wave’ At Sporting Events
You may love or hate ‘the wave’ as it sweeps through spectators at baseball, football and soccer games. But physicists say the synchronized action shows how humans are like particles.

Fishing And Foraging: How To Catch Your Seafood, Ethically
Fisherman Kirk Lombard’s new book teaches people to fish and forage along the northern California coast, while urging them to harvest in moderation, follow regulations and respect sea creatures.

Will Your Prescription Meds Be Covered Next Year? Better Check!
Insurers have released the latest lists of prescription drugs they won’t cover in 2017. Express Scripts is excluding 85 drugs and CVS Caremark, 131. Some drugs for diabetes and asthma are out.

How ‘Patient H.M.’ And His Lobotomy Contributed To Understanding Memories
William Scoville’s lobotomy on patient Henry Molaison taught scientists a lot about human memory, but left Molaison with memory problems. Luke Dittrich discusses the story in his book Patient H.M.

How The Placebo Effect Could Boost An Olympic Performance
One athlete’s “psych-up” ritual may psych out an opponent. And even treatments that lack hard evidence of benefit, scientists say, might provide a competitive edge if the athletes believe they work.

In A Remote Vault In Norway, Repository Stores The World’s Seeds
Cary Fowler, senior adviser to the Global Crop Diversity Trust, talks about a giant vault of millions of seeds stored away in an icy mountain in Norway. Fowler is the author of Seeds on Ice.

Astronomers Are On A Celestial Treasure Hunt. The Prize? Planet Nine
Earlier this year, a pair of scientists predicted the existence of a ninth planet based on computer modeling of the solar system. This fall, the race is on to be the first to spot it in a telescope.

How To Keep Your Coffee In Its Cup: The Claw Grip
What’s the best method for holding a cup of coffee so it doesn’t spill? NPR’s Scott Simon learned that an overhand claw-like grip is best.

Bird Myth Busters: Do Birds Fly To The Moon In Winter? And Other Unknowns
Do hummingbirds migrate on the backs of geese? And will rice thrown at weddings really make birds explode? Scott Simon gets to the bottom of some bird myths with Ray Brown, host of “Talkin’ Birds.”

The Colony-Killing Mistake Backyard Beekeepers Are Making
Bee experts warn that novices may be inadvertently putting their hives in danger by not keeping the mite population in check.

In The Pacific Northwest, Oil Train Derailment Highlights Potential Dangers
The number of trains carrying oil along the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington could dramatically increase. There’s a plan to ship more oil from the Bakken region of North Dakota to a proposed oil terminal in southwest Washington state. An oil train derailment earlier this year has shown the potential danger faced by the region.

Why Doctors Want A Computerized Assistant For Cancer Care
There’s more information on genetic mutations and in the scientific literature than cancer doctors can process easily. Smart, fast computers might be able to help.

Flint Mayor: ‘Everybody Played A Role In This Disaster’
As a federal state of emergency ends for Flint, Mich., Mayor Karen Weaver says residents don’t trust that government officials have fully addressed the lead contamination of their water.

He’s Brilliant, She’s Lovely: Teaching Computers To Be Less Sexist
Algorithms teach computers how to process language. But because they draw on human writing, they have some biases. Researchers are trying to weed out those problematic associations.

Where Lead Lurks And Why Even Small Amounts Matter
Federal environmental regulations for lead in drinking water still leave room for concentrations high enough to pose a health hazard, critics say.

Once Nearly Extinct California Island Foxes No Longer Endangered
Thanks to an aggressive recovery effort, a species of tiny foxes endemic to California recovers in what researchers say is record time.

Bald Eagle’s Comeback Means Bad News For Other Rare Birds
The recovery of the bald eagle is bad news for herons, loons and other rare birds. Their numbers are being decimated by eagles who prey upon them.

Talk About An Ancient Mariner! Greenland Shark Is At Least 272 Years Old
This Arctic species can live longer than any other known animal advanced enough to have a backbone, scientists say — maybe more than 500 years. Their muscles might hold clues that could help humans.