These were the top animal stories on NPR in 2024, including a boy's pregnant octopus This year, the animal kingdom was filled with triumph, loss and new discoveries. Here is a look at NPR's top animal stories of 2024. Ayana Archie
Nuclear bunker sales increase, despite warnings they won't provide protection Critics warn argue that people planning to live through an atomic blast aren't focusing on the real and current dangers posed by nuclear threats. The Associated Press
A 50 thousand year-old love story between humans and Neanderthals Tens of thousands of years ago, modern humans mated with Neanderthals. But exactly how and when that happened, and who those groups of humans were, was less known. New research adds some clues. Ari Daniel
A desert festival where robots are the headliner Scientists are using the Mojave Desert to test robots for the next space age. Ailsa Chang
How satellites are helping scientists study the sun NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Damien Galano, project manager for European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission, about a new plan to study solar eclipses. Scott Detrow
Mars (yes, the planet) has its own Grand Canyon New research is revealing similarities between Earth's Grand Canyon and ones on the red planet. It's informing future Martian exploration and settlement plans. Eric Whitney
How scientists think the tsunami warning system could be revised Last week's earthquake off the coast of Humboldt County triggered a tsunami warning urging people across a huge swath of California and Oregon to evacuate. Why aren't tsunami warnings more precise? Danielle Venton
This week in science: fish healing hearing, loneliness cures, and Conan the Bacterium NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Emily Kwong and Jessica Yung about hearing regeneration in fish and lizards, cures for the loneliness epidemic, and the secrets of a radiation-resistant microorganism. Jessica Yung
The Geminids meteor shower peaks this week. Here's what to expect The Geminids are one of the best and most visible annual meteor showers, when at least 120 meteors can usually be seen per hour. But 2024 will be different, thanks to the year's final full moon. Chandelis Duster
