Why the most climate-resistant glaciers are hiding in plain sight In the American West, white glaciers and snow fields are outnumbered by long-overlooked “rock glaciers.” The rock covering these vast hunks of ice makes them far less affected by warming temperatures. Nell Greenfieldboyce
SpaceX launches ISS-bound crew that hopes to bring home 2 stuck astronauts Two astronauts were launched on a five-month mission that also hopes to rescue two NASA astronauts left behind on the ISS. The four are expected to return to Earth in February. Emma Bowman
Meet the astronauts preparing to travel farther from Earth than any human before This time next year, NASA plans to send its first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years. NPR visited the facility to find out how astronauts are preparing for this high stakes exploration. Scott Detrow
California’s first plastic bag ban made things worse. Now it’s trying again California and other states -- and some cities -- have learned a lesson: Bans on plastic bags don’t always go as planned. In fact, California's original ban made things worse. Bill Chappell
The story of a scientist who tried to stand for the truth and avoid Covid politics A scientist tried to stand up for the truth during a pandemic when political rhetoric and conspiracies were clouding everyone’s world. Rund Abdelfatah
California sues ExxonMobil for misleading public on plastic recycling California’s lawsuit alleges that ExxonMobil has known for decades that recycling would not effectively stem the flow of plastic waste. Michael Copley
Octopuses and fish share leadership — and enforcement — in group hunting When octopuses and fish hunt in groups in the Red Sea, the leadership roles are more dynamic than researchers knew — as are some ways the animals enforce cooperation. Ari Daniel
There’s evidence fragile X symptoms can be reduced with an experimental drug There's growing evidence that an experimental drug can help people with Fragile X syndrome, an inherited condition that can cause autism and intellectual disabilities Jon Hamilton
Money for cutting-edge climate technology could dry up in a second Trump term A hydrogen plant in Utah could offer a new path to slash fossil-fuel pollution. But federal funding that was critical for projects like this one could dry up if Donald Trump is reelected. Michael Copley
A new 'mini-moon' comes to Earth this fall An newly discovered asteroid will be captured by Earth's gravity this fall. The "mini-moon" will spend about two months in Earth's orbit, before being flung back on its normal path around the sun. Michael Levitt
