Emma Gometz

This week, SciFri is coming to you from Ames, Iowa. We’re kicking off the sciencey Iowa celebrations by spotlighting some of the plants, animals and unique ecosystems of the Hawkeye state. Ira talks with Charity Nebbe, host of the “Talk of Iowa” at Iowa Public Radio, about the state’s largest prairie restoration project, the conservation of prairie chickens, and its rebounding wildlife.

Discover dark constellations, massive radio telescopes, and more, in our newsletter on astronomy and space science from Latin America.

As corals around the world bleach at alarming rates, scientists are racing to preserve a string of remarkable reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tinnitus, a condition commonly described as a persistent ringing in the ears, affects millions of people around the world. In the US, the prevalence of tinnitus is estimated at around 11% of the population, with 2% affected by a severe form of the condition that can be debilitating. But despite it being so common, the exact causes of some tinnitus, and how best to think about treating the condition, are still unclear. In some cases, it’s brought on by exposure to loud noise, while in others, an ear infection or even earwax can be to blame.

Sports are a critical part of human culture just about everywhere in the world. Maybe you played little league as a kid, or like to go to the park for a game of pickup basketball, or even just cheer for your favorite team on the weekends.

In “Wild Life,” Dr. Rae Wynn Grant tells the story of her first days tagging and tracking black bears for her PhD.

A new book describes how effects of climate change, like intense flooding from 2019’s Typhoon Hagibis, have changed sports history.

This article is part of The State of Science, a series featuring science stories from public radio stations across the United States. This story, by Celia Llopis-Jepsen, was originally published by KCUR.

A rocket with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft atop on the launch pad of Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Credit: NASA, Joel Kowsky

The Field Museum has unveiled a new specimen of Archaeopteryx, a species that may hold the key to how ancient dinosaurs became modern birds.