NPR News reports on Federal Agents being sent to states to stem violent crime, Covid-19 and the possibilities for ‘natural herd immunity, federal funding for public lands and more.
Tag Archives: Covid-19
Top New Science Podcasts: First Humans In Americas, Covid-19 And Green Frogs
When did people arrive in the Americas? New evidence stokes debate. New evidence may push back the date on human arrival to the Americas, and an examination of science’s flaws.
In this episode:
00:59 Ancient Americans
Two papers suggest that humans were present in the Americas thousands of years before many people have thought. We examine the evidence. Research Article: Ardelean et al.; Research Article: Becerra-Valdivia and Higham; News and Views: Evidence grows that peopling of the Americas began more than 20,000 years ago
10:44 Coronapod
We discuss the latest results from vaccine trials around the world, and controversy in the US as COVID-19 data collection moves out of the CDC. News: Coronavirus vaccines leap through safety trials — but which will work is anybody’s guess
24:38 Research Highlights
How being green makes things easy for some frogs, and how waves will be affected by climate change. Research Highlight: How frogs became green — again, and again, and again; Research Highlight: Extreme Arctic waves set to hit new heights
27:11 How can science improve?
A new book highlights some of the flaws of how science is done. We caught up with the author to find out his thoughts on how science can be cleaned up. Books and Arts: Fraud, bias, negligence and hype in the lab — a rogues’ gallery
35:54 Briefing Chat
We take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we discuss a puzzling new insight into the expansion of the Universe, and an update to Plan S that will allow open-access research to be published in any journal. Nature News: Mystery over Universe’s expansion deepens with fresh data; Nature News: Open-access Plan S to allow publishing in any journal
Medical Videos: “How Coronaviruses Work” (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
It’s one of the tiniest machines on the planet — about a hundred times smaller than the average cell. It’s so small that no scientist can spot it through a typical light microscope. Only with an electron microscope can we see its spiky surface. It’s not alive, and it’s not what most of us would think of as “dead.” This teensy machine seems to survive in a kind of purgatory state, yet it has traveled across continents and oceans from host to host, and brought hundreds of nations to a standstill. Despite its diminutive size, the novel coronavirus, dubbed SARS-CoV-2, has seemingly taken the world by surprise with its virulence.
CDC Infographic: Contact Tracing If “Diagnosed” Or “Exposed” To Covid-19


Morning News Podcast: Families Form ‘Schooling Pods’, Coronavirus Safety And Washington Redskins
Many school districts are still debating whether to go with a virtual, in classroom or hybrid education model for the year, but some families are taking their children’s education into their own hands. Neighbors are banding together to form schooling “pods” with private instructors as a way to secure child care and make sure their kids don’t fall behind in school.
But this trend could deepen the educational divide along racial and class lines.
- President Trump changes tact on Coronavirus safety
- Re-branding the Washington Redskins
Guests: Axios’ Caitlin Owens, Margaret Talev, and Kendall Baker.
Morning News Podcast: Race For Covid-19 Vaccine, Swing States & Fall TV
The U.K. and China made big news with promising results in vaccine development for the coronavirus — the US, Russia and at least five other countries are also working on possible vaccines.
But for a vaccine to work effectively, these countries should be working together. Instead, they’re clashing. Countries like the US and Canada have even accused Russia of stealing our vaccine research. Plus:
- Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Georgia are all swing states at the center of the 2020 voting crisis.
- And, how the virus will wreak havoc on your fall TV lineup.
Guests: Axios’ Dave Lawler, Stef Kight, and Sara Fischer
Morning News Podcast: Congress Debates Relief Package, Covid-19 In 40 States & Portland Police
Lawmakers are back on the hill negotiating the next trillion dollar relief package for the struggling economy. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases surge in 40 states. Finally, an update on the clash between protesters and police in Portland, Oregon.
Food & Dining: “How A Michelin Star Restaurant Will Cope Post Covid-19”
After months in lockdown, restaurants are back. But they’re coming out of hibernation into a strange new world shaped by the coronavirus pandemic. In the first in a new series of films, food writer Tim Hayward and the FT’s Daniel Garrahan visit Lyle’s in east London to see how a Michelin star restaurant has pivoted from fine dining to pizza.
The Economist reviews the world’s top headlines including Blackrock’s earnings, new Covid-19 cases rise in America and other countries, airline industry updates and more.

