Nell Greenfieldboyce

Wade Hanicker poses for a portrait at his home in Brooksville, Fla., on March 23. Hanicker was diagnosed with silicosis after years of cutting quartz countertops.

Thousands of U.S. countertop workers could have damaged lungs, safety expert says

Over 550 men in California have fallen ill after cutting natural or factory-made stone countertops. But epidemiologists say this isn't just a California problem.

A Devils Hole pupfish is pictured at the Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility in Nevada. Scientists recently took captive-bred pupfish from this facility and introduced them into the species' natural habitat in Death Valley National Park.

As federal scientists faced turmoil, the Devils Hole pupfish reached a crisis point

Nell Greenfieldboyce

The Devils hole pupfish lives in just one spot in Death Valley. Wildlife officials have managed this iconic fish for decades, and last spring, just as the Trump administration was laying off all kinds of scientists, the wild population of this fish plummeted to only 20 individuals. Officials then took an irrevocable step.

Pioneering geneticist J. Craig Venter has died at the age of 79, according to his namesake research institute.

Craig Venter, pioneering human genome decoder, dies at 79

Nell Greenfieldboyce

Pioneering scientist J. Craig Venter has died at 79. His "whole genome shotgun method" helped genome sequencing become faster and cheaper.

This week in space news: Artemis II next steps and a mysterious interstellar visitor

Scott Detrow, Nell Greenfieldboyce, Regina G. Barber

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Regina Barber and Nell Greenfieldboyce about the Artemis moon missions, the "seismic quiet" during a solar eclipse, and the origins of a mysterious interstellar visitor.

Covering the Artemis II mission

Nell Greenfieldboyce, Rob Schmitz

Covering the Artemis II mission was a dream assignment for one NPR science correspondent.

Artemis II mission inspires the next generation of space scientists

Nell Greenfieldboyce

Most of the world's population was not alive during the days of the Apollo moon program. What do young people make of this latest moonshot?

After more than 9 days in flight, NASA's Artemis II is set to return to Earth

Nell Greenfieldboyce

The four astronauts on NASA's Artemis II lunar mission are set to return to Earth Friday evening. The crew is wrapping up a journey around the moon with a planned splashdown off San Diego, Calif.

NASA's Artemis II astronauts ready for their close-up view of the Moon

Nell Greenfieldboyce

Monday is an important day on NASA's Artemis II mission. The crew is preparing for its lunar flyby and setting a record along the way: the farthest that humans have ventured in space.

In a photo provided by NASA, a view of Earth from NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II test flight Thursday. The crew completed a key burn, sending the capsule speeding to the moon for a lunar flyby.

NASA's Artemis II has left Earth's orbit, and 4 astronauts now head to the moon

Nell Greenfieldboyce

With the last major firing of its engine, the Artemis II spacecraft is now on a path that will take it around the moon and back.

NASA prepares to send four Artemis II astronauts on a lunar flyby

Nell Greenfieldboyce

NASA is preparing to launch four people on a trip around the moon and back. It's the first time in more than a half-century humans are set to venture around the moon.