Science & Technology

Although the brood II cicadas aren't expected to emerge en masse until late May or June, a nice crop of them nested in a batch of poison ivy in Virgina’s Bull Run Regional Park on Thursday. Their veiny golden wings and bright beady red eyes clung to grass, leaves and tree bark. Continue

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University have achieved a longtime goal. They cloned a human embryo to derive embryonic stem cells able to transform into tissues and organs genetically identical to patients who need them. Jeffrey Brown talks to NPR's Rob Stein about the science as well as the ethical concerns. Continue

Scientists have found water trapped in lunar rocks. But where did it come from? And how did it get there? A new study last week says it may have come from Earth more than 4 billion years ago. Continue

Commander Chris Hadfield is a great many things: photographer, educator, social media maven -- did I mention astronaut? Add troubadour to the laundry list. That his music video -- a cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" -- has already scored 6.6 million hits is a testament to his success as a popularizer of science and space. Continue

In other news Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has reached a level not seen in millions of years. Also, the new skyscraper at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan now stands at its full height. The new structure will be the tallest in the U.S. Continue

After seven weeks of testimony, a verdict may be reached today on the trial of former Guatemalan leader Efraín Ríos Montt, who is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity committed during his 1982-1983 rule. Revisit the 1983 debate over the U.S. role in Guatemala from the MacNeil/Lehrer Report. Continue

Tonight, Miles O'Brien reports from Guatemala on forensic science used to document charges of a genocide against thousands of indigenous Mayans in the 80s. From Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin, who co-produced the piece, here's a look at their reporting. Continue

When San Francisco's newly constructed Exploratorium opened this spring, it received plenty of plaudits from the press and others. But across town, the Exploratorium has a cousin. Dan Sudran from San Francisco's Mission Science Workshop uses unlikely objects in an unlikely place to inspire kids about science. Continue

There is nothing more frustrating for a reporter than posing a legitimate, reasonable questions to a representative of a federal agency and, in response, being told to talk to the hand. Continue