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A space capsule with dirt and rocks collected from an asteroid has returned safely to Earth. Scientists eagerly anticipate what the samples could tell them about Earth's origins and the galaxy.

If all goes as planned, NASA will be celebrating the successful return of about 8 ounces of asteroid material. The return capsule will touch down in Utah Sunday morning.

NASA's Osiris-REx mission has successfully returned a pristine sample of asteroid back to Earth. This cupful-or-so of space rock could shed light on the solar system's origins.

NASA's first effort to retrieve samples from an asteroid will send a capsule that contains extraterrestrial pebbles and dust plunging towards a Utah desert on Sunday.

NASA is releasing a new report from advisers on what it would take for the agency to study unidentified anomalous phenomena (also known as UFOs) scientifically.

Over 6,000 octopuses have been found huddling around an extinct volcano deep in the Pacific Ocean near California, and researchers now think they understand why the octopuses find it so cozy.

The Perseid meteor shower sends bright streaks shooting across the night sky. Stargazers can watch the shower peak this weekend, but the key, experts say, will be patience.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. Tests for genetic risk factors are inexpensive, and yet many people don't take them. (Story aired on All Things Considered on Aug. 1, 2023.)

Millions of people in the U.S. have a genetic variant that raises their risk of cancer. Genetic testing can help people find cancer earlier and seek treatment. But many patients aren't offered it.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., and 10% of it comes from inherited gene mutations. Tests for genetic risk factors are inexpensive, and yet many people don't take them.

A study examines the toll of silicosis on stone workers. Dozens of young Latino men in California developed severe lung disease and at least 10 died. (Story aired on ATC on July 24, 2023.)

It's the time of year when many people look to the skies in search of shooting stars. We learn a few tricks to get the best view of incoming meteors.

A new study from UCSF/UCLA looks at the toll of silicosis on stone workers. Dozens of young Latino men in California have developed severe lung disease and at least 10 have died.

Countertops made of the engineered stone "quartz" are incredibly popular, but public health experts say cutting this material unsafely can expose workers to deadly dust.

The Devils Hole pupfish's natural habitat is a single water-filled hole in a cave in the Nevada desert. Its numbers at one point dwindled to just 35 animals. How does it manage to survive?

The Devils Hole pupfish's natural habitat is a single water-filled hole in a cave in the Nevada desert. Its numbers at one point dwindled to just 35 animals. How does it manage to survive?

Scientists have detected these strange particles from outer space before, but this is the first time they've caught cosmic neutrinos from our own Milky Way

Scientists say they've found evidence of a very long gravitational wave that could open a window onto supermassive black holes — and perhaps even other extreme, unseen objects in the universe.

Researchers find that the white spots on the wings of monarch butterflies may help them fly farther. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on June 21, 2023.)

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.