A multi-year megadrought in the Western U.S. has claimed untold populations of wild plants. Amid the conditions, some have survived. Scientists have produced a stunningly complete picture about how populations of one particular flower – the scarlet monkeyflower – made it through.
In a new study published in the journal Science, a team of scientists spent decades studying and sampling select populations of scarlet monkeyflowers in California and Oregon. Through genetic sequencing, the team discovered that the populations that did best went through genetic changes in a short time period. This is known as rapid evolution.
The team found that three of the populations that recovered the BEST adapted their stomata to open less, so they could conserve more water. Stomata act like a plant’s pores, managing gas exchange and water loss. This allowed the scarlet monkeyflowers to hunker down in the drought and survive.
Interested in more stories about rapid evolution? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.
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This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre, Rachel Carlson and Hannah Chinn. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Rebecca Ramirez. Aru Nair checked the facts. The audio engineers were Becky Brown and Robert Rodriguez.
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The Best One Yet - 🪦 “RIP META” — Zuck’s metaverse kill. K-Pop’s Demon concert. Asia’s 4-day oil week. +Guinness inspector
Netflix is bringing K-Pop Demon Hunters on a concert tour… because sequels are for suckers.
Zuck just killed the Metaverse… so does Meta need a new name?
Asia’s moving to 4-Day Work Weeks… because the War in Iran’s oil hits everyone different.
Plus, Guiness inspectors are making sure your beer is scientifically poured… for 119.5 seconds.
$META $DEO $NFLX
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NPR's Book of the Day - Two new murder mysteries: ‘Ruby Falls’ and ‘The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives’
Two new murder mystery novels let readers into hidden worlds: one underground and the other among the wives of serial killers. First, Ruby Falls begins in 1928 in Chattanooga, Tennessee when a man discovers a mysterious underground cavern and waterfall. In today’s episode, NPR’s Scott Simon speaks with Gin Phillips about the publicity stunt that sets her story in motion. Then, Lizzie Pook chats with NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe about The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives – published under the pen name Elizabeth Arnott – in which three women find each other after their husbands’ crimes are uncovered.
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Opening Arguments - DOJ Just Convicted Several People of Imaginary Antifa Terrorism
OA1245 - Federal prosecutors have just secured the first convictions in US history in which the Department of Justice has brought charges relating to associations with “Antifa,” an organization which demonstrably does not exist. We take a closer look at the plight of the eight defendants convicted on charges relating to a noise protest outside of an ICE detention center in Prarieland, Texas to break down the unusual legal basis for this case, understand how protesters were cast as terrorists, and what this all means for the future of American dissent.
Then in better news, we take a closer look at the recent bar complaint against one of Trump’s favorite lawyers (and our favorite MAGA characters) and AG Pam Bondi’s efforts to claim that the feds can hold up similar investigations brought by state regulators. Matt explains why this proposed rule is not only obviously illegal but doomed to fail before providing some news you can use in today’s footnote: the official OA guide on how to get away with a $100 million jewelry heist.
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Superseding Indictment #1 in United States v. Arnold (2025)
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Jury verdict in in United States v. Arnold (2025)
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“Meet the Defendants,” DFW Defense Committee website
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“Specification of Charges in the matter of Edward R. Martin Jr.” District of Columbia Board on Professional Responsibility (3/6/2026)
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“Review of State Bar Complaints and Allegations Against Department of Justice Attorneys,” Federal Register (3/5/2026)
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Global News Podcast - Israel holds off attacking Iranian gas infrastructure
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said Israel will hold off future attacks on Iranian gas fields after being asked to do so by President Trump. An Israeli attack on Iran's South Pars gas field on Wednesday, followed by Iranian attacks on Qatari gas installations caused steep rises in the price of gas and oil. Also, we get the view from Iran from our BBC Persian correspondent. We hear how life has changed in Jerusalem's Old City now that its most sacred Christian, Muslim and Jewish sites are closed to the public. And we talk to the scientist behind a new documentary about microplastics - and fertility.
The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Engines of Our Ingenuity - The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1540: The Ironclad Turtle
Episode: 1540 The Korean Turtle Boat - the first ironclad. Today, we meet a turtle with an iron shell.
The Stack Overflow Podcast - After all the hype, was 2025 really the year of AI agents?
Ryan is joined by Stefan Weitz, CEO and co-founder of the HumanX Conference, for a conversation on how AI has evolved in the last year. They discuss whether “the year of the agent” came to fruition, why companies are moving away from AGI, and the major blockers for AI adoption, from distrust in non-deterministic systems to enterprise data-readiness.
Episode notes:
HumanX 2026, one of the biggest AI conferences of the year, is happening in San Francisco from April 6-9. Listen to our episodes recorded on the conference floor last year.
Connect with Stefan on LinkedIn.
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It Could Happen Here - Executive Disorder: Bovino Calls It Quits, Prairieland Trial, War on Iran Continues
The gang discuss Polymarket gamblers harassing journalists to alter news coverage, the antifa terrorism case in Texas, threats to oil and gas infrastructure, 2,500 Marines being sent to the Middle East, and the resignation of Joe Kent.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/ships-iran-oil-china-us-trump-hormuz-82a9acb473837f1bf7a821d0c3f95205
https://defector.com/trump-to-world-please-help-me-un-shoot-my-own-leg-off
https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk
https://communityforums.atmeta.com/blog/AnnouncementsBlog/updates-to-your-meta-quest-experience-in-2026/1369435
https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2033674470712353192?s=20
https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-03-03/prairieland-ice-detention-center-shooting-trial-defendants-self-defense-third-party-defense-theory-judge-mark-pittman
https://prairielanddefendants.com/court-notes/march-3rd-federal-trial-day-7/
https://prairielanddefendants.com/court-notes/march-6th-federal-trial-day-10/
https://prairielanddefendants.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Superseding-Indictment-2.pdf
https://prairielanddefendants.com/court-notes/february-27th-federal-trial-day-6/
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.410488/gov.uscourts.txnd.410488.366.0.pdf
https://prairielanddefendants.com/court-notes/march-9th-federal-trial-day-11/
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R41333
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.410488/gov.uscourts.txnd.410488.367.0.pdf
https://x.com/petrogustavo/status/2034111241409445916?s=20
https://x.com/LisaDNews/status/2033996104186970532?s=20
https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2032460946770202725?s=20
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gregory-bovino-border-patrol-to-retire-sources/
https://x.com/wartranslated/status/2033497141306405353?s=20
https://www.cbp.gov/employee-resources/retirement/leo-cbpo/cbpo-retirement
https://www.cbp.gov/employee-resources/retirement/fers
https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/031626zr1_5h25.pdf
https://x.com/NotWoofers/status/2033733565838496020?s=20
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/3/15/fpv-drone-slams-into-us-military-base-in-iraq
https://hengaw.net/en/reports-and-statistics-1/2026/03/article-8
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/03/article-17
https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/2033897242986209689?s=20
https://x.com/PressSec/status/2033932810709315865
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array(3) { [0]=> string(184) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/125d97fb-d56e-46d8-993c-b4120134557c/image.jpg?t=1773945843&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }The World in Brief from The Economist - Netanyahu says Iran can no longer enrich uranium; America tries to calm energy markets, and more
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, claimed Iran no longer has the capability to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles.
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Getting Hammered® - #Todayin1776: Washington Tells Hancock He Chased Off the Brits
Gen. George Washington seems to let himself be happy in this letter to Hancock about having cleared the British army out of Boston, which they find in fairly good condition after 11 months of siege and occupation.
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