Around the Nation
8:57 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

40 Years After Killer Flood, A Reshaped City Reflects

Survivors say the wall of water was like a tsunami that destroyed nearly everything in its path as it roared through a Black Hills canyon and into town. The flash flood that hit Rapid City, S.D., on June 9, 1972, was one of the worst floods in U.S. history. It killed 238 people and damaged or washed away more than 1,300 homes.

On Saturday, the city will read the names of those who died and reflect on how the flood changed the way the city and others towns across the country built themselves.

'It Was Hell'

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Music
7:29 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

Kishi Bashi: Unique Performances In Time

Credit Jennifer Leigh
Kishi Bashi is the stage name of Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist K. Ishibashi.

Originally published on Sat June 9, 2012 9:58 am

Consider this name: Kishi Bashi. It has a pleasant, repetitive character with a nice — if unusual — little loop. It's an apt stage name for a musician who's creating something haunting, beautiful and maybe a little off-kilter through the technology of looping.

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Latin America
5:59 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

Mexicans Want New Approach To Bloody Drug War

Second of two parts

Mexicans select a new president on July 1, and they want a leader who can reduce the rampant violence in their country. Warring drug cartels have killed more than 50,000 people in the past 5 1/2 years, while thousands have disappeared and some cities have been turned into lawless zones.

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Arts
1:34 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

Tours Given Of Wichita Frank Lloyd Wright Building

One of two buildings in Wichita designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright is the Corbin Education Center on the Wichita State University campus.

American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed more than 1,000 structures during his lifetime. Among them is the Corbin Education Center on the Wichita State Campus.

Walking tours of the building will be offered Friday in honor of Wright's birthday.

Alan Aagaard is a WSU professor and will lead the tours. He'll talk about the architect's career and other familiar buildings in Wichita designed by Wright's students.

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Science
12:53 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

The Winning Answer To A Burning Question

Alan Alda challenged scientists to explain what a flame is to an 11-year-old. Three months and more than 800 entries later he is back with the winner of the contest. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the winning entry and why the contest was an effective exercise in science communication.

Research News
12:48 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

Identifying The Real Culprit Behind Killer Vascular Diseases

Reporting in the journal Nature Communications,researchers write that they were able to track down the cells causing clogged arteries. Dr. Jill Helms, co-author on the study, discusses why stem cells are to blame and how the study could lead to more effective treatments.

Technology
12:45 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

How 'Flame' Malware Hijacks A Computer

Russian antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab has discovered a piece of malware infecting computers mostly in the Middle East. Flame eavesdrops on conversations, takes screenshots and steals data from infected computers without being detected. Wired's Kim Zetter discusses how the malicious code works.

It's All Politics
12:41 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

GOP Dope Slaps Obama For Saying Private Sector's 'Doing Fine'

Credit BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP/Getty Images
President Obama handed Republicans an unexpected gift which they in turn bashed him with.

Originally published on Fri June 8, 2012 3:39 pm

-- Updated at 4:20 pm ET. See end of post --

President Obama opened himself up to withering Republican attacks Friday via an off-hand statement he made in a brief White House news conference.

Obama seemed to suggest that matters were going swimmingly for the private-sector part of the economy and that it was the reduction of government jobs that was the real problem.

Asked to respond to Republican charges that he was blaming Europe's economic policies for the alleged failure of his own domestic economic policies, Obama said:

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NPR Story
12:36 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

SpaceX Dragon May Ferry Astronauts By 2015

Originally published on Fri June 8, 2012 1:06 pm

SpaceX's Dragon capsule has travelled safely to the International Space Station and back. The next step, says Space.com writer Clara Moskowitz, is to outfit the capsule for crew, which SpaceX hopes to complete by 2015. Until then US astronauts will hitch rides on Russia's Soyuz, at about $60 million a pop.

NPR Story
12:36 pm
Fri June 8, 2012

Ex-Spy Telescopes May Aid Hunt For Dark Energy

Originally published on Fri June 8, 2012 1:02 pm

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

You're listening to SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. Our next story is about one person's garbage being another person's treasure. You know how that works. Well, this one is a very interesting story. Last year, the National Reconnaissance Office, they operate America's spy satellites, well, the National Reconnaissance Office called up NASA with an offer: Would NASA like a couple of old spy telescopes? We don't need them. Could you do anything useful with them? We'll give them to you.

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