News Round Up: FDA chocolate assessment, a powerful solar storm and fly pheromones

After reading the science headlines this week, we have A LOT of questions. Is chocolate really that good for your health? How do solar flares affect life on earth? And what's the big deal about scientists identifying the chemical motivation for tsetse fly sex? Luckily, it's the job of Short Wave co-hosts Emily Kwong and Aaron Scott and Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber to decipher the science behind the headlines. Hang out with us as we dish on some of the coolest science stories in this Valentines-themed installment of our regular newsy get-togethers!

FDA chocolate assessment

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) responded to claims that chocolate and cocoa products can have health benefits. But ... the assessment is not a blanket green light. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey reports the FDA findings are scant and only apply to high flavonol (aka VERY bitter) cocoa powder. So, if you're going to eat a whole bag of dark chocolate kisses, do it because you WANT to — not because you SHOULD.

Valentine's Day light show

In the days leading up to Valentine's Day, there was a massive solar flare. And since the matter that it ejected took a few days to reach Earth, sweethearts in the northern hemisphere had a romantic February 14 under the resulting aurora. Nothing says I Love You like cosmic radiation.

Fly pheromones

Recently, scientists identified pheromones tsetse flies release to mate. Romantic for the flies, but not for the diseases they spread to humans and cattle. By extracting the pheromones and dousing a fly decoy, the scientists showed that the volatile chemicals were, shall we say ... effective on male flies. This work could inform trap designs to control tsetse fly populations.

Have suggestions for what we should cover in our next news roundup? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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This episode was produced by Berly McCoy and edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Anil Oza checked the facts, and the audio engineer was Josh Newell.