Shahla Farzan
NPR
St. Louis, MO, United States
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Past articles by Shahla:
Missouri scientists work to save lake sturgeon by electronically tracking them
With a decreasing population of lake sturgeon, nine states have listed the species as endangered. To protect them, scientists are studying where lake sturgeon travel before and after they reproduce. → Read More
Missouri scientists eavesdrop on an ancient river giant to prevent its extinction
Lake sturgeon are ancient creatures that have survived cataclysmic events over millions of years. But scientists worry they might not survive us. → Read More
Climate Change is Shrinking Animals, Especially Bird-Brained Birds
As the world warms, many animals are getting smaller. For birds, new research shows what they have upstairs may just make a different in how much smaller they get. → Read More
Missouri's wild turkeys aren't having enough hatchlings, worrying scientists and hunters
Wild turkey populations in Missouri have taken a nosedive in the past 15 years. Biologists say the declines are connected to dwindling numbers of baby turkeys statewide. → Read More
As weather turns chilly, St. Louis prepares to expand homeless services
St. Louis has set aside more than $43 million in federal funding for homeless services and housing support. Advocates hope to see progress before deadly winter weather arrives. → Read More
How St. Louis scientists are hunting for the next generation of tick-borne viruses
Several deadly tick-borne viruses have emerged in the Midwest in recent years, including the Heartland virus, first discovered in Missouri. Scientists say there are likely more that have gone undiagnosed. → Read More
Trumpeter swans are returning to St. Louis. Here’s where you can see them
The number of trumpeter swans spotted at the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton has swelled in recent decades, from just five in 1991 to nearly 900 last year. → Read More
Here’s where you can find COVID vaccines for kids 5-11 in St. Louis
Federal health officials on Tuesday gave final approval for a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to kids as young as 5. → Read More
Air pollution in St. Louis helps fuel coronavirus spread, especially in communities of color
Black people and Latinos in St. Louis are more likely to live in areas with polluted air. Long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to faster coronavirus transmission, new research finds. → Read More
Nearly half of Missouri nursing home workers never got a COVID vaccine. New rules may require it
A federal mandate will soon require all U.S. nursing homes to vaccinate their workers or risk losing government funding. But some worry vaccine mandates will worsen staff shortages. → Read More
How St. Louis is tied to the hot and cold past of the air conditioner
Humans have come up with an ingenious way to keep the heat at bay, but A/C comes at a cost, and if we’re going to keep up with a warming climate, we’re going to need some other tricks to stay cool. → Read More
St. Louis Mayor appoints new human services director, replacing long-time leader
Yusef Scoggin has led St. Louis County’s Office of Family and Community Services since 2017 and will become the city's next director of human services. → Read More
Utility Rates Could Increase For More Than 1 Million Missouri Customers Next Year
The rate increase would boost Ameren Missouri's yearly revenue by $300 million and help finance clean energy projects. But advocates argue that rate increases will put struggling families at risk of utility disconnection and homelessness. → Read More
Cyberattackers Target Missouri Hospital At Epicenter Of COVID Outbreak, Post Patient Data
The ransomware group known as Hive has stolen confidential patient information from Sikeston-based Missouri Delta Medical Center, including Social Security numbers and medical information. → Read More
Missouri Researchers Discover Prehistoric Worm Covered In Armored Plates
The fossils of the now-extinct worms had been tucked away for decades in the University of Kansas paleontology collection before researchers reexamined them. → Read More
Immunocompromised People Produce Fewer Antibodies When Vaccinated, May Need Boosters
New research from Washington University finds about 90% of immunosuppressed patients vaccinated for the coronavirus produced infection-fighting antibodies, but their immune response was weaker than that of healthy people. → Read More
St. Louis Mayor Says Social Workers Will Help ‘Disrupt And Transform’ Public Safety
The Social Workers for St. Louis Initiative aims to connect nonviolent people experiencing mental health crises with trained health care workers — rather than police officers. → Read More
Pay-What-You-Can Grocery Store To Open In South St. Louis
MARSH Grocery Cooperative will sell locally grown produce and other organic food on a sliding scale, based on what each customer can afford. → Read More
Climate Change Driving 'Unprecedented' Warming And Precipitation In Missouri
Missouri has experienced some of the warmest and wettest years on record in recent decades, said Pat Guinan, state climatologist and associate professor of climatology at the University of Missouri Extension. → Read More
With A COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids Months Away, St. Louis Doctor Has Advice For Parents
Dr. Delene Musielak, a pediatrician at St. Luke's Hospital, said more children are testing positive for the coronavirus and parents should take precautions to protect them. → Read More