This week in science: T. rex footprints, solar 'superflares,' and benefits of reading

Paleontologists have discovered the tracks of a giant — the fossilized footprints of T. rex. Plus, solar "superflares" and the brain benefits of reading in this week's Short Wave science news roundup. NPR Science LISTEN & FOLLOW NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio RSS link Science This week in science: T. rex footprints, solar 'superflares,' and benefits of reading September 17, 20265:41 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered By  Nathan Rott ,  Regina G. Barber SHORT WAVE NEWS ROUNDUP 9.17.2026 Listen · Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www. npr. org/player/embed/nx-s1-5970337/nx-s1-9930887" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Paleontologists have discovered the tracks of a giant — the fossilized footprints of T. rex. Plus, solar "superflares" and the brain benefits of reading in this week's Short Wave science news roundup. Transcript JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: It's time now for our science news round up from Short Wave, NPR'S science podcast. I'm joined 's host Regina Barber and Nate Rott. SUMMERS: As always, you've brought us three science stories that caught your attention recently. Tell us what they are. ROTT: OK, Juana, we've got some science that's going to make you want to pick up a book. BARBER: We asked the question, can our sun produce a dangerous superflare? ROTT: And to end on a lighter note, T. rex footprints. SUMMERS: OK, I have a lot of questions, a lot of questions here. SUMMERS: Let's start with reading science. BARBER: OK, so the big takeaway from all this science we're going to talk about is not going to be all that surprising. Reading's good for you, like we've all been told since we were kids. ROTT: Yes, Mom was right about everything. But what's really cool about this new research compiled in the journal Psychological Medicine is how specific it gets in looking at some of the benefits of reading. BARBER: Specifically, reading for fun. SUMMERS: I love reading for fun, particularly a good romance book or two. What's important, Juana, is that you're choosing to do it for some kind of satisfaction. BARBER: Which, as you may have heard, is increasingly rare. CHRISTELLE LANGLEY: Reading rates among children and young people are on the decline and actually at the lowest levels since they started taking records. ROTT: So that's Christelle Langley, an assistant professor at Cambridge University and one of the authors of this new review.