Butterflies may hold clues to longer lives

NPR | By Jason Fuller,

Pien Huang, Janaya Williams

Published June 20, 2026 at 5:51 PM EDT

Why do some butterflies live for months while others survive only weeks? Tufts University researcher Jessica Foley explains what Heliconius butterflies can teach us about aging.

Jason Fuller

See stories by Jason Fuller

Pien Huang

Pien Huang is a health reporter on the Science desk. She was NPR's first Reflect America Fellow, working with shows, desks and podcasts to bring more diverse voices to air and online.

See stories by Pien Huang

Janaya Williams

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

Don Gonyea's front-row seat to presidential history

Matt Ozug, Pien Huang, Don Gonyea

As Don Gonyea covered the launch of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago this week, he recalled key moments from presidential library openings he has covered throughout his career.
NPR News

Israel's growing fight over Palestinian symbols

Itay Stern

For some it's a symbol of identity. For others, a challenge to the state. NPR's Itay Stern reports on the debate over the Palestinian flag in Israel.
Flu outbreak tests new Pentagon vaccine policy

Pien Huang, Linah Mohammad, Janaya Williams

A flu outbreak at a Texas Air Force Base is fueling debate over the Pentagon's decision to end the military's flu vaccine mandate. Former military health official Jose Sanchez explains the stakes.
NPR News

For Pakistan's Ismaili muslims, a visit from their spiritual leader brings a homecoming

Betsy Joles

For many Ismaili Muslims, seeing the Aga Khan is a once-in-a-lifetime event. NPR's Betsy Joles reports from his visit to remote northern Pakistan.
The cruelty behind 'Minnesota nice'

Henry Larson, Pien Huang, Sarah Robbins

George Floyd's murder put Minneapolis in the spotlight. Justin Ellis' new book, 'The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis is the Story of America,' says the city embodies a contradiction - liberal ideals alongside deep racial disparities.