For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines, follow NPR's Short Wave podcast. When Skip Maas first adopted Agrapina, a mottled ball python, she hadn't eaten in 14 ...

And now we consider pythons. It is usually best to keep our distance from these sometimes deadly creatures, but a group of researchers say these snakes may hold secrets that could help us live longer ...

When Skip Maas first adopted Agrapina, a mottled ball python, she hadn't eaten in 14 months. But as he soon observed, she was still a taut coil of spring-loaded muscle. Presented with a rat, she ...

Pythons have several unusual traits that scientists are studying for potential clues for treating human disease. (Ari Daniel for NPR) For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind ...