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Test-Tube Babies

The world's first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, turns 25 this week. When in vitro fertilization was first introduced, people were alarmed about the prospect of creating embryos in the laboratory. But a million babies later, the procedure has turned out to be much safer than many imagined. However, as NPR's Joe Palca reports, scientists still aren't sure how safe the procedure is.

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Joe Palca is a science correspondent for NPR. Since joining NPR in 1992, Palca has covered a range of science topics — everything from biomedical research to astronomy. He is currently focused on the eponymous series, "Joe's Big Idea." Stories in the series explore the minds and motivations of scientists and inventors. Palca is also the founder of NPR Scicommers – A science communication collective.