Episodes
Superfund sites contain extreme pollution. Flooding—made worse by climate change—could carry their toxic contaminants into surrounding areas.
Published 04/23/24
Published 04/23/24
An explosion of research is painting a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting mental health across the globe. Also, a citizen science project aims to find species that have gone unnoticed by sampling the waters of hundreds of lakes worldwide for environmental DNA.
Published 04/22/24
Global temperature increases are slowing, electric vehicle sales are growing, and renewable energy is now cheaper than some fossil fuels. Also, in a recent outbreak of avian flu, the virus has jumped from birds to cows, and to one dairy worker. A disease ecologist provides context.
Published 04/19/24
When you watch a baseball game, you’re also enjoying a spectacular display of science—from physics to biomechanics.
Published 04/18/24
Some food has a larger carbon footprint when grown in urban settings than on commercial farms, while for other foods the reverse is true. Also, what’s the difference between wildflowers blooming in the desert each spring, and the rare phenomenon of a “superbloom”?
Published 04/17/24
Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.
Published 04/16/24
These lesser-known nervous system cells were long thought to be the “glue” holding neurons together. They’re much more.
Published 04/15/24
A long-awaited rule from the EPA limits the amounts of six PFAS chemicals allowed in public drinking water supplies. Also, some spiders, beetles, and centipedes spend winter under snow in a layer called the subnivium. Plus, a drumroll for the total solar eclipse.
Published 04/12/24
When an animal dies at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo, a pathologist gathers clues about its health and death from a necropsy.
Published 04/11/24
In the ever-changing and biodiverse Chesapeake Bay, conservation and food production go hand in hand.
Published 04/10/24
Satellite technology—and community outreach—can help harness trees’ cooling power for city residents.
Published 04/09/24
Dr. Eric Topol discusses the promise of “opportunistic” AI, using medical scans for unintended diagnostic purposes. Also, a study in mice found that the brain tags new memories through a “sharp wave ripple” mechanism that then repeats during sleep.
Published 04/08/24
A Massachusetts man who received a kidney from a genetically modified pig is recovering well. Also, on April 8, a total solar eclipse will plunge parts of North America into darkness. Scientists answer the questions you asked.
Published 04/05/24
We revisit a 2020 interview with cosmologist Katie Mack about how the universe could end. Plus, remembering psychologist Daniel Kahneman.
Published 04/04/24
Officials say offshore wind turbines aren’t killing North Atlantic right whales. So why do so many people think otherwise?
Published 04/03/24
After a controversial Alzheimer’s medication was discontinued, a new anti-amyloid drug receives extra scrutiny from the FDA.
Published 04/02/24
Particle accelerators, nanofibers, and solar physics: The science advisor for the Netflix adaptation breaks down the physics in the show. Also, in her new book, Jessica J. Lee looks at how humans have moved plants around the globe–and how our migrations are intertwined with theirs.
Published 04/01/24
We look into the engineering reasons why the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into it. Also, a new analysis finds that more viruses spread from humans to animals than from animals to humans.
Published 03/29/24
In a conversation from 2019, Dr. Frans de Waal tells the story of a female chimp who didn’t produce enough milk to feed her young. The prominent primatologist, who died this month, helped humans understand the emotional lives of our closest living animal relatives.
Published 03/28/24
In a new memoir, planetary scientist Dr. Dante Lauretta takes readers behind the scenes of a mission to secure a sample from the asteroid Bennu.
Published 03/27/24
Understanding how sea lions move through water could help engineers design better underwater vehicles.
Published 03/26/24
The U.S. Botanic Garden is one of 62 locations across the United States that rescue endangered species poached in the wild.
Published 03/25/24
The World Meteorological Organization’s report confirms last year had the highest temperatures on record and predicts an even hotter 2024. Also, NASA’s new PACE satellite will study how these tiny creatures could affect Earth’s climate, and how aerosols influence air quality.
Published 03/22/24
A group of fish called gar, dubbed “living fossils,” may have the slowest rate of evolution of any jawed vertebrate.
Published 03/21/24