featured segment
The Peculiarity of Homo Sapiens
Modern humans are the only surviving hominin from what was once a rich, fairly bushy family tree. But why did we alone survive?
12:12
Polluting Planes, Coked-Out Eels, and the Science of ‘Frass’ (Fake Grass)
What cutting airlines’ carbon emissions could mean, why scientists gave eels cocaine, and the good and bad of artificial turf.
17:27
The Peculiarity of Homo Sapiens
Modern humans are the only surviving hominin from what was once a rich, fairly bushy family tree. But why did we alone survive?
7:53
Will Our Smartphones Know Us Better Than Ourselves?
This week Apple revealed an improved Siri comparable to Android’s Google Now.
8:44
The Silky Wonders of Worm Spit
Bioengineers at Tufts University are crafting silk protein into medical, optical, and bioelectronic materials.
12:06
Repurposing Drugs to Discover New Treatments
Could approved drugs be repurposed to discover new treatments for chronic and rare diseases?
17:43
Climate Skeptics Convene on Capitol Hill
This week, the Tenth International Conference on Climate Change convened in Washington, D.C. But don’t confuse it with the IPCC.
8:21
The Walking…and Falling Robots of DARPA’s Robotics Competition
The DARPA Robotics Competition challenged teams to design robots that could navigate a simulated disaster scenario.
8:09
This Ant Stinks
Two entomologists set out to prove the true scent of the odorous house ant.