Episodes

Cancer treatment and prevention has come a long way in the past few decades. Plus, a University of Hawaiʻi study will be the largest of its kind to investigate the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires. And, researchers found that polymetallic nodules 13,000 feet deep may produce “dark oxygen” by electrolyzing water.

NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered pure sulfur on Mars. Plus, monogamous prairie voles may help us understand how our brains respond to love, and how they move on after heartbreak. And researchers developed the first anode-free solid-state battery that’s based on sodium, which is cheaper and more abundant than lithium.

A noisy bitcoin mine’s cooling fans are so loud they rattle windows. Residents of Granbury, Texas, are experiencing symptoms of noise pollution. Plus, a weather expert decodes the lingo from the new movie “Twisters”—and real-life tornado trends. And, an FDA panel rejects MDMA therapy for PTSD, raising concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.

Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters. Plus, there are currently 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night.

Discover your science reads for the summer with two authors and science writers familiar with the best books on the shelf. Plus, Ira talks to restoration experts about the science of preserving America’s founding documents. And, from drought-resistant crops to making sure farmers of color thrive, here’s how experts in Iowa are looking at the future of agriculture.

In an effort to learn from scientific failure, The Journal of Trial Error only publishes “negative” results. Plus, the age of first menstruation trended downward from 1950 to 2005, but more so among low-income kids and kids of color. And, Paris has invested $1.5B in cleaning up the Seine for open-water swimming events, but recent tests indicate it’s not yet safe.

When the federal government wavered in its commitment to climate action, city sustainability officers stepped up. Plus, a deep-sea squid was filmed cradling large eggs for its body size, which suggests it’s an entirely new species. And, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expired on June 10, but supporters are still fighting to expand it.

Happy Cephalopod Week! Squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish use ink to confuse predators and to communicate. But there’s even more to know about inking. Plus, researchers used citizen science observations and machine learning to understand where fireflies are and what they need to thrive. And, psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour helped make “Inside Out 2” more scientifically accurate.

A new book looks at the history of psychological warfare, its connections to science fiction, and how it’s been adapted to modern politics. Plus, the genome of a little fern has 160.45 billion base pairs—50 times more DNA than a human. And, how will Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s leadership shape science policy in Mexico?

A science journalist discusses plants’ ability to communicate, store memories, and more in her new book, “The Light Eaters.” Plus, how the eerie calls of the common loons have made their way into pop music. And, the growing field of Indigenous data sovereignty demands that Native communities maintain the right to decide how data about their people are collected, owned, and used.