Episodes

Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees at an alarming rate. We’ll go inside the race to stop these parasites. Plus, meet the subnivium, a layer between snowpack and soil where some spiders, beetles, and centipedes spend the winter. And, enjoy the spectacular display of science during a baseball game—from physics to biomechanics.

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will plunge parts of North America into darkness. Scientists answer the questions you asked. Plus, satellite technology—and community outreach—can help harness trees’ cooling power for city residents. And, a Massachusetts man who received a kidney from a genetically modified pig is recovering well.

After a controversial Alzheimer’s medication was discontinued, a new anti-amyloid drug receives extra scrutiny from the FDA. Plus, a new analysis finds that more viruses spread from humans to animals than from animals to humans. And, the science advisor for the Netflix adaptation of “The 3 Body Problem” breaks down the physics in the show.

The U.S. Botanic Garden rescues endangered plant species poached in the wild. Plus, understanding how sea lions move through water could help engineers design better underwater vehicles. And, 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.

In her new book, Dr. Arielle Johnson explains how and what we taste with chemistry. Plus, post-Dobbs, ob-gyns and medical students alike must navigate the risk of criminal prosecution associated with patient care in some states. And, four years ago this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Experts say it’s far from over.

Drag queen Kyne is on a mission to make math fun and accessible for all. Plus, the Union of Concerned Scientists has unveiled an election science task force led by experts from across the country. And, a planetary scientist compares the planet Arrakis from “Dune” to real exoplanets.

Neuroscience graduate student Senegal Alfred Mabry is looking at effects of Parkinson’s disease beyond the most visible body tremors. Plus, snakes evolve faster than their lizard relatives, allowing them to occupy diverse niches. And, the book “Countdown” looks at why the US is modernizing its arsenal, and what it means to exist with nuclear weapons.

How can some people recall random facts so easily? A ‘Jeopardy!’ winner studied how trivia experts recall facts. Plus, a security expert weighs in on Sora, OpenAI’s new text-to-video generator, and the risks it could pose, especially during an election year. And, a new generation of space lawyers will broker deals and handle disputes between countries as the world enters a new era of space exploration.

Michael Mann discusses what a defamation suit victory means for the public understanding of climate science—and for bad-faith attacks on scientists. Plus, a lack of diversity in the microbes that make Camembert, brie, and some blue cheeses could mean we bid adieu to some French varieties. And, as the environmental costs of tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E mount, governments are demanding more clarity from tech companies.

In a new book, Dr. Uché Blackstock reflects on her experiences as a Black physician and the structural racism embedded in medicine. Plus, associating images from a child’s daily life with the sounds they were hearing helped teach a computer model a set of basic nouns. And, colorectal cancer is increasingly common among younger adults.