Episodes

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.

New findings about how substances like air pollutants can trigger cancer may help reveal carcinogens we were unaware of. Plus, scientists in Ecuador are on a mission to describe new-to-science tarantula species and help secure conservation protections. And, the first CRISPR gene-editing treatment is a cure for sickle cell disease.

Prescription rates for ADHD drugs rose by 30% from 2020-2022, with large increases among women and young people. Plus, veterinary experts discuss what is known about the potential respiratory pathogen—or pathogens—and which dogs are most at risk. And, Irth is a “Yelp-like” app to help expectant parents make informed decisions by exposing bias and racism in healthcare systems.

Scientists are testing artificial intelligence’s ability to read imaging results, make diagnoses, and more. Plus, a new book explores how the moon changed us—and how we’ve changed the moon. And, artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future.

Dr. Adam Frank discusses the human fascination with extraterrestrial life—and the scientific search for it—in his new book. Plus, digging into MIT Technology Review’s annual list of exciting technologies with executive editor Amy Nordrum. And, a new brain atlas catalogs cell types by the genes they express, which could help medical researchers tailor treatments.