On Today's Podcast
Reconnecting with the night sky and reining in light pollution
Writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest sky to the darkest in our Book Club pick "The Wild Dark." Plus, the latest on light pollution.
Listen NowJuly 10, 2026
Two experts at the forefront of untangling the gut-brain connection explain its role in IBS, Parkinson’s, and depression. Plus, writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest sky to the darkest in our Book Club pick "The Wild Dark." And, while fog itself is not alive, researchers found that it can contain an ecosystem, including bacteria that eat pollutants.
Reconnecting with the night sky and reining in light pollution
Writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest sky to the darkest in our Book Club pick “The Wild Dark.” Plus, the latest on light pollution.
Learning to trust the night sky, one star at a time
In “The Wild Dark,” a young Craig Childs finds himself alone in a dark wilderness. As the Milky Way comes into focus, fear turns to wonder.
How does a shape-shifting microbe survive extreme heat?
Discover the fire amoeba, an extremophile that’s breaking records and expanding what scientists know about the limits of life.
Amid shifting politics, can we build stable global health systems?
Virologist, policymaker, diplomat: Dr. John Nkengasong discusses the current Ebola outbreak, and how public health is inherently political.
How does the gut-brain connection work?
Two experts at the forefront of untangling the gut-brain connection explain its role in IBS, Parkinson’s, and depression.
Inside the race to save wild axolotls
Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild. In a 2025 story, we explore the growing threats they face.
What was science like in America 250 years ago?
Sure, the American colonies had Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were thinking big thoughts about the world.
An artificial cell eats, grows, and reproduces. Is it alive?
Researchers have engineered an artificial cell, hoping to build a customizable chassis for chemical production.
Even Nobel Prize winners deal with imposter syndrome
In a story from 2025, neuroscientist Ardem Patapoutian discusses immigrating to the U.S., finding belonging, and pioneering touch research.
Squirrel poop drops Ice Age clues + The neuroscience of laughter
Ancient squirrel poop provides a snapshot of life during the last ice age. And, how different types of laughter originate in the brain.
Growing lunar potatoes + Dealing with razor-sharp moon dust
As NASA prepares for long-term moon bases, scientists are working on how to grow food in lunar soil and deal with razor-sharp moon dust.
Investigating ‘flow state’ with the bassist from Phish
In a 2025 story, Phish bassist Mike Gordon explains his work with neuroscientists to explore the transcendent experience of musical flow state.
Promising new treatments for pancreatic cancer and ALS
A new pancreatic cancer drug doubles survival times. And a new treatment for a rare form of ALS slows and improves some patients’ symptoms.
That chlorine smell at the pool? It’s pee
The chlorine in swimming pools reacts with our urine and sweat, producing volatile chemicals that are potentially harmful to breathe.
Under proposed rule, science funding must pass political review
The Office of Management and Budget has proposed rule changes to insert a political review step into the scientific grantmaking process.
Can you learn to love the scorpion?
Fossils suggest there were ancient scorpions over 3 feet long. Terrifying? Perhaps, but there’s a lot to love about these arachnids.
FDA approves a well-known sunscreen ingredient—finally
The FDA approved the first new sunscreen ingredient in over 20 years—one that’s long been used around the world. What took so long?
Why do sports announcers talk like that?
A linguist breaks down “sports announcer talk,” from inverted speech and rising pitch to the world-famous goal roar.
Swords, cannibalism, poison: inside the world of killer microbes
Some microbe species have evolved to stab, bomb, cannibalize, or poison each other. Can we harness their weapons for good?
When music transports you to a different place
Musical daydreams are a phenomenon shared across humankind. What do they tell us about our brains?