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November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she means to science, and what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, just in time for Thanksgiving, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
17:03
Webb Telescope Data Point To Six ‘Rogue Worlds’
Rogue worlds float around in the cosmos, untethered to a specific star. They could help scientists understand the formation of the Milky Way.
17:00
Why Eels Are So Mysterious—And In Demand
In her new book, Ellen Ruppel Shell covers the natural history of eels and the crime ring that has sprung up from illegally trafficking them.
12:13
Study Finds A Staggering Amount Of Plastic In Human Brains
A new study measuring microplastics in organs of the recently deceased found that about two dozen brain samples were 0.5% plastic by weight.
9:30
CDC Updates Guidelines For Managing Pain From IUD Insertion
Having an IUD inserted in the uterus is extremely painful for some people. The CDC now recommends that doctors use local anesthetics.
7:59
Protecting Sequoias From Wildfire Raises Tricky Questions
Sequoia National Park is largely designated as wilderness. That complicates efforts to protect its iconic trees from worsening wildfires.
17:06
Astronaut Cady Coleman On ‘Sharing Space’
Cady Coleman discusses her reaction to seeing Earth from orbit, the challenges of her path into space, and her new book.
17:32
Errors On Death Certificates May Be Skewing Mortality Data
Misreporting on death certificates could lead to inaccurate mortality data, including for key statistics like maternal mortality rates.
17:07
The History Of Teeth, From Ancient Fish To Humans
In “Bite,” author Bill Schutt takes readers on a dental adventure spanning half a billion years and much of the animal kingdom.
12:12
What Newly Discovered Cave Art Tells Us About Human Creativity
Archaeologists keep finding older and older cave art. Here’s what it could tell us about how humans evolved over time.
12:02
Scientists Find Strong Evidence For Liquid Water On Mars
Data from the Mars InSight lander points to the presence of liquid water underneath its crust.