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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.
12:09
Small Drones Raise Big Legal Questions
Law professor Ryan Calo discusses how to regulate personal drones and other potentially invasive technologies.
17:14
The True Story Behind ‘Spare Parts’
In “Spare Parts,” four teenage MacGyvers beat MIT with a smelly robot built with PVC pipe.
29:31
Scientists and the Public Disagree on Key Issues
Is it possible to shift public opinion on controversial scientific issues?
16:22
Put Down Your Phone, Give Your Brain a Break
Some studies suggest letting the mind wander spurs creativity and contemplation. Is it time to rethink our relationship with our phones and bring back boredom?
17:18
Journeying to the Building Blocks of the Solar System
What can comets, asteroids, and protoplanets tell us about the formation of the solar system?
12:05
Scientists Engineer Bacteria With Genetic ‘Kill Switch’
Genetic engineers have designed strains of E. coli that can survive only in the presence of a compound that doesn’t exist in nature.
7:54
Behind the Scenes of the Explorers Club
The Explorers Club houses artifacts from research expeditions over the last century, including the first exploration to the North Pole to the Apollo 11 moon mission.
8:39
Conserving Cuba’s Coral Reefs
Since 1970, Caribbean coral have declined by more than 50 percent, according to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.
17:20
Remembering the Moment Black Holes Went Mainstream
Forty-five years ago, a collaboration between Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking transformed perceptions about black holes and the beginning of the universe.
11:59
Lasers Help Metal Resist Rust and Ice
Scientists use lasers to create super water-repellent metals.