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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.
12:17
To Stop Whale Strikes, Ships Were Asked To Slow Down. It Worked
NOAA found that when ships decreased their speed during migration times, whale fatalities were cut in half.
16:32
How The Transistor Transformed The World
The invention of the transistor 75 years ago made the modern age possible, thanks to its ability to amplify or switch electrical signals.
17:31
Medicine Is Failing Disabled Patients. Meet The Doctors Pushing For Change
A series of studies reveals a majority of doctors don’t feel confident they can give disabled patients the same level of care as their non-disabled patients. Our guests aim to change that.
11:40
Wish A Happy 190th Birthday To Jonathan The Tortoise
Plus, scientists have found the oldest known fragments of DNA.
33:15
The Joy And Sadness Of Bird Counting
From grasslands to beaches, bird species are losing numbers in droves. Plus, celebrating the birds that are with us here and now.
16:32
How Will AI Image Generators Affect Artists?
AI text-to-image generators, like DALL-E 2 and Midjourney, produce impressive and trippy images. But how will they change art and our society?
28:31
The Science Behind The Psychedelics Boom
As therapeutic psychedelics become more readily available, scientists are continuing to answer fundamental questions about the drugs’ medicinal benefits.
12:05
Hawai’i’s Mauna Loa Volcanic Eruption Sparing Homes For Now
So far no one is at imminent risk from the flow of lava from the famed volcano. But an important climate research station is without power.
10:33
Scientists Discover What Makes Jazz Music Swing
Research mixing math and music finds what gives jazz that funky feeling.
11:48
Consider Empathy For The Yeti Crab (And Other Sea Creatures, Too)
Science writer Sabrina Imbler’s wide-ranging essays mix memoir and marine biology in “How Far The Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures.”