On Today's Podcast
Fingernails And Indigestion At The 2025 Ig Nobel Prizes
The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate unusual scientific research—this year including lizard pizza preferences and fingernail growth.
Listen NowNovember 28, 2025
The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate unusual scientific research—this year including lizard pizza preferences and fingernail growth. Plus, in a conversation from August, exercise researchers discuss what physical activity does to mental health. And, in a story from February, a journalist explains the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t.
17:25
A Precisely Pointed Laser Allows People To See New Color ‘Olo’
Researchers isolated one kind of cone in the eye and aimed lasers at it to allow subjects to see a super vibrant teal shade they call “olo.”
7:19
In Louisiana, A Chance To Study A Successful, Growing Wetland
Many wetlands are disappearing, but Louisiana’s “accidental” Wax Lake Delta is growing—and informing coastal restoration techniques.
17:30
Untangling The Mind-Body Connection In Chronic Pain
Research suggests that better understanding the psychological and neurological components of chronic pain may lead to better treatments.
How ‘Zombie’ Parasites Control Their Victims’ Minds
The idea of zombies has fascinated humans for centuries. Real-life parasites have been taking over the minds of insects for eons.
Meet The Death Metal Singers Changing Vocal Health Research
With cameras down their throats, metal singers show how they produce growls, screams, and squeals without damaging their vocal tissues.
Earth Day Is The Perfect Time For Science
Participate in community science projects, use engineering to solve problems, and get outdoors with hands-on activities for Earth Day.
How Real Doctors Brought ‘The Pitt’ To Life
We go inside the scientifically accurate ER world created for the TV show with one of its medical consultants.
In ‘The Shrouds,’ E-Textiles Capture The Intimacy Of Death
The movie’s burial shroud is a way to surveil the dead. In real life, artists are capturing intimate moments by weaving tech into textiles.
11:34
Possible Signature Of Life Detected On Exoplanet—Maybe
The Webb Space Telescope picked up traces of dimethyl sulfide on planet K2-18b. On Earth, the molecule comes from microbes and phytoplankton.
17:14
A Blind Inventor’s Life Of Advocacy And Innovation
In “Connecting Dots: A Blind Life,” inventor Josh Miele recounts his life story and path to becoming an accessibility designer.
12:10
A Colossal Squid Video? That’s A Big Deal
Researchers captured the first confirmed video of a colossal squid swimming in its natural habitat—almost 2,000 feet deep.
17:24
Advances In Brain-Computer Interfaces For People With Paralysis
With brain-implanted devices, people with paralysis have been able to command computers to “move” virtual objects and speak for them.
17:03
Investigating Cat Behavior Through Genetics
With the help of cat owners, a new project investigates cats’ biology and aims to link some of their behaviors to their genes.
17:31
The Lack Of Science In Road Design Is Deadly
Are traffic engineering decisions based on evidence-based research? Not as much as you might think.
What Traffic Engineers Don’t Want You To Know
The way our streets are designed is killing us. A recent book details how the field of traffic engineering needs to catch up to the science.
12:17
Trump’s Nominee For NASA Administrator Meets Congress
Nominee Jared Isaacman prioritized a Mars mission in his confirmation hearings, raising questions about the fate of the Artemis lunar program.
8:17
Huh? The Valuable Role Of Interjections
Utterances like “um,” “wow” and “mm-hmm” aren’t just fillers—they keep conversations flowing.
8:17
A Sweet New Treatment For Antibiotic Resistant Infections?
New research suggests the artificial sweetener saccharin could kill antibiotic resistant bacteria.
12:04
How A Navajo Plant Researcher Is Reviving A Desert Peach
Bringing back Southwest peach orchards won’t be easy, but researchers are on the lookout for remaining trees—and they need help.
17:35
Meet Lokiceratops, A Giant Dinosaur With Blade-Like Horns
The newly discovered dino is challenging paleontologists’ understanding of how horned dinosaurs evolved and existed together.