February 7, 2025
Some research shows that e-cigarettes can be a useful tool for quitting cigarettes, but that strategy is hotly contested by scientists. Plus, an investigative journalist outlines how fraud and misconduct have stalled the search for effective Alzheimer’s treatments in a new book. And, why snow has that crisp, clean smell.
Welcome To The Bone Room
Biologist and functional morphologist Steve Huskey has nothing to hide, despite the hundreds of skeletons in his closet.
7:41
Is The Oil Industry Ready To Do Something About Climate Change?
Exxon Mobil says it will spend $1 million lobbying for a carbon tax. But there’s a catch.
4:18
In Puerto Rico, Farmers Still Grapple With The Effects Of Hurricane Maria
In Puerto Rico, volunteers and farmers are working together to rebuild after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico’s small agriculture sector.
6:35
A Turtle By Any Other Name
What happens when the rules established by the scientific community are used against it?
12:29
Money Mark Is Reviving Dead Pianists
His ‘Echolodeon’ machine converts original piano rolls from great composers into MIDI signals, in effect letting the dead pianists ‘play’ various synthesizers.
17:44
The Complex Societies Of Bees And Beyond
Honeybees, bumblebees, ants, and even spiders can live complicated social lives.
17:39
How Genes Determine Our Quality Of Sleep
Are you a night owl or a morning lark? Why genetics dictate when, how long, and how well we sleep.
12:16
Outfitting Avatars To Cross The Uncanny Valley
A virtual reality designer says success is being able to generate photorealistic faces that don’t spook.
26:47
Why Are More Expecting Mothers Having C-Section Deliveries?
One out of every three children in the United States are now born born via cesarean section.
Explosion Math
Investigate different types of volcanic eruptions and linear equations to see if you, a car, Usain Bolt, or a tortoise could survive by simply running away.
Turning The Tide On Jellyfish Stings
One scientist is fighting back against the tide of online misinformation on how to treat the potentially fatal sting of the box jellyfish.
7:37
An Aborted Launch Brings Space Station Questions
On Thursday, two astronauts en route to the International Space Station had to abort their launch, making a ‘ballistic descent’ back to Earth.
4:37
Eagles And Foxes, Plants And Ants
Ecologists are using tools—from captive breeding programs to ant-sniffing dogs—to restore and protect the unique ecosystem of California’s Channel Islands.
17:29
A U.N. Report Gives A Glimpse Of A World Warmed By 1.5 Degrees Celsius
How much will half a degree save us from the worst impacts of climate change?
12:14
Mining For Clues Of The Mayan Salt Producers
Scientists uncovered clues about a Mayan salt production system off the coast of Belize. What does this reveal about their economy?
17:32
Lessons From Squirrel Monkeys
They’re big-brained chatterboxes, and they’ve even been to space.
7:10
‘You Can Never Feel My Pain’
A new podcast tells the story of rapper Prodigy and his life with sickle cell disease.
9:49
Finding Home, Magnetically
Landlocked for 60 years, these juvenile Atlantic salmon still have the tools to navigate the sea.
17:35
How Secure Are The 2018 Midterm Elections?
A look at how the voting infrastructure can be secured against malicious hacks and technological errors.
Bumblebee Barf? Yaaas Queen!
Bumblebees are one of our most important native pollinators. To learn more about them, researchers study their vomit.