On Today's Podcast
How important ideas get reawakened, with David Byrne
Why do some breakthroughs go dormant—and then wake up? Watch Flora's interview with artist David Byrne about these "sleeping beauties."
Listen NowOctober 2, 2026
The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think. Are natural history museums going extinct? John Wilson’s latest feature film, “The History of Concrete” is an idiosyncratic journey about more than just concrete. Plus, to prepare for an overseas game, the LA Rams tried a hail mary jetlag strategy.
34:48
Food Failures: Rise Your Bread Baking Skills With Science
How gluten-free flours affect bread structure and how to keep your sourdough starter happy.
7:12
NASA To Launch An Eye In The Sky For Asteroids
The space agency plans to launch an infrared telescope to spot space rocks whizzing towards Earth.
4:45
After Global Cries For Climate Action, Silence From Big Polluters
The world’s biggest emitters—India, China, and the U.S.—had very little to contribute to the UN Climate Action Summit.
15:58
How Schrödinger’s Cat Became Schrödinger’s Cats
Physicist Sean Carroll discusses the “many worlds” view of quantum mechanics.
12:00
How Whales Evolved From Land To Water, Gene By Gene
Marine mammals like whales and dolphins lost the function of 85 genes in the transition from land to water.
34:10
The Bitter Truth: The Taste Of Biodiversity
These botanists want you to make your own cocktail bitters with ingredients you’ve never heard of.
17:24
The Latest IPCC Report: A Global Warning On Ice And Oceans
Ice and oceans worldwide are already being reshaped by a changing climate, affecting everything from weather to fisheries to coastal communities.
The Basics Of Bitters
Sure, bitters make cocktails taste great. But that’s just the start.
11:55
A Battle Over Auto Emissions And The Global Climate Strike
President Trump is wrestling with the state of California over who gets to define auto emissions standards for carmakers: California or the federal government?
11:59
A Troubling Decline In North American Birds
A study says the bird population in North America today may be almost 3 billion birds smaller than in 1970.
23:47
How Would Humanity Survive A Sci-Fi Disaster?
Journalist Mike Pearl investigates what the world would look like after technology breakdowns, a real-life Jurassic Park, and other sci-fi doomsday scenarios.
9:58
How Feets Of Dexterity Change The Brain
New research on the brains of people who paint with their toes reveal how our limbs affect our internal maps from birth.
34:06
How The Fashion Industry Is Responding To Climate Change
More and more industries are responding to climate change. Will fashion brands follow suit?
Is That Really Your Sister Calling?
How hackers and technology will evolve together.
6:35
A Clamp Down On Hurricane Dorian Data
Scientists were threatened with firings after the National Weather Service projections for Hurricane Dorian contradicted President Trump’s tweets.
5:33
Wind Turbines Leave Behind Hard-To-Manage Waste
Wind turbines are great at producing green energy. But when they reach the end of their life-span, their blades are incredibly difficult to recycle.
12:07
The Bubbles At The Center Of The Milky Way
A million years ago, the black hole at the center of our galaxy burped. Now, scientists are exploring what the resulting bubbles might say about our kinship with other galaxies.
17:36
Rats Learn To Hide And Seek
Neuroscientists say they can learn a lot by observing brains at play.
17:09
How Geometry Shaped The World
Science historian Amir Alexander shares how Euclidean geometry came to influence politics, art, and the nature of cities.
34:45
Why AI Is A Growing Part Of The Criminal Justice System
From facial recognition to emotion detection to risk assessments, AI is guiding the decisions of police departments and courtrooms across the country.