September 27, 2024
Climate activists Bill McKibben and Akaya Windwood say it isn’t fair to leave the climate crisis for younger generations to solve. Plus, a cultural anthropologist discusses the Mariana Islands’ long history of colonization and why demilitarization matters for climate progress. And, new research into a fish known as the sea robin finds that leg-like appendages can “taste” prey buried in the sand.
In NYC Waters, A Whale Of A Tale
After decades of absence, whales are back in New York City waters. Scientists say it could signal a wildlife resurgence.
The Whales Of New York
Just a few short miles from downtown Manhattan, you might see something unexpected—whales feeding.
Smell That? It’s Forensic Entomology At The Body Farm
Try your hand at forensic entomology and use insect larvae to find the age of a rotting corpse in this body farm simulation
The ‘Unbelievable’ Power Of Nuclear Bombs, Caught On Film
Last March, physicists declassified a trove of nuclear test films. Now you can see them for yourself.
The High Cost Of Notifications
The more you’re interrupted, the more likely you are to interrupt yourself. Can we win the war on our prefrontal cortex?
7:32
A Giant Rat, An Octopus City, And Space Life Beyond The ISS
This week, NASA and Roscosmos announced that they would cooperate to build a new space station, closer to the moon.
4:31
How Wind Farms Affect The World Beneath The Waves
Offshore wind farms are spreading around the globe. But how much do we know about how they affect the ecosystems beneath them?
22:21
The ABCs Of Nuclear War
From bomb chemistry, to radiation dosage to missile defense, there’s a lot of science behind nuclear warfare.
29:26
Charles Darwin’s Lesser-Known Eccentric Exploits
Paddling a duck foot in water and other small experiments led to Darwin’s big theory of evolution.
16:39
The Case For Boredom
How our smartphones are robbing us of an undervalued cognitive resource—and what to do about it.
Recreate Darwin’s Experiments In Your Backyard
Biologist James T. Costa recreated some of Darwin’s experiments that led to his theory of evolution. Now, you can try them in the comfort of your backyard.
11:08
Ensuring Recovery Efforts Work In Flooded Puerto Rico
Disaster researchers look to past catastrophes to find better responses to Hurricane Maria.
Why Don’t Banana Candies Taste Like Real Bananas?
Actually, they do. The story of artificial banana flavoring is, well, bananas.
Fossilization And Decay At The La Brea Tar Pits
Using the La Brea Tar Pits as inspiration, look at the conditions that affect fossil formation.
See Undiscovered Live At The Bay Area Science Festival!
Annie and Elah will join Adam Savage and the Tested.com team live on stage on October 28th.
Up On The Roof, A Handful Of Urban Stardust
A jazz musician-turned-micrometeorite hunter gives advice on how to search for the tiny bits of cosmic dust that could be covering your rooftop.
How Do You Figure Out How Dinosaurs Walked?
Analyze the gait of bipedal organisms, including humans, chimps, and birds, then use pelvic anatomy to predict how theropod dinosaurs walked.
In Defense Of Dinosaurs
We don’t conclude that Einstein’s towering accomplishments should be sullied by his own mortality. Author Kenneth Lacovara argues that dinosaurs deserve the same credit.
7:41
In Frog Versus Dinosaur, This Frog Wins
By analyzing the bite force of frog jaws, researchers determined that an extinct giant frog from Madagascar could have devoured dinos.
4:25
The Downside Of A Quick And Easy Malaria Test
The malaria rapid diagnostic test can help manage the disease, but it also led to an unintended consequence in some countries.