On Today's Podcast
For Jennifer Chayes, math is a 'native tongue'
Jennifer Chayes’ game-changing ideas in math and computer science helped pave the way for today’s innovations in machine learning and AI.
Listen NowSeptember 4, 2026
Moderna and Merck say an mRNA vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence in a clinical trial. Food recalls abounded this summer, but was it unusual? Scientists are trying to decode the hallucinogenic properties of a mushroom that makes people see tiny humans. Plus, why some modern cars catch fire. And, the game-changing work of a researcher who sees math as a “native tongue.”
How Did A Computer Beat A Chess Grandmaster?
Some say Garry Kasparov was more than capable of defeating Deep Blue—but he underestimated the ability of the algorithm.
How To Be A Vibration Detective
By measuring the ground’s vibrations, you can learn a lot about what is happening both near and far away.
6:42
Change The Laws Of Physics? Probably Not
The observation of a seemingly faster-than-light emission from two merging neutron stars likely has a conventional explanation.
5:11
With Lyme On The Rise, N.H. Governor Asks EPA To Speed Approvals For New Tick Repellants
The N.H. governor wants federal regulators to speed up approval of new tick repellants that could help prevent Lyme disease in the state.
12:12
Pass It On: Sheep and Moose Teach Knowledge Of Migration Routes
When it comes to migration, it may come down to nurture over nature for some animals.
34:02
Work-Life Imbalance
New technologies mean we’re more connected to our jobs and coworkers than ever. Do we need boundaries? Plus, the downside of working for tips.
34:32
How Strong Is The Human-Robot Bond?
Why we want to protect some robots and destroy others.
Fibonacci Sequence—A Handy Mathematical Approach For Looking At Evolution!
Get a grip on this great way of exploring the Fibonacci sequence using X-rays from organizations across the country!
Survey Ecosystem Health On A Virtual Coral Reef
Coral reefs are an incredibly important part of Earth’s underwater world. How can you help one of earth’s most endangered ecosystems?
The Origin Of The Word ‘Quarantine’
‘Trentino’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
The Biology Behind Our Emotions
In his new book “The Disordered Mind,” neuroscientist Eric Kandel explores how we control our emotions.
7:25
China’s Holdout On Bird Flu Samples And A Higgs Boson Breakdown
Despite a World Health Organization agreement, China has withheld samples of the bird flu virus H7N9 from U.S. scientists.
4:05
Take Only Pictures… And Don’t Geotag Them
Do Instagram influencers attract too much attention to fragile outdoor locations?
8:43
Arctic Science, Put On Ice
After a research vessel runs into trouble in the Arctic Ocean, science gets put on hold—for now.
25:28
A Deep Ocean Dive Is Training NASA For Space
NASA is exploring a deep-sea volcano off the coast of Hawaii as a test run for human and robotic missions to Mars and beyond.
22:47
Order And Disorder In The Human Brain
Neuroscientist Eric Kandel tells us what schizophrenia, PTSD, and other disorders can reveal about the workings on the human brain.
22:17
Tech Changes The Face Of Death
From environmentally-friendly funerals to the act of grieving, technology is changing our relationship with death.
Design For Disaster Relief
Engineer disaster relief housing that is lightweight, packs flat, and structurally sound.
Celebrating ‘A Brief History Of Time’ With Cocktails, Physics, And Poetry
For the 30th anniversary of ‘A Brief History of Time,’ SciFri threw a party.