On Today's Podcast
Into The Woods, From Chestnut Genetics To Tiny Forests
Genetic research could speed the restoration of the American chestnut tree. Plus, "rewilding" small spaces with fast-growing miniforests.
Listen NowFebruary 27, 2026
A new simulation shows large amounts of hydrogen in our planet’s core. Scientists report on what they found in 290-million-year-old vomit. Plus, a comedic play and a 20-year neurology study explore what we can do to prevent dementia and cognitive decline. And, a federal law aims to close the legal loophole that lets stores sell THC products from hemp.
7:32
Baby Boxes, Singing Fish, And E-DNA
A Texas company is distributing cardboard “baby boxes” in an attempt to prevent sudden, unexpected infant deaths.
4:46
Climate Change Could Lead To Coffee Crisis
Researchers estimate that climate change’s effects could wipe out 39–59 percent of Ethiopian coffee farms in the future.
12:12
Do We Need Pot To Fight The Opioid Epidemic?
Studies suggest cracking down on legalized marijuana will only make things worse.
17:32
Getting To Know The Placenta
Researchers look to the mysterious organ for a new way of monitoring fetal health during pregnancy.
7:21
Kepler Unveils A New Crop Of Exoplanets
The mission found hundreds of new planet candidates, including 10 possible rocky worlds within their star’s habitable zone.
9:54
Caught On Video: How DNA Replicates
The DNA replication process isn’t exactly like the textbooks say.
34:29
The Cephalo-Inspired Technology Of The Future
From camouflage to jet propulsion, researchers see these tentacled creatures as inspiration for their biomimetic designs.
John Steinbeck And The Mystery Of The Humboldt Squid
In 1940, John Steinbeck helped catalog wildlife in the Sea of Cortez. Now, a new creature lurks beneath the ultramarine waters.
Meet Our Cephalopod Masters
Why do we love cephalopods? They’re smart, cute, and…well…really weird.
How Lake Fish Are Coping With Pollution
Author Dan Egan tells the story of one of the last Great Lakes fisherman who witnesses the adaptation of a fish to Lake Michigan’s polluted ecosystem.
Cephalopod Week
Learn about our favorite smart marine invertebrates through reported stories and interactive activities for all ages.
7:37
A Gene-Stealing Salamander, A Solar Companion, And French Fry Safety
Plus, involuntary manslaughter charges are brought against several officials in connection with the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
4:28
Could An Amazon Pharmacy Be A Prescription For Disaster?
A look at the potential costs and benefits of Amazon entering the pharmacy business.
8:12
Space Life Could Give You An Extra Head (If You’re A Flatworm)
Researchers look to a simple organism to study how living in space might affect humans on a cellular level.
8:48
The Mindset For A Milkshake
The mind exerts a subtle but powerful control over what we choose to eat—and even how our bodies metabolize it.
12:02
Why Theoretical Physics Says The US Is Ungovernable
No one, not even Donald Trump, could make such a complex system like the U.S. government work.
34:39
Can The Great Lakes Stay Great?
The North American Great Lakes are changing under the influence of pollution, invasive species, and climate change. How well will they weather this stress?
15:57
Love And War In The World Of The Cephalopod
The fourth annual Cephalopod Week kicks off with a cephalopod matchmaker and a researcher studying octopus defenses.
Love, Octopus-ly
Full-time biologist—part-time cephalopod matchmaker, Richard Ross invites us into his secret home lab where he studies the mating rituals of the lesser Pacific striped Octopus.