On Today's Podcast
What an mRNA melanoma vaccine may mean for cancer treatment
Moderna and Merck say an mRNA vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence in a clinical trial. Could this usher in a new era of cancer treatment?
Listen NowAugust 28, 2026
Medical AI tools are transcribing patient visits, responding to doctors' questions, and analyzing scans. What are the benefits—and the risks? Plus, how GPS transformed from a niche military technology to one we rely on every day. And, the science behind the "nervous system reset," and how genetics work could help restore American chestnut trees more quickly.
Grabbing the Horns From the Bull
Alison Van Eenennaam and colleagues at UC Davis, along with researchers at the biotech company Recombinetics, aim to develop a genetically hornless cattle that might one day replace cows whose horns must be physical removed through expensive and painful methods.
7:15
A Limit to Lifespan, Genetic Preference for Flavors, and Hurricane Matthew’s Power
A new look at mortality suggests that even as average lifespan increases, there’s still a hard cap on how long we can live.
5:03
The Fairy Tale Of The Nobel Prize
The Nobels are supposed to honor the best of science, but the awards have their flaws.
7:09
Constructing Eye-Popping Pop-Up Books
Pop-up designer Matthew Reinhart engineers paper cut-outs that move and extend, sometimes reaching nearly two-feet tall.
17:35
Astronaut Mike Massimino’s Bumpy Ride Into Space
Astronaut Mike Massimino talks about his journey from the suburbs of Long Island to the crew of two shuttle missions to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
12:12
The Future of Your Commute
As rideshare companies like Uber strike deals with cities to supplement or replace traditional transit options and parking lots, we ask: What is the future of commuting?
What It’s Like to Walk in Space for the First Time
Astronaut Mike Massimino describes his first spacewalk during the famous mission to repair the Hubble telescope.
16:28
Planning Out a Trip to Mars
Elon Musk has laid out a goal of a million humans colonizing Mars. Are we ready?
26:41
Golden Record 2.0
We review the sounds, images, and videos our listeners chose to represent our world.
Splat! Model Lunar Impacts Using Water Balloons
In this resource from International Observe the Moon Night, use water balloons to model how the moon’s largest impact basins were created.
Engineering the Perfect Pop
Using scissors, tape, and reams of creativity, Matthew Reinhart engineers paper to bend, fold, and transform into fantastic creatures and locales.
Don’t Be Scared Of These ‘Dead Man’s Fingers’
These protrusions might look spooky, but they’re just the fruiting bodies of a wood decay fungus.
Hydrophobicity: Will The Water Drop Stop Or Roll?
Examine surface textures and conduct a “tilt test” to compare how materials with different surface textures repel or absorb water.
8:00
UN Space Mission, Redefining ‘Healthy,’ and a Wayward Manatee
The United Nations will launch a space mission carrying payloads from countries that don’t have their own space programs.
4:23
Will New Electronic Glasses Change the View of Snapchat?
The social media company rebranded itself as Snap, Inc., and has unveiled sunglasses fitted with two cameras for recording 10-second moments.
16:45
A New Primer on the Way Things Work
Artist David Macaulay on the art of explaining science in pictures.
12:28
For Oysters, Challenges and Hope in the Changing Ocean
Oyster farmers have been hit hard by acidifying seas. Can they adapt?
17:43
California Trees Battle Beetle Assault Amid Drought
Dry conditions lead trees to release pheromones that attract bark beetles, exacerbating an epidemic of dying forests in the state of California.