On Today's Podcast
How do you figure out if microplastics are affecting pregnancy?
Microplastic researchers are trying to find answers about pressing health concerns while navigating the challenges of a new field of science.
Listen NowAugust 21, 2026
Microplastics have been found throughout the body, including in placentas and reproductive organs. What does that mean for pregnancy? Plus, little red dots appear all over images from the James Webb Space Telescope. They may belong to a new cosmic category called black hole stars. And, environmentalists and tribes are using state-level public trust doctrines to fight development.
9:14
Plants in Space!
This week on The Macroscope, plant biologists send a lowly weed to the International Space Station to study its growth in zero gravity.
Princess Leia and the Conundrum of Language Translation
An excerpt from “The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves, The Words Behind World-Building.”
10 Questions for Dava Newman
The new NASA deputy administrator chats about her influences and the space agency’s big plans for Mars.
Plants in Space!
For humans to travel to the Moon and Mars, they’ll need a companion – a lowly weed known as crackwort.
11:39
Virus Fishing, Mantis Shrimp Boxing, and Carbon Cutting Bryozoans
Mantis shrimps pack a punch, and bryozoans might be an effective carbon sink in Antarctic waters.
23:28
Is Sneaker Innovation Changing How We Move?
From pouring rubber in a waffle iron to incorporating titanium, sneaker innovation is constantly changing—but how does it affect our performance?
10:00
A Is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
Over 83 detective books, Agatha Christie killed hundreds of characters using poison, with great scientific accuracy.
12:14
Why ‘Generic’ Doesn’t Mean ‘Cheap’
Two experts on the drug industry talk about price spikes, FDA backlogs, and why some generic meds can cost nearly as much as brand-name pills.
17:15
Will Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Electric Cars Drive Us Into the Future?
The Toyota Mirai—a hydrogen fuel cell car—takes to the road this fall.
16:16
Trash Talk: Uncovering the Waste in U.S. Landfills
American landfills may be crowded with twice as much waste as previously thought, according to a new study.
Agatha Christie: From Pharmacist’s Apprentice to Poison Expert
An excerpt from “A Is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie.”
12:18
Arctic Mosquito Swarms, Our Shrinking Moon, and a ‘Dislike’ Button
Rachel Feltman of “The Washington Post” joins us for a roundup of her top science stories this week.
24:17
A Science Hero, Lost and Found
In “The Invention of Nature,” historian Andrea Wulf restores forgotten explorer and scientist Alexander von Humboldt to his rightful place in science history.
9:33
Keeping an Eye on Our Celestial Companion
Dean Regas, outreach astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory and co-host of the PBS series “Star Gazers,” shares moon-viewing tips and a dose of lunar lore.
11:59
Mapping Out Neutrino Hotspots Here on Earth
Neutrinos form on our own planet and can be used to probe the deepest parts of the earth.
16:54
Unlocking Parkinson’s Disease
Science journalist Jon Palfreman shares his own journey with Parkinson’s disease and new treatments for patients.
17:07
Is Deep-Sea Exploration Worth It?
Sylvia Earle and other researchers discuss how humans fit into the future of deep sea exploration.
From Shaking Palsy to Parkinson’s: Defining a Neurodegenerative Disease
An excerpt from “Brain Storms: The Race to Unlock the Mysteries of Parkinson’s Disease.”
From Atop an Ecuadorian Peak, an Epiphany About Nature
An excerpt from “The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World.”
Go Out And Observe the Moon!
Observe the moon each day for one month, map the moon’s features, simulate lunar impacts, and explore lunar science in this resource from NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN), an annual worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration.