On Today's Podcast
Why cannabis’s health effects are so hard to study
Cannabis seems to be everywhere, in many forms. We're learning more about its effect on teenage brains and its usefulness as a therapeutic.
Listen NowSeptember 11, 2026
Scientists used fossil records and AI tools to reconstruct a soundscape of a Jurassic forest. Shorter courses of antibiotics may actually reduce antimicrobial resistance. Plus, a new study found a group of genes associated with fibromyalgia. And, as black bears return to their historic ranges across the U.S., human encounters are increasing. How can bears and people live in harmony?
Pillars of Creation, 2.0
Two new versions of the iconic Hubble image commemorate the space telescope’s 25th anniversary.
Science Friday Discussion: Negotiating the Challenges of Teaching Evolution
Learn from experienced educators how to teach evolution in communities where evolution is controversial and browse classroom evolution resources.
The Pot-Stirrer: Teaching Evolution In The South
Amanda Glaze studies the perceptions of evolution and their religious and societal influences in the American Southeast.
11:44
New Climate Polls, A Comet Mystery, and Puppy Love
Rachel Feltman of the Washington Post gives us her rundown of the week’s science stories.
17:32
Water Wanes in the West
NASA’s Airborne Snow Observatory found that snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is a fraction of what it used to be.
7:13
Exploring Remote Villages for Clues to the Human Microbiome
The microbes that live on and in residents of an Amazonian village with no recorded contact with Western civilization are super-diverse—and some carry genes for antibiotic resistance.
10:25
How ‘Dark’ Is Dark Matter?
Scientists say dark matter may not be as “dark” as once thought.
12:17
3D-Printed Coffee Cups Help Liquids Defy Gravity
The cups work using capillary action: Simply press your lips to the rim, and you get a sip, whether you want one or not.
17:34
Geek Physics With Rhett Allain
In his book “Geek Physics,” Rhett Allain uses physics to answer pop culture and everyday science questions.
16:23
Science On Screen, From Old to New
The first science documentaries are almost as old as cinema itself.
The Problem With Superman, and Other Physics Conundrums
The author of “Geek Physics” answers your pop culture physics questions.
L.A.’s So Fly
A citizen science project uncovers 30 new species of scuttle fly in Los Angeles.
Convection Can Be Pretty
In this excerpt from the book Science for Parents, learn how to visualize convection using stuff you’ve probably already got in your kitchen.
Forecasting the Meltdown
NASA has developed the Airborne Snow Observatory, a program that uses specialized instrumentation to carefully measure the water content.
The Year Ahead in Science Film
This year’s SXSW Film festival highlighted our fears about emerging tech and concerns facing online and gaming communities.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
This pristine white fungus might have neuroprotective properties.
12:09
News Roundup: The Birth of the Moon, E.T. Life, and LHC Season Two
Washington Post science blogger Rachel Feltman gives us her top stories this week, and the BBC’s Jonathan Webb tells us what to expect from the revved-up particle collider.
9:46
Babies on the Brink
A series of rigorous (and adorable) experiments by Karen Adolph of NYU’s Infant Action Lab shatters the myth that babies learn to fear heights as they learn to crawl.
17:22
Undersea Cables String Together the Global Internet
Ninety-nine percent of the data zipping between continents travels not via satellite, but through thousands of miles of cables.
6:00
As Arctic Permafrost Thaws, Microbes Kick Into Action
Recent findings suggest that microbes living in Arctic permafrost could produce carbon dioxide and methane as it thaws.