On Today's Podcast
The science and politics of the new mRNA flu vaccine
A new mRNA flu vaccine promises a closer match to circulating flu strains. But dysfunction at federal health agencies is complicating rollout.
Listen NowOctober 9, 2026
A new mRNA flu vaccine promises a closer match to circulating flu strains. An estimated 2 billion tons of dust are lofted into the air each year, affecting ecosystems, the atmosphere, and the weather. Plus artist David Byrne sits down with Flora for a conversation on why some ideas go dormant, and then reawaken. And, a Cephalopod Week finale featuring death spirals, cannibalism, and more.
16:15
Understanding the Urban Ecosystem
Researchers say road salt and dissolving concrete have contributed to increased salinization in urban streams.
22:35
Can Conservation Efforts Save the Birds?
A look at the effects of conservation efforts and climate change on bird populations in North America.
6:26
After 40 Years, a Blue Whale Population Bounces Back
Blue whale populations are only a fraction of what they once were globally, but a California population has nearly made a comeback.
17:11
The Science of ‘Sameness’: Developing Generic Medications
As of 2010, generic drugs comprise almost 80 percent of the American pharmaceutical market, compared to 10 percent in 1960.
The BioArcade
Biologist Oliver Medvedik and computer programmer Keith Comito developed a kit where live single-celled organisms play a game called the BioArcade.
How Is a Spider Like a Disco Ball?
This spider, likely a member of the Thwaitesia genus, was photographed in Singapore.
Quantum: An Ode to Particle Physics
Drawing on his experience as Artist-in-Residence at CERN, Gilles Jobin’s dance performance, Quantum, presents an abstract meditation on the motion of particles and laws of physics.
Squishy Circuits
Use two play dough recipes to create “squishy circuits” and explore electricity.
11:42
Supermassive Dinosaur Would Have ‘Feared Nothing’
Scientists estimate the dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani would have weighed as much as a Boeing 737.
33:47
To Master Test Material, Give Your Brain a Break
Salvador Dali and Thomas Edison took very brief naps when they were stuck on artistic and scientific problems.
11:44
The Wilderness Act Turns 50
Fifty years ago this week, legislation set aside over nine million acres of official wilderness.
7:25
From Exotic Garden to Eco-Haven
A former millionaire’s estate is becoming an environmental haven and training ground.
9:41
Hello, Stranger, Wanna Share a Cab?
Researchers found that potentially 95 percent of cab rides in New York City could have been shared.
16:57
Randall Munroe Asks, ‘What If?’
In his new book “What If?”, xkcd comic artist Randall Munroe answers his readers’ hypothetical questions with math and science.
Could You Hit a Baseball Pitched Near the Speed of Light?
An excerpt from the xkcd creator’s new book, “What If?”
How Pinball Helps Explain Ways We Think and Learn
An excerpt from “A Mind for Numbers.”
Insect Microfossils Provide Prehistoric Insights
Discovered at La Brea Tar Pits, the pupa helps reveal clues to what the environment was like in Southern California during the Pleistocene Epoch.
17:20
Unraveling the Mysteries of Black Holes
High energy x-rays provide a rare glimpse into the behavior of black holes.
8:29
Electric Bacteria Form Nanowires, Shoot Out Electrons
USC’s Moh El-Naggar says engineers hope to harness bacterial energy using fuel cells.