On Today's Podcast
Tangling With Entanglement And Other Big Ideas In Physics
Physicist Sean Carroll takes on black holes, Schrödinger’s cat, and other big physics concepts that had our audience wondering.
Listen NowDecember 26, 2025
Physicist Sean Carroll takes on black holes, Schrödinger’s cat, and other big physics concepts. Plus, we revisit some of our top stories of 2025, covering research into how death metal singers safely produce extreme vocalizations, how algorithms and social media are changing language, and what we can learn from people thriving in the coldest parts of the world.
14:32
Speech Science: Tongue Twisters and Valley Girls
Unraveling the speech patterns behind tongue twisters and Valley girls. . .and boys.
17:06
Dissecting America’s $3 Trillion Medical Bill
Steven Brill discusses “Bitter Pill,” his investigation of skyrocketing healthcare costs.
Backstage at ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Being on set at the popular show left me starstruck.
Airplane of the Future?
This plane looks blue under ultraviolet light, but it’s designed to be green.
10 Questions for Mark Mello, Moth Man
The zoologist attributes his affinity for nature to a childhood of tromping outdoors.
The Choreographic World of Elizabeth Streb
Ira’s conversation with Action Architect Elizabeth Streb continues.
48:03
Annual Prizes Honor the Stranger Side of Science
The IgNobel Prizes salute unusual research, such as an investigation of dung beetle navigation.
22:47
Eating ‘Wilder’ Foods for a Healthier Diet
Author Jo Robinson digs up tips on how to get the most nutrition out of our fruits and vegetables.
23:29
At STREB Action Lab, Dance and Physics Collide
Choreographer and gravity-junkie Elizabeth Streb pushes the boundaries of physics—with dance.
A Monarch Retreat
For Californians, Thanksgiving is prime time for butterfly counting.
All About Apples: Some History, a Recipe, and Recommendations
An excerpt from “Eating on the Wild Side,” complete with apple crisp recipe.
Mapping Microbes in California Wine Country
Wine grapes have distinctive microbial patterns based on growing conditions, environmental features, and the fruit itself.
22:17
Using Modern Ballistics to Crack ‘Cold Case JFK’
Fifty years later, forensic scientists apply modern tech to the JFK assassination.
19:46
How To Avoid ‘Food Failures’ This Thanksgiving
Jeff Potter, author of “Cooking for Geeks,” dishes up a few cooking hacks for Turkey Day.
4:15
When Water Flows Uphill
Researchers test ridged surfaces in order to control the movements of hot water.
12:09
ISON: The Comet of the Century . . . or Is It?
As Comet ISON skirts the sun, it could be destroyed—or emerge, even more spectacular than before.
7:55
Stores May Be Snooping Into Your Smartphone
Stores can tap into your smartphone’s Wifi signal to track your in-store movements.
9:43
A Handful of Nuts, a Lifetime of Benefits?
Researchers linked daily nut consumption to a lower risk of dying from major chronic diseases.
16:31
Budget Cuts Leave Curiosity and Cassini in Limbo
Under NASA’s proposed 2013 budget, planetary science would receive $1.217 billion.
Now You Can Peruse Carl Sagan’s Stuff
A collection featuring Carl Sagan paraphernalia is open to the public at the Library of Congress.