January 31, 2025
When a fire burns in an urban area, it unleashes a slurry of chemicals. Scientists are trying to untangle the chemistry at play. Plus, early analysis of asteroid samples from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission shows the residue of an icy brine and a soup of amino acids. And, on the heels of some big quantum computing advances last year, what’s next in 2025?
How Metaphors Help—And Hurt—Science
Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside.
‘Gladiator II’ And The Evidence For Colosseum Naval Battles
Lots of moments from “Gladiator II” are fiction. But some scientists think mock naval battles in the Colosseum totally happened.
11:44
SpaceX’s Starship Completes In-Orbit Engine Test
This was the sixth test launch of the Starship vehicle, which could eventually carry humans and cargo to the moon. It was extremely loud.
10:51
The Struggle To Restore Drinking Water After Hurricane Helene
Fifty-three days after Hurricane Helene, residents of Asheville can safely drink their tap water without boiling it. Why did it take so long?
5:39
Using Oyster Shell Reefs To Counter Sea Level Rise In Louisiana
Tribes’ historic lands on the Gulf Coast are being lost to the sea. To slow it down, one tribe has turned to oyster shells.
12:28
Michigan-Based Team To Resuscitate Shipwrecked Rye Seeds
Divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. Scientists hope to bring it back to life.
16:54
A Nutritionist Clarifies Some Common Health Claims
Is seed oil bad for you? What’s the deal with apple cider vinegar? A nutritionist answers your questions about viral nutrition claims.
10:31
A Horn Of Potato Plenty
Just in time for Thanksgiving, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
6:55
Adding Marbling To Fake Meat For That Extra-Realistic Bite
Irregular, fatty marbling gives meat a unique texture. Recreating that in plant-based products isn’t easy.
17:24
50 Years Of Science With Lucy, Our Famous Early Ancestor
On the anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she means to science, and what she taught us about ourselves.
Mirar al cielo para resolver los problemas de la Tierra
La astronomía en Latinoamérica busca poner la investigación al servicio de los problemas de la región. Falta inversión, pero hay talento.
11:59
At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows
Leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, aren’t showing up to the UN’s big climate conference in Azerbaijan.
6:59
Managing Some Invasive Plants Might Reduce Blacklegged Ticks
Researchers are connecting two ecological problems in the Northeast in hopes of reducing the risk of tick-borne illnesses.
9:31
Ancient Bird Fossil Offers Clues Into How Bird Brains Evolved
The “one-of-a-kind” fossil of Navaornis hestiae helps fill a giant gap in scientists’ understanding of how bird brains evolved.
11:51
Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking. Here’s How To Stay Safe
The respiratory illness typically affects school-age kids, but the CDC reports a rise in cases in children aged 2-4.
17:30
Chef Jack Bishop Breaks Down ‘The Science of Good Cooking’
In an interview from 2012, Jack Bishop from America’s Test Kitchen explains how science can sharpen your cooking skills.
17:12
Bacteriophages Lurk In Your Bathroom, But Don’t Worry
Researchers found hundreds of viruses that prey on bacteria on toothbrushes and showerheads. They’re unlikely to pose a threat to humans.
17:25
The Gurgling, Growling History Of The Gut
In her new book, medical historian Dr. Elsa Richardson discusses the changing cultural and scientific understandings of the gut.
How Insects Shaped Human Culture Over Millennia
In “The Insect Epiphany,” an entomologist explores the history of insects in art, food, engineering, and more.
12:21
Seven States Passed Ballot Measures To Protect Abortion Rights
Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states, and seven of them passed constitutional amendments defending abortion rights.