November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
Learning To Study Black Bears In Their Natural Habitat
In “Wild Life,” Dr. Rae Wynn Grant tells the story of her first days tagging and tracking black bears for her PhD.
Unusually Healthy Coral Reefs, Surrounded By Oil Drilling
As corals around the world bleach at alarming rates, scientists are racing to preserve a string of remarkable reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sign Up For ‘Astronomy: Made in Latin America’
Discover dark constellations, massive radio telescopes, and more in our newsletter on astronomy and space science from Latin America.
14:56
Capturando ‘paisajes sonoros’ desde Amazonas a Antártida
Juan Pablo Culasso graba aves por todo el mundo, explorando los sonidos de la naturaleza y buscando volverla más inclusiva.
11:46
Science From Iowa’s Prairies
Science Friday is in Ames, Iowa, home to prairies, greater prairie chickens, and an array of wildlife.
17:13
What Martian Geology Can Teach Us About Earth
The geology of Mars could provide a snapshot of what our planet was like as the crust was forming and plate tectonics began.
16:11
Challenging The Gender Gap In Sports Science
Most participants in sports research are still men, even as girls, women, and those outside the gender binary take to the field.
16:32
Inside Iowa State’s Herbarium With 700,000 Plant Specimens
The Ada Hayden Herbarium preserves hundreds of thousands of specimens, including some collected by George Washington Carver.
10:39
How Louisiana Is Coping With Flooding In Cemeteries
As climate change intensifies storms, Louisiana is dealing with catastrophic flooding of cemeteries. Now other states face similar problems.
6:30
Science-Inspired Art From Two ‘Universe of Art’ Listeners
As the “Universe of Art” podcast turns one, listeners discuss solar music boxes and what it’s like making art with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
12:04
Planning To Go See Cicadas? Here’s What To Know
The co-emergence of two periodical cicada broods is underway. Scientists have tips for how to experience the event.
A Rare Double Brood Emergence Of Cicadas Has Begun
Two cicada broods on 13- and 17-year cycles coincide this spring, meaning trillions of buzzing insects across the South and Midwest.
12:01
10 Years Later, Flint’s Water Crisis Still Isn’t Over
While progress has been made, many residents say they still don’t know if their tap water is clean or not.
16:59
Visualizing A Black Hole’s Flares In 3D
Researchers are trying to develop a better picture of what’s happening in the regions closest to a black hole’s event horizon.
12:07
How Underwater Telecom Cables Could Help Detect Tsunamis
Scientists are adding sensors to an underwater cable network to monitor changes in the ocean and quickly detect earthquakes and tsunamis.
17:14
New Products Collect Data From Your Brain. Where Does It Go?
An array of new products monitors users’ brain waves using caps or headbands. That neural data has few privacy protections.
11:53
Bonobos Are Gentler Than Chimps? Maybe Not.
A study found aggression between male bonobos to be more frequent than aggression between male chimpanzees.
5:12
Art Meets Ecology In A Mile-Long Poem
Visual artist Todd Gilens created a walkable poem along Reno’s Truckee River that draws parallels between urbanism and stream ecology.
16:33
The 4,000-Year History Of Humans And Silk
For her new book, Aarathi Prasad spent years researching the past and future of silk—and even grew her own silkworms.
Silk, The Ancient Material With High-Tech Possibilities
“Silk: A World History” describes the unique qualities of silk that make it a sustainable material with a wide variety of applications.