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.
17:32
Planning For—And Surviving—‘The Big Ones’
In her new book The Big Ones, seismologist Lucy Jones catalogues devastating earthquakes, eruptions and tsunamis throughout history, and what happened in the aftermath.
12:03
The Tiny Swimmers That May Stir The Seas
Every night, the largest migration on Earth happens underwater. Now, engineers say their collective movement could create ocean-mixing currents.
17:34
Diving Deep To Appreciate The Spleen
Evolutionary adaptations, such as having a larger spleen, have let humans live comfortably in some of the world’s extreme places.
17:21
With Summer Around The Corner, A Guide To The Night Skies
Astronomer Dean Regas gives tips for astronomical sights to try to spot in the months ahead.
17:05
A ‘Fingerprint Scan’ For Earthquakes Caused By Fracking
Can small earthquakes predict where oil and gas extraction can be done most safely?
Waiting (And Waiting) For The Big One
Seismologist Lucy Jones explains what makes the San Andreas fault ripe for large earthquakes.
A Yearbook Of Seeds
From the Uncarina seed’s fashionable coat to the flowing orange locks of the Bird of Paradise seed, we present this year’s seed superlatives.
The Very Hungry Maggot
What happens when you give hundreds of puppies a single bowl of food? This mechanical engineer is trying to solve this problem with physics…and maggots.
7:29
A New Planet-Hunter Takes To The Sky
Plus, a new search for dark matter, a massive ichthyosaur, and the nature of randomness.
4:28
Does More Sand Always Mean A Better Beach?
Adding sand to beaches is a longstanding coastal tool. But are there any downsides?
6:19
If You Give A Maggot A Cookie…
Researchers are digging into the eating habits of maggots to help solve the food waste problem.
17:10
More Options For Cancer Immunotherapy
We can teach the immune system to kill tumors. But how will researchers get past autoimmune side effects and other challenges in cancer immunotherapy?
11:33
These Eyebrows Speak Volumes
New research suggests our brows evolved to be something other than looking fierce.
16:47
A Look At Unconventional Bird Calls
Some bird calls come from an unexpected source—it’s not just males that perform calls, and some hummingbirds use their tail feathers to create chirps.
27:00
How To Talk With Aliens
A meeting of the minds talk about how we might write messages to intelligent extraterrestrial beings—and if it’s ethical to send them.
7:24
How Facebook Makes Scam Artists’ Jobs Easier
Medical falsehoods go unchecked on the platform and harmful “miracle cures” attract a cult following.
4:31
The Maine Lobster Industry Is Entangled With Endangered Whales
Declining numbers of endangered right whales has sparked a debate about the impact of Maine’s lobster industry on the dwindling numbers.
7:16
Meet The Bowhead Whale, The Jazz Singer of the Deep
Scientists recorded a population of bowhead whales singing 184 different melodies over a span of three years.
11:35
Unequal Levees Could Leave Some Towns To Drown
Some districts along the Mississippi River have built their levees above government-authorized heights, shifting the risk of flooding to less-protected towns.