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.
6:50
Frozen in Time, a Giant Virus
A virus large enough to be seen through a light microscope was recovered from the Siberian permafrost.
16:24
App Chat: Plugging In to the Outdoors
Reporter Bob Parks guides us through his favorite outdoor and camping apps.
22:14
As California Dries Up, Locals Hope for El Niño
A third of California is now clenched by exceptional drought, and this week the state announced $500 fines for water-wasters. But many residents continue to hope for rain.
20:51
Fashioning The Future
A scientist and a designer imagine fashion’s high-tech future.
5:49
Smarty Pants: Testing the Quality of Textiles
Confidence in how well our garments suit us shouldn’t be taken for granted—we owe much to textile quality assurance.
Sea, Temperature, CO2 Levels All Rise in 2013
NOAA releases its State of the Climate Report for 2013.
The Two-Toned Beauty of Harlequin Bug Eggs
These tiny black-and-white cylinders each host a life-sucking insect.
Talk Like a Firefly
Learn to speak the language of fireflies and invent your own secret flash code.
The ABCs of 3D
Makerbot’s Bre Pettis explains what you need to know to try your own 3D printing.
10:58
Keeping an Eye on Wayward Studies
Ivan Oransky, co-founder of the Retraction Watch blog, discusses what happens when scientific studies go bad.
16:54
Concerns Rise Over Pesticide Use, Birds, and Bees
Neonicotinoid pesticides have been banned in the E.U. but are still approved for use in the U.S. while the EPA reviews them.
12:04
Could Inducing Hypothermia Help Revive Trauma Patients?
In a procedure called “Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation,” doctors would replace the blood of patients with cold saline to help buy valuable operating time.
10:58
What’s So Bad About Being Alone With Your Thoughts?
A study finds that many people would rather shock themselves than be alone with their thoughts.
23:02
The Surprisingly Predictable Patterns of Random Choice
In his new book, “Rock Breaks Scissors,” author William Poundstone decodes the patterns in big data, sports, and human behaviors.
The Ghostly Domed Land Snail
This tiny snail lives in one of the world’s deepest cave systems.
Space Vs. Food: Whose Side Are You On?
We’re pitting two of our favorite topics against each other. Are you #TeamSpace or #TeamFood?
11:52
Ben Franklin: Sonic Explorer
Ben Franklin’s sonic experiments included inventing a new musical instrument and testing the limits of the human voice.
17:43
Do Your Patriotic Duty: Learn Math
Mathematician Edward Frenkel says a well-educated public is essential to democracy—and that includes being knowledgeable about math.
15:47
Meet the Mohawk Behind NASA’s Curiosity Mission
NASA’s “Mohawk Man,” Bobak Ferdowsi, talks public and private space exploration, plans for Europa, and whether or not we’ll be putting a human on Mars.