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.
From Undiscovered: Kurt Vonnegut And The Rainmakers
In the mid 1940s, no one would publish Kurt Vonnegut’s stories. But when he gets hired as a press writer at General Electric, the company’s fantastical science inspires some of his most iconic novels.
From Undiscovered: The Wastebook
After a senator calls her research a waste of taxpayer dollars, biologist Sheila Patek heads to Capitol Hill to prove what her science is worth.
From Undiscovered: Six Degrees
Are you just six handshakes away from every other person on Earth? Two mathematicians set out to prove we’re all connected.
From Undiscovered: Sick And Tired
When researchers publish a new study on chronic fatigue syndrome, a group of patients cry foul—and decide to investigate for themselves.
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From Undiscovered: Born This Gay
At the turn of the 20th century, a German doctor sets out to prove that homosexuality is rooted in biology—but his research has consequences he never intended.
From Undiscovered: The Meteorite Hunter
From our new podcast Undiscovered: Deep in Antarctica, a rookie meteorite hunter helps collect a mystery rock. Could it be a little piece of Mars?
Listen To The First Episode Of Our New Podcast, Undiscovered
A podcast about the backstories of science.
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Undiscovered Presents: Not Your Subject
A black medical student helps a team of cancer researchers recruit more African Americans to their study—and tests out an unconventional sales pitch.
Undiscovered Presents: This Headline Might Kill You
In this Undiscovered Cares Report, Annie and Elah dig into a scary science headline.
Undiscovered Presents: Party Lines
On the latest episode of Undiscovered, a mathematician takes the stand in a court case that could decide the fate of gerrymandering in the U.S.
Undiscovered Presents: The Long Loneliness
On the latest episode of Undiscovered, before we could save the whales, we had to learn to love them. It took two unconventional scientists to show us how.
Undiscovered Presents: Turtle v. Snake
On the latest episode of Undiscovered, a rookie scientist finds out he’s been scooped by a faraway stranger with a big reputation.
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Undiscovered Presents: Plants And Prejudice
On the latest episode of Undiscovered, are non-native species dangerous, or are we just prejudiced against them?
Undiscovered Presents: The Magic Machine
On the latest episode of our podcast Undiscovered, a new life support technology leaves a doctor wondering how far she’ll go to save a life.