February 28, 2025
A federal DEI ban is already prompting changes across science agencies. How will it affect medical research? A journalist traveled to five continents to learn about the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t. And, the ocean liner SS United States will become an artificial reef in Florida. How do artificial reefs work?
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.
9:15
Do Our Brains Keep Growing As We Age?
More research finds evidence of new cell growth in aging brains. So why do our minds slow down as we get older?
25:05
The Internet Asks “Does It Fart?” And Science Answers
There’s more to flatology once you get a closer whiff.
26:47
50 Years Ago: The Odyssey To Craft ‘2001’
A look back on Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, and the science fiction masterpiece they wrote as they went along.
Full Of Stars
How a mechanical limitation forced “2001: A Space Odyssey” to slow down.
Cómo capturar un aroma
Separa y captura moléculas de aroma mediante vaporización por calor.
