On Today's Podcast
What an mRNA melanoma vaccine may mean for cancer treatment
Moderna and Merck say an mRNA vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence in a clinical trial. Could this usher in a new era of cancer treatment?
Listen NowAugust 28, 2026
Medical AI tools are transcribing patient visits, responding to doctors' questions, and analyzing scans. What are the benefits—and the risks? Plus, how GPS transformed from a niche military technology to one we rely on every day. And, the science behind the "nervous system reset," and how genetics work could help restore American chestnut trees more quickly.
7:17
Hurricane Lane Aims For The Hawaiian Islands
A strong Pacific hurricane, fueled by unusually warm waters, has Hawaii in its sights.
4:53
Why You Shouldn’t Flush Your Contacts Down The Drain
The little pieces of plastic are polluting our waterways.
12:05
A Better Method For Stopping Ebola And Yellow Fever
Could real-time tracking of viral infections put a stop to future epidemics?
17:28
A Squishy Border Dispute, Deep Below Texas And Mexico
The waters of the Rio Grande are closely regulated. But what about the water hidden in aquifers deep below the Mexico-Texas border?
16:54
Are Probiotics Good For You? Not Always
New study suggests too much ‘good bacteria’ could poison your brain.
34:18
A Book Club At The End Of Time
Closing the book on Stephen Hawking’s ‘A Brief History of Time.’
Presenting The ‘Brief History Of Time’ Artist Challenge Winners
We challenged artists to interpret Hawking’s classic book. They did not disappoint.
7:38
After A Bridge Collapse, Questions About Engineering Safety
A sudden bridge collapse in Italy has sparked interest in the safety of structures worldwide.
4:18
Traffic Poses A New Threat To Yosemite’s Famous Bears
Bear sightings at Yosemite National Park are down, but the park’s infamous traffic poses a new threat.
8:40
How A ‘Zombie Gene’ Helped Elephants Evolve Protection From Cancer
Researchers have identified a gene in elephants that can detect and kill cells that have damaged DNA.
11:43
How Fire Ants Avoid Traffic Jams
Sometimes, it’s better to let others take charge.
8:22
The Earth Invented Nuclear Reactors Before We Did
The Earth has been safely storing its own natural nuclear waste for two billion years. What can we learn from that?
25:39
How A Humble Microbe Shook The Evolutionary Tree
The discovery that a methane-burping microbe was not a bacterium, added a new, third branch to the tree of life: The Archaea.
24:46
Can We Outbuild Future Coastal Flooding?
The Army Corps of Engineers is investigating sea gates and other barriers to protect New York from a future Sandy. But others have doubts.
The Roots Of The Tangled Genetic Tree
In this excerpt from David Quammen’s “The Tangled Tree,” meet the people who saw that evolution is more complex than you’d think.
The Invisible Forest Under The Sea
Half of the planet’s oxygen comes from tiny plant-like organisms under the ocean’s surface.
7:23
The Good—And Bad—Of A Geoengineered Climate
Could humans geoengineer their way out of the climate crisis? Plus California wildfire weather, gooey corn, and other science headlines in this week’s News Round-up.
4:26
Revealing The Ruins Below
The U.K.’s lawn-killing summer has an archaeological upside.