February 21, 2025
The CEO of one of America’s oldest scientific societies discusses the recent cuts to scientific institutions, and how scientists can respond. Plus, flu infections are the highest they’ve been in nearly 30 years, and flu deaths this winter have surpassed COVID deaths. And, a video of a gloriously creepy anglerfish inspired tears and poetry online.
Are We Smart Enough to Understand How Smart Animals Are?
Primatologist Frans de Waal makes a case for animal intelligence.
Dive Into the World of Imaginary Friends
What may seem like whimsical creations are much more than child’s play.
The Real Guide to Imaginary Companions: Episode 1
Developmental psychologist have pieced together an unexpectedly diverse and nuanced profile of the children who create imaginary companions, while finding out how and why they create them.
The Real Guide to Imaginary Companions: Episode 3
Research by psychologists has revealed that imaginary companions can provide glimpses into the development of critical creative, social, and cognitive skills of children.
The Real Guide To Imaginary Companions: Episode 2
A trip into the lab of developmental psychologist Jacqueline Woolley reveals how children can become so enamored with their pretend friends, that they blur the lines between real and fantasy.
What’s the Deal With Kepler?
We break down Kepler’s achievements and what’s coming next.
12:06
A Synthetic Human Genome? Not So Fast
Bioethicist Laurie Zoloth and biologist Jeff Way discuss the scientific and ethical challenges that lie ahead for large genome synthesis.
16:38
Tracking the Hidden Trail Left by Your Smartphone
How much data is being transmitted through phone metadata and third-party keyboard apps?
12:03
Dog Longevity, Depression Treatments, and the Trouble With Wolves
An old drug’s new tricks could prolong your dog’s life, plus the controversy over wild wolves and their management.
08:04
The Flight of the RoboBees
What can we learn from the quest to build a better tiny, flying robot?
17:14
Lessons From the History of the Gene
Siddhartha Mukherjee’s new book, “The Gene,” is a reminder that the history of genetics is fraught with ethical conundrums.
17:10
Physicist Sean Carroll Finds Meaning in the Chaos of the Cosmos
Does the Big Bang mark the beginning of the universe or the end of our current scientific knowledge?
Tracing Mental Illness Through a Family History
Author Siddhartha Mukherjee outlines his family’s genetic history with mental illness.
Finding Our Place in the Universe, One Discovery at a Time
Author Sean Carroll tells us how a multitude of discoveries in the last few hundred years has changed how we view our place in the universe.
Is DNA the Future of Digital Data Storage?
A team of researchers were able to store 150 kilobytes—a handful of simple emails—on a strand of DNA.
The Eerie Glow Of Blue Ghost Fireflies
From afar, these fireflies glow blue-white instead of flashing yellow-green.
A Tale Of Two Glassworkers And Their Marine Marvels
Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka are perhaps best known for crafting a collection of glass flowers for Harvard. But together they made their mark fashioning thousands of marine invertebrate models.