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.
‘Hot’ For Turkey
Female wild turkeys parse the courtship performances of males to determine their genetic potential.
Green Politics
How will the midterm election results, climate change “debate,” and trends in renewable energy affect the 2016 election?
Awareness in a Damaged Brain
While people in a vegetative state appear physically unresponsive, a new study reveals that some might be aware to a degree.
Snotty Plots: How Do You Graph A Sneeze?
Simulate a sneeze with paint, then graphically determine where most of it lands.
11:47
The First Touchdown On A Comet
The European Space Agency’s Philae lander is the first probe to touch down on a comet.
17:27
Lacking Funding, Some Scientists Turn to the Crowd
Scientists frustrated by a lack of research dollars are turning to crowdfunding.
16:53
Horns, Claws, and Teeth: The Animal Weapons Arms Race
Doug Emlen, author of “Animal Weapons,” unpacks the evolutionary arms race that pushes horns, claws, teeth and other animal defenses to the extreme.
18:13
Here Kitty, Kitty: The Genetics of Tame Animals
Researchers discuss the possible genetic underpinnings that make certain cats and rats tame.
10:41
Mining Wikipedia Data to Track Disease
By analyzing access to specific health-related pages on Wikipedia, researchers may be able to identify—or even forecast—potential disease outbreaks.
17:06
‘New Environmentalism’ Moves Beyond Pollution and Climate Change
Gus Speth, a longtime Washington insider, says it’s time to consider consumerism, economic instability, and a functional democracy as core environmental issues.
How to Build a Dinosaur
The puppets in the live stage production “Walking With Dinosaurs” evoke a convincing “dino-ness.”
Where Do We Go From Here? Environmentalism, at a Crossroads
An excerpt from James Gustave Speth’s memoir “Angels by the River.”
From Antlers to Tusks: Our Obsession With Extreme Animal Weapons
An excerpt from “Animal Weapons.”
I’m Not a Dinosaur, I Just Play One on Stage
A behind-the-scenes look at how the cast and crew of “Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular” brings life-size dinosaurs to life in an theatrical setting.
Interns at National Labs Do Real Science
Brookhaven National Laboratory provides a glimpse into the culture of the U.S. Department of Energy’s summer undergraduate laboratory internship program.
12:08
U.S. High-Speed Internet Lags Behind on Price, Cost
For less than $40 a month, residents of Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bucharest, and Paris can enjoy lightning-fast Internet download and upload speeds of 1,000 Mbps.
22:17
Apple Science, From American Beauty to Zestar
Between new crosses and old heritage varieties, there’s a world of apples beyond the Red Delicious.
12:08
Piecing Together the Puzzle of Insect Evolution
One hundred researchers studied 144 insect species to fill in the blanks of insects’ evolutionary history.
17:48
Opening Up the Synthetic Biology Toolkit
Synthetic biologist Christopher Voigt and biotechnologist Stephen Streatfield discuss current trends in synthetic biology.