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.
7:59
A Year After Chemical Spill, Ohio Community Is Still Recovering
In East Palestine, Ohio, the stream that flows under residents’ houses is still polluted following a train derailment and chemical spill.
8:57
Sacre Bleu! Some French Cheeses At Risk Of Extinction
A lack of diversity in the microbes that make Camembert, brie, and some blue cheeses could mean we bid adieu to some French varieties.
12:15
How Do You Know If A Feathered Dinosaur Could Fly?
Researchers found that a specific number and symmetry of certain feathers can indicate whether a bird (or dinosaur) could fly.
17:30
Understanding And Curbing Generative AI’s Energy Consumption
As the environmental costs of tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E mount, governments are demanding more clarity from tech companies.
16:15
Making Chemistry More Accessible To Blind And Low-Vision People
Scientists are working to make chemical research more accessible to blind and low-vision students through 3D-printed models and modified equipment.
17:17
Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins Defamation Case
Michael Mann discusses what the victory means for the public understanding of climate science—and for bad-faith attacks on scientists.
12:16
Faraway Planets Could Have Oceans Of Magma
Hycean planets were thought to be covered by oceans of water, but a new study suggests it could be magma instead.
17:07
The World According To Sound: A Sonic History Of Astronomy
A new podcast series examines sonified space data to explore pivotal moments throughout the history of astronomy.
12:07
Colorectal Cancer Rates Are Rising In Young People
It used to be rare for people under 50 to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It’s increasingly common among adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
17:09
One Crisis After Another: Designing Cities For Resiliency
The leaders of a global architecture and design firm discuss how design can help communities adapt to global crises.
10:12
What An AI Learns From A Baby’s-Eye View Of The World
Associating images from a child’s daily life with the sounds they were hearing helped teach a computer model a set of basic nouns.
7:07
The Art And Science Of Trash Talk
Author Rafi Kohan explains the psychological and physiological responses to trash talk, ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.
17:16
A Black Physician’s Analysis Of The Legacy Of Racism In Medicine
In a new book, Dr. Uché Blackstock reflects on her experiences as a Black physician and the structural racism embedded in medicine.
In The Beginning, There Was Smack Talk
An excerpt from Rafi Kohan’s “Trash Talk” explains how talking smack can knock your opponent off their game.
A Harrowing Misdiagnosis And A Doctor’s Quest For Health Equity
Dr. Uché Blackstock recounts a formative medical experience that exemplifies how the healthcare establishment can fail Black patients.
Talk Like A Spider Using Sound And Secret Codes
Discover how spiders communicate through vibrations and dance. Then, create a cipher to “talk” like a spider using your own tap code language.
Why A Robotics Professor Writes Black STEM Romance Novels
Dr. Carlotta Berry writes romance novels about Black women in the sciences to encourage more people to go into the field.
12:09
Syphilis Cases Are Up 80% Since 2018
There has been a boom of syphilis cases, including a 180% increase in congenital syphilis cases, despite other STI levels staying stable.
9:01
Protecting The ‘Satan’ Tarantula and Other Lovable Giant Spiders
A team of scientists in Ecuador is on a mission to describe new-to-science tarantula species to help secure conservation protections.
7:41
If Termites Wore Stripes, Would Spiders Still Eat Them?
Undergraduate researchers pasted striped capes onto termites’ backs to see if a well-known warning sign would fend off predators.