On Today's Podcast
How do clinical trials work, and who can participate?
A bioethicist walks us through the complexity of clinical trials, from their core scientific questions to patient selection to FDA approval.
Listen NowMay 22, 2026
Low-frequency noises that humans can feel, but not hear, may be behind the spooky feeling of old houses. Plus, a processing plant in Mississippi is leaking massive amounts of the herbicide paraquat into the air. Its biological link to Parkinson’s is becoming clear. And, a bioethicist walks us through the complexity of clinical trials, from their core scientific questions to patient selection to FDA approval.
In A Lunar City, A Mission Gone Awry
The moon is an unforgiving landscape, making life there no walk in the park.
6:58
Women More Likely To Be Injured When Heading Soccer Ball
Plus, a dire environmental warning and some dietary caution ahead of Thanksgiving.
4:50
Coal Ash Pollution In Kentucky Lake Is Worse Than Expected
Will Kentucky loosen regulations for toxic power plant byproduct?
8:01
Visualizing Anatomy Unseen
This veterinary surgeon was confounded by how little we know about animal anatomy. So, he created a method to see all the way down to the smallest capillary.
29:38
How Andy Weir Engineered A Lunar City In ‘Artemis’
In his new novel, author Andy Weir creates a sprawling moon metropolis—just to see if he could break it apart with lunar felony.
6:22
Who Killed The Passenger Pigeon?
Possibly the most abundant bird ever to live, the passenger pigeon was surprisingly low on genetic diversity.
10:48
Crows, A Bird That’s Not Bird-Brained
An ode to the brainy antics of the corvid family, from funerals to tool use to human facial recognition.
26:36
Could Tweaking The Atmosphere Help Us Fight Climate Change?
A controversial technique for combating climate change has caught the Congress’ eye.
The Women Taking Math To The Next Dimension
Rebecca Goldin, Emily Riehl, and Eugenia Cheng share their favorite puzzles, explain why math is like a dragon, and give tips for young women entering the field.
Beauty Beyond Skin Deep
We used to know very little about animal anatomy. Now, a new imaging technology allows us to see things that were in front of us the whole time.
Just ‘Topia:’ Moving Beyond The Tropes Of Dystopia
Three science fiction and fantasy writers share their thoughts on the risks and rewards of building “other worlds.”
7:39
Along The Kelp Highway
Archeologists agree on an early coastal route for ancient humans crossing from Siberia…and it’s not the land bridge. Plus, dog sacrifices in the Bronze Age.
4:48
Keeping An Eye On Florida’s Panther Population
A program to capture-and-collar panthers in Florida has been in place for over three decades. Now, it may be ending.
24:14
The US Will Be The Only Country Not In The Paris Agreement. Now What?
As the world works together to lower carbon emissions, what role will the United States play in fighting climate change? Plus, how aging satellites threaten polar ice data.
10:49
The Secret Life Of Tiny Bees
Some small bees—the size of a grain of rice—drink the sweat and tears of animals.
17:26
Should Facebook Have A Seat At The Geopolitical Table?
Large tech companies wield the power of a large country—but without the same regulations.
29:57
The Infinitely Surprising Career Of A Mathematician
Three mathematicians talk about the latest topics and their start in math.
How Do Fossils Form? Fossilize Me! Card Game
Explore the diversity of fossil types and test your knowledge with the Fossilize Me! Card Game. Can you successfully put together an organism, type of preservation, and fossil before that organism decays?
6:52
A Newfound Orangutan, Dark Matter Questions, And A Hole In A Pyramid
Researchers have identified and described a third distinct species of orangutan living in the islands of Indonesia.
5:27
When Science Takes The Freelance Route
An expert weighs the pros and cons of working in science in the gig economy.