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.
12:07
How Underwater Telecom Cables Could Help Detect Tsunamis
Scientists are adding sensors to an underwater cable network to monitor changes in the ocean and quickly detect earthquakes and tsunamis.
17:14
New Products Collect Data From Your Brain. Where Does It Go?
An array of new products monitors users’ brain waves using caps or headbands. That neural data has few privacy protections.
11:53
Bonobos Are Gentler Than Chimps? Maybe Not.
A study found aggression between male bonobos to be more frequent than aggression between male chimpanzees.
5:12
Art Meets Ecology In A Mile-Long Poem
Visual artist Todd Gilens created a walkable poem along Reno’s Truckee River that draws parallels between urbanism and stream ecology.
16:33
The 4,000-Year History Of Humans And Silk
For her new book, Aarathi Prasad spent years researching the past and future of silk—and even grew her own silkworms.
Silk, The Ancient Material With High-Tech Possibilities
“Silk: A World History” describes the unique qualities of silk that make it a sustainable material with a wide variety of applications.
In ’65,’ Adam Driver Should Have Known
Would tech-savvy space explorers stranded on ancient Earth really be shocked to find dinosaurs?
Your Snapshots From The Solar Eclipse
The “mental snapshots” readers shared from the April 8 solar eclipse capture the joy, wonder, and surreality of the day.
12:12
Progress Toward A Clean Energy Transition
Global temperature increases are slowing, electric vehicle sales are growing, and renewable energy is now cheaper than some fossil fuels.
12:12
Why Is Solving The Plastic Problem So Hard?
Plastics are everywhere, in packaging, clothing, and even our bodies. Could they be made less integral to manufacturing and more recyclable?
11:22
Why Avian Flu In Cattle And Humans Has Scientists Concerned
In a recent outbreak of avian flu, the virus has jumped from birds to cows, and to one dairy worker. A disease ecologist provides context.
6:11
Fighting Banana Blight In A North Carolina Greenhouse
America’s most-consumed fruit is at risk from a fungal disease. Researchers in North Carolina are on a mission to save Cavendish bananas.
12:12
Do Birds Sing In Their Dreams?
Birds move their vocal organs while they sleep, mimicking how they sing. Scientists have translated those movements into synthetic birdsong.
8:37
Assessing The Global Mental Health Toll Of Climate Change
An explosion of research is painting a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting mental health across the globe.
8:27
Citizen Scientists Will Capture DNA From 800 Lakes In One Day
The project aims to find species that have gone unnoticed by sampling the waters of hundreds of lakes worldwide for environmental DNA.
16:35
What Worsening Floods Mean For Superfund Sites
Superfund sites contain extreme pollution. Flooding—made worse by climate change—could carry their toxic contaminants into surrounding areas.
This Documentary Explores The Loneliness Of A Mars Mission
In a new documentary, NASA psychologists try to find solutions for the mental health challenges of a three-year trip to Mars.
Hackea tu cerebro: una aventura de escape y rompecabezas para niños
Desbloquea el poder del cerebro de un niño con este recurso gratis en línea de una aventura de escape, rompecabezas, y experimentos.
Cephalopod Week Is Back This Summer With Trivia Nights!
Join us in NYC and Atlanta for a cephalo-bration of our favorite underwater invertebrates—plus, win some great trivia prizes!
A Robot’s Story: Teaching Clipbot About The Human Brain
Embark on a journey with a young scientist and their curious robot as they explore the brain through exciting challenges and puzzles.