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.
7:45
A Smoky Aftertaste: Keeping Wildfires Out Of Your Wine Glass
Scientists are working hard to make sure your Oregon Pinot Noir doesn’t change taste after smoke exposure.
8:09
Artemis Update: What Will It Take To Make It Back To The Moon?
The chief engineer for the Space Launch System gives an update on the Artemis mission’s huge rocket, and the engineering challenges of returning to the moon.
8:53
This Astrophysicist Holds Star Data In The Palm Of Her Hand
Astrophysicist Nia Imara’s career merges art and astronomy to figure out how stars are born.
17:02
Depression Isn’t Caused By Low Serotonin. So How Do Antidepressants Work?
Antidepressants work, but researchers still don’t fully understand why. Experts discuss what we do and don’t know about how antidepressants affect the brain.
12:14
COVID-19’s Lingering Toll On The Heart
New research from Germany finds a majority of recovering COVID patients may still have heart damage a year later. Plus new insights into the magic tricks of the immortal jellyfish, and other stories.
7:21
Why Are Dead Fish Piling Up Across The San Francisco Bay?
Untreated sewage discharge in the warming waters may have caused a dangerous algal bloom.
9:45
As The World Decarbonizes, Sulfuric Acid May Be In Short Supply
Sulfuric acid, now facing a supply shortage, is an important part of manufacturing, from fertilizer to the batteries green energy requires.
7:09
The New G.O.A.T. Of Park Systems Is An Actual Goat
Known for their indiscriminate diet, goats are helping conservation managers remove invasive plants from parks.
39:09
The Hot And Cold Past Of The Air Conditioner
From the 1904 World’s Fair to deadly heat waves, we’re taking a look back at more than a century of AC. This story was originally published in 2021.
16:46
Remembering Frank Drake, Who Listened To The Cosmos
Remembering the inventive scientist and SETI pioneer who found a way to calculate the probability of discovering extraterrestrial life.
8:17
As Temperatures Get Warmer, Fish Are At Risk
Massive die-offs could become the norm in the upper midwest as climate change-related factors place fish at risk.
Bring The Artemis Mission Home With Hands-On Activities
Grab some supplies and try these hands-on STEM activities right at home to celebrate the Artemis mission to the Moon.
12:10
New, More Protective COVID Vaccines Are On The Way
In the face of a fall and winter surge, the newly formulated vaccines will offer more protection.
10:24
New Jersey’s Lenape Nation Fights Ford’s Toxic Legacy
A court case seeks to recover damages from the impact of the car company’s toxic waste.
6:50
Coming Soon: A Germ-Killing Countertop?
Engineers designed a new germicide coating that sterilize surfaces from pathogens, like E. coli or MRSA, and lasts for months.
16:45
The Surprising Animal Science Behind Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’
Spoilers abound! Learn how Jordan Peele’s new film ‘Nope’ used inspiration from the oceans to make its new creature.
17:16
Taxpayer-Funded Science Is Finally Becoming Public
The White House announced a new policy to make federally-funded science more accessible. We talk to an expert on how the public benefits.
17:02
Why You Should Thank Your Local Wasp
From pest control to pollination, what might be considered pesky insects actually play essential environmental roles.
Icky Or Essential? Why Wasps Are Actually Important
These occasional picnic plagues are more than what they seem: they’re also nature’s pest control agents and important pollinators.
12:13
Why Is It So Hard To Agree On When Human Life Starts?
For decades, the U.S. medical establishment has adhered to a legally recognized standard for death. Why not for the inception of life?