November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
17:29
World-Class Student Scientists Take On Big Problems
A virtual spine surgery tool and a new source of agricultural nutrients are two finalists in this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
17:12
I Scream. You Scream. Why Do We All Scream?
A scream sounds distinctive, but scientists are working to measure the acoustic properties of this type of nonverbal communication.
33:58
Embracing The Salt And Adapting To Sea Level Rise
Saltwater intrusion and sea level rise is the new normal for two communities along the east coast.
The Seeds Of Ghost Forests
As sea levels rise and drainage systems become defunct, dead forests are spreading across the coasts of North Carolina.
7:08
International Shake-Up Over Warming Arctic
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rattles a climate change conversation with the Arctic Council—meanwhile, an early spring is snarling life in Alaska.
4:35
A ‘Shared Ride’ May Be A Public Burden
A new study found that the presence of services like Uber and Lyft increased road congestion in San Francisco.
24:45
Turning Hydrogen Into A Metal Could Lead To New Superconductors
Turning hydrogen into a metal at room temperature could lead to new superconductors. But how far off is this super-material?
8:53
When Lions And Porcupines Battle, Humans Lose
A porcupine’s pointy quills might lead to people becoming prey.
33:05
‘Cribsheet’ Explores The Science Of Parenting
Health economist Emily Oster’s new book Cribsheet dives into the data on common parenting questions about sleep, breastfeeding, and childcare.
11:45
One Million Animal And Plant Species Are At Risk For Extinction
A new UN report says human interventions are the cause of a global biodiversity crisis.
Does Breastfeeding Affect Intelligence?
Economist Emily Oster examines the questionable studies that have led to the myth that breastfeeding increases IQ.
Interview Highlights: Looking To Spongier Cities To Combat A Wetter Future
From “Sponge Cities” in China to small “pocket prairies” in Houston, cities are fortifying communities to better prepare for wetter environments.
Dinosaur Poop 101: Fossil Fecal Forensics
Fossilized feces, known as coprolites, are helping paleontologists shed new light on the lifestyles and habits of dinosaurs that fossil bones can’t show.
8:44
Ancient Human Relatives At The Top Of The World
Paleoanthropologists announce a newly discovered Denisovan jawbone high on the Tibetan plateau.
3:19
How Much Fuel Does A Green Spring Add To The Fire?
California’s newly verdant hills will turn into kindling come this year’s wildfire season.
11:05
What Should We Do With The Online Profiles Of The Deceased?
1.4 billion Facebook users will pass away before the year 2100. How will their accounts be handled?
21:13
The Explorations Of An Early Climate Change Detective
Scenes from a new illustrated book bring the findings of naturalist and adventurer Alexander von Humboldt back to life.
24:28
Neuroscientists Peer Into The Mind’s Eye
If you hook a real brain up to artificial intelligence, what happens next?
22:28
The Business Of Predicting Climate Change
AT&T teamed up with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory to build a climate map of the U.S.
A 19th-Century Expedition To The Rim Of A Volcano
In a new graphic novel, scientist and polymath Alexander von Humboldt leads an intrepid band of scientists to catalog traces of life in a barren land.