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.
16:47
After You Die, Your “Necrobiome” Lives On
A team of bacteria, insects, and other organisms take over bodies after death. But what can they tell scientists about how someone lived and died?
11:47
A Dung Detective Hunts For Rare Microbes
Most zoo visitors go to see the animals. Michelle O’Malley visits for their poop.
7:10
Coughs On A Plane
Researchers map out how the behavior of airplane passengers affects the chances of in-flight disease transmission.
9:14
After Finding Thousands Of Exoplanets, Kepler Rides Into The Sunset
The Kepler and K2 missions have found over 2,500 planets around distant stars, but the end is coming.
17:28
Shaping The Future Of Gun Research
As federal resources for firearm injury research lag, states like California are trying to do it themselves.
11:48
Remembering Stephen Hawking
Plus, rogue satellites, graphene hair dye, and hungry ravens.
4:51
To Flap, Perchance To Fly
Inside the fossilized bones of Archaeopteryx, one of the earliest bird-like dinosaur specimens, researchers have found evidence of a capability for flight.
12:01
Bringing (Accurate) Dinosaurs Back To Life
Meet Gabriel Ugueto, a paleoartist who relies on scientific papers and fossils to get closer to what dinosaurs actually looked like.
11:40
Complex Human Behaviors May Have Evolved In Our Earliest Ancestors
Our earliest human ancestors had trading networks and advanced technology—tens of thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
27:10
A Guide To Daily Life On Mars
We asked an astronaut, an aerospace engineer, and a space futurist what life would be like on the Red Planet.
6:28
A New Clue To The Pinkish Streak Named Steve
How citizen scientists helped find—and solve—a mystery in the northern lights.
17:29
Why Aren’t There More Women In Blockchain?
The cryptocurrency industry has so far followed the trend in tech of being dominated by men. Women want to change that.
Interpret The Impacts Of Rising Ocean Temperatures On Ecosystems
Where do fish go when the water gets warm? It depends on the species.
New Visions Of Ancient Creatures
A paleoartist reinterprets the dinosaurs we thought we knew so well.
The History Of Ice Skates
From bones to blades, they just don’t make ice skates like they used to.
The Woman Who Linked The Web In A ‘Microcosm’
Hypertext links one thing to another on the Internet. But, in 1989, computer scientist Wendy Hall invented a specialized linkbase to build a more connected web.
7:26
Falling Chinese Space Station And A Scorched Exoplanet
China National Space Administration’s Tiangong-1 station is expected to crash to Earth, but the exact timing and location is unknown.
4:36
FDA Is Back On Board With A Breast Cancer Test
The FDA will now allow the consumer genetic testing company 23andMe to screen customers for mutations that boost breast cancer risk.
17:19
Pitting Viruses Against Bacteria To Combat The Antibiotic Crisis
Scientists are developing natural and synthetic viruses that kill bacteria to create new antibiotic treatments.