July 12, 2024
Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters. Plus, there are currently 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night.
11:43
An Exoplanet Where It Rains Sand
Astronomers are calling the exoplanet “fluffy.” Plus, an update on a possible volcanic eruption in Iceland.
7:53
The Science Behind Your Unraveling Sweaters
A textile professor and knit expert explains why many sweaters today are of poorer quality than sweaters in the past.
11:42
Moon Rocks Collected In 1972 Reveal New Secrets
Research on crystals brought back by the Apollo 17 mission shows that the moon is 40 million years older than we thought.
17:29
How AI Chatbots Can Reinforce Racial Bias In Medicine
Researchers examined four popular chatbots and found they perpetuated debunked, harmful ideas from race-based medicine.
10:30
The Captivating Story Of The West’s Wild Horses
You can buy a wild horse from the federal government for $125. Reporter Ashley Ahearn did just that.
6:22
An Artist Explores The History Of Humans Genetically Modifying Pigs
With opera and visual art, an exhibit looks at modern genetic engineering—and thousands of years of breeding—of pigs.
25:48
2023’s Best Science Books For Kids
An editor and a children’s author weigh in on this year’s best STEM books for kids. Plus, listeners share their own favorites.
Musician Kilo Kish Learns A New Trick
We might think that an old dog can’t learn new tricks. According to neuroscience and neuroplasticity though, that’s not true at all.
Euclid Telescope’s First Images Unveiled
A new ESA telescope could help us understand how dark matter and dark energy influence the structure of the universe.
Everything You Never Knew About Squash And Pumpkins
It’s squash, pumpkin and gourd season. An expert answers listener questions about these colorful fall favorites.
How A University Is Adjusting One Year After ChatGPT
An English professor discusses how AI is transforming education, and how students and faculty alike can use it responsibly.
Not Just Dying Stars: A Black Hole That Came From Gas
Using both JWST and the Chandra Observatory, astronomers discover the oldest known black hole, and confirm a theory.
Monumental And Invisible: How Infrastructure Works
An engineering professor and author explains how modern life depends on vast, complicated systems you probably never think about.
Ask A Chef: How Can I Use Science To Make Thanksgiving Tastier?
Chef Dan Souza from Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen answers your holiday cooking questions.
The Elegance Of Infrastructure
A local power station probably wouldn’t be described as beautiful, but what’s going on inside possesses undeniable engineering elegance.
Close Out 2023 With The Best American Science And Nature Writing
On December 11, join the editors and writers of this year’s Best American Science and Nature Writing to reflect on their favorites from last year.
Pixel Art Conjures Nostalgia For A Screen Experience That Didn’t Exist
Crisply pixelated video games evoke nostalgia for decades past. But early games, played on boxy CRT televisions, just didn’t look like that.
FDA Panel Clears Way For CRISPR-Based Sickle Cell Treatment
If given final approval by the FDA, this treatment would be the first to use gene-editing CRISPR technology on humans.
How A Deaf Advisory Group Is Changing Healthcare
Deaf patients often don’t receive interpreters in healthcare settings. A deaf advisory group worked with a hospital to improve how it cares for them.
Your Pain Tolerance May Have Been Passed Down From Neanderthals
Gene variants inherited from Neanderthals can impact pain tolerance and nose shape in modern humans. What else could they influence?