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.
5:19
How Election Science Can Support Democracy
The Union of Concerned Scientists has unveiled an election science task force led by experts from across the country.
12:13
The Genetic Roots Of Antibiotic Resistance
A survey of soil and animal poop samples from around the world identified 18 new species of Enterococcus bacteria.
12:19
Could A Planet Like Arrakis From ‘Dune’ Exist?
A planetary scientist compares Arrakis to real planets and analyzes whether life could exist on such a sandy, scorching-hot world.
9:55
Preparing Astronauts For 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.
7:20
Should The Aliens In ’65’ Have Known About Earth’s Dinos?
In the movie “65,” an alien crashes on Earth during the Jurassic era, shocked to discover dinosaurs. An astrobiologist has questions.
17:15
With This Rare Disorder, No Amount Of Sleep Is Enough
A new book explores idiopathic hypersomnia, which causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness despite ample sleep.
17:18
A New Book Puts ‘Math in Drag’
Do you think math is boring? Drag queen Kyne is on a mission to make math fun and accessible for all.
How Pi Can Help Sew A Costume
In “Math in Drag,” drag queen Kyne describes how understanding pi helps her sew together the perfect circle skirt.
Prepare For The April 2024 Eclipse With ‘Moon Mail’
Prepare for this year’s eclipse with solar science, umbraphile quests, and a plan to make a lasting memory.
Was The Nostalgic Music In ‘Argylle’ Crucial To The Plot?
In the energetic spy adventure, music helps a shy novelist remember who she actually is. There’s some science to how music triggers memories.
Hack Your Brain: Free Online Science Escape Room For Kids
Unlock kids’ brain power with a free online neuroscience escape room, exciting puzzles, hands-on experiments, and live expert Q&As.
Meet The Comedians Bringing A Sense Of Humor To Science
How do you integrate science into standup comedy? Comedians Chuck Nice, Kasha Patel, and Kyle Marian Viterbo tell us how.
12:12
Pythagoras Was Wrong About Music
The Greek philosopher had specific ideas about the mathematical ratios behind music. It turns out that he was wrong.
16:59
What’s Behind The Measles Outbreak In Florida?
Two pediatricians discuss the outbreak, vaccine hesitancy, and unraveling public health measures in Florida and beyond.
5:34
Farmers And Environmentalists Alike Are Excited About Biochar
This charcoal-like substance packs carbon into a stable form, making it less likely to escape into the atmosphere.
11:31
Snakes Are Evolutionary Superstars
In the trees, through the water, and under the dirt: Snakes evolve faster than their lizard relatives, allowing them to occupy diverse niches.
12:08
Whale Song Is All In The Larynx
Researchers are working to understand just how baleen whales are able to produce their haunting songs.
16:42
What It Takes To Care For The US Nuclear Arsenal
The book “Countdown” looks at why the US is modernizing its arsenal, and what it means to exist with nuclear weapons.
17:25
A Young Scientist Uplifts The Needs Of Parkinson’s Patients
Neuroscience graduate student Senegal Alfred Mabry is looking at effects of Parkinson’s disease beyond the most visible body tremors.
Los Alamos And The Beginning Of Our Nuclear Age
In her new book, Sarah Scoles writes about how scientists grappled with the implications of nuclear weapons.