July 19, 2024
A bitcoin mine’s cooling fans are so loud they rattle windows. Residents of Granbury, Texas, are experiencing symptoms of noise pollution. Plus, a weather expert decodes the lingo from the new movie “Twisters”—and real-life tornado trends. And, an FDA panel rejects MDMA therapy for PTSD, raising concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.
8:00
Can Intestinal Bacteria Shape Response to Early-Life Stress?
A new study investigates the link between the gut and the brain in mice.
8:18
So Flashy: The Chemistry Behind a Firefly’s Glow
Scientists work to understand the chemistry and benefit of firefly flashes.
11:37
A Device to Visualize Your Climate Change Future
In Marin County, California, augmented reality binoculars are helping locals visualize sea level rise—and plan for it.
20:18
Wearable Technology Goes Way Back
Google Glass, Fitbits, and the Apple Watch are just the latest products in a long evolution of wearable technology.
7:59
Black-Market Marijuana Farming Is Far From Green
Illegal pot farms north of San Francisco are repeating many of the environmental sins of the logging era, like clear-cutting and road building.
A Wave Break In The Clouds
These picturesque clouds reveal a particular kind of turbulence in the atmosphere.
How Many Licks? Controlling Lollipop Licker Variation
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Navigate the perils of licker variation by designing your own lollipop-licking experiment.
11:56
An HIV Mystery, the Search for E.T., and a Bug Bite Itch Zapper
BuzzFeed News science editor Virginia Hughes shares her top stories from this week in science, and astronomer Seth Shostack debates the pros and cons of attempting to contact E.T.
17:31
Tips and Hacks for Navigating Recreational Drones
From pocket-size drones to camera-equipped quadcopters, drone educator Steve Cohen navigates us through tips for buying and building personal drones.
7:41
Can Studying Dolphins Give Insight Into Human Disease?
Dolphins can switch in and out of a metabolic syndrome that resembles pre-diabetes in humans.
8:21
Bacterial Hunger Games
Is it time to stop killing bacteria, and start pitting them against each other?
11:37
A Twist In The Tale Of Native American Origins
Two studies detect a DNA link between Indigenous Amazonians and native Australians and New Guineans.
17:20
Closer to Earth, 2.0, and a New Horizons Update
NASA’s Kepler program has located a planet close in size to Earth, orbiting in the habitable zone of a star similar to our own sun. Plus, new data about Pluto.
10:08
Do Know-It-Alls Really Know It All?
Scientists find that self-described experts are more likely to claim knowledge of phony information.
6:19
In a Mountain of Data, Signs of a New Class of Particles
Scientists working on CERN’s LHCb experiment report that they’ve found evidence of a so-called pentaquark particle.
How Silver-Haired Ants Beat The Desert Heat
Ant-Man’s cool. But this ant is cooler, thanks to metallic-looking hairs that help it beat the African desert heat.
Looks Fishy, Tastes Fishy. But Where’s the Fish?
For vegetarians, allergy sufferers, and the epicurious among us, chefs are getting creative with seafood substitutes.
What Do You Know About Science?
Unleash the geek, and let us know how familiar you are with a variety of scientific concepts.
11:40
iBubble Wrap, Fossilized Owl Vomit, and Deadly Temperature Swings
Brandon Keim, a freelance science reporter, shares this week’s top science news.
17:19
New Horizons Reveals Unexpected Worlds
Ice mountains and gaping canyons are just a few of the surprising features the New Horizons spacecraft beamed back this week.