On Today's Podcast
When, and where, did bats first take to the sky?
An analysis of bat genomes and fossil records has shown that the flying mammals first took wing in Europe some 60-65 million years ago.
Listen NowOctober 30, 2026
When, and where, did bats first take to the sky? Online clinics are prescribing GLP-1 microdoses formulated by compounding pharmacies. Are they safe and effective? Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field. Plus, how chatbots are changing language, and what life was like for T. rex.
Why Should We Trust Science?
Harvard professor Naomi Oreskes argues why the public should trust scientists—but not for the reason most of us think.
Botanists Explain The Chemical Roots Behind Your Favorite Bitters
You told us your favorite drinkable plant flavors. Three botanists tell the backstories of bitters, tinctures, and teas from around the world.
7:05
Egypt Is Building A Massive 1.8-Gigawatt Solar Park
The $4 billion Benban Solar Park will be the country’s first utility-scale solar power plant.
4:47
Growing Cannabis Could Lead To More Air Pollution
Growing cannabis has environmental impacts, like increased water and electricity use. But it might also contribute to air pollution.
17:24
Your Smart TV Is Watching You
Smart TVs join the ranks of websites and smartphone apps that collect and share your data.
17:26
You Are What You Cook
How cooking your food changes your microbiome—and what that could say about human evolution.
12:20
Climate Denial Sneaks Into A Federal Report
Buried in the appendix of a Bureau of Land Management report about Arctic oil development is the assertion by a bureau employee that “there is not a climate crisis.”
34:48
Food Failures: Rise Your Bread Baking Skills With Science
How gluten-free flours affect bread structure and how to keep your sourdough starter happy.
7:12
NASA To Launch An Eye In The Sky For Asteroids
The space agency plans to launch an infrared telescope to spot space rocks whizzing towards Earth.
4:45
After Global Cries For Climate Action, Silence From Big Polluters
The world’s biggest emitters—India, China, and the U.S.—had very little to contribute to the UN Climate Action Summit.
15:58
How Schrödinger’s Cat Became Schrödinger’s Cats
Physicist Sean Carroll discusses the “many worlds” view of quantum mechanics.
12:00
How Whales Evolved From Land To Water, Gene By Gene
Marine mammals like whales and dolphins lost the function of 85 genes in the transition from land to water.
34:10
The Bitter Truth: The Taste Of Biodiversity
These botanists want you to make your own cocktail bitters with ingredients you’ve never heard of.
17:24
The Latest IPCC Report: A Global Warning On Ice And Oceans
Ice and oceans worldwide are already being reshaped by a changing climate, affecting everything from weather to fisheries to coastal communities.
The Basics Of Bitters
Sure, bitters make cocktails taste great. But that’s just the start.
11:55
A Battle Over Auto Emissions And The Global Climate Strike
President Trump is wrestling with the state of California over who gets to define auto emissions standards for carmakers: California or the federal government?
11:59
A Troubling Decline In North American Birds
A study says the bird population in North America today may be almost 3 billion birds smaller than in 1970.
23:47
How Would Humanity Survive A Sci-Fi Disaster?
Journalist Mike Pearl investigates what the world would look like after technology breakdowns, a real-life Jurassic Park, and other sci-fi doomsday scenarios.
9:58
How Feets Of Dexterity Change The Brain
New research on the brains of people who paint with their toes reveal how our limbs affect our internal maps from birth.
34:06
How The Fashion Industry Is Responding To Climate Change
More and more industries are responding to climate change. Will fashion brands follow suit?