On Today's Podcast
How Is AI Being Used In The Iran War?
The Pentagon has given AI a powerful role in the Iran war. We dig into the DOD conflict with Anthropic, and the state of autonomous weapons.
Listen NowMarch 13, 2026
AI-generated songs are breaking onto the charts, and music labels are pivoting from lawsuits to partnerships with AI startups. What comes next? Plus, what’s the science behind the much-hyped idea that you can “reset” your nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve? And, with science and good luck, 158 young tortoises were reintroduced to Floreana Island in the Galápagos.
17:06
‘New Environmentalism’ Moves Beyond Pollution and Climate Change
Gus Speth, a longtime Washington insider, says it’s time to consider consumerism, economic instability, and a functional democracy as core environmental issues.
How to Build a Dinosaur
The puppets in the live stage production “Walking With Dinosaurs” evoke a convincing “dino-ness.”
Where Do We Go From Here? Environmentalism, at a Crossroads
An excerpt from James Gustave Speth’s memoir “Angels by the River.”
From Antlers to Tusks: Our Obsession With Extreme Animal Weapons
An excerpt from “Animal Weapons.”
I’m Not a Dinosaur, I Just Play One on Stage
A behind-the-scenes look at how the cast and crew of “Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular” brings life-size dinosaurs to life in an theatrical setting.
Interns at National Labs Do Real Science
Brookhaven National Laboratory provides a glimpse into the culture of the U.S. Department of Energy’s summer undergraduate laboratory internship program.
12:08
U.S. High-Speed Internet Lags Behind on Price, Cost
For less than $40 a month, residents of Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bucharest, and Paris can enjoy lightning-fast Internet download and upload speeds of 1,000 Mbps.
22:17
Apple Science, From American Beauty to Zestar
Between new crosses and old heritage varieties, there’s a world of apples beyond the Red Delicious.
12:08
Piecing Together the Puzzle of Insect Evolution
One hundred researchers studied 144 insect species to fill in the blanks of insects’ evolutionary history.
17:48
Opening Up the Synthetic Biology Toolkit
Synthetic biologist Christopher Voigt and biotechnologist Stephen Streatfield discuss current trends in synthetic biology.
17:17
Spilling Our Guts: Decreased Diversity in the Human Microbiome
How can hospital stays and the evolution from apes to humans change the diversity of our microbiome?
12:40
George Washington Carver: Renaissance Man
Carver was a painter, singer, and piano teacher, taught farmers the virtues of crop rotation, and developed hundreds of recipes for peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans and pecans.
10 Questions for Allen Bard, Father of Modern Electrochemistry
Allen Bard might be known for pioneering research in electrochemiluminescence, among other contributions to science, but he counts his students as his proudest achievement.
Death Under Glass
An exhibit at Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum offers a peek through a forensic pathologist’s microscope.
11:42
Ebola Vaccines Fast-Tracked As Outbreak Slows
Jon Cohen, a staff writer covering the outbreak for Science magazine, says that despite the vaccines’ success in monkeys, their efficacy in humans is far from guaranteed.
8:41
Could This 3-D Printer Print Itself?
This week, HP announced its new 3-D printer, which it claims can print materials strong enough to lift up a car—and do it 10 times faster than anything on the market today.
8:39
Scientists Sniff Smelly Comet
The Rosetta spacecraft has detected the scent of a comet…and it stinks.
8:07
Countering Memory Loss With Cocoa Compounds
Researchers try to counteract age-related memory decline with cocoa flavanols.
8:01
Creature Double Feature
Witness two tales that will make your skin crawl and your mind reel with fear and curiosity.