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.
20:51
Fashioning The Future
A scientist and a designer imagine fashion’s high-tech future.
5:49
Smarty Pants: Testing the Quality of Textiles
Confidence in how well our garments suit us shouldn’t be taken for granted—we owe much to textile quality assurance.
Sea, Temperature, CO2 Levels All Rise in 2013
NOAA releases its State of the Climate Report for 2013.
The Two-Toned Beauty of Harlequin Bug Eggs
These tiny black-and-white cylinders each host a life-sucking insect.
Talk Like A Firefly
Learn to speak the language of fireflies and invent your own secret flash code.
The ABCs of 3D
Makerbot’s Bre Pettis explains what you need to know to try your own 3D printing.
10:58
Keeping an Eye on Wayward Studies
Ivan Oransky, co-founder of the Retraction Watch blog, discusses what happens when scientific studies go bad.
16:54
Concerns Rise Over Pesticide Use, Birds, and Bees
Neonicotinoid pesticides have been banned in the E.U. but are still approved for use in the U.S. while the EPA reviews them.
12:04
Could Inducing Hypothermia Help Revive Trauma Patients?
In a procedure called “Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation,” doctors would replace the blood of patients with cold saline to help buy valuable operating time.
10:58
What’s So Bad About Being Alone With Your Thoughts?
A study finds that many people would rather shock themselves than be alone with their thoughts.
23:02
The Surprisingly Predictable Patterns of Random Choice
In his new book, “Rock Breaks Scissors,” author William Poundstone decodes the patterns in big data, sports, and human behaviors.
The Ghostly Domed Land Snail
This tiny snail lives in one of the world’s deepest cave systems.
Space Vs. Food: Whose Side Are You On?
We’re pitting two of our favorite topics against each other. Are you #TeamSpace or #TeamFood?
11:52
Ben Franklin: Sonic Explorer
Ben Franklin’s sonic experiments included inventing a new musical instrument and testing the limits of the human voice.
17:43
Do Your Patriotic Duty: Learn Math
Mathematician Edward Frenkel says a well-educated public is essential to democracy—and that includes being knowledgeable about math.
15:47
Meet the Mohawk Behind NASA’s Curiosity Mission
NASA’s “Mohawk Man,” Bobak Ferdowsi, talks public and private space exploration, plans for Europa, and whether or not we’ll be putting a human on Mars.
12:08
Celebrating Nature’s Summer Light Show, Fireflies
The flashing of lightning bugs is a favorite part of a lazy summer evening, but there’s a lot of hidden nighttime drama.
17:28
How New Rules and Smart Tech Are Reinventing the Grid
After Superstorm Sandy, there was a lot of talk of a more distributed smart grid—a more resilient system. But how far have we come?
15:58
A Web of Doubt
Author Charles Seife spots the falsehoods and fakes that make their way onto the information super highway.