On Today's Podcast
Getting the billion-dollar PRIMA space telescope off the ground
The proposed PRIMA space telescope just entered Phase B of its development. What does that mean?
Listen NowOctober 16, 2026
A free-floating seaweed called sargassum is exploding in the Atlantic Ocean, clogging up coastlines from West Africa to the Caribbean. Attachment styles have taken off as a way to understand relationships. But does the science behind it line up with popular interpretations? Plus, the latest on commercial space stations, a mission to bring a sample from a Martian moon, and space-based weapons.
17:32
Getting To Know The Placenta
Researchers look to the mysterious organ for a new way of monitoring fetal health during pregnancy.
7:21
Kepler Unveils A New Crop Of Exoplanets
The mission found hundreds of new planet candidates, including 10 possible rocky worlds within their star’s habitable zone.
9:54
Caught On Video: How DNA Replicates
The DNA replication process isn’t exactly like the textbooks say.
34:29
The Cephalo-Inspired Technology Of The Future
From camouflage to jet propulsion, researchers see these tentacled creatures as inspiration for their biomimetic designs.
John Steinbeck And The Mystery Of The Humboldt Squid
In 1940, John Steinbeck helped catalog wildlife in the Sea of Cortez. Now, a new creature lurks beneath the ultramarine waters.
Meet Our Cephalopod Masters
Why do we love cephalopods? They’re smart, cute, and…well…really weird.
How Lake Fish Are Coping With Pollution
Author Dan Egan tells the story of one of the last Great Lakes fisherman who witnesses the adaptation of a fish to Lake Michigan’s polluted ecosystem.
Cephalopod Week
Cephalopod Week is October 5–11! Celebrate our favorite brainy marine invertebrates with stories and activities for all ages. You can find everything happening throughout the week below.
7:37
A Gene-Stealing Salamander, A Solar Companion, And French Fry Safety
Plus, involuntary manslaughter charges are brought against several officials in connection with the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
4:28
Could An Amazon Pharmacy Be A Prescription For Disaster?
A look at the potential costs and benefits of Amazon entering the pharmacy business.
8:12
Space Life Could Give You An Extra Head (If You’re A Flatworm)
Researchers look to a simple organism to study how living in space might affect humans on a cellular level.
8:48
The Mindset For A Milkshake
The mind exerts a subtle but powerful control over what we choose to eat—and even how our bodies metabolize it.
12:02
Why Theoretical Physics Says The US Is Ungovernable
No one, not even Donald Trump, could make such a complex system like the U.S. government work.
34:39
Can The Great Lakes Stay Great?
The North American Great Lakes are changing under the influence of pollution, invasive species, and climate change. How well will they weather this stress?
15:57
Love And War In The World Of The Cephalopod
The fourth annual Cephalopod Week kicks off with a cephalopod matchmaker and a researcher studying octopus defenses.
Love, Octopus-ly
Full-time biologist—part-time cephalopod matchmaker, Richard Ross invites us into his secret home lab where he studies the mating rituals of the lesser Pacific striped Octopus.
The Giant Squid’s Biggest Mystery
Estimating how many giant squid are lurking in the deep ocean seemed unfathomable…until now!
Make A Secret Marshmallow Message
Use the chemistry of the Maillard reaction to spell out an edible secret marshmallow message as you toast your treat!
Unravelling CRISPR In The Café
A sketch at a café meeting sets Jennifer Doudna on the path to developing one of the most consequential gene editing tools.