On Today's Podcast
Why Astronomers Are Excited About Comet 3I/ATLAS’ Close Approach
Comet 3I/Atlas is just the third known object to visit us from outside our solar system. So yes... we'll be talking about aliens.
Listen NowDecember 19, 2025
A newly identified amoeba can survive at the temperature of a medium-well steak. Plus, a distant lava planet shows signs of an atmosphere. And, this Christmas Bird Count, we salute the fabulous, underappreciated, common species. Here’s to you, house sparrow.
Swimming Down The Runway: Finding A Model Species For Cephalopods
Want to learn more about cephalopods? Start by learning about bobtail squids.
The Mysterious Swimming Habits Of The Ancient Ammonite
These extinct shelled cephalopods ruled the ocean for 300 million years. But how they swam and shaped the seas remains a mystery.
Dive Into A Reddit AMA With Three Cephalopod Researchers
They talk about octopus behavior, fossilized cuttlefish ink, and proper cephalopod grammar.
SciFri Extra: About Time
Ira talks with the head of the NIST’s Time and Frequency Division about time, and how to measure it better.
7:13
A Cool Star Yields The Most Earth-Like Exoplanet Yet
A survey of exoplanets is finding Earth-like planets around cold, tiny stars, plus more stories from this week’s News Roundup.
5:02
Renewable Energy Makes Waves In Oregon
Plans for a wave testing facility in the state are advancing.
17:12
Puppy Eyes: Dogs’ Secret People Manipulation Weapon
Dogs have been perfecting their puppy eyes for thousands of years.
7:03
Why We Need To Talk About Microbes And Climate
Microbes are everywhere and have close ties to the climate. So, why are they often absent from discussion about climate change?
17:42
Through The Mountains And Smoke
To discover what’s happening in smoke plumes generated from wildfires, a team flies directly through the source.
12:27
How Climate Change Threatens Pikas
Pikas used to roam the American West. Now, they’re in danger of disappearing.
17:37
Uncovering A Colorado Apple Mystery
Colorado was once full of apple orchards—what happened? Plus the secrets of making cider.
9:48
Sucker For Cephalopods? Cephalopod Week Has You Covered
We’re submerging again for eight days of celebrating the mighty mollusks of the ocean.
How You Can Dive Into Cephalopod Week 2019
Like a cuttlefish emerging from its sandy hideaway, Cephalopod Week is back for its sixth year.
The Distributed Mind: Octopus Neurology
In a highly-anticipated experiment, researchers are attempting to decode how the octopus controls its multi-armed mind.
Science Comics: A Creative Gateway Into Literacy and STEM
Use student-created comics to summarize learning, report experimental outcomes, and assess prior knowledge.
Capture The Iridescence Of Camouflaging Cephalopod Skin
Explore the deep, color-changing iridophore and leucophore layers of cephalopod skin to see they use light to camouflage themselves.
11:56
What Are The Presidential Candidates’ Climate Plans?
The differing presidential candidates climate agendas include the Green New Deal, increased spending, and executive action.
11:51
A Tiny Twisted Protein, A Big Problem For Wildlife
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal illness affecting the brains of deer, moose, and elk.
34:14
The Best Science Books To Read For Summer 2019
From historical nonfiction to graphic novels to poetry, we’ve got plenty of recommendations for science books.