On Today's Podcast
The decades-long movement to kill FEMA
A new series from “On the Media” traces the mistrust and conspiracy theories that have plagued FEMA since its founding in 1979.
Listen NowMay 1, 2026
Birds are living dinosaurs whose ancestors include T. rex and giant penguins. Understanding their past can help us imagine their future. Plus, an executive order issued by President Trump aims to fast-track research for psychedelics, including ibogaine. What is it? And, measuring microplastics can be hard, partly because they’re everywhere—including the lab. One researcher is working on solutions.
The ‘Unbelievable’ Power Of Nuclear Bombs, Caught On Film
Last March, physicists declassified a trove of nuclear test films. Now you can see them for yourself.
The High Cost Of Notifications
The more you’re interrupted, the more likely you are to interrupt yourself. Can we win the war on our prefrontal cortex?
7:32
A Giant Rat, An Octopus City, And Space Life Beyond The ISS
This week, NASA and Roscosmos announced that they would cooperate to build a new space station, closer to the moon.
4:31
How Wind Farms Affect The World Beneath The Waves
Offshore wind farms are spreading around the globe. But how much do we know about how they affect the ecosystems beneath them?
22:21
The ABCs Of Nuclear War
From bomb chemistry, to radiation dosage to missile defense, there’s a lot of science behind nuclear warfare.
29:26
Charles Darwin’s Lesser-Known Eccentric Exploits
Paddling a duck foot in water and other small experiments led to Darwin’s big theory of evolution.
16:39
The Case For Boredom
How our smartphones are robbing us of an undervalued cognitive resource—and what to do about it.
Recreate Darwin’s Experiments In Your Backyard
Biologist James T. Costa recreated some of Darwin’s experiments that led to his theory of evolution. Now, you can try them in the comfort of your backyard.
11:08
Ensuring Recovery Efforts Work In Flooded Puerto Rico
Disaster researchers look to past catastrophes to find better responses to Hurricane Maria.
Why Don’t Banana Candies Taste Like Real Bananas?
Actually, they do. The story of artificial banana flavoring is, well, bananas.
Fossilization And Decay At The La Brea Tar Pits
Using the La Brea Tar Pits as inspiration, look at the conditions that affect fossil formation.
See Undiscovered Live At The Bay Area Science Festival!
Annie and Elah will join Adam Savage and the Tested.com team live on stage on October 28th.
Up On The Roof, A Handful Of Urban Stardust
A jazz musician-turned-micrometeorite hunter gives advice on how to search for the tiny bits of cosmic dust that could be covering your rooftop.
How Do You Figure Out How Dinosaurs Walked?
Analyze the gait of bipedal organisms, including humans, chimps, and birds, then use pelvic anatomy to predict how theropod dinosaurs walked.
In Defense Of Dinosaurs
We don’t conclude that Einstein’s towering accomplishments should be sullied by his own mortality. Author Kenneth Lacovara argues that dinosaurs deserve the same credit.
7:41
In Frog Versus Dinosaur, This Frog Wins
By analyzing the bite force of frog jaws, researchers determined that an extinct giant frog from Madagascar could have devoured dinos.
4:25
The Downside Of A Quick And Easy Malaria Test
The malaria rapid diagnostic test can help manage the disease, but it also led to an unintended consequence in some countries.
28:05
How Will The Wildfires Of Today Fuel The Fires Of Tomorrow?
Most wildfires are started by humans. Will that number increase in the future?
6:01
Meet The New Zealand Glow Worm
How does a glow worm glow? Hint: it’s not the same as a firefly.
11:35
Sleepy Times Under The Sea
New research indicates that even animals as simple as jellyfish have the need to doze.