On Today's Podcast
‘Project Hail Mary’ brings a new kind of alien to the big screen
Move over, Ryan Gosling: Rocky the alien is the breakout star of the big-budget movie adaptation of "Project Hail Mary."
Listen NowMarch 20, 2026
Move over, Ryan Gosling: Rocky the alien is the breakout star of the movie adaptation of "Project Hail Mary." Plus, how a particle accelerator, a robot, and 2,000 ants came together to paint a picture of biological diversity. And, a mathematician analyzed 150 years of women’s fashion to understand 20-year trend cycles, and how “optimal distinctiveness” drives change.
How AI Advances Are Improving Humanoid Robots
Roboticist Karen Liu combines machine learning and animation to teach robots to move and respond more like humans.
The High-Tech Lab Unlocking Secrets Of Coral Reproduction
At a lab in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, scientists are breeding corals to be more resilient to rising ocean temperatures.
The Humble Microbe Could Help Us Understand Life Itself
Unlocking the basic science of microbes, especially those that live in extreme environments, could help us find life elsewhere in the universe.
Raising A New Generation Of Bat Conservationists In West Africa
Bats are understudied in West Africa. An ecologist couple is building a network of bat conservationists to boost research and conservation.
How Conservation Efforts Brought Rare Birds Back From The Brink
The merlin, sandhill crane, and pileated woodpecker were once rare in North America. Environmental conservation fueled their resurgence.
If An Asteroid Were Headed For Earth, Would We Be Ready?
Sooner or later, a sizable asteroid could impact a populated area on Earth. How is the US, and the world, preparing?
A Trailblazing Geneticist Reflects On Her Life And Work
Dr. Mary-Claire King was the first to link a gene to hereditary cancer risk with the identification of BRCA1. She was just getting started.
What The Label Of ‘Genius’ Tells Us About Our Society
In “The Genius Myth,” Helen Lewis argues that who we call a genius reveals more about our values than any objective measure of brilliance.
The Messy Reality Behind Thomas Edison’s ‘Genius’
It took a lot of people to create the light bulb. But a process of mythmaking has flattened one man and elevated him to legendary status.
16:47
Teamwork Between Species Is The Key To Life Itself
“The Call of the Honeyguide” traces the mutualisms found throughout nature, from hunting pairs to the microbes all around us.
How An African Bird Forged A Relationship With Humans
The greater honeyguide learned to lead humans to beehives, luring them with the promise of honey so they’d unlock the wax the birds eat.
The Human Obsession With Aliens Goes Way, Way Back
A new book charts the millennia-old history of our fascination with aliens, and how myth transformed into research.
How Fascination With Aliens Spread Across 17th Century Europe
The debate over the existence of extraterrestrial life touches literature, religion, and science in 17th century Europe.
A Delicious But Invasive Mushroom Could Affect Fungal Diversity
Golden oyster mushrooms have escaped from home growing kits into the wild. Plus, the ancient origin story of the humble potato plant.
A Photographer Captures Nature In Mind-Boggling Detail
Ever seen the hairs on a bee’s eyeball? Or the contours of a hummingbird’s tongue? Science photographer Anand Varma takes us behind the lens.
Octopuses Use Suckers To ‘Taste’ Harmful Microbes
Researchers found that octopuses can use their arms to detect harmful microbes on the surface of objects like crab shells or their own eggs.
An Ice-Cold Octopus Nursery Could Help Expand Marine Protections
Indigenous and Western scientists are working together to uncover biodiversity in the icy deep. They’re getting some eight-armed help.
Hide Like A Cephalopod: Make An Octopus Den
Put your engineering skills to the test as you design a strong, but camouflaged, underwater home for an octopus.
Discover The Mysteries Of Octopuses
Dive into marine biology with this “Many Things Under A Rock” interactive book club guide for young readers.
Listen To Ethereal Sounds Derived From Space
NASA’s Sonification Project aims to turn astrophysics data into sound, enabling visually impaired people to engage with outer space.