On Today's Podcast
‘The Kissing Bug’ And The Story Of A Neglected Disease
Journalist Daisy Hernández chronicles the history of Chagas disease, also known as kissing bug disease, and how it changed her family’s story.
Listen NowJanuary 9, 2026
One year after the LA fires, the Community Brigade is equipping residents to prepare for, fight, and recover from wildfires. Plus, journalist Daisy Hernández chronicles the history of Chagas disease, also known as kissing bug disease, and how it changed her family’s story. And, recent studies on raccoons and dark-eyed juncos investigate how urban wildlife is evolving.
17:10
The Road To CRISPR
Biochemist Jennifer Doudna describes her work on developing the CRISPR-Cas9 technique and the ethical concerns of using the revolutionary tool.
10:03
Weighing A Star With Gravity: Einstein’s ‘Impossible’ Experiment
A century ago, we used general relativity to weigh the sun. A research team has finally done the same for a star outside our solar system.
6:05
The Hottest Known Exoplanet Is (Probably) Slowly Melting Away
Researchers find a doomed planet orbiting a massive hot star.
16:20
Fossil Finds Could Mean A Wider ‘Cradle Of Humanity’
Hominin fossils dating to 300,000 years ago have been found at a site in Morocco.
The Wisdom Of Teeth
Hidden inside each set of ancient teeth are clues about their owner’s behavior, ancestry and hints about what really made up the paleo diet.
Are You A Young Inventor? File A Patent
Tips and advice on how young inventors can protect their intellectual property.
Rising Seas Are Washing Away Graves In The Marshall Islands
For the residents of this island nation, climate change is already here.
7:44
Trump Pulls US From Climate Agreement
President Trump pulled the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, plus CRISPR human trials, a NASA sun orbiter, and more.
4:13
Winners And Losers In Warming Northeast Waters
Climate change can create more habitat for some species of fish. But will fisheries adapt?
22:44
Spreading The Word About The ‘Mother Of Wi-Fi’
Actress Hedy Lamarr was so much more than a beautiful face. Here’s why her story needs to be told.
29:40
Why Are Allergies So Dang Hard To Get Rid Of?
A look at why our immune systems turn on us, and why we’re still powerless to stop the attack.
8:25
Bringing Sensation To Bionic Limbs
An innovative muscle graft could help people with amputations “feel” their bionic limbs.
9:04
Need A Boost? Try An Exosuit
Researchers are developing wearable devices that can make human movements more efficient, boost strength, and increase endurance.
10:12
LIGO Scientists Detect Another Cosmic Collision
Scientists using LIGO detected a third gravitational wave, this time from two colliding black holes located 3 billion light-years away.
What Happens If The US Leaves The Paris Climate Deal?
One way is fast and dramatic. The other is slower and leaves wiggle room.
The Flaws In Forensic Science
Forensic scientists re-evaluate how to improve the state of the field.
How To Have A Dinner Party In Space
Astronaut Leland Melvin recounts daily life aboard the International Space Station, including a communal dinner, celebrating a birthday, and the challenges of trying to sleep in microgravity.
7:39
Why Are Whales Whale-Sized?
Plus, a genetic map of the Zika virus and a new planetary object round out this week’s science news.
4:20
Can You Fidget Away Your Anxiety?
Fidget spinners and other widgets can help you focus, but they can also distract.
17:15
On Being A Scientist (And Patent Holder) At Any Age
Amber Yang, 18, won Intel’s Young Scientist Award with her novel space debris tracker.