On Today's Podcast
A vast whale graveyard + Zombie sea cucumbers
A massive "whale graveyard" contains whale remains dating back 5 million years. Plus, some detached parts of sea cucumbers don’t seem to die.
Listen NowJune 12, 2026
How poison dart frogs deal with their kids asking for snacks, and other parenting inspiration from the animal kingdom. Plus, do sugary drinks really cause more intense hangovers? Is wine both bad for you and good for you? Experts take on the chemistry of happy hour. And, the 2026 World Cup will be infused with AI. How will it change the beautiful game? And, what it takes to get perfect grass into 16 stadiums.
29:53
Meet Homo Naledi, Another Long-Lost Relative
Deep in a South African cave, in the so-called “dark zone” where no light penetrates, paleoanthropologists have made an extraordinary find: more than 1,500 bones, from at least 15 hominin individuals.
16:43
Science and Diplomacy
What role can science and scientists play in negotiating global issues?
Pedaling Through Pollution
Using biometric sensors, a wearable pollution monitor, and GPS, the a new study will detail cyclists’ exposure to toxins as they bike through city streets.
11:49
Arctic Climate Change, Pot Pesticides, and Student Data
Brooke Borel, from “Popular Science,” shares her top stories from this week in science, and “New York Times” reporter Natasha Singer debates the pros and cons of collecting student data.
4:39
Macroscope Video: A Cure for the Colorblindness Blues
Using gene therapy, visionary researchers Maureen and Jay Neitz may have finally created a cure for the colorblindness blues.
28:56
A Tribute to Oliver Sacks
Neurologist, writer, motorcycle racer, weightlifter, swimmer, and enthusiast of ferns, cycads, cephalopods and minerals—Oliver Sacks was a modern day Renaissance man.
11:47
How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Teacher Edition
Teachers Nell Herrmann and Tchnavia Merrick tell us about their science-filled summer vacations.
16:54
The Forgotten History Of Autism
In his new book, “NeuroTribes,” science writer Steve Silberman documents how politics and self-promoting scientists have altered our understanding of the condition over the years.
16:35
Is Modern Dating the Worst?
How text messages, profile pictures, and changing expectations factor into modern dating.
A Cure For The Colorblindness Blues
Using a virus-based gene therapy and a group of highly trained monkeys, Maureen and Jay Neitz may have created a cure for colorblindness.
A Vaginal Ecologist’s Crusade Against HIV in Women
Sharon Hillier is using her expertise in women’s nether regions to bring an HIV-prevention drug—targeting females—to market.
17:25
Putting Scientific Research to the Test
Out of 100 psychology studies, researchers were able to reproduce the original results in less than half.
6:38
From Hawking, a New View of Black Holes
At a recent scientific meeting, physicist Stephen Hawking outlined a possible solution to a paradox about information in a black hole.
10:05
Birds To Spot In Your Yard This Fall
Autumn is a good time to observe birds changing their plumage and behavior, and an opportunity to spot birds commuting south from their Arctic summer homes.
11:57
Can Rooftop Solar and Utilities Get Along?
Rooftop solar is booming. But as more homegrown energy comes online, utilities foresee an economic squeeze—which is leading to nasty fights over the future of utilities and the grid.
9:01
LEDs Could Light the Way to Future Networking
Engineers are researching how LEDs could help with the broadband “capacity crunch.”
25:23
The SciFri Book Club Talks ‘The Soul of a New Machine’
After three weeks of reading, the SciFri Book Club regroups to discuss Tracy Kidder’s 1981 true-tech tale, “The Soul of a New Machine.”
11:48
Urban Ecosystems, Turing Nanopatterns, and Serving Sizes
Brandon Keim, a freelance science reporter, shares this week’s top science news.