On Today's Podcast
Why are armadillos moving up north?
Armadillos are turning up in states like Kentucky and Illinois, far from their warm southern habitats. Why are they moving north?
Listen NowOctober 30, 2026
When, and where, did bats first take to the sky? Online clinics are prescribing GLP-1 microdoses formulated by compounding pharmacies. Are they safe and effective? Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field. Plus, how chatbots are changing language, and what life was like for T. rex.
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.
Write Your Name In Binary Code
Want to write like a computer? Here’s your chance to get started.
An Origami Bunny, Made From DNA
Researchers have developed a method to build tiny structures out of DNA based on 3-D polygonal shapes created with a computer.
11:44
Crowdsourcing Planetary Names, Female ‘Viagra,’ and a Vomit Machine
BuzzFeed News science editor Virginia Hughes shares her top stories from this week in science, and Scientific American editor Lee Billings discusses crowdsourced planetary names.
24:26
Employee or Datapoint?
The data employers are gathering on their employees aren’t always a fair measure of efficiency or success, and in some cases, it’s an invasion of privacy.
8:38
How To Be A Garden Whiz
Could urine be the gold standard when it comes to fertilizing your garden?
11:57
Do You Understand the Richter Scale?
Seismologist Lucy Jones explains what earthquake magnitude means and why we should measure earthquakes differently.
17:27
Museum Plays Art and Technology Matchmaker
LACMA’s Art & Technology program brings together artists and tech companies to see what the two can create together.
A Corpse Flower Blooms in Denver
The putrid odor of a large tropical plant has begun wafting through the Denver Botanic Gardens—and visitors are lining up to inhale deeply.
Does Sound Affect the Way We Taste?
Research suggests that sound is the “forgotten sense” when it comes to how we perceive flavors.
11:58
El Niño Vs. the Blob, Yeast Painkillers, and a Butter Bummer
This week’s news roundup takes us to San Francisco, where Ira is joined by KQED science and environment reporter Lauren Sommer.
7:46
The Strangely Social Life of the Larger Pacific Striped Octopus
A new study reveals surprising mating, dwelling, and feeding behaviors in one rare species of octopus.
11:55
Gold King, and Other Abandoned Mines Plague Colorado
The EPA accidentally triggered a blowout at the Gold King mine in Colorado, releasing three million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River.
17:26
How Big Blazes Shape Landscapes
Scientists are closely monitoring how forest vegetation shifts after catastrophic fires, and discovering a few surprises.
17:32
A Candidate’s Voice Might Sway Your Vote
Voters tend to prefer politicians with deeper voices—a sign of strength and competence, says political scientist Casey Klofstad.
16:53
App Chat: Assistive Technology
For people living with disabilities, smartphones present both unique challenges and benefits.