On Today's Podcast
Telling the tale of human origins, one fossil tooth at a time
Yohannes Haile-Selassie has a talent for spotting fossils, and has discovered clues to several branches of the human family tree.
Listen NowSeptember 11, 2026
Scientists used fossil records and AI tools to reconstruct a soundscape of a Jurassic forest. Shorter courses of antibiotics may actually reduce antimicrobial resistance. Plus, a new study found a group of genes associated with fibromyalgia. And, as black bears return to their historic ranges across the U.S., human encounters are increasing. How can bears and people live in harmony?
The Hidden Beauty Of The Human Placenta
Though discarded after birth, the placenta builds the first vital connection between mother and fetus.
Should These Scientific Ideas Be Retired?
Two scientists consider the concepts of the universe and falsifiability.
Dawn of the Cyborg Bacteria
In a basement laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, two robotocists have harnessed the sensing, swimming, and swarming abilities of bacteria to power microscopic robots.
How Can We Clean Up an Oil Spill?
In this activity from the American Association of Chemistry Teachers, students simulate an oil spill and test different materials’ abilities to “clean” the oil spill.
12:07
Legal Battle Ends, But Seas Continue to Rise in Kivalina, Alaska
With its legal battle over, Kivalina, Alaska struggles to relocate a 400-person village predicted to be underwater by 2025.
23:20
Habitats Shift As Arctic Temps Creep Above Freezing
As the ice retreats, habitats shift, and certain food chains have begun to crumble.
10:31
Is Your Empty Stomach Fueling Your Shopping Spree?
Hungry shoppers spent up to 60 percent more than those who had a full stomach, according to a new study.
12:03
What Bilingual Babies Can Teach Us About Language Learning
Babies raised in bilingual households spend significantly more time lip-reading than their monolingual counterparts, which suggests that it could also be a vital skill for language learners of all ages.
17:22
Are Women at Greater Risk for Alzheimer’s?
Neurologists look at genes and hormones to understand why more women are developing Alzheimer’s than men.
16:08
Forecasting the Future of Maps
How will new maps help us navigate from point A to point B more efficiently?
A Hideous Fungus, A Nutritious Snack
A Canadian researcher is cultivating a ghastly looking fungal disease into a gourmet snack.
How Can We Build Homes That Are Resistant to Mold?
Test which building materials will be resistant to mold after a flood or hurricane.
11:50
Are Decades-Long Megadroughts on the Horizon?
Climate change might be pushing the Southwest and Central Plains of the U.S. towards megadroughts.
17:12
Medical Fraud Missing From Public Record
An investigation of the FDA claims the agency isn’t doing enough to expose instances of fraud and misconduct.
16:54
A Love Story, Set in the Multiverse
In Nick Payne’s play “Constellations,” a beekeeper and cosmologist fall in and out of love across 50 parallel universes.
8:02
The World’s Oceans Are Overflowing With Plastics Pollution
Researchers estimate that between 4.8-12.7 million metric tons of plastic leaked into the ocean in 2010.
21:57
Dogs, They’re Just Like Us
An in-depth survey of pet dogs revealed surprising insights about breed-specific behaviors.
16:33
Tales of Broken Hearts
In “The Man Who Touched His Own Heart,” Rob Dunn writes of the creative—and sometimes tragic—ways that scientists and surgeons have sought to mend the maladies of the heart.
How a Bar Fight Paved the Way for Heart Surgery
An excerpt from “The Man Who Touched His Own Heart.”