On Today's Podcast
Is that spooky old house full of ghosts, or just infrasound?
Low-frequency noises that humans can feel, but not hear, may be behind the spooky feeling of old houses—and serve as a warning to animals.
Listen NowMay 22, 2026
Low-frequency noises that humans can feel, but not hear, may be behind the spooky feeling of old houses. Plus, a processing plant in Mississippi is leaking massive amounts of the herbicide paraquat into the air. Its biological link to Parkinson’s is becoming clear. And, a bioethicist walks us through the complexity of clinical trials, from their core scientific questions to patient selection to FDA approval.
12:07
The People’s March Against Climate Change
Ahead of the United Nations Climate Summit, the People’s Climate March in New York City will bring a public voice to the climate change discussion.
17:40
‘Dr.Fill’ Vies for Crossword Solving Supremacy
A computer program named “Dr.Fill” competes against human solvers for crossword puzzle glory.
7:24
Functional Features: The Evolution of the Human Face
Human social interaction may have been the reason faces evolved to be varied and unique.
8:57
Shake Your Silk-Maker: The Dance of the Peacock Spider
With their ornately colored bodies, rhythmic pulsations, and booty-shaking dance moves, male peacock spiders attract mates and researchers alike.
12:08
Artificial Sweeteners Might Sour Your Microbiome
Researchers say artificial sweeteners may alter the microbiome and the body’s ability to control glucose levels.
17:16
Dissecting the Politics and Money Behind Health Care
In “The Cost of Cutting,” private practice surgeon Paul Ruggieri delves into the shadowy ways money influences health care.
16:42
Food Failures: How to Collect Mushrooms (and Eat Them, Too)
Eugenia Bone, president of the New York Mycological Society, talks about the dos and don’ts of wild mushroom foraging.
Shake Your Silk-Maker: The Dance of the Peacock Spider
With their ornately-colored fur, rhythmic pulsations, and booty-shaking dance moves, male peacock spiders attract the attention of spectating females as well as researchers.
American Avocets’ Range Imperiled By Climate Change
As the climate changes, this species could lose ground in its breeding range but gain wintering ground.
Are Generics the Same As Brand Name Drugs?
An excerpt from “Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine,” by Jeremy A. Greene.
One For All: A Natural Resources Game
In this game from Population Education, students must use cooperative decision making strategies to manage a renewable resource.
23:48
Keeping an Eye on Eruptions Around the World
At least 20 volcanoes are probably erupting as you read these words.
5:31
A Jovian Moon With Earth-Like Tectonics
The icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa may undergo processes similar to plate tectonics on Earth.
16:15
Understanding the Urban Ecosystem
Researchers say road salt and dissolving concrete have contributed to increased salinization in urban streams.
22:35
Can Conservation Efforts Save the Birds?
A look at the effects of conservation efforts and climate change on bird populations in North America.
6:26
After 40 Years, a Blue Whale Population Bounces Back
Blue whale populations are only a fraction of what they once were globally, but a California population has nearly made a comeback.
17:11
The Science of ‘Sameness’: Developing Generic Medications
As of 2010, generic drugs comprise almost 80 percent of the American pharmaceutical market, compared to 10 percent in 1960.
The BioArcade
Biologist Oliver Medvedik and computer programmer Keith Comito developed a kit where live single-celled organisms play a game called the BioArcade.
How Is a Spider Like a Disco Ball?
This spider, likely a member of the Thwaitesia genus, was photographed in Singapore.
Quantum: An Ode to Particle Physics
Drawing on his experience as Artist-in-Residence at CERN, Gilles Jobin’s dance performance, Quantum, presents an abstract meditation on the motion of particles and laws of physics.