On Today's Podcast
Harnessing the superpowers of silk
From lassoing prey to designing cutting-edge sensors, both spiders and humans are using silk in astounding ways.
Listen NowMarch 27, 2026
A young macaque at a zoo in Japan has a fan base that can’t get enough of him. Why are we so invested in the social life of one cute monkey? Plus, a few years ago, ChatGPT couldn’t do simple arithmetic. Now, some experts say that AI could make mathematicians obsolete. And, as local reports of dead birds rise, the greatest human risk of avian flu continues to fall on farmworkers.
16:50
Is the Universe Built on Math?
In “The Mathematical Universe,” physicist Max Tegmark argues that the universe is completely mathematical.
20:58
Scott Stossel: My Age of Anxiety
An estimated one out of seven Americans suffers from anxiety.
8:10
How Fins Gave Way to Feet
Tiktaalik roseae was a fish that had scales, gills, and limb-like front fins.
17:04
Medicine’s Gender Gap
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women. Yet women make up only a third of subjects in cardiovascular clinical trials.
Star-Crossed Galaxies
Collisions between two spiral galaxies can be spectacular affairs, filled with romance.
What Is Kraut-chi?
A fermentation experimentalist describes his hybrid sauerkraut-kimchi dish, and offers a few fermentation tips.
11:48
Cold Snap Knocks Out Some Invasive Insects
Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer: Will they survive the colder weather?
17:26
An Antarctic Expedition, Frozen in Time
Century-old Antarctic photos offer a peek into Shackleton’s ill-fated Ross Sea Party Expedition.
9:21
Migraine Study Reveals the Power of Placebo
Patients’ expectations can play a role in the effectiveness of medications and placebos.
6:57
2014 Consumer Electronics Show Round-Up
Chris Ziegler of The Verge discusses technology trends from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
22:42
Food Failures: How to Spoil Your Food (And Eat It, Too)
Fermentation guru Sandor Katz solves your pickling problems.
18:01
Wine Science: Deconstructing ‘Terroir’ in the Lab
Chemist Gavin Sacks says talk of terroir may often be simply a clever marketing ploy.
6:10
Out of the Bottle: Tricks of the Trade
Popular wine jargon such as “breathing,” “corked,” and “wine tears” gets translated into chemistry you can understand.
An Ancient Flower, Preserved in Amber
A recently described 100 million-year-old fossil is the most complete flowering plant from the Cretaceous discovered.
Ice Spikes: Your Photos
We asked you to submit your own photos of the ice spike phenomenon.
A Grasshopper Storm, a Mental Shift
Humans’ perception of insects is deeply rooted in our evolutionary past.
Iowa Going Green: What Does It Mean for 2016?
Could new wind energy projects influence votes?
The Mystery Of Ice Spikes
One experiment shows that this little understood phenomenon seems to perform better with distilled water.
12:11
App Chat: Cutting Clutter From Your Inbox
Ellis Hamburger, a reporter for The Verge, talks about a few of his favorite mail-managing apps.