On Today's Podcast
As Companies Build Data Centers For AI, Communities Push Back
A boom in construction of AI data centers is facing backlash over soaring electricity and water usage, and the resulting utility hikes.
Listen NowDecember 5, 2025
A boom in construction of AI data centers is facing backlash over soaring electricity and water usage, and the resulting utility hikes. Plus, to save spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest, one plan suggests killing thousands of barred owls. And, geologist Anjana Khatwa explains how embracing wonder and awe adds to our scientific understanding of the rocks that form our planet.
22:58
Decoding ‘the Most Complex Object in the Universe’
Neuroscientists are mapping the brain to discover the origins of consciousness.
10:54
Looking Back, and Up, at a Seattle Icon
The Space Needle was built in 1962, but it still serves as a symbol of “the future.”
17:43
Denis Hayes On Being Green
One of the founders of Earth Day talks about sustainability and his push for renewable energy.
19:09
With Climate Change, No Happy Clams
Carbon emissions are slowly acidifying ocean waters, which could hurt the shellfish industry.
4:21
Rolling Out Bamboo Bicycles
Valid Cycles makes handcrafted bamboo bikes in Woodinville, Washington.
4:56
Human Genes Not Patentable, Supreme Court Says
The court found that isolating the BRCA1 gene does not constitute an “act of invention.â€
Bamboo Bicycles Roll Out
To be bike-ready, the bamboo must be cooked in an oven, stripped, and sealed. We visited the workshop of Valid Cycles in Woodinville, Washington, to see how the bikes are made.
Mars Road Trip, Bird Penises (or Lack Thereof), and More
A roundup of science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our fancy.
Why Do We Remember Faces but Not Names?
You see a familiar face but space out on the name. Don’t beat yourself up. It’s only natural.
Al Gore: Studio Session
Former vice president Al Gore joins Ira Flatow in the studio to talk about ‘The Future.’
11:58
Strengthening Buildings in Tornado Alley
Improving resistance to tornadoes will require better building materials and techniques, plus political will.
34:00
Whole Genome Scans Could Reveal Too Much
If a patient’s genome scan turns up unexpected genetic risk factors, are doctors obligated to tell?
4:51
Comet Shines Light on Sun Dynamics
Comet Lovejoy grazed the sun’s corona and lived to tell the tale. Its tail movements were the most telling.
12:08
Tracing The Origins Of French Winemaking
Researchers have used archaeology and biomolecular assays to date the start of viniculture in France.
17:22
How to Survive a Mass Extinction
Writer Annalee Newitz has a plan to help humans survive a planet-wide catastrophic event.
11:25
Promising Results in Early Trial of Novel MS Treatment
A small, early clinical trial shows it may be feasible to alter the immune response that leads to MS.
Comet’s Tail Shines Light on Sun
In 2011, comet Lovejoy traveled through the sun’s corona and lived to tell the tale. But its tail was the most telling.
Surviving the End of the World (As We Know It)
Another mass extinction on earth is inevitable. So let’s get on with life.
Out of This World
Space artist Dan Durda forges into the unknown to create celestial scenery that educates and inspires.