On Today's Podcast
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on making climate action cool
Climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reflects on this moment of the climate movement and why climate action should be fun.
Listen NowOctober 16, 2026
A free-floating seaweed called sargassum is exploding in the Atlantic Ocean, clogging up coastlines from West Africa to the Caribbean. Attachment styles have taken off as a way to understand relationships. But does the science behind it line up with popular interpretations? Plus, the latest on commercial space stations, a mission to bring a sample from a Martian moon, and space-based weapons.
22:57
Diagnosing Self-Destruction
Scientists still have little idea what spurs people to take their own lives.
6:40
Ancient Beads with an Otherworldly Origin
Iron beads made from meteoric metals predate the Iron Age.
16:34
How to Make a Beer Home Brew
How to brew the perfect ale and lager from your stove top.
9:02
Study Correlates Copper Intake and Alzheimer’s in Mice
Could copper in drinking water contribute to Alzheimer’s disease in mice?
24:59
A Telescope Fails, but the Hunt for Exoplanets Continues
Although the Kepler planet-hunting telescope is no longer operating, discoveries remain to be made in its data.
12:22
A Robot Lab to Survey the Sea Floor
Researchers are developing a DNA-sampling robot for undersea exploration.
8:07
Judging Music With Visual Cues
How important are our eyes when we take in a musical performance?
37:46
Rebooting Science Museums for the 21st Century
Science museums aren’t just dioramas and dusty skeletons anymore.
12:05
Hyperloop: Hype or Future Transportation?
Elon Musk described his Hyperloop design as a cross between a “Concorde, a railgun, and an air hockey table.”
22:17
The STEM Gender Gap
Why hasn’t an increase in the number of female students studying the sciences led to proportional number of women in the STEM workforce?
10:27
Strengthening the Grid, Ten Years Later
How has the electrical grid changed since the massive blackout of 2003?
11:39
For a Greener Yard, Lose the Lawn
Swapping turf for less thirsty plants can reduce your yard’s water footprint and look just as lush.
34:38
Marina Abramovic: Experimenting on Consciousness, Through Art
Performance artist Marina Abramovic wants to build a laboratory devoted to arts and science.
6:52
New Vaccine Beats Malaria in Early Trials
The vaccine offered complete protection against malaria in a small trial, but only after five doses.
23:01
Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic . . . and Respect?
Some experts say teaching emotional literacy in school is key to better behavior—and better grades.
11:23
Comet Dust Brings a Spectacular Sky Show
The annual Perseid meteor shower, produced by remnants of the Swift-Tuttle comet, is back.
12:17
Flexible Insect Protein Inspires Super Rubber
Flexible insect protein surpasses the best synthetic rubbers.
17:47
Biting Into the First In Vitro Burger
A laboratory lunch over the first in vitro burger.
17:37
Climate Update: Warming Temperatures
A look at the social and environmental impacts of global warming worldwide.