On Today's Podcast
Kazuo Ishiguro on emotional truth in sci-fi and in our AI reality
Five years after “Klara and the Sun” was published, the film adaptation exists in an entirely different AI landscape.
Listen NowOctober 23, 2026
CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna discusses the evolution of gene-editing technology and what it takes to be a good scientist. Timekeepers around the world voted to stop using leap seconds, but what does that mean for us? Plus, how "problem bears" help test engineers evaluate consumer products, author Kazuo Ishiguro on emotional truth in our age of AI, and the science of apple varieties.
12:15
Melding Two Memories Into One
Researchers linked a mouse’s innocuous memory to a fearful one—essentially creating a false memory.
24:32
Phil Mickelson Takes a Swing at Science
Mickelson, an advocate for math and science education, says science sharpens his golf game, too.
9:00
‘Moth-ers’ Shine a Light on Nighttime Beauties
Much-maligned moths are more than the butterfly’s drab cousin.
11:43
Uncovering the Mystery of J.K. Rowling’s Latest Novel
Determining an author’s linguistic fingerprint using forensic stylometry.
24:01
The ‘Uncool’ Passion of Jonathan Franzen
The best-selling novelist has a soft spot for birds.
Does Posture Affect Putting? And Other Golf Questions, Addressed
Where your eyes focus, how you stand, and what your brain’s doing can all play a role in your golf game.
Stellar Gold Rush, Monster Viruses, and the Mystery of Yawns and Cries
A roundup of science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our fancy.
The One That Didn’t Get Away
James Prosek paints the final moments of his saltwater subjects.
11:12
Volcano ‘Screams’ Before Eruption
Some volcanoes experience a large number of pre-eruption earthquakes.
17:11
Capturing the Sounds of Biodiversity
Researchers created a monitoring system to automatically record and analyze soundscapes of an area.
5:59
Eruptions on the Sun Set Off ‘Solar Tsunamis’
Scientists use the waves to measure the sun’s magnetic field, which is sometimes weaker than a fridge magnet.
10:40
Astronomers Spot Another Moon Around Neptune
The newly discovered moon, currently named S/2004 N 1, is just 12 miles across.
11:52
Fish Oil: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Researchers linked higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids to a higher risk of prostate cancer.
33:34
DIY Summer Hacks, From the Pool to the Grill
Try your hand at homemade sunscreen, water bottle rockets, and “cooler corn.”
Give Yourself A Hand With DIY Gripper
What high-tech materials are required for making a robotic hand that can pick up almost anything? Coffee grounds and a latex balloon.
T-Rex’s Rep, a Flying Bike, Living the High Life, and Mosquito Appetites
A roundup of science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our fancy.
8:27
Not-So-Sweet Side Effects of Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners may negatively affect how the body metabolizes sweet foods.
21:11
Protecting Your Online Privacy
Worried about your online privacy? There are services that can help secure your information.
10:38
U.K. Team Plans E.T. Search
A newly formed group in the UK will join the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.