September 24, 2021
Two bills aim to reduce the U.S. carbon footprint. What’s in them? Plus, how to decommission a nuclear power plant. And the aye-aye and opossum compete for the crown for the final round of the Charismatic Creature Carnival.
17:12
How The Humpback Says Hello
In the documentary ‘Fathom,’ two scientists explore the complex communication of humpback whales.
17:30
Biden’s Surgeon General On How To Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, talks about the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.
How Do We Keep Microplastics Out Of The Ocean? Filtration, Naturally.
Model a bioretention cell! Experiment to understand how microplastics are getting in the ocean—and the ocean food chain.
What Can Hawaiian Shark-Toothed Weapons Tell Us About Sharks?
Examine Hawaiian shark-toothed weapons and learn about traditional Hawaiian beliefs that help build our ecological history of sharks.
Why Your Skin And Streets Need Antioxidants
Conduct experiments with everyday antioxidants like lemon juice and chocolate, then learn how antioxidant byproducts from olive oil production can be repurposed for roads and cosmetics.
Spider Webs: A Tangled Spring Of Force And Energy
Have you ever wondered how spiders capture prey? Learn how spiders create structures that can store mechanical energy.
From Sputnik To Twitter, The History Of Science Communication
Instead of yesteryear’s dry and dusty lectures, science communicators are creating new and exciting ways to engage with science.
12:03
A Tale Of Two Pandemics
People getting seriously ill from COVID-19 in the U.S. are overwhelmingly from unvaccinated populations.
12:12
Songbirds Suffer Mystery Illness From The East Coast To The Midwest
Songbirds from the mid-Atlantic to Indiana are suffering from an illness that causes swollen eyes, neurological symptoms, and death.
26:07
Sweating Is Our Biological Superpower
Sweat gives us so much more than a smell, thanks to the cool chemistry of this vital bodily fluid.
8:15
Betelgeuse’s False Supernova Alarm
Supernova expert Sarafina Nance explains a new theory for why red giant star Betelgeuse abruptly went dark in 2019.
34:36
Research For New Battery Technology Is Gaining Steam
Lithium-ion batteries are expensive, overheat, and aren’t environmentally friendly to manufacture. Can new battery tech solve these problems?
The Hairy Origins Of Our Sweat Glands
One of the defining traits of humans is that we are sweaty, naked apes, writes author Sarah Everts. How did we get our sweat glands?
Hydropower Worries Grow As Colorado River Reservoirs Keep Dropping
The water levels behind the Colorado River’s biggest dams are fast-approaching record lows, affecting water supplies and, soon, energy bills.
With Roots In Civil Rights, Community Health Centers Push For Equity In The Pandemic
More community health centers, which serve low-income communities, were needed to reach early equity in the vaccine rollout, experts say.
12:03
Sniffing Out How To Save African Wild Dogs
Conservation biologist Gabi Fleury wants to understand the lives of endangered predators—in order to save their lives.
17:23
See A Spotted Lanternfly? Squash It!
The invasive and damaging pest has carved out a foothold on the East Coast—and experts worry it could spread.
16:51
Listening To Seashells, An Oracle Of Ocean Health
As climate change brings warming seas and acidifying waters, seashells have become a harbinger of environmental change.
45:50
Writing, Like Geology, Requires A Little Digging
The New Yorker writer explains his reporting process, and what he learned reporting his saga on North American geology.
How Shells Tell Secrets Of The Sea
Seashells have played many roles throughout history, from money to jewelry. But they also hold secrets of the ocean’s health.