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May 9, 2025
Some car designers are turning from touchscreen controls back to physical buttons. Two researchers explain why that could be better. Plus, geneticists used CRISPR gene editing to grow bigger fruits without sacrificing flavor. And, an executive order could change the political tides for deep sea mining.
11:27
The Fog and the Redwood
The redwood trees lining northern California’s coastline depend on fog as a seasonal water source.
17:40
Amphibians Versus Fungus: Saving the Yellow-Legged Frog
What one frog’s fight against the deadly chytrid fungus could mean for the survival of imperiled amphibians around the globe.
17:06
Making the Most of A.I.’s Potential
As artificial intelligence advances, it could transform our world. How do we ensure that it does so in the best possible way?
16:16
Of Fashion, Faith, and Physics
Theoretical physicist Roger Penrose argues against some prominent theories about the universe, calling them fashion, faith, and fantasy.
7:09
Charon’s Red Cap, Mapping the Milky Way, and Crafty Crows
Pluto may be the source of the wispy red cap on the north pole of its moon Charon.
4:43
Taking a Telepresence Robot for a Spin
Can a robotic avatar let you remotely experience a trip to the zoo?
12:18
Can International Diplomacy Help Combat the World’s Superbugs?
The U.N. will meet next week to discuss the growing problem of antibiotic resistance around the world.
17:08
A ‘David and Goliath’ Story for Personal Computers
How the “Silicon Cowboys” of Compaq’s early days took on the behemoth IBM with a 28-pound portable computer.
16:38
Apps That Turn Your Workout Into a Game
Activity trackers like the Fitbit and the Apple Watch aim to make fitness more fun by incorporating elements of gameplay. But does it work?
35:13
How To Make A Golden Record
Two of the creators of the Voyager Golden Record remember how they crafted a message for alien civilizations.