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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.
17:10
Tales From ‘Big Pig’
Barry Estabrook’s latest book, “Pig Tales,” is a journey through the good, the bad and the ugly of hog farming.
12:15
The Oldest Bird, a Distant Galaxy, and the Beard Microbiome
Rachel Feltman of The Washington Post joins us for a roundup of her top science stories this week.
5:00
The Other Side Of Oliver Sacks
We all know Oliver Sacks as a renowned neurologist and a prolific author. But he’s a true Renaissance man, as becomes clear when reading his new memoir, ‘On the Move: A Life.’
12:30
The Rise of the Celebrity Scientist
“The New Celebrity Scientists” profiles scientists who’ve cracked the fame code to become cultural icons.
17:42
The Debate on Gene Editing
How should research progress as human gene editing techniques become cheaper, faster, and more precise?
11:58
Getting Charged Up for the Tesla Home Battery
Could Elon Musk’s plan for a home battery fire up an energy revolution?
11:37
Seismic Risk and Safety in Nepal
How can cities like Kathmandu become more earthquake resistant in the future?
22:58
‘Shrinks’ Tells Of Desperate Early Cures
In his book, psychiatrist Jeffrey Lieberman documents the profession’s early days—a time when malaria was considered an effective cure for mental illness.
12:12
Salty Antarctic Aquifers, Penguin Poop, and a 3D-Printed Splint
Salty aquifers deep under Antarctica could be a blueprint for where life might hide out on Mars.
5:52
The Pot-Stirrer
Amanda Glaze studies perceptions of evolution as well as its religious and societal influences throughout the Southeastern United States.