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May 2, 2025
An astronomer explores the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. Plus, how the mysterious properties of pasta—like how it bends, coils, and breaks—have been tested by physicists for decades. And, millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation.
25:48
Your Summer Science Book List
Lee Billings and Maria Popova compile your perfect summer science book list.
12:07
Rep. Rush Holt: Science and Congress
Representative Rush Holt talks about how ‘thinking like a scientist’ can help the political process.
22:51
Making Summer Travel Plans With Climate Change in Mind
With projections of warmer temperatures and rising sea levels, which tourist destinations should you plan to visit sooner rather than later?
22:04
Documenting the Oldest Living Things in the World
In her new book of photography, “The Oldest Living Things in the World,” artist Rachel Sussman documents the oldest continuously living organisms on the planet.
3:51
The Goat Brigade
A herd of ‘elite’ brush-clearing goats demonstrate why they are a versatile tool to shield against wildfires in Southern California.
30:24
It’s a Material World
In his book “Stuff Matters,” Mark Miodownik explains why the everyday materials around us are truly extraordinary.
11:47
The EPA’s New Proposal to Curb Carbon Emissions
The EPA’s proposal sets a 30 percent decrease in power plant carbon emissions by 2030.
22:55
What’s ‘I,’ and Why?
In “Me, Myself, and Why,” science writer Jennifer Ouellette probes the science of self.
11:00
How Can Airline Tracking Improve?
How can a commercial airliner go missing, and what can we do to improve tracking technology?
11:53
A Decade After the Genome, Scientists Map the ‘Proteome’
Nearly all the body’s cells contain identical DNA. So why does a neuron grow up so differently than a liver cell? Proteins, says Akhilesh Pandey, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University.