Episodes

In her new book, climate policy expert Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson explores what ideal climate solutions look like to a lineup of experts. Plus, researchers, educators, and parents discuss smartphones in school. And, an immunologist answers audience questions about when to get the latest COVID shot, rapid test efficacy, and more.

An unknown ant was spotted in Manhattan in 2011, and it quickly spread through New York City. We now know what it is. And, 2.5 billion-year-old mantle rocks found at spreading ocean ridges could put bounds on models of how the planet formed. Plus, shark fishing is alive and well, but the fishermen who do it are increasingly prioritizing conservation.

Several states have reported cases of eastern equine encephalitis. It and other mosquito-borne diseases are spreading as temperatures rise. And, Webb Telescope data point to six “rogue worlds” that float around in the cosmos, untethered to a specific star. Plus, the seasons are arriving at different times than they used to. A psychologist weighs in on whether these shifts could impact our behavior.

Archaeologists keep finding older and older cave art. Here’s what it could tell us about how humans evolved over time. Plus, a new study measuring microplastics in organs of the recently deceased found that about two dozen brain samples were 0.5% plastic by weight. And, in “Bite,” author Bill Schutt takes readers on a dental adventure spanning half a billion years and much of the animal kingdom.

His new book “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service” chronicles his work on health crises from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19. Plus, some national and state parks are changing the way they open up campsite reservations online to make them more accessible to everyone. And, September’s SciFri Book Club pick, “Forest Walking,” teaches readers how to use all five senses to engage with forests in a deeper way.

After a stegosaurus skeleton sold for $44.6 million, paleontologists are concerned about how selling dinosaur fossils affects research. Plus, as the climate changes, we need vegetables resilient to drought, pests, and heat. An expert explains how to breed plants for harsh conditions. And, a specific type of solar cell is more efficient than what’s currently on the market. But what is it, and can it be scaled up?

Cancer treatment and prevention has come a long way in the past few decades. Plus, a University of Hawaiʻi study will be the largest of its kind to investigate the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires. And, researchers found that polymetallic nodules 13,000 feet deep may produce “dark oxygen” by electrolyzing water.

NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered pure sulfur on Mars. Plus, monogamous prairie voles may help us understand how our brains respond to love, and how they move on after heartbreak. And researchers developed the first anode-free solid-state battery that’s based on sodium, which is cheaper and more abundant than lithium.

A noisy bitcoin mine’s cooling fans are so loud they rattle windows. Residents of Granbury, Texas, are experiencing symptoms of noise pollution. Plus, a weather expert decodes the lingo from the new movie “Twisters”—and real-life tornado trends. And, an FDA panel rejects MDMA therapy for PTSD, raising concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.

Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters. Plus, there are currently 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night.