Episodes

Episode

June 18, 2021

Cephalopod Week is back! We kick off the week-long celebration with some trivia on the origins of squiddy words. Plus, with more states legalizing medical marijuana, physicians and patients are both figuring out how to best use cannabis. And we’ve got the best science books for you to read this summer.

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Episode

June 11, 2021

Biden’s new assistant secretary of health is the highest-ranking, openly trans federal official ever, and she’s advocating for big changes. Plus, what happens after scientists admit they’re wrong? And a tale of a chonky “living fossil” fish.

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Episode

June 4, 2021

Anthony Fauci reflects on the four decades of research since the first report on the AIDS epidemic. Plus, how the biggest technical challenges of long-term space living could be met by genetically engineering humans. And a new study sheds light on the genetic architecture of depression.

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Episode

May 28, 2021

Half of American adults are now considered fully vaccinated. How do we get everyone else on board? Plus, the sand business is shifting to greener practices. And how to create origami pasta and cook a cicada.

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Episode

May 21, 2021

How will the world’s population get vaccinated? A look at the challenges ahead. Plus, opioid distributors are finally on trial. And what a rare baseball collision reveals about the physics of the sport.

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Episode

May 14, 2021

Can machine learning provide better diagnoses—and be used as a tool for justice in healthcare? Plus, more on the CDC announcement that fully vaccinated people can unmask often. And, how Elon Musk’s Neuralink fits into neurotechnology research.

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Episode

May 7, 2021

Between variants and vaccine hesitancy, the U.S. may be a long way from vaccinating our way out of the pandemic. Plus, early indicators predict that California’s next wildfire season will be particularly bad. And 3D-printed beetles are helping scientists understand where new insect species come from.

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Episode

April 30, 2021

How we make—and dispose of—plastics is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. We’ll talk about plastic tech, and how to make it better. Plus, how you’re benefiting from the effort of pollinating insects and animals thousands of miles away.

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Episode

April 23, 2021

World leaders are meeting—virtually—to discuss climate policy and emissions targets. Then, why creating barriers to gender-affirming healthcare endangers the mental health and well-being of transgender kids. And a colorful conversation about the tiny, tenacious hummingbird.

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Episode

April 16, 2021

The conservation movement has been around since the 1800s. For Earth Day, we dive into how it’s changed. Plus, billions of T-rexes could have roamed the Earth. And, SciFri Book Club author Lenore Newman talks about food biodiversity.

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