On Today's Podcast
After CDC Director Is Ousted, More Senior Officials Resign
Former CDC scientist Demetre Daskalakis left his post, citing political interference and a lack of science in decision-making at the agency.
Listen NowSeptember 5, 2025
A sand dune is much more than just a big pile of sand. But how do sand dunes work, and what else do scientists want to know about sand? Plus, candles, hairstyling products, and other common items can produce toxic air pollution that lingers in our homes. And, former CDC scientist Demetre Daskalakis left his post, citing political interference and a lack of science in decision-making at the agency.
Why Beech Leaf Disease Is Easy To Spot But Tough To Treat
In just a decade, this unusual disease has spread from Ohio across the Northeast. Scientists are testing treatments, but answers come slowly.
RSV Drug For Infants In Short Supply
The illness has reached seasonal epidemic levels in the southern US.
How Poisons Have Shaped Life On Earth
Poisons fill our pantries and gardens. The new book ‘Most Delicious Poison’ explores how common toxins have shaped life on Earth.
A Common Cold Medicine Ingredient Doesn’t Work. What Now?
Twenty years ago, scientists found that phenylephrine, listed as a decongestant in many cold medicines, didn’t work. What can you use instead?
Beech Leaf Disease Is Spreading Rapidly in Massachusetts
Scientists are working to understand the new tree disease, which is caused by a microscopic worm.
Diving Into Elon Musk’s Mind
Walter Isaacson’s latest biography peers into the life and mind of entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Placenta Research May Help Explain Pregnancy Loss
By studying placentas from lost pregnancies, one doctor hopes to provide answers that are so often lacking after a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Digging In To Nature’s Poisons
Caffeine is a natural pesticide. If you’re a human, it’s also a great way to start your morning.
11:52
Department Of Energy Announces ‘Clean Hydrogen Hub’ Awardees
Seven “clean energy hubs” will receive a total of $7B to develop forms of hydrogen production with minimal carbon emissions.
5:02
In Wyoming’s Mountain Lakes, Stocked Trout Are Evolving Quickly
Humans have long stocked alpine lakes with fish for anglers, but research shows some rapidly evolving trout are altering aquatic ecosystems.
12:08
Formula One Cars Are Stripping Off Paint To Save Weight
Ahead of the US Grand Prix, an aerodynamicist breaks down the recent engineering changes to F1 cars.
12:16
Hyper-Apex Predators: Colombian Fossils Reveal Big Reptilians Atop Ancient Marine Food Chain
Paleontologists pieced together a food chain from Paja Formation fossils, showing an additional level of apex predators with no modern equivalent.
17:30
Unlocking The Mysteries Of A Metal-Rich Asteroid
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on a six-year voyage to an asteroid largely made of metal. It may help us understand how planets form.
16:59
When Studying Ecology Means Celebrating Its Gifts
Bestselling author Robin Wall Kimmerer discusses the role of ceremony in our lives, and how to celebrate reciprocal relationships with the natural world.
16:56
Finding Meaning In The Cosmos
In her new memoir, astrobiologist Dr. Aomawa Shields describes how a quest for life in the cosmos helped her find meaning on Earth.
Looking To Outer Space To Find Meaning On Earth
A quest for life in the cosmos has given astronomer and astrobiologist Dr. Aomawa Shields new perspective on a meaningful life on Earth.
The Alchemy Of Us: Author Livestream And Q&A
On November 20, we talk about how our values are baked into our creations—and the people who helped bring them into reality.
This Poet Turns To Science In Times Of Uncertainty
Poet Jane Hirshfield takes on crises both biological and human in her book “Ledger.”
How Ham Radio Operators Do Eclipse Science
Amateur radio operators are joining forces and using radio waves to understand how eclipses affect the atmosphere.
New Data Support Human Arrival In North America 22,000 Years Ago
A new analysis of ancient footprints in White Sands, New Mexico, adds to the debate about when humans arrived in North America.