On Today's Podcast
Why Hasn’t Wave Energy Gotten Its Sea Legs Yet?
It’s hard to convert energy from the ocean into electricity, thanks to a tough regulatory environment and, well, the ocean.
Listen NowOctober 31, 2025
Why do we find joy in the scary and the macabre? Two psychology experts weigh in on humans’ affinity for horror and desire to get spooked. Plus, tales of the amazing capabilities of bats, spiders, and snakes. And, a guided tour of some of the world’s spookiest lakes.
Breakthrough: Polar Bear Witness
For USGS wildlife biologist Karyn Rode, tracking and tranquilizing polar bears from a helicopter are the just the first thrilling steps in her research.
How To Capture A Scent
Separate and capture scent molecules by their heat of vaporization.
How Big Was This Squid?
Learn how to determine the size of a Humboldt squid using a beak left behind in a whale’s stomach in this data-rich math activity.
7:32
Baby Boxes, Singing Fish, And E-DNA
A Texas company is distributing cardboard “baby boxes” in an attempt to prevent sudden, unexpected infant deaths.
4:46
Climate Change Could Lead To Coffee Crisis
Researchers estimate that climate change’s effects could wipe out 39–59 percent of Ethiopian coffee farms in the future.
12:12
Do We Need Pot To Fight The Opioid Epidemic?
Studies suggest cracking down on legalized marijuana will only make things worse.
17:32
Getting To Know The Placenta
Researchers look to the mysterious organ for a new way of monitoring fetal health during pregnancy.
7:21
Kepler Unveils A New Crop Of Exoplanets
The mission found hundreds of new planet candidates, including 10 possible rocky worlds within their star’s habitable zone.
9:54
Caught On Video: How DNA Replicates
The DNA replication process isn’t exactly like the textbooks say.
34:29
The Cephalo-Inspired Technology Of The Future
From camouflage to jet propulsion, researchers see these tentacled creatures as inspiration for their biomimetic designs.
John Steinbeck And The Mystery Of The Humboldt Squid
In 1940, John Steinbeck helped catalog wildlife in the Sea of Cortez. Now, a new creature lurks beneath the ultramarine waters.
Meet Our Cephalopod Masters
Why do we love cephalopods? They’re smart, cute, and…well…really weird.
How Lake Fish Are Coping With Pollution
Author Dan Egan tells the story of one of the last Great Lakes fisherman who witnesses the adaptation of a fish to Lake Michigan’s polluted ecosystem.
Cephalopod Week
Learn about our favorite smart marine invertebrates through reported stories and interactive activities for all ages.
7:37
A Gene-Stealing Salamander, A Solar Companion, And French Fry Safety
Plus, involuntary manslaughter charges are brought against several officials in connection with the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
4:28
Could An Amazon Pharmacy Be A Prescription For Disaster?
A look at the potential costs and benefits of Amazon entering the pharmacy business.
8:12
Space Life Could Give You An Extra Head (If You’re A Flatworm)
Researchers look to a simple organism to study how living in space might affect humans on a cellular level.
8:48
The Mindset For A Milkshake
The mind exerts a subtle but powerful control over what we choose to eat—and even how our bodies metabolize it.
12:02
Why Theoretical Physics Says The US Is Ungovernable
No one, not even Donald Trump, could make such a complex system like the U.S. government work.