On Today's Podcast
What Happens To Your Digital Presence After You Die?
Our digital presences will outlive us all. How can we best manage files, social media accounts, and recordings of ourselves after we die?
Listen NowOctober 24, 2025
A new documentary puts viewers in the shoes of Neanderthals and early humans, giving an intimate glimpse into humans’ evolutionary history. Plus, cell-cultured salmon is showing up on menus. How does it compare to the real thing? And, how mental health information on social media can be both revelatory and misleading.
This Cuttlefish Dazzles
Internet chatter suggests that the flamboyant cuttlefish—known for ambling along the seafloor and flashing brilliant displays—is toxic. What does the science say?
Make A Squid Print
Observe the different features of a squid from your local market and then create a squid print where you can document your findings.
A Shot in the Dark: Alternative Uses for Squid Ink
Stephanie Bush, a scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), suggests that squids might use ink to attract a mate, repel a predator, or even confuse their prey.
The Rare Sight Of A Brooding Squid
This cephalopod will carry and brood its eggs for several months, without feeding.
Discuss the Applications and Implications of Metal Foam
What responsibility, if any, do scientists and the public have to make sure new technologies are developed for the purpose of good? Have students discuss this issue by brainstorming possible uses for a new metal foam and then deciding who should address unintended uses of that technology.
Secrets of Cephalopod Camouflage
Ethologist Roger Hanlon has devoted a career to studying how octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish become inconspicuous.
17:03
Best Science Fiction Books for Your Summer Reading List
Annalee Newitz and Ann VanderMeer share their science fiction picks to add to your summer reading list.
12:19
The Neuroscience of a Microchip, Remembering a Keystone Ecologist, and Brexit’s Effect on Science
What can “Donkey Kong” tell us about the state of neuroscience? Plus the possible implications of Brexit for science.
16:59
Eight (or More) Reasons to be Amazed by the Octopus
Octopus researchers help kick off our annual Cephalopod Week celebrations with a look at the octopus, from its genes to its outlook on life.
12:09
Unlocking Blood-Forming Stem Cells for Personalized Therapies
A look at how stem cells found in the blood can be used to treat cancer, diabetes, and other diseases.
17:11
Forecasting the Revolution in Human Reproduction
In “The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction,” Hank Greely explores the legal and ethical frontiers of human reproductive technology.
17:20
What We Do (And Mostly Don’t) Know About Guns
The CDC doesn’t study effects of firearms. Here’s what researchers have to say about that.
The Technology That’s Changing the Future of Human Reproduction
Author Hank Greely on how humans will conceive and reproduce in the brave new world ahead of us.
I, Octopus
With thousands of chemically-sensitive suckers, color-changing skin, and a brain that literally stretches when they eat, octopuses seem like aliens living in our oceans.
Don’t Eat This Tomato
This Australian tomato enclosed inside a spiky burr is no tasty treat, according to researchers.
From Chicken Guns to Testing Cobra Venom: The Strange World of Military Science
Author Mary Roach dives into the odd and fascinating experiments conducted by the military.
11:56
Human-Like Hobbits, Spitting Fish, and Arecibo’s Uncertain Future
The origin of the human-like “hobbit” H. floresiensis, and the future of an iconic telescope.
12:07
Google Doodles Add Some Science History to Your Search
Google Doodle team lead Ryan Germick shares the stories behind some of the search engine’s geekiest “doodles.”
9:40
Melding Biology and Chemistry in a ‘Bionic Leaf’
A “bionic leaf” combines advanced catalysts with engineered bacteria to produce hydrocarbon fuels from light, water, and carbon dioxide.