On Today's Podcast
Were Dinos On Their Way Out Before The Asteroid Hit? Maybe Not
Two new studies suggest that, contrary to longstanding beliefs, dinosaurs were not on the decline before the Chicxulub asteroid impact.
Listen NowNovember 7, 2025
Two new studies suggest that, contrary to longstanding belief, dinosaurs were not on the decline before the Chicxulub asteroid impact. Plus, a giant infrastructure project aims to block invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan, but Chicago’s polluted water already keeps them out. And, Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild, and they face growing threats.
12:27
The Ancient Climate Clues In Caves
Paleoclimatologist Bogdan Onac has spent his life spelunking for data about Earth’s past climate.
17:36
Bones Better Than Diamonds
Meet archaeologists who hunt for animal bones and oyster shells to piece together human stories. Plus, the tale of the domestic turkey.
17:42
Uncovering Artifacts And Archaeological Finds With Lasers
Archaeologist Lori Collins uses lasers to map and preserve artifacts to create a 3D collection.
Got Your Cat Tongue?
Think you know everything about your cat? Take a closer look at their tongues.
How Do We Read Differently With Screens?
Author Maryanne Wolf writes that reading-brain circuits are shaped by environmental factors. What does that mean in the digital age?
6:44
Beneath The Ice, A Massive Crater
Researchers have found evidence for an ancient collision with a 1 km-wide meteorite.
5:26
Can California Use More Planned Burns To Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires?
Last spring, Governor Jerry Brown doubled the amount of land that would be managed by prescribed burns and other forest management strategies to prevent wildfires.
17:36
To Fight Wildfires, Look To The City
Implementing urban fire codes in rural areas might help save lives.
11:56
The Social Power Of Smell
How the sense of smell helps rodents learn food preferences from their friends—and why you shouldn’t take your nose for granted.
17:18
You Are How You Read
The digital world is changing how we read. What does that mean for the next generation of readers?
00:16:15
Team Bat Versus Team Dolphin: A Sonar Smackdown
Who deserves the crown for the best echolocation in the animal kingdom?
17:04
Tracking The Flu, In Sickness And In Health
We’re teaming up with Flu Near You to track the rise and fall of influenza-like-illness in the U.S., and we need your help.
In Three Billion Heartbeats
Cardiologist Sandeep Jauhar vividly remembers when his grandfather died from a heart attack—a memory that fed his fascination with the “life-giving” organ.
For The Love Of Lichen
From craggy deserts to pebbly vistas, the landscape of lichens is diverse—if you take a close look.
11:43
‘Oumuamua Is Probably Not Aliens—But It’s Still Really Interesting
Some researchers said the interstellar object ʻOumuamua could be an alien spacecraft, but there are other, more conventional explanations.
17:14
Wherever My Microbiome May Roam
Immigrants who moved to the U.S. from Thailand lost gut microbes and gained new ones. Are there health consequences?
16:52
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
We asked literal tastemakers: What makes a spice a hit… or a bust?
11:45
Sick? ‘Tis The Season.
Many diseases, beyond flu, may have a hidden seasonal component.
11:05
Breaking Down The Science Of Beatboxing
Researchers are studying beatboxing to see how they create sounds not found in human language.
23:35
Mysteries Of The Heart
In “Heart: A History,” cardiologist Sandeep Jauhar writes of confounding cases of heart disease, and the daring treatments that revolutionized how we fix the human heart.