On Today's Podcast
The Science Of Replacing Body Parts, From Hair To Hearts
In “Replaceable You,” Mary Roach describes mind-boggling efforts to replace human body parts—and why it’s proven to be so difficult.
Listen NowOctober 10, 2025
We check in on some exciting space missions and projects from IMAP to LIGO. Plus, in “Dinner With King Tut,” Sam Kean shows how experimental archaeology can recreate the stinky, slimy, and tasty parts of ancient history. And, behind the scenes of the removal of four dams along the Klamath River, and the massive restoration effort that’s followed.
Desktop Diaries: Temple Grandin
“I’m pure geek, pure logic,” says Grandin, an animal scientist at Colorado State University.
Looking Back on 2012 Election Technology
Despite a national push to electronic voting, why did it take days to tally the vote in some states?
Searching for ‘The Particle at the End of the Universe’
Physicist Sean Carroll of Caltech talks about the search for the Higgs boson, and what comes next.
A Millipede That (Almost) Lives Up to the Name
No millipede has 1000 feet—but the species Illacme plenipes comes closest, with up to 750.
Desktop Diaries: Temple Grandin
“I’m pure geek, pure logic,” says Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. We spent an afternoon with Grandin in her office in Fort Collins.
With Budget Cuts Looming, Is Science a Lame Duck?
If Congress fails to act, some $15 billion will be cut from science funding in January 2013.
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Oliver Sacks: ‘Hallucinations’
In his latest book, neurologist Oliver Sacks explores the strange world of hallucinations, and documents his own experiments with psychedelic drugs.
Scientists Solve Mystery of Earth’s Shifting Poles
A look beneath Earth’s surface at what may be causing the planet’s poles to wander back and forth.
Hurricane Sandy Claims Thousands of NYU Lab Mice
Thousands of mice at one of New York University’s research facilities were lost due to flooding.
Climate Change Takes Flight in New Novel
An ecological anomaly is at the center of the story in Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior.”
Desktop Diaries: Oliver Sacks
Writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks explains what his desk means to him. From lumps of metal to lemurs, Sacks describes some of his treasures.
As Storm Recovery Continues, Looking to the Future
With Sandy leaving destruction in her wake, a look at how cities might plan for future storms.
Past is Present in ‘An Enemy of the People’
Themes of power, integrity, and truth still resonate in a new production of Ibsen’s classic play.
Genetic Clues May Help Unravel Cause of Crohn’s
Better treatment options are being developed, but the cause of Crohn’s disease is still unknown.
How Reliable Are Electronic Voting Machines?
Can electronic voting machines be hacked? An expert gives us a pre-election update on voting technologies.
Sandy’s CT Scan, and Other Vital Images
Satellites looked at Sandy this week, and they also looked in.
Scared to Death… Literally
An earthquake, terrorist attack, or even a hole-in-one can cause a heart-stopping surge of adrenaline.
Medusa’s Gaze and Vampire’s Bite
Think monsters are make-believe? In his new book, science journalist Matt Kaplan writes of real-life zombies in Haiti, and how rabies infection could explain the vampire’s aversion to garlic and sunlight.