On Today's Podcast
What The Label Of ‘Genius’ Tells Us About Our Society
In “The Genius Myth,” Helen Lewis argues that who we call a genius reveals more about our values than any objective measure of brilliance.
Listen NowSeptember 12, 2025
Octopuses can use their suckers to detect harmful microbes on the surface of objects like crab shells, or their own eggs. Plus, a new book charts the millennia-old history of our fascination with aliens, and how myth transformed into research. And, golden oyster mushrooms have escaped from home growing kits into the wild. Could they affect fungal diversity in North American forests?
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.
34:39
Can The Great Lakes Stay Great?
The North American Great Lakes are changing under the influence of pollution, invasive species, and climate change. How well will they weather this stress?
15:57
Love And War In The World Of The Cephalopod
The fourth annual Cephalopod Week kicks off with a cephalopod matchmaker and a researcher studying octopus defenses.
Love, Octopus-ly
Full-time biologist—part-time cephalopod matchmaker, Richard Ross invites us into his secret home lab where he studies the mating rituals of the lesser Pacific striped Octopus.
The Giant Squid’s Biggest Mystery
Estimating how many giant squid are lurking in the deep ocean seemed unfathomable…until now!
Make A Secret Marshmallow Message
Use the chemistry of the Maillard reaction to spell out an edible secret marshmallow message as you toast your treat!
Unravelling CRISPR In The Café
A sketch at a café meeting sets Jennifer Doudna on the path to developing one of the most consequential gene editing tools.
7:07
A New Astronaut Class Begins The Journey To The Stars
Plus, the health effects of your bread choices, wolves’ sense of equality, and more news from the week in science.
4:42
Finding An Earthly Home For The Thirty Meter Telescope
The instrument’s original site plans set off a controversy. Another site is available, but relocation won’t be easy.
9:18
Is Your Sunscreen Living Up To Its Promise?
A new report says only one quarter of SPF products on the market are up to snuff.