On Today's Podcast
What Do mRNA Funding Cuts Mean For Future US Research?
RFK Jr. canceled nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine research funding. Plus, the latest climate news, from flooding in Alaska to new EVs.
Listen NowAugust 15, 2025
This year marks the 100th anniversary of two papers that sparked the field of quantum mechanics. Plus, a science journalist documents his quest to understand his own cluster headaches in the new book “The Headache.” And, what the cancelation of nearly $500 million in funding means for the future of mRNA vaccine research.
The Seeds Of Ghost Forests
As sea levels rise and drainage systems become defunct, dead forests are spreading across the coasts of North Carolina.
7:08
International Shake-Up Over Warming Arctic
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rattles a climate change conversation with the Arctic Council—meanwhile, an early spring is snarling life in Alaska.
4:35
A ‘Shared Ride’ May Be A Public Burden
A new study found that the presence of services like Uber and Lyft increased road congestion in San Francisco.
24:45
Turning Hydrogen Into A Metal Could Lead To New Superconductors
Turning hydrogen into a metal at room temperature could lead to new superconductors. But how far off is this super-material?
8:53
When Lions And Porcupines Battle, Humans Lose
A porcupine’s pointy quills might lead to people becoming prey.
33:05
‘Cribsheet’ Explores The Science Of Parenting
Health economist Emily Oster’s new book Cribsheet dives into the data on common parenting questions about sleep, breastfeeding, and childcare.
11:45
One Million Animal And Plant Species Are At Risk For Extinction
A new UN report says human interventions are the cause of a global biodiversity crisis.
Does Breastfeeding Affect Intelligence?
Economist Emily Oster examines the questionable studies that have led to the myth that breastfeeding increases IQ.
Interview Highlights: Looking To Spongier Cities To Combat A Wetter Future
From “Sponge Cities” in China to small “pocket prairies” in Houston, cities are fortifying communities to better prepare for wetter environments.
Dinosaur Poop 101: Fossil Fecal Forensics
Fossilized feces, known as coprolites, are helping paleontologists shed new light on the lifestyles and habits of dinosaurs that fossil bones can’t show.
8:44
Ancient Human Relatives At The Top Of The World
Paleoanthropologists announce a newly discovered Denisovan jawbone high on the Tibetan plateau.
3:19
How Much Fuel Does A Green Spring Add To The Fire?
California’s newly verdant hills will turn into kindling come this year’s wildfire season.
11:05
What Should We Do With The Online Profiles Of The Deceased?
1.4 billion Facebook users will pass away before the year 2100. How will their accounts be handled?
21:13
The Explorations Of An Early Climate Change Detective
Scenes from a new illustrated book bring the findings of naturalist and adventurer Alexander von Humboldt back to life.
24:28
Neuroscientists Peer Into The Mind’s Eye
If you hook a real brain up to artificial intelligence, what happens next?
22:28
The Business Of Predicting Climate Change
AT&T teamed up with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory to build a climate map of the U.S.
A 19th-Century Expedition To The Rim Of A Volcano
In a new graphic novel, scientist and polymath Alexander von Humboldt leads an intrepid band of scientists to catalog traces of life in a barren land.
To See Gulls Anew
Gulls are much more than the scavengers. They lead intricate lives at inland saline lakes when it’s time to breed.
11:32
The Climate Effects Of A Heated Campaign Season
The Democratic presidential primary field is vast—where do the candidates stand on climate issues?
11:42
How Much Worse Can The Measles Outbreak Get?
One of the most contagious viral diseases is spreading quickly across pockets of unvaccinated people in the U.S.