On Today's Podcast
What The Sigma Is Algospeak?
You might think sticking out your gyatt for the rizzler is chopped, but “Algospeak” author Adam Aleksic says we should let Gen Alpha cook.
Listen NowJuly 18, 2025
Across the country, premiums are rising and home insurers are pulling out of markets that are most at risk for climate change-fueled disasters. Plus, the New World Screwworm is creeping north, threatening cattle in Mexico and the US. And, a new book explores the poisonous concoctions in Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries and the science behind how they kill.
17:07
The Science Behind Third-Trimester Abortions
Abortions later in pregnancy are the most stigmatized, leading to misinformation and a hesitancy to talk openly about why people have them.
5:12
After California’s Park Fire, A Second Bloom of Milkweed
This is great news for the nearly-extinct monarch butterflies, which will pass through the area as they migrate back to Mexico.
12:00
Inside The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood
To find out how blood affects aging, scientists can surgically connect two animals and let blood circulate between them.
12:13
Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway In Colombia
COP16 will tackle questions like who should profit from non-human DNA, and who is responsible for financing critical conservation projects.
16:58
How Insects Changed The World—And Human Cultures
In “The Insect Epiphany,” an entomologist explores the history of insects in art, food, engineering, and more.
17:18
How Aging Water Systems Are Pushing Sewage Into U.S. Homes
Outdated and poorly maintained sewage and stormwater systems have led to chronic sewage backups in communities across the country.
Mission Tech Force: Robots For A Sustainable Future
Tackle a hands-on critical-thinking team challenge, then discover how robots from space can solve Earth’s problems.
12:08
Pandas Return To Washington, D.C., Zoo
In a new chapter of “panda diplomacy,” two giant pandas on loan from China have arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
17:09
NASA’s Europa Clipper Heads To Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa
Scientists suspect that beneath Europa’s icy crust is a giant ocean of liquid water. They launched a spacecraft to investigate.
16:23
How Do Animals Understand Death?
Philosopher Susana Monsó unpacks the latest research into how animals like possums, chimps, and ants interpret death.
11:56
How Metaphor Has Shaped Science, For Better Or Worse
Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside.
4:16
Scientists Push For A Lesser-Known Grain Called Kernza
Originally from Central Asia, Kernza doesn’t need to be replanted every year, unlike crops such as corn and soybeans.
12:53
Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music
A pair of musicians wrote a concept album inspired by moths—and found that humans have more in common with the insects than they expected.
17:35
MRIs Show How The Brain Changes During Pregnancy
New research sheds light on changes in gray and white matter during this transformational event.
Mission Rehydrate: Water For A Thirsty Planet
Discover how astronauts recycle water on the ISS, then build and test your own filter to address real-world environmental issues.
El Regreso del GEDI: Escaneando el Amazonas con rayos láser
Un instrumento en la Estación Espacial Internacional recopila datos que ofrecen pistas sobre la deforestación en la Amazonia.
Benjamin Franklin And The American Experiment Collide On Stage
In the play “Franklinland,” Benjamin Franklin’s son takes centerstage in an exploration of his father’s life as a scientist, statesperson, and parent.
‘Salem’s Lot’ And The Bloody Fountain Of Youth
In this Stephen King adaptation, a vampire drinks blood to live forever. Can young blood have anti-aging effects for the living?
12:13
The Science Behind Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton caused a major storm surge, but also a reverse one.
17:12
Asheville Was Never A ‘Climate Haven.’ Nowhere Is.
Although the kinds of risks vary by location, there is no place that’s immune to the damaging effects of climate change.