May 2, 2025
An astronomer explores the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. Plus, how the mysterious properties of pasta—like how it bends, coils, and breaks—have been tested by physicists for decades. And, millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation.
17:19
A Stellar Collision, Ripples In Space-Time, And The Origins Of Gold
Astronomers have detected signals produced by two neutron stars that collided millions of years ago.
11:58
The Health Risks That Follow A Wildfire
The recent Northern California wildfires have burned entire neighborhoods—a look at the potential health hazards of the resulting smoke and debris.
17:00
What Happens When Your Unconscious Mind Is In Charge
A new book explains how hidden influences affect our behavior and feelings towards others.
16:44
Science Goes To The Movies: Blade Runner 2049
Could we build … or grow … replicants in the near future?
Your Brain Is A DJ Playing Three Songs At Once
Psychologist John Bargh explains how the field of psychology is trying to make up for missed time after centuries of being overlooked.
16:28
Leonardo da Vinci, Master Of Art And Science
Author Walter Isaacson investigates how Leonardo da Vinci combined the arts and sciences to create masterpieces.
The Eyes And The Smile Of Mona Lisa
Walter Isaacson explains how Leonardo da Vinci achieved some of the Mona Lisa’s mysteries.
Hotel Nematoda
To study human aging, researchers devised a place where worms can check out but never leave.
How To Protect (And Destroy) Homes With Mr. Safety
Meet the man whose team tests everything from pizza ovens to fire doors.
9:27
Evidence Of Cleaner Air, Hidden In The Drawers Of A Museum
Plus, autumn in the era of climate change and the role fungi play in the gut microbiome.
4:23
Could Lowering The P-Value Threshold Benefit Research?
The common statistic used to determine whether findings are statistically significant is being put under the microscope.
24:46
Jane Goodall And Her Life In The Wild
Primatologist Jane Goodall reflects on her career living in solitude among the chimps of Tanzania and challenging the conventions of science.
Need A Break From This World? These 10 Books Will Transport You.
Because everybody loves a good dystopia.
6:46
A Lesson In The Language Of ‘Baby Talk’
Researchers discover timbre is an important component when speaking ‘motherese.’
12:00
To The Moon, And…Beyond?
A recent meeting of the National Space Council signaled a shift of the U.S.’s goals in space.
A Descent Into The Depths Of The Earth
In the last book of her Broken Earth trilogy, N.K. Jemisin describes an apocalyptic future where some people have the power to control earthquakes and volcanoes.
34:05
Writing The Fantastic In 2017
From other planets to our own future, writers can take us places we’ve never seen. Authors Cory Doctorow, N.K. Jemisin, and Annalee Newitz are among them.
Long Names And Free Beer At A Communist Party
In this excerpt from Cory Doctorw’s novel ‘Walkaways,’ young adults talk about life in a post-privacy future at a (literal) Communist party.
A Robot Trains For War
A robot gets a painful reminder during a training exercise in this excerpt from Autonomous by Annalee Newitz.
The U.S. Government Has A Mustang Problem
Mustangs carry symbolic weight in the minds of Americans. That makes managing their populations tricky.