On Today's Podcast
Decoding Fireflies’ Smelly Signals And Blinking Butts
Fireflies' unique body chemistry has led to advances in medical imaging. And scientists are now learning how they communicate using smell.
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.
11:56
Running The Numbers On A Transition To Renewable Energy
A new study maps out the path for 139 countries to switch entirely to renewable energy sources by 2050.
Water, Water, Everywhere, So Make Some Beer To Drink
Amsterdam has two problems: It can’t seem to stop coming up with new types of beers, and it floods easily. Why not kill two birds with one stone?
Could Climate Change Really Help Farmers?
Rep. Lamar Smith says activists are ignoring the “positive impacts” of climate change for agriculture—but those positive impacts are overstated.
A Theoretical Physicist Dives Into Black Holes
Priyamvada Natarajan tells why she fell for black holes, how they shape galaxies, and her favorite fictional depictions of them.
Evolution Happens More Quickly Than You Think
Biologist Jonathan Losos tells the story of two biologists who witnessed evolution unfold before their eyes.
8:15
Supercomputers In Space, Alternative Cancer Therapies, And A Frozen Fruitcake
NASA is preparing a year-long test to examine how off-the-shelf supercomputers might withstand radiation in space.
3:59
Could Portraying Teen Suicide Spread The Wrong Kind Of Awareness?
Did ‘13 Reasons Why’ raise awareness or encourage copycats? A researcher weighs in.
16:04
For A Volcanic Prediction, Gaze Into The Crystalline Debris
Researchers are using magma trapped in crystal structures to study the life beneath volcanoes.
12:05
Does Faster Drug Approval Lead To Better Medicine?
Researchers say fast-tracked drugs are not being rigorously tested after the approval process.
26:38
Inevitable Or Accident? Tackling The Big Questions Of Evolution
Modern evolutionary science has some advantages Darwin didn’t. Here’s what we’re learning from DNA, experimentation, and more.
8:01
How The Blind Can ‘Watch’ A Solar Eclipse
Instead of pinhole cameras and solar filter lenses, researchers are using sound and vibrations to describe the scenes on August 21 to blind and low vision eclipse chasers.
17:16
Why Doesn’t Cherry Candy Taste Like Real Cherries?
Today’s fake flavors owe more to the chemistry of the past than their real fruit counterparts.
Summing Up The Skyscraper Problem
How do you figure out how much it will cost to wash the windows of a building “n” stories high? Try using consecutive sums or the quadratic equation!
When An Eclipse Meant The End Of The World
Today, a solar eclipse may be a thing of beauty, but it historically has caused panic around the world.
An App To Help The Blind ‘See’ The Eclipse
Eclipse Soundscapes will use real-time narration and rumble maps to help the blind experience the eclipse.
The Science Conducted Under The Darkness Of The Total Eclipse
Scientists have been spending years preparing experiments for two minutes of darkness. Here’s what they’ll be observing.
The Curious Case Of…Curiosity
From child development to cognition, author and astrophysicist Mario Livio contemplates how we can shift our focus back on curiosity.
6:35
A Win For Einstein, Building A Bigger Salmon, And A Newly Named Dino
Astronomers sifting through years of stellar data have found that Einstein’s theories still hold up. Plus, other stories from this week in science.
5:20
Could ‘Green Spot’ Be Sign Of Trouble For Oroville Dam?
Dan Brekke of KQED gives an update on the the reconstruction of the Oroville Dam spillway that collapsed in February.
17:08
How To Make Spoof-Proof Biometric Security
Fingerprint scanners are standard on new smartphones, and new ID methods are coming. But security researchers say biometrics are still too easily duped.