On Today's Podcast
Can The Rise In Solar Power Balance Out Clean Energy Cuts?
Solar power adoption has been rising fast. Amid recent federal efforts to limit clean energy, will it make a dent in our climate impact?
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.
23:46
The Alchemy Of Air
Science writer Sam Kean tells the story of the gases that have shaped human history.
17:37
A Mission To Save The Planet (From The Next Asteroid)
NASA’s moving forward with plans for a missile designed to deflect asteroids.
It’s A Bird! It’s A Plane! It’s Snarge!
Every day, the Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab receives dozens of envelopes filled with the remains of birds scraped off the sides of airplanes.
When Waters Rise, Who You Gonna Call? The Netherlands
The Dutch know a thing or two about water management, and they’ve got a new plan.
The Next Big Engineering Tool Of The 1960s? Nuclear Bombs
In an era marked by fear of nuclear bombs, Operation Plowshare took a look at their potential to create.
7:31
A New Iceberg The Size of Delaware, Peering Into Jupiter’s Red Spot, And A Quantum Photon Entanglement
The cracking Larsen C ice shelf is now 12 percent smaller. Plus, a new close-up of Jupiter’s giant storm.
4:30
For Farmers, Rotating Livestock Pays Off
Amy Mayer from Iowa Public Radio talks about the environmental and economic benefits of diversifying livestock on farms.
26:27
Are We Facing Electrical Gridlock?
The influx of renewable energy and smart appliances threaten to overload our aging electrical grid.
8:20
Creating The Perfect Ice Cube
Researchers at Ohio State University have come the closest yet to mimicking a type of ice crystal found only in earth’s upper atmosphere.
12:20
A Peek Into The Sex Lives Of Algae
A new study found that single-celled diatoms can have sex, and that ammonium makes them frisky.
16:54
Chasing Coral, And Climate Solutions, In New Documentary
In the story of dying coral reefs, a call to action.
17:31
Ants Exhibit Towering Engineering Skills
Ants are known for their elaborate underground tunnels and caverns. But ants also build tall, Eiffel Tower-like columns—with their own bodies
Sci Fri Science Club: Freeze Challenge
We challenge you to create something totally new, and totally frozen.
Desktop Diaries: Michael Pollan
In the latest installment of our Desktop Diaries video series, we’ll take you into the home office (and garden) of the famous food and nature author Michael Pollan.
Make Supercool Fruit Pops
Make supercooled water and use it to coat fruit pops in instant ice crystals
Hackers Have Been Targeting Nuclear Power Plants
A U.S. government report warns that hackers have been targeting power facilities in the US and other countries.
Air Pollution Is As Unhealthy As Secondhand Smoke, A New Study Says
Kids who live near pollution are at the same risk of asthma as those exposed to secondhand smoke.
The Secrets Of Drying Your Food
‘Cooking for Geeks’ author Jeff Potter explains the scientific secrets to making the perfect dehydrated food.
8:17
A Tower Of Skulls, A Frog Explosion, And A Study Of Cycles
Science journalist Annalee Newitz joins us to talk about some of the stories from the week in science.