On Today's Podcast
African Grey Parrots Are Popular—And It’s Fueling Illegal Trade
Talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival.
Listen NowNovember 21, 2025
Flora and “Part-Time Genius” co-host Mangesh Hattikudur put one lucky listener to the test with food science trivia. Plus, talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival. And, Google’s tool for predicting how proteins “fold” turns 5 this year.
26:33
Kim Stanley Robinson Tackles How to Keep a Drowning City Afloat
In his new novel, “New York 2140,” author Kim Stanley Robinson tackles how a drowning city might adapt and thrive after disastrous sea level rise.
8:21
How Climate Change Threatens Your Breakfast
As the globe warms, maple syrup, tea, and other specialty foods could suffer from lower quality and lower nutritional value.
11:54
Visualizing The Beauty Of Vibrato
Researchers use the tools of quantum physics to quantify the vibration of sound.
17:19
Why Are We Here? Physics Has Answers
Physicist Lawrence Krauss on the substance of the universe, the Higgs Boson, and how we know what we know.
17:19
Do Weather Instruments Need a Robot Repairman?
A robotic spacecraft could improve weather forecasting by fixing satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
What to Expect From Trump’s Environmental Policy
Two environmental law experts discuss threats to the EPA and other agencies.
Gourmet Cooking With Humble Roots
Chef and author Mads Refslund approaches cooking through a low-waste lens.
7:31
Synthetic Yeast, Fake Science News, and the Tully Monster
Researchers have now synthesized over a third of the yeast genome.
27:53
Trump Versus the EPA
How the president and Congress have been quietly and successfully tearing down U.S environmental and climate change policy.
4:37
Making Social Interaction More Like a Game
Apps like Snapchat encourage interaction with features such as “streaks.” But is there a downside to gamifying communication?
12:08
The Microbiome of the Clouds
Certain types of bacteria in the atmosphere can play a role in rain and snow.
6:38
The Science of Tuvan Throat Singing
Tuvan throat singers have developed a technique that allows them to produce two notes at one time.
17:01
Scrap Your Dinner Plans
In their book Scraps, Wilt & Weeds, Mads Refslund and Tama Matsuoka Wong describe creative ways to use the parts of produce that we usually toss away.
17:21
The Invisible Humans Who Sanitize the Internet
Content moderators work behind the scenes to keep graphic content off your feed. But they still have to view it.
Three Recipes for Leftover Produce
Here’s what you can do with kale scraps, carrot tops, and grapefruit peels.
The Highs And Lows Of Tuvan Throat Singing
The Tuvan throat-singing band Alash Ensemble can sing low and high notes simultaneously, inspiring wonder and a deep appreciation for their craft.
A Farmer and His Super Soil
Author Miriam Horn describes how a Kansas farmer works for his soil to keep it working for him.