On Today's Podcast
mRNA Vaccine For Pancreatic Cancer Continues To Show Promise
In the wake of funding cuts to mRNA vaccine research, we revisit a February story about a promising vaccine for pancreatic cancer.
Listen NowAugust 22, 2025
Humans drove wolves nearly to extinction in the American West. Reintroducing them in 1995 was, and still is, controversial. Plus, the FDA and HHS plan to eliminate petroleum-based food dyes as part of the MAHA agenda. What does science say about their effects on health? And, astronomers found a supernova whose lighter outer layers had been stripped away, revealing an inner shell rich in silicon and sulfur.
24:26
Employee or Datapoint?
The data employers are gathering on their employees aren’t always a fair measure of efficiency or success, and in some cases, it’s an invasion of privacy.
8:38
How To Be A Garden Whiz
Could urine be the gold standard when it comes to fertilizing your garden?
11:57
Do You Understand the Richter Scale?
Seismologist Lucy Jones explains what earthquake magnitude means and why we should measure earthquakes differently.
17:27
Museum Plays Art and Technology Matchmaker
LACMA’s Art & Technology program brings together artists and tech companies to see what the two can create together.
A Corpse Flower Blooms in Denver
The putrid odor of a large tropical plant has begun wafting through the Denver Botanic Gardens—and visitors are lining up to inhale deeply.
Does Sound Affect the Way We Taste?
Research suggests that sound is the “forgotten sense” when it comes to how we perceive flavors.
11:58
El Niño Vs. the Blob, Yeast Painkillers, and a Butter Bummer
This week’s news roundup takes us to San Francisco, where Ira is joined by KQED science and environment reporter Lauren Sommer.
7:46
The Strangely Social Life of the Larger Pacific Striped Octopus
A new study reveals surprising mating, dwelling, and feeding behaviors in one rare species of octopus.
11:55
Gold King, and Other Abandoned Mines Plague Colorado
The EPA accidentally triggered a blowout at the Gold King mine in Colorado, releasing three million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River.
17:26
How Big Blazes Shape Landscapes
Scientists are closely monitoring how forest vegetation shifts after catastrophic fires, and discovering a few surprises.
17:32
A Candidate’s Voice Might Sway Your Vote
Voters tend to prefer politicians with deeper voices—a sign of strength and competence, says political scientist Casey Klofstad.
16:53
App Chat: Assistive Technology
For people living with disabilities, smartphones present both unique challenges and benefits.
SciFri Book Club Meetup
Meet the author of “The Soul of a New Machine” at Google’s New York City headquarters.
Quiz: Is This Panda Pregnant?
Take our Panda Pregnancy Test to see how much you know about panda reproduction.
A Drone’s-Eye View Of An Algae Bloom
This picture, shot by a drone, reveals the verdant fingers of a blue-green algae bloom.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Thermometer’
The term first appeared in an early “puzzle book” full of scientific brainteasers.
12:11
Venomous Frogs, a Polar Bear World Record, and Printing Pills
A polar bear dives longer than ever before, and researchers in Brazil discover two venomous frogs.
