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.
The Chemistry Behind How Fireworks Get Their Colors
Investigate what colors metal salts can make as you burn them and discover how chemical reactions make brilliant fireworks colors.
Physics Secrets for Hula Hooping
In this activity from Science Buddies, kids will create their own hula hoops and investigate how the hoops’ masses affect how they spin. Which do you think will spin better, a heavy hoop or a lighter one?
12:03
Shedding Light on the Science of Sunscreen
How does sunscreen protect our skin from harmful radiation, and what is the meaning behind SPFs?
20:39
Food Failures: Avoiding Grilling and Barbecue Pitfalls
Marinade myths, charcoal chemistry, and the elusive “smoke ring”—the science behind barbecue and grilling.
13:24
Getting A Grasp On The Clever Cephalopod
The nautilus, the “living fossil” of cephalopods, can uncover the origins of the complex brain of modern cephalopods.
12:21
3-D Mammography Detects More Cancers, But Will It Save Lives?
A new study suggests that 3-D mammography detects more cancers than traditional digital mammography. But the technology is expensive, and there’s no indication yet that it catches more dangerous cancers, or is saving more lives.
31:02
Making Art From the DNA You Leave Behind
Artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg calls attention to genetic surveillance with artworks made from strangers’ DNA.
3:05
Arnold Relman, Health System Critic, Dead at 91
Relman called the American health care system a “new medical-industrial complex.” We remember him here with two archival clips.
Behaviors of the Venomous, Blue-Lined Octopus
This venomous octopus packs a punch, but it’s more likely to hide than launch a poisonous attack.
How Does an Octopus Change Its Body to Blend In With Its Environment?
Watch footage of a live octopus to model different ways that these animals can camouflage themselves by changing their body’s texture, shape, size, and color.
How Tails Help a Kite to Fly
In this activity from Science Buddies, you will experiment with how a kite’s tail affects how it flies.
29:38
Reinventing How City Dwellers Get Around
Portland, Oregon, is a hotbed for transit innovation. Will other cities catch on?
16:13
What Happens After the Robot Apocalypse?
In “Robogenesis,” sci-fi author Daniel H. Wilson imagines the world post-robot uprising.
17:23
Untangling the Web of Spider Science
Arachnologist Greta Binford traces the evolution of spiders by examining their venom.
12:03
At Reed College, Nuclear Education That’s Really ‘Hands-On’
At Reed College, undergraduates keep a nuclear reactor running.
16:24
Beer Science: Crafting the Perfect Pint
Two of Oregon’s craft brew experts pore over hops, yeast, malt, and the microbiology of beer.
Milking A Spider
Ever wondered how to milk a spider? In this video, Greta Binford, a researcher at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, extracts venom from a sleeping spider’s fangs.
The Vampire Squid From Hell
Although its Latin name translates as “the vampire squid from hell,” the vampire squid is actually a gentle steward of the ocean’s depths, gracefully foraging on marine detritus.
Caring for Cuttlefish
Using recycled soda bottles, modified cradles, and knowledge of each species’ husbandry, the Monterey Bay Aquarium staff have nurtured to adulthood 95 percent of the cuttlefish eggs spawned.
Teaching Ancient Nautilus New Tricks
A series of experiments involving fish juice, blue lights, and mazes dispels the notion that the ancient Nautilus is incapable of basic learning and memory.