On Today's Podcast
Footage Shows How Narwhals Use Tusks To Hunt And Play
In a story from March, researchers used drones to study the mysterious arctic animals and learn new things about narwhal behavior.
Listen NowOctober 17, 2025
While some AI-designed drugs have made it to clinical trials, none of them have been approved. Why has it been harder than experts thought? Plus, in “Mapmatics,” a mathematician tells the stories of how math helps us track epidemics, map the seafloor, and plot a complex delivery route. And, the authors of “Food Intelligence” answer listener questions and discuss how our food systems make staying healthy an uphill battle.
12:06
Thoreau, Climate Scientist
Scientists use Henry David Thoreau’s notes to study climate change at Walden Pond.
17:24
Serving Up the Origins of the Chicken and Chili Pepper
Scientists are combining genetics and linguistics to trace the origins of these staples of the modern-day menu.
17:03
The Science Club Talks Art Machines
The Science Club meets to recap the month’s “Build an Art Machine” project.
12:08
Is Aereo the Latest TV Technology Disruptor?
Is Aereo a high-tech TV game changer or a clever way to get around broadcast copyright law?
9:50
Recording the Global Soundscape
Ecologist Bryan Pijanowski hopes to create a soundscape of every ecosystem on the planet.
24:39
Can We Game Our Way to Better Health?
Gamers and scientists join forces to develop “serious games” to improve health.
Behold the Buckeye Dragon Mite
A newly discovered mite from Ohio is reminiscent of the caterpillar-like dragons of Chinese New Year fame.
An Unexplored Island in Mozambique
An excerpt from “A Window on Eternity” by E.O. Wilson.
Make a Model Eardrum to Detect Sound Waves
Create a model eardrum to visualize sound vibrations, and then use a smartphone to identify your model’s natural frequencies.
12:12
The Sticky Science Behind Maple Syrup
Plant physiologist Abby van den Berg traces how maple sap flows through trees and onto your plate.
17:13
Discovering Your Inner Fish
Evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin takes us through the evolutionary story of how the human body evolved from our fish and reptilian ancestors.
16:36
Amir Aczel: ‘Why Science Does Not Disprove God’
Aczel’s latest book chronicles the New Atheist movement, taking aim at scientists like Richard Dawkins.
21:40
How a Warming Planet Will Change What’s on Your Plate
Climate change has already cut yields of wheat and corn, taking a bite out of gains achieved by better farming technology.
17:02
E.O. Wilson: ‘A Window on Eternity’
E.O. Wilson discusses the recovery and biodiversity of Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park.
7:34
Spotting Earth’s Cousin in the Cosmos
Astronomers have found a planet about the size of Earth, far enough from its star to host liquid water.
The Sounds of Space, in Indie Music
A new compilation of indie rock music includes sounds collected from the Voyager space missions.
Suckers for Sap
By vacuum-sucking sap directly from the cut tops of juvenile maple trees, the researchers may revolutionize the maple syrup industry.
Practice Eye of Yesteryear
The instrument is an early version of a training device popularized by optometrists.