665: COP28 Climate Conference Ends | Why Are Some People Affected By Seasonal Affective Disorder?
COP28 ended with an agreement calling for a transition away from fossil fuels, but critics say it’s too little, too late. Also, some people are more prone to develop seasonal depression. A researcher discusses the most effective treatments.
23m Dec 15, 2023
23m
664: A Celebration Of The 2023 Christmas Bird Count
Birders across the world band together to record the number of birds in their communities from Dec 14 to Jan 5.
35m Dec 14, 2023
35m
663: Surfing Particles Can Supercharge Northern Lights
In a conversation from 2021, Ira and a researcher discuss how the physics of plasma, particles, and the Earth’s magnetic field combine in dazzling displays of aurora.
18m Dec 13, 2023
18m
662: The (Not So) Easy Guide To Getting To Space
In a new book, astronaut Mike Massimino reflects on his time in space, and what it taught him about succeeding on Earth.
34m Dec 12, 2023
34m
663: The Women Astronomers Who Captured the Stars
In a conversation from 2016, Ira and Dava Sobel discuss a team of women astronomers at the Harvard College Observatory who worked to classify the stars at the beginning of the 20th century.
19m Dec 11, 2023
19m
662: Quercetin May Cause Red Wine Headaches | Worsening Wildfires Are Undoing Air Quality Progress
A new theory pins the throbbing pain of a red wine headache on quercetin, an antioxidant in grape skins. Plus, wildfires in the Western US have not only lowered air quality, but led to increased deaths between 2000 and 2020.
27m Dec 08, 2023
27m
661: Speaking Multiple Languages Changes The Way You Think
Speaking more than one language has the power to shape memory and cognition–and perhaps even delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
19m Dec 07, 2023
19m
660: Social Connections Keep Us Physically and Mentally Healthy As We Age
Long-term research tracking adults over 50 shows that social activity, intimacy, and personal connections are key to good health.
18m Dec 06, 2023
18m
661: Women Were Also Skilled Hunters In Ancient Times
New analysis of remains and burial items suggests women and men did both parts of hunting and gathering in the Paleolithic era.
13m Dec 05, 2023
13m
658: An AI Leader’s Human-Centered Approach To Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Fei-Fei Li of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI discusses the promise and peril of the ground-breaking technology.
25m Dec 04, 2023
25m
659: COP28 Host Had Plans to Promote Oil and Gas | Researchers Detected Cicada Emergence With Fiber-Optics
The United Nations climate summit will happen for the next two weeks in Dubai—a city known for its oil money. And, in 2021, an electronics and communications lab accidentally detected the mass emergence of Brood X with fiber-optic sensors.
24m Dec 01, 2023
24m
656: Ralph Nader Reflects On His Auto Safety Campaign, 55 Years Later
In a conversation from 2021, Ira discusses how auto safety has drastically advanced, thanks in part to Nader’s groundbreaking investigation.
28m Nov 30, 2023
28m
654: What’s That Smell? An AI Nose Knows
In a conversation from September 2023, Ira discusses a computer model can map the structure of a chemical to predict what it probably smells like.
13m Nov 29, 2023
13m
655: Jane Goodall On Life Among Chimpanzees
In an interview from 2002, the primatologist gave Ira a lesson in how to speak with chimps.
37m Nov 28, 2023
37m
654: The ‘Wet-Dog Shake’ And Other Physics Mysteries
From 2018: In his book 'How to Walk on Water and Climb Up Walls,' David Hu explores the wonders of the animal world.
23m Nov 27, 2023
23m
657: Ig Nobel Prizes | Stop Flushing Your Health Data Down The Toilet
Counting nose hairs and licking rocks: Highlights from the 33rd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony. Plus, in a conversation from March 2023, Ira discusses smart toilets powered by AI to give users more insight into their health.
27m Nov 24, 2023
27m
653: The West’s Wild Horses | Artist Explores History Of Humans Genetically Modifying Pigs
Reporter Ashley Ahearn bought a wild horse from the federal government for $125. Also, with opera and visual art, an exhibit looks at modern genetic engineering of pigs. The Captivating Story Of The West’s Wild Horses Wild mustangs are an icon of the American West, conjuring a romantic vision of horses galloping free on an open prairie. But in reality, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) says...
19m Nov 23, 2023
19m
650: Moon Rock Research | Science of Unraveling Sweaters
Research on crystals brought back by the Apollo 17 mission shows that the moon is 40 million years older than we thought. And, a textile professor and knit expert explains why many sweaters today are of poorer quality than sweaters in the past.
21m Nov 22, 2023
21m
652: 2023’s Best Science Books For Kids
An editor and a children’s author weigh in on this year’s best STEM books for kids. Plus, listeners share their own favorites.
27m Nov 21, 2023
27m
649: How AI Chatbots Can Reinforce Racial Bias In Medicine
Researchers examined four popular chatbots and found they perpetuated debunked, harmful ideas from race-based medicine.
19m Nov 20, 2023
19m
651: An Exoplanet Where It Rains Sand
Astronomers are calling the exoplanet “fluffy.” Plus, an update on a possible volcanic eruption in Iceland.
14m Nov 17, 2023
14m
648: Ask A Chef: How Can I Use Science To Make Thanksgiving Tastier?
Chef Dan Souza from Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen answers your holiday cooking questions.
19m Nov 16, 2023
19m
645: Monumental And Invisible: How Infrastructure Works
An engineering professor and author explains how modern life depends on vast, complicated systems you probably never think about.
30m Nov 15, 2023
30m
647: Everything You Never Knew About Squash And Pumpkins
It’s squash, pumpkin and gourd season. An expert answers listener questions about these colorful fall favorites.
20m Nov 14, 2023
20m
644: How A University Is Adjusting One Year After ChatGPT
An English professor discusses how AI is transforming education, and how students and faculty alike can use it responsibly.
13m Nov 13, 2023
13m
646: Euclid Telescope’s First Images | A Black Hole That Came From Gas
A new ESA telescope could help us understand how dark matter and dark energy influence the structure of the universe. Also, using both JWST and the Chandra Observatory, astronomers discover the oldest known black hole. Euclid Telescope’s First Images Unveiled This week, the European Space Agency unveiled the Euclid space telescope’s first full-color images of the cosmos. (https://www.sciencef...
19m Nov 10, 2023
19m
642: How Five Elements Define Life On Earth
Is the secret to life really just wrangling carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus? Author Stephen Porder explains in a new book.
18m Nov 09, 2023
18m
639: Climate Future Exhibit | Oregon's Proposed Fish Vacuum
A Climate Change Exhibit Asks ‘What If We Get It Right?’ Dr. Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist and co-founder of the nonprofit Urban Ocean Lab, thinks a lot about the possible futures of our climate. Not just one ideal climate future, but a range of futures that could be better if we make some changes. She’s helped steer environmental policy, written books and articles on climate a...
18m Nov 08, 2023
18m
641: How A Deaf Advisory Group Is Changing Healthcare
Deaf patients often don’t receive interpreters in healthcare settings. A deaf advisory group worked with a hospital to improve how it cares for them.
18m Nov 07, 2023
18m
643: 40 Years Of Sounding The Alarm On Nuclear Winter
In October 1983, Carl Sagan introduced the world to the idea of nuclear winter caused by nuclear weapon fallout. Is it still a threat?
19m Nov 06, 2023
19m
640: CRISPR-Based Sickle Cell Treatment | Pain Tolerance From Neanderthals
If given final approval by the FDA, this sickle-cell treatment would be the first to use gene-editing CRISPR technology on humans. Also, gene variants inherited from Neanderthals can impact pain tolerance in modern humans.
25m Nov 03, 2023
25m
637: How Poisons Have Shaped Life On Earth
Poisons fill our pantries and gardens. The new book Most Delicious Poison explores how common toxins have shaped life on Earth.
18m Nov 02, 2023
18m
635: Placenta Research May Help Explain Pregnancy Loss
By studying placentas from lost pregnancies, one doctor hopes to provide answers that are so often lacking after a miscarriage or stillbirth.
18m Nov 01, 2023
18m
634: A Common Cold Medicine Ingredient Doesn’t Work. What Now?
Twenty years ago, scientists found that phenylephrine, listed as a decongestant in many cold medicines, didn’t work. What can you use instead? In September, an advisory committee for the Food and Drug Administration unanimously confirmed that phenylephrine—a common ingredient in cold medicines, (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cold-medicine-phenylephrine-doesnt-work/?utm_source=wnyc&utm...
13m Oct 31, 2023
13m
633: Diving Into Elon Musk’s Mind
Walter Isaacson’s latest biography peers into the life and mind of entrepreneur Elon Musk.
31m Oct 30, 2023
31m
636: RSV Drug Shortage & Beech Leaf Disease
RSV has reached epidemic levels in the southern US. Also, beech leaf disease is spreading rapidly in Massachusetts. RSV Drug For Infants In Short Supply Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common illness that—for most—looks like a common cold. But for infants, it can be an intense illness, leading to hospitalization. That’s why it was a relief for parents and physicians when an immuniza...
19m Oct 27, 2023
19m
632: When Studying Ecology Means Celebrating Its Gifts
In a conversation from 2019, bestselling author Robin Wall Kimmerer discusses the role of ceremony in our lives, and how to celebrate reciprocal relationships with the natural world. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/braiding-sweetgrass-land-book/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_...
18m Oct 26, 2023
18m
632: Unlocking The Mysteries Of A Metal-Rich Asteroid
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on a six-year voyage to an asteroid largely made of metal. It may help us understand how planets form.
21m Oct 25, 2023
21m
631: Rapidly Evolving Trout & Ancient Hyper-Apex Predators
Research shows some stocked trout are evolving rapidly and altering Wyoming's aquatic ecosystems. Plus, paleontologists pieced together a level of apex predators with no modern equivalent.
19m Oct 24, 2023
19m
630: Finding Meaning In The Cosmos
In her new memoir, astrobiologist Dr. Aomawa Shields describes how a quest for life in the cosmos helped her find meaning on Earth. One of the biggest, most intriguing questions in the world is quite simple: Are we alone in this universe? Astronomer and astrobiologist Dr. Aomawa Shields (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/life-on-other-planets-book/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_c...
18m Oct 23, 2023
18m
630: ‘Clean Hydrogen Hub’ Awardees & Formula One Car Paint
Seven “clean energy hubs” will receive a total of $7B to develop forms of hydrogen production with minimal carbon emissions. And, ahead of the US Grand Prix, an aerodynamicist breaks down the recent engineering changes to F1 cars. Department Of Energy Announces ‘Clean Hydrogen Hub’ Awardees The Department of Energy announced seven “clean hydrogen hubs,” which will receive a cumulative $7 bill...
25m Oct 20, 2023
25m
628: What Is Your Cat Doing When You're Not Watching?
In a conversation from 2019, Ira and the researchers behind a “catcam” study discuss the secret lives of your feline friends. If you want the real scoop on what your cat is doing while you’re away, researchers are studying that very question, using cat cameras. (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/now-playing-the-real-secret-life-of-pets/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scif...
18m Oct 19, 2023
18m
629: The Stories Of The First Six Women Astronauts
You know Sally Ride. But what about the other first women astronauts? A new book from space reporter Loren Grush illuminates their stories.
25m Oct 18, 2023
25m
627: A Mathematician Asks ‘Is Math Real?’
When math is based on abstract concepts, how do we know it’s correct? Dr. Eugenia Cheng takes on that question in a new book. The concept of math has been around for a long time, developing independently in many different cultures. In 1650 BC, the Egyptians were creating math textbooks on papyrus, with multiplication and division tables. Geometry, like the Pythagorean theorem, was used in an...
34m Oct 17, 2023
34m
628: The mRNA Vaccine Revolution
The mRNA innovations used to fight COVID-19 could be harnessed for nasal spray vaccines and even protection against other diseases.
14m Oct 16, 2023
14m
626: Ancient Human Footprints & 'Ring Of Fire' Eclipse
A new analysis of ancient footprints in New Mexico adds to the debate about when humans arrived in North America. Plus, astronomer Dean Regas offers tips for safe viewing of Saturday’s eclipse. New Data Support Human Arrival In North America 22,000 Years Ago In 2021, scientists uncovered ancient human footprints in White Sands, New Mexico. Dating of the footprints suggested that people arri...
19m Oct 13, 2023
19m
623: Saltwater Wedge In The Mississippi & Kenya's Geothermal Boom
A saltwater wedge threatens infrastructure and human health along the Mississippi River. Also, the geologically active East African Rift System has already helped Kenya become the world’s seventh largest geothermal producer.
19m Oct 12, 2023
19m
625: How Artists And Scientists Collaborated To Make Art About HIV
At an HIV research conference earlier this year, HIV-positive artists and scientists were paired together to create art for an exhibition.
19m Oct 11, 2023
19m
622: Full-Body MRIs Promise To Detect Disease Early. Do They Work?
Influencers like Kim Kardashian have promoted full-body scans, but experts say the potential harms outweigh any possible benefits.
19m Oct 10, 2023
19m
623: Meet The Doctor Who Solves Medical Mysteries
A news story was circulating a few months ago—a woman in Australia came into the hospital with abdominal pain. She was increasingly forgetful and struggling with depression. Her doctors were stumped for over a year. What was causing her symptoms? Turns out she had a three-inch parasitic worm living in her brain. (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/joe-derisi-medical-mysteries/?utm_source=wn...
18m Oct 09, 2023
18m