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Outer Space Changes You, Literally. Here's What It Does To The Human Body
Episode 1099
Lower gravity. Higher radiation. No ER access. These are just a few of the challenges that humans face in outer space. Emily and Regina talk to a NASA astronaut (and astronaut scientist) about the im…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
The Brain Makes A Lot Of Waste. Here's How It Cleans Itself Up
Episode 1098
Scientists have long studied the relationship between sleep and the brain, and why poor sleep is linked to neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton talks to host…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
How An Ambitious River Rerouting Plan Could Change India's Weather
Episode 1097
More than a hundred years ago, a British engineer proposed linking two rivers in India to better irrigate the area and cheaply move goods. The link never happened, but the idea survived. Today, due t…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
The Magic — And Science — Of Synchronous Firefly Displays
Episode 1096
Every year for two weeks between mid-May and mid-June, Congaree National Park in South Carolina is home to a fairy-tale-like display of flashing lights. These rhythmic performances happen all because…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
This Mysterious Energy Is Everywhere. Scientists Still Don't Know What It Is
Episode 1095
The universe — everything in existence — is expanding every second! It's only been about a hundred years that humanity has known this, too — that most galaxies are traveling away from us and the univ…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
The Dubious Consent Question At The Heart Of The Human Genome Project
Episode 1094
The Human Genome Project was a massive undertaking that took more than a decade and billions of dollars to complete. For it, scientists collected DNA samples from anonymous volunteers who were told t…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
Teens Are Following Skincare Trends On TikTok. Some Dermatologists Are Wary
Episode 1093
TikTok is fuel for many trends, including a skin care craze among teens, pre-teens — okay, and us. The "glass skin" trend calls for a multi-step routine, often involving pricey products. It's all in …
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
Like Humans, These Ants Can Perform Leg Amputations To Save Lives
Episode 1092
Some ants herd aphids. Some farm fungi. And now, scientists have realized that when an ant injures its leg, it sometimes will turn to a buddy to perform a lifesaving limb amputation. Not only that — …
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
The Invisible Substance That Structures Our Universe
Episode 1091
The universe is so much bigger than what people can see. Visible matter — the ground, the Sun, the screen you're reading this on — makes up only about 4 or 5 percent of our known universe. Dark matte…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
Sharks Often Get A Bad Rap, But Oceans Need Them
Episode 1090
It's that time of the year again: Shark Week. The TV program is so long-running that if you're under 37, you've never known a life without it. In honor of this oft misunderstood critter, we revisit o…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago