Podcast Episodes

How Autism Can Look Very Different, Even in Identical Twins

Episode 1060

Sam and John Fetters, 19, are identical twins on different ends of the autism spectrum. Sam is a sophomore at Amherst College and runs marathons in his free time. John attends a school for people wit…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

The Wonderous World Of Nudibranchs

Episode 1059

Emily gets super nerdy with former host Maddie Sofia get as they dive into the incredible world of nudibranchs in this encore episode. Not only are these sea slugs eye-catching for their colors, some…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

'Stealing The Past': A Spat Between Twins Leads To A Theory Of Disputed Memories

It's not unusual for siblings to quibble over ownership of something — a cherished toy, a coveted seat in the car — or whose fault something is. If you're Mercedes Sheen, you not only spent your chil…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Deer Are Expanding North. That Could Hurt Some Species Like Boreal Caribou

Episode 1057

Wildlife ecologists have seen white-tailed deer expanding their range in North America over many decades. And since the early-2000s these deer have moved north into the boreal forests of western Cana…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

The Mysterious "Great Attractor" Pulling Our Galaxy Off Course

Episode 1056

No matter what you're doing right now – sitting, standing, walking – you're moving. First, because Earth is spinning around on its axis. This rotation is the reason we have days. Second, because Eart…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

How The New Catan Board Game Can Spark Conversations On Climate Change

Episode 1055

Today, we're going full nerd to talk about a new board game — Catan: New Energies. The game's goal is simple: Build and develop a modern-day island without catastrophically polluting it. Although the…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

10 Years After Flint, The Fight To Replace Lead Pipes Continues

Episode 1054

Ten years ago, Flint, Mich. switched water sources to the Flint River. The lack of corrosion control in the pipes caused lead to leach into the water supply of tens of thousands of residents. Pediatr…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Beavers Can Help With Climate Change. So How Do We Get Along?

Episode 1053

NPR's Tom Dreisbach is back in the host chair for a day. This time, he reports on a story very close to home: The years-long battle his parents have been locked in with the local wild beaver populati…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Sustainable Seafood Is All Around You — If You Know Where To Look

Episode 1052

Roughly 196 million tons of fish were harvested in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The organization also notes that the number of overfished stocks wor…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

An 11-Year-old Unearthed Fossils Of The Largest Known Marine Reptile

Episode 1051

When the dinosaurs walked the Earth, massive marine reptiles swam. Among them, a species of Ichthyosaur that measured over 80 feet long. Today, we look into how a chance discovery by a father-daughte…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago