Podcast Episodes

Migrating Birds Have a Big, Clear Problem

Episode 1365

Around this time of year, every night, a quiet exodus is occurring. Hundreds of millions of birds are migrating thousands of miles south for the winter. One of the biggest dangers for these tiny trav…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

We Have the Cure. Why is Tuberculosis Still Around?

Episode 1364

Tuberculosis – the world’s deadliest infectious disease – could be dormant in your system for years before you realize you have it. In the U.S., it’s relatively rare; provisional data shows that ther…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

Should Scientists Genetically Engineer Wild Species?

Some scientists looking to preserve vulnerable species have turned to a controversial technique: synthetic biology. This catchall term often means genetic engineering – introducing new genes to an or…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

Science Says Quitting Smoking At Any Age Is Good For The Brain

The rate of smoking cigarettes has steadily declined since the 1960s – when Congress required warnings on cigarette boxes. Research shows that people are more likely to try to quit smoking when they’…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

What Happens When You're Under Anesthesia?

It's World Anesthesia Day tomorrow! So, we invite you to take a deep breathe. Picture a relaxing scene. Maybe a beach in Tahiti, your toes in the sand, a cold drink in hand. Now imagine your favorite…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Why Legal Weed Isn’t Always Safe

Marijuana is decriminalized or legal in some form in multiple states. But, because it’s illegal on the federal level, states have had to build their own regulatory infrastructure. Without a centraliz…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Synthetic Cells: The Next Bioengineering Frontier

There are more human cells in your body than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy! Cells are the fundamental building blocks of life but that doesn’t mean they are simple – biology still doesn’t h…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Why The Tropics Have A Weather Forecasting Problem

Episode 1358

Weather in the tropics is decidedly different than it is in the middle latitudes. It turns out, so are the weather systems – the factors that create things like the daily temperature and humidity! Hi…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Doing Science at the Edge of the Earth

Episode 1357

Some scientific discoveries take place in a lab. Others are made deep in the rainforest, along the ocean floor or on the dark side of the moon. And still others are made squelching through mud and ic…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Solved: The Potato Origin Mystery

Usually, when two different species mate, it’s a disaster. At least, that’s what scientists had generally thought about hybrids, the offspring of these unions. But some researchers are starting to ch…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago