Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
Planetary Scientists Are Excited About Uranus
Episode 642
Probes to Uranus and to one of Jupiter's moons where conditions might support life; a better plan high-quality science on the moon--those are some of the recommendations in a new 700 page report to N…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
U.S. COVID Case Increases Unlikely To Become A Surge
Episode 641
COVID cases are up due to the Omicron sub-variants and masking is likely to remain optional as the courts wrangle with the transportation mask mandate that a Federal judge struck down last week. NPR …
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
The Environmental Cost of Crypto
Episode 640
Cryptocurrencies may exist only in the virtual world, but their impact on our natural resources is huge. That's largely because the technology underpinning crypto is an energy vampire that devours mo…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
Cryptocurrency Is An Energy Drain
Episode 639
As cryptocurrencies become increasingly popular, the environmental impact of the technology is gaining more attention. Local, state and national governments are trying to figure out how to regulate t…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
Fresh Banana Leaves — An Indigenous Approach To Science
Episode 638
Dr. Jessica Hernandez's new book examines the role of displacement — Indigenous peoples like her father, who was displaced by the civil war in El Salvador, and plants like the banana tree, brought fr…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
The Indicator: How Green Laws Stop Green Projects
Episode 637
The United States has a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Without serious changes to lifestyles, that means dramatic investments in green energy. But environmental laws can actually get in t…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
The Science Behind The Delta-8 Craze
Episode 636
In the cannabis industry, the chemistry lab meets agriculture. A cannabis product called Delta-8 has been popping up in smoke shops, CBD shops and even gas stations.
Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer, a researche…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
TASTE BUDDIES: Y U Salty?
Episode 635
Salt has such a rich history that it was once (and is perhaps still) a sign of wealth. In this latest installment of our series on flavor and taste, "Taste Buddies," Scientist-in-Residence Regina G. …
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
The Pandemic Is Damaging Health Workers' Mental Health
Episode 634
A recent study found that working surge after surge in the pandemic, a majority of American health care workers experienced psychiatric symptoms — including depression and thoughts of suicide. And ye…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago
Can Skiing Survive Climate Change?
Episode 633
Climate change poses an existential threat to the ski industry. A warmer climate means less snow and less now menas a shorter season for snowboarders and skiiers. NPR correspondent Kirk Siegler first…
Published on 3 years, 8 months ago