Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchExploring the Hidden Life in the Air around Us with Carl Zimmer
Scientists now agree that COVID spreads via airborne transmission. But during the early days of the disease, public health officials suggested that i…
1 year ago
Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just for Romance—The Science of Deep Friendships
Love isn’t just about romance. This Valentine’s Day, we’re exploring the power of deep nonromantic bonds. Host Rachel Feltman sits down with Rhaina C…
1 year ago
An Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032. What Can We Do about It?
The European Space Agency recently announced that the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 2 percent chance of hitting our planet in 2032. The probabil…
1 year, 1 month ago
Microplastics on the Mind, Superstrong Shrimp and Bird Flu Transmission
A subtype of H5N1 bird flu that has been found in cattle for the first time suggests that the virus jumped from birds to the animals twice. A headlin…
1 year, 1 month ago
Trump’s Executive Orders Create Confusion for Researchers
The first few weeks of the Trump administration have been marked by chaos and confusion for the nation’s health and science agencies. A funding freez…
1 year, 1 month ago
Avoiding Outrage Fatigue in Overwhelming Times
It’s almost impossible not to feel outraged these days. But overexposure to information that makes us angry can wear us down. Senior health and medic…
1 year, 1 month ago
Tuberculosis Outbreak, RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation Hearings and Polar Bear Hair
This week we’re recapping Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s confirmation hearings. Highly pathogenic H5N9, a strain of bird flu, was found in U.S. poultry. A …
1 year, 1 month ago
Are You Tired of Feeling Cynical? Hopeful Skepticism Could Be a Way Out
It’s easy to be cynical about the state of the world—even when you’re a researcher who studies empathy and kindness. Stanford University psychologist…
1 year, 1 month ago
Science Will Stare Directly Into the Sun--And Love It
The sun is in the middle of its solar maximum, the part of its 11-year solar cycle that was responsible for the stunning auroras seen across the glob…
1 year, 1 month ago
WHO Withdrawal, Bird Flu Updates and a Link between Fitness and Treatment Outcomes
Executive orders that impact science and health in the U.S. came quickly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Tanya Lewis, senior editor…
1 year, 1 month ago