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Why Is Bubonic Plague Still With Us?
Episode 1184
For many people, bubonic plague is an illness that seems squarely situated in medieval times. But each year, a handful of human cases pop up in the w…
4 months, 3 weeks ago
Don’t Let Their Name Fool You—Sea Slugs Are Awesome
Episode 1183
Today we’re spotlighting an underappreciated group of marine creatures: sea slugs. Don’t let their humble name fool you. They come in vivid neon colo…
4 months, 3 weeks ago
As Companies Build Data Centers For AI, Communities Push Back
Episode 1182
There’s an enormous buildout of data centers underway across the country to fuel the AI boom. Hundreds of billions of dollars have already been spent…
4 months, 4 weeks ago
A Toast To Bats That Pollinate Agave, And Tracking Monarchs
Episode 1181
You might think about bats as flitting around in the dark and hunting insects, but some species feed on fruits or flowers—and play an important role …
4 months, 4 weeks ago
A Startling Plan To Save Spotted Owls—From Barred Owls
Episode 1180
The spotted owl has been a conservation flashpoint for more than 30 years. While habitat loss has been their historic foe, their most recent threat c…
5 months ago
Can A Microbe Conservation Movement Take Off?
Episode 1179
A team of scientists is trying to jumpstart a global conservation movement, on par with efforts to save the rainforests or protect the oceans. But it…
5 months ago
How To Tap Into The Hidden Histories Of Rocks
Episode 1178
When we try to commune with nature, many of us turn toward the living: a walk in the woods among swaying trees, chirping birds, blooming flowers.
But …
5 months ago
Fingernails And Indigestion At The 2025 Ig Nobel Prizes
Episode 1174
Each year, the Ig Nobel Prizes recognize scientific research that first makes you laugh, then makes you think. For instance, researchers who investig…
5 months ago
Why Is Working Out Good For Your Mental Health?
Episode 1177
A good workout can make you feel triumphant. And even if that isn’t your relationship with exercise, you’ve probably heard that working out can lift …
5 months ago
Everything You Never Knew About Squash And Pumpkins
Episode 1176
It’s a wonderful time of the year: squash, pumpkin, and gourd season. But how do those giant, award-winning pumpkins grow so big? And what’s the diff…
5 months, 1 week ago