Podcast Episodes

How Archaeologists Try To Smell, Hear, And Taste The Past

Episode 1139

Archeologists in movies have a reputation for being hands-on, like Indiana Jones unearthing hidden treasure, or Lara Croft running through a temple. Archeology in real life tends to be a bit more sed…

Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago

Moth Survival Strategies And A Rodent Thumbnail Mystery

Episode 1138

If you’re a moth trying to stay uneaten, there are competing strategies. Some moths rely on camouflage, trying to blend in. Other moths take the opposite approach: They’re bold and bright, with color…

Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago

As The CDC Falters, How Do We Fill Public Health Gaps?

Episode 1136

Our country’s public health system is ailing. With layoffs and leadership changes at the CDC, changing vaccine guidelines, a government shutdown, and declining public trust—where do we go from here? …

Published on 4 weeks ago

Anthropologists Have A Bone To Pick With New Skull Finding

Episode 1135

There’s fresh drama in the field of human origins! A new analysis of an ancient hominid skull from China challenges what we thought we knew about our ancestral family tree, and its timeline—at least …

Published on 1 month ago

Remembering Primatologist Jane Goodall

Episode 1137

Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, died on October 1 at the age of 91. Goodall was born in London in 1934, and her curiosity about the natural world led her to t…

Published on 1 month ago

What Do We Know About SSRI Antidepressant Withdrawal?

Episode 1134

Roughly 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants. The most common type is SSRIs, or  selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft. But what happens when you stop taking th…

Published on 1 month ago

Asha de Vos’ Journey From Deck Hand To Marine Science Leader

Episode 1133

The tropical waters of Sri Lanka, an island off the coast of India, are home to a population of blue whales unlike any other. These whales stay put, while every other known population migrates. That …

Published on 1 month ago

Why Painters Are Obsessed With The Duck Stamp Art Contest

Episode 1132

In mid-September, artists from around the country convened in Laurel, Maryland, for one of the splashiest events in the wildlife art world: the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. At the annual event, ar…

Published on 1 month ago

Can Better Equipment Eliminate Concussions In Sports?

Episode 1131

Football season is well underway, and fans know those athletes get hit hard. Could better helmets and guidelines around concussion prevention someday eliminate head injuries from the sport? 

Host Flor…

Published on 1 month ago

Is Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Connected To Autism?

Episode 1130

At a news conference on September 22, President Trump claimed that taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, during pregnancy “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.” M…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago