Podcast Episodes
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'Just' A Blue Jay? Don't Overlook These Magnificent Common Birds
Episode 1189
It’s that time of year: the Christmas Bird Count, when birders go out in flocks to record all the birds they see in a single day. The data collected …
4 weeks ago
Can We Just Throw Our Plastic Garbage Into A Volcano?
Episode 1188
It’s winter, and the SciFri team is already dreaming of warmer weather. How about a mind vacation to one of the hottest places on earth, an erupting …
4 weeks, 1 day ago
How Did Ancient Humans Use The Acoustics Of Spaces Like Caves?
Episode 1187
The sound of a choir performing in a cathedral is iconic for a reason. It’s this beautiful human experience: being side-by-side with other people, fe…
1 month ago
What The Sounds Of Melting Glaciers Can Tell Us
Episode 1186
As the planet warms, the world’s glaciers are melting faster than snow can replenish the ice. That has implications for sea level rise, ocean current…
1 month ago
How A Fringe Idea Led To Lifesaving Cancer Treatments
Episode 1185
In cancer research, the “seed and soil” hypothesis posits that the tumor is like a seed of misbehaving cells taking root in the body. Whether it grow…
1 month ago
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…
1 month 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…
1 month 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…
1 month, 1 week 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 …
1 month, 1 week 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…
1 month, 1 week ago