Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
Lithium May Have A Role In Causing—And Treating—Alzheimer’s
Episode 1094
The mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease have eluded scientists for decades. But a new breakthrough points to lithium as a possible explanation—not only does it occur naturally in the brain, but a d…
Published on 4 weeks, 2 days ago
Are Cold Plunges Actually Good For You?
Episode 1092
If social media and certain influential podcast hosts are to be believed, cold plunges can do everything from boosting your immune system to reducing inflammation to acting as an antidote for depress…
Published on 1 month ago
A Nagasaki Survivor And Physician Recounts His Life's Work
Episode 1093
Dr. Masao Tomonaga was only 2 years old when the United States bombed his home city of Nagasaki. He survived, and grew up to become a physician for other survivors, known as hibakusha. He also studie…
Published on 1 month ago
65 Genomes Expand Our Picture Of Human Genetics
Episode 1091
The first complete draft of the human genome was published back in 2003. Since then, researchers have worked both to improve the accuracy of human genetic data, and to expand its diversity, looking a…
Published on 1 month ago
How The Moon Transformed Life On Earth
Episode 1090
For almost their entire 4.5 billion-year existence, Earth and its moon have been galactic neighbors. And the moon isn’t just Earth’s tiny sidekick—their relationship is more like that of siblings, an…
Published on 1 month ago
EPA Seeks To Revoke Scientific Basis For Greenhouse Gas Rules
Episode 1089
This week the Trump administration indicated that it would seek to roll back a key EPA finding that allows the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from things like cars and power plants. The …
Published on 1 month ago
You Can Whistle While You Work—But How Does A Whistle Work?
Episode 1079
Whistling is a skill used to communicate over distances—a whistle can mean anything from “you’re cute” to “time to come home for dinner.” There’s a complex series of mechanisms in the mouth that need…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
A Reptile’s Baffling Backfin And The Math Of Dashing Dinos
Episode 1087
Paleontologists have identified an ancient reptile with a towering crest made not of skin, or scales, or feathers, or antler—but something else entirely. It’s some kind of integumentary outerwear we’…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
NASA Employees Protest Cuts In Formal Dissent Letter
Episode 1088
The Trump administration has proposed cutting NASA’s budget by almost 25% and shutting down 19 currently operating science missions. On July 21, several hundred current and former employees of the sp…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
Where Are We On The Science Of Menopause?
Episode 1086
Menopause is having a moment. Celebrities like Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, and Michelle Obama have recently shared their personal menopause experiences. Menopause and perimenopause are showing up acros…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago