Science Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Psychiatry’s playbook is about to get torn up Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Science Quickly, we dig into a brewing shake-up inside psychiatry as the American Psychiatric Association considers sweeping changes to the way mental illness is defined and diagnosed. Scientific American’s associate editor Allison Parshall breaks down what the potential changes are, why long-standing diagnostic categories may no longer reflect scientific reality and what these revisions could ultimately mean for patients.

Recommended Reading:

Psychiatrists plan to overhaul the mental health bible—and change how we define ‘disorder’

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The curious case of the nonburpers Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Can you imagine not being able to burp at all? In this episode of Science Quickly, we dive into the little-known but surprisingly serious “no burp” syndrome known as retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (RCPD). Otolaryngologist Robert Bastian, who co-authored the paper that first defined RCPD in 2019, explains what causes this unusual condition and how it can make daily life miserable. But relief can come from an unexpected source: a Botox injection that gives patients the chance to “learn” how to burp—an experience many describe as life-changing.

Recommended Reading:

Explore a collection of articles and resources about RCPD by Robert Bastian

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A new AI tool to decode DNA, a medical marvel and a rebel lipstick vine Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Science Quickly, we dive into Google DeepMind’s new artificial intelligence model AlphaGenome, which could help researchers better understand how noncoding DNA shapes gene expression. We also look at how doctors pulled off a medical marvel when they kept a man alive without lungs for two days. Plus, we learn how researchers cracked an evolutionary puzzle involving a peculiar flower.

Recommended Reading:

Google DeepMind unleashes new AI to investigate DNA’s ‘dark matter’

Doctors keep patient alive using ‘artificial lungs’ for two days

Babies who attend daycare share ‘good’ germs, too

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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The hidden genius behind nonreflective glass Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Science Quickly, host Kendra Pierre-Louis talks with Katie Hafner of the podcast Lost Women of Science about the remarkable but often overlooked physicist and chemist Katharine Burr Blodgett, whose pioneering work in early nanotechnology led to nonreflective glass. Hafner shares why the Lost Women of Science team devoted nearly a year to uncovering Blodgett’s full story and reflects on the broader mission to restore women to the scientific record.

Recommended Reading:

The chemical genius of Katharine Burr Blodgett

Listen to more podcasts from the Lost Women of Science Initiative

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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Want to smell more attractive? Try these foods Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Many people turn to expensive perfumes to elevate their natural scent and smell more pleasant to others. But what if you could achieve that just by switching up your diet? In this episode of Science Quickly, host Kendra Pierre-Louis talks with freelance journalist Sofia Quaglia about the science behind how what we eat can subtly change how we smell—and how attractive others perceive us to be. The conversation explores surprising findings about garlic and armpit odor, counterintuitive effects of meat intake on body scent and the strange, smelly experiments behind this research.

Recommended Reading:

“The foods that make you smell more attractive,” by Sofia Quaglia, in BBC Future. Published online November 2, 2025

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A historic moon mission, AI that helps restore stroke patients’ voice and the oldest cave art ever found Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Science Quickly, we look at the stakes behind Artemis II, NASA’s historic lunar flyby mission that’s preparing to launch soon. We’ll also dive into the science behind Revoice, an artificial-intelligence-powered wearable device that could help stroke patients with speech impairment communicate. Plus, we discuss how previously overlooked art on the ceiling of an Indonesian cave could rewrite the story of early human migration.

Recommended Reading:

NASA’s historic Artemis II moon mission is almost ready to launch

Oldest cave art ever found discovered in Indonesia

‘Bat accelerator’ unlocks new clues to how these animals navigate

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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The quest for Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Science Quickly, host Kendra Pierre-Louis speaks with forensic scientist Rhonda Roby about an ambitious effort to uncover traces of Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA using modern forensic techniques. Roby and her colleagues are carefully sampling centuries‑old artworks, working with extremely small amounts of biological material, to learn more about Leonardo himself and the history of his art while also advancing methods that could one day help authenticate artworks. The episode explores how forensic approaches typically used in criminal investigations are being applied to a 500‑year‑old historical puzzle.

Recommended Reading:

The Race to Find Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA Just Took a Major Twist

“The real da Vinci code,” by Richard Stone, in Science, Vol. 391; January 8, 2026

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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What is consciousness, really? Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we explore what consciousness is, how the brain creates it and what current science says about dreams, anesthesia, animals and even artificial intelligence. Scientific American’s associate editor Allison Parshall breaks down what the leading theories are and why understanding our own awareness remains one of science’s toughest challenges.

Recommended Reading:

Why consciousness is the hardest problem in science

Is Consciousness the Hallmark of Life?

How to Detect Consciousness in People, Animals and Maybe Even AI

When does consciousness emerge in babies?

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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EPA weakens air pollution rules, cancer survival soars, and NASA evacuates astronauts Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Science Quickly, we unpack the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial decision to change how it calculates health benefits from regulating certain air pollutants, a move that experts warn could lead to dirtier air and worse health outcomes. And we’ve achieved a major milestone in cancer care, with five-year survival rates hitting a record high, but looming policy threats could stall progress. Plus, NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station could offer lessons for future missions.

Recommended Reading:

America’s Air Is about to Get Dirtier—And More Dangerous

70 Percent of Cancer Patients Now Survive at Least Five Years, Study Finds

Astronauts Evacuate the ISS after Medical Incident

New Study Probes How Same-Sex Behaviors Evolved in Nonhuman Primates

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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How Venezuela’s Heavy Crude Shapes Climate Risks Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into the climate stakes behind Venezuela’s vast but troubled oil reserves and the country’s mounting tensions with neighboring Guyana. Climate reporter Amy Westervelt breaks down why the region’s heavy crude oil, aging infrastructure and escalating border dispute are colliding with the reality of a rapidly warming planet—and what rising seas, oil expansion and fragile ecosystems mean for millions of people across the Caribbean.

Recommended Reading:

“The U.S.-Venezuela-Guyana Oil Triangle,” by Amy Westervelt, in Drilled. Published online January 4, 2026

Why Does Venezuela Have So Much Oil? Geology

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

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