Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

This First Peek Inside NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Capsule Is a Glimpse Back in Time Oct 13, 2023

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Scientists finally opened the rock sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx captured a treasure trove of material from the solar system’s earliest days.

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A Monkey Got a New Kidney From a Pig—and Lived for 2 Years Oct 12, 2023

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Human donor kidneys are in short supply. A new experiment that tested gene-edited organ transplants in monkeys showed that pig kidneys may one day be viable substitutes.

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Heat Waves in the Ground Are Getting More Extreme—and Perilous Oct 11, 2023

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The atmosphere is rapidly warming, but the soil is also prone to heat waves. Scientists are racing to understand the consequences.

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New Malaria Vaccines Offer a Real Shot at Fighting the Disease Oct 10, 2023

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A malaria vaccine that could protect millions of children against the parasite-borne disease is expected to roll out early next year. It follows another formula that has already had moderate success.

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How Neuralink Keeps Dead Monkey Photos Secret Oct 09, 2023

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Elon Musk’s brain-chip startup conducted years of tests at UC Davis, a public university. A WIRED investigation reveals how Neuralink and the university keep the grisly images of test subjects hidden.

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A Lab Just 3D-Printed a Neural Network of Living Brain Cells Oct 06, 2023

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Mini-brains that work and grow like their full-size counterparts could offer an alternative to animal testing, and advance the quest for personalized medicine.

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September's Record-Shattering Heat Was ‘Absolutely Gobsmackingly Bananas’ Oct 05, 2023

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Last month was so hot, scientists are struggling to find words for it.

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The ‘Green’ Future of Furniture Is a Sofa Stuffed With Seaweed Oct 04, 2023

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Foam rubber—like the filling inside your couch—produces an enormous amount of CO2. A Norwegian company called Agoprene thinks seaweed could be the solution.

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Why It’s Too Soon to Call It Covid Season Oct 03, 2023

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Covid seems to spike twice a year—but unlike with flu season, not in a predictable pattern. That could be due to the virus, the environment, or the people it is infecting.

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A Revelation About Trees Is Messing With Climate Calculations Oct 02, 2023

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Trees make clouds by releasing small quantities of vapors called “sesquiterpenes.” Scientists are learning more—and it’s making climate models hazy.

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