Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

The US Finally Approved an Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill. Here’s What to Know Jul 19, 2023

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By early 2024, a tablet called Opill will be sold in pharmacies without a prescription, making it easier for uninsured and young buyers to access.

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An Ancient Battle Is Playing Out in the DNA of Every Embryo Jul 18, 2023

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Millions of years ago, retroviruses invaded the human genome. Today some of these viral remnants threaten the developing embryo while others fight to defend it.

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Weird Weather Is Making Air Travel Even Worse Jul 17, 2023

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Flight delays, cancellations, and violent turbulence are becoming increasingly common as extreme weather ramps up. Things are likely to get worse with climate change.

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The Arctic Is a Freezer That’s Losing Power Jul 14, 2023

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As glaciers retreat, methane-rich groundwater is bubbling to the surface. That may be warming the climate, accelerating the Arctic’s rapid decline.

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A Hair Loss Study Raises New Questions About Aging Cells Jul 13, 2023

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A protein secreted by seemingly dormant cells in skin moles causes hair to grow again. That’s a big—and potentially useful—surprise.

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Old Memories Can Prime Brains to Make New Ones Jul 12, 2023

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Creating a memory takes energy, and brains only have so much. A study using snails shows how they can be primed for future learning.

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The Microplastic Crisis Is Getting Exponentially Worse Jul 11, 2023

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Plastic production is skyrocketing, pushing microplastic pollution to dangerous new levels. Now research shows even the Arctic is increasingly contaminated.

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Why People Stop Using Drugs Like Ozempic Jul 10, 2023

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Drugs like semaglutide—better known as Ozempic or Wegovy—could be lifelong treatments for obesity, but what little data scientists have suggests that people don't stick with them for long.

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A Rare Domestic Resurgence of Malaria Is Circulating in the US Jul 07, 2023

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The mosquito-borne disease was eliminated here long ago. Now “revenge travel,” global migration, poor public funding—and maybe climate change—could help it come back.

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One Shot of a Kidney Protein Gave Monkeys a Brain Boost Jul 06, 2023

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An early experiment in older rhesus macaques suggests that an injection of klotho improves working memory. Could it one day help people?

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