Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

No One Knows if You Need Another Covid Booster Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

It’s cellular immunity, not antibodies, that probably protects against the coronavirus’s worst effects—and scientists haven’t worked out how long it lasts.

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It’s Time for a Flu Vaccine—for Birds Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Avian influenza has killed millions of birds. Shots to prevent it already exist. Why isn’t the entire poultry industry using them?

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Tiny, Explosive ‘Jetlets’ Might Be Fueling the Solar Wind Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Scientists investigated a weird feature in Parker Solar Probe data—and may have discovered what drives the plasma that pervades the solar system.

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The Food System Is Awful for the Climate. It Doesn’t Have to Be Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

New modeling estimates that food production could add a degree Celsius to global warming. But it also points to powerful ways to make diets more sustainable.

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As Kenya’s Crops Fail, a Fight Over GMOs Rages Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Faced with extreme drought, Kenya’s president approved a controversial new crop for farmers. Then the legal backlash began.

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How Old Are You, Really? New Tests Want to Tell You Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

About a dozen such consumer tests are now on the market, but the science of reading DNA for insights about longevity is still young.

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The Disruptors Who Want to Make Death Greener Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Startups rush to gain a foothold in a burgeoning industry as New York and California move to legalize human composting.

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Cute Animals Are Overrated. Let’s Save the Weird Ones Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

One million species are at risk of extinction, but a handful of charismatic creatures get all the hype. A new conservation strategy has a different focus.

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You Can Turn Your Backyard Into a Biodiversity Hotspot Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

New research shows that if done right, urban farms and gardens can support all kinds of species—for the good of people and the environment.

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No One Knows If Decades-Old Nukes Would Actually Work Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Atomic weapons are complex, sensitive, and often pretty old. With testing banned, countries have to rely on good simulations to trust their weapons work.

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