Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

The Legendary Frank Drake Shaped the Search for Alien Life Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

The influential astronomer led the hunt for extraterrestrial signals and helped make the field of astrobiology what it is today.

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Forget Silicon. This Computer Is Made of Fabric Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

The jacket can raise and lower its own hood—without chips or batteries—and might one day help disabled wearers move.

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Why Pain Feels Worse at Night Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

Many people report that their aches and pains intensify when they’re trying to sleep, but new research into the circadian clock helps explain this mystery.

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Humanity Is Doing Its Best Impression of a Black Hole Sep 15, 2022

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Daniel Holz studies the universe’s ultimate catastrophes. And he knows a thing or two about existential threats on Earth, since he helps set the Doomsday Clock.

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This Follicle-Hacking Drug Could One Day Treat Baldness Sep 14, 2022

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Researchers are working on an injectable that could get dormant follicles growing again. Trials on mice show promise.

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Greenland’s Melting Glaciers Spew a Complicated Treasure: Sand Sep 13, 2022

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Meltwater from the island’s ice sheet is loaded with the right kind of sand for concrete production—which further warms the planet.

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To Fight Severe Drought, China Is Turning to Technology Sep 12, 2022

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The country is exploring cloud seeding, GM crops, and a multibillion-dollar water-transfer system to address its worst water shortages on record.

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Can a Particle Accelerator Trace the Origins of Printing? Sep 09, 2022

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Movable metal type is often traced back to Gutenberg’s workshop, but its history is far older in Asia. Researchers are using atomic-scale tools to rewrite the narrative.

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Is the Psychedelic Therapy Bubble About to Burst? Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

A new paper argues that excitement has veered into misinformation—and scientists should be the ones to set things straight.

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The Long, Leguminous Quest to Give Crops Nitrogen Superpowers Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

Farmers have to apply heaps of emissions-heavy fertilizer to provide crops with enough nitrogen. Scientists are looking to legumes for help.

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