Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

Can Reengineered Aluminum Help Fill the Demand for Copper? Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

As the world converts to electric vehicles and renewable energy, molecular tweaks to aluminum could improve its conductivity.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas’ Precarious Power Grid Exposes a Nasty Feedback Loop Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Air conditioning saves lives. But as the planet warms, more AC use stresses the grid and drives up emissions, accelerating climate change.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What Humans Can Learn From the Sea Cucumber’s Toxic Arsenal Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

Sea cucumbers are squishy and soft. They also employ lethal strategies to protect themselves.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Turkey Probably Hasn’t Found the Rare Earth Metals It Says It Has Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

The deposits discovered reportedly contain enough resources to meet global demand for 1,000 years—surpassing even China’s reserves. But experts are skeptical.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is There Good News for Monarch Butterflies? Scientists Disagree Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

A recent study suggests that gains during the summer breeding season are making up for losses during migration. But the insects’ fate is far from assured.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Abortion Pills May Force States and the FDA Into a Standoff Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Under the Constitution, federal laws overrule state ones. But challenges to medication abortion will test the agency’s ability to make nationwide regulations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scientists Are Trying to Grow Crops in the Dark Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Powering plant growth with solar panels instead of photosynthesis could be a more efficient way of using the sun’s energy for food. But it’s not all good news.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Secrets of Covid ‘Brain Fog’ Are Starting to Lift Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Scientists are getting closer to understanding the neurology behind the memory problems and cognitive fuzziness that an infection can trigger.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why the Search for Life on Mars Is Happening in Canada’s Arctic Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

Scientists show how microbes living in a salty spring near the North Pole might resemble those that could have survived on the Red Planet—or in ocean worlds.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What the DNA of Ancient Humans Reveals About Pandemics Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Genomic analysis of ancient remains has shed light on the origins of the black death and offers insights into the coevolution of humans and diseases.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices