Science, Spoken
Get in-depth coverage of current and future trends in technology, and how they are shaping business, entertainment, communications, science, politics, and society.
Latest episodes
Jul 19, 2023 • 7min
The US Finally Approved an Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill. Here’s What to Know
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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Jul 18, 2023 • 9min
An Ancient Battle Is Playing Out in the DNA of Every Embryo
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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Jul 17, 2023 • 6min
Weird Weather Is Making Air Travel Even Worse
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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Jul 14, 2023 • 7min
The Arctic Is a Freezer That’s Losing Power
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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Jul 13, 2023 • 11min
A Hair Loss Study Raises New Questions About Aging Cells
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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Jul 12, 2023 • 9min
Old Memories Can Prime Brains to Make New Ones
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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Jul 11, 2023 • 7min
The Microplastic Crisis Is Getting Exponentially Worse
Plastic production is skyrocketing, pushing microplastic pollution to dangerous new levels. Now research shows even the Arctic is increasingly contaminated.
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Jul 10, 2023 • 9min
Why People Stop Using Drugs Like Ozempic
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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Jul 7, 2023 • 8min
A Rare Domestic Resurgence of Malaria Is Circulating in the US
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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Jul 6, 2023 • 9min
One Shot of a Kidney Protein Gave Monkeys a Brain Boost
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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