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
Mar 13, 2023 • 10min
No One Knows if You Need Another Covid Booster
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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Mar 10, 2023 • 9min
It’s Time for a Flu Vaccine—for Birds
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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Mar 9, 2023 • 9min
Tiny, Explosive ‘Jetlets’ Might Be Fueling the Solar Wind
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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Mar 8, 2023 • 8min
The Food System Is Awful for the Climate. It Doesn’t Have to Be
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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Mar 7, 2023 • 7min
As Kenya’s Crops Fail, a Fight Over GMOs Rages
Faced with extreme drought, Kenya’s president approved a controversial new crop for farmers. Then the legal backlash began.
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Mar 6, 2023 • 10min
How Old Are You, Really? New Tests Want to Tell You
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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Mar 3, 2023 • 11min
The Disruptors Who Want to Make Death Greener
Startups rush to gain a foothold in a burgeoning industry as New York and California move to legalize human composting.
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Mar 2, 2023 • 8min
Cute Animals Are Overrated. Let’s Save the Weird Ones
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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Mar 1, 2023 • 8min
You Can Turn Your Backyard Into a Biodiversity Hotspot
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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Feb 28, 2023 • 9min
No One Knows If Decades-Old Nukes Would Actually Work
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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