

Science, Spoken
WIRED
Get in-depth coverage of current and future trends in technology, and how they are shaping business, entertainment, communications, science, politics, and society.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 20, 2022 • 10min
The Legendary Frank Drake Shaped the Search for Alien Life
The influential astronomer led the hunt for extraterrestrial signals and helped make the field of astrobiology what it is today.
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Sep 19, 2022 • 8min
Forget Silicon. This Computer Is Made of Fabric
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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Sep 16, 2022 • 10min
Why Pain Feels Worse at Night
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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Sep 15, 2022 • 10min
Humanity Is Doing Its Best Impression of a Black Hole
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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Sep 14, 2022 • 10min
This Follicle-Hacking Drug Could One Day Treat Baldness
Researchers are working on an injectable that could get dormant follicles growing again. Trials on mice show promise.
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Sep 13, 2022 • 7min
Greenland’s Melting Glaciers Spew a Complicated Treasure: Sand
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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Sep 12, 2022 • 7min
To Fight Severe Drought, China Is Turning to Technology
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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Sep 9, 2022 • 13min
Can a Particle Accelerator Trace the Origins of Printing?
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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Sep 8, 2022 • 11min
Is the Psychedelic Therapy Bubble About to Burst?
A new paper argues that excitement has veered into misinformation—and scientists should be the ones to set things straight.
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Sep 7, 2022 • 11min
The Long, Leguminous Quest to Give Crops Nitrogen Superpowers
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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