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
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Jul 21, 2022 • 7min
Can Reengineered Aluminum Help Fill the Demand for Copper?
As the world converts to electric vehicles and renewable energy, molecular tweaks to aluminum could improve its conductivity.
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Jul 20, 2022 • 10min
Texas’ Precarious Power Grid Exposes a Nasty Feedback Loop
Air conditioning saves lives. But as the planet warms, more AC use stresses the grid and drives up emissions, accelerating climate change.
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Jul 18, 2022 • 8min
What Humans Can Learn From the Sea Cucumber’s Toxic Arsenal
Sea cucumbers are squishy and soft. They also employ lethal strategies to protect themselves.
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Jul 15, 2022 • 8min
Turkey Probably Hasn’t Found the Rare Earth Metals It Says It Has
The deposits discovered reportedly contain enough resources to meet global demand for 1,000 years—surpassing even China’s reserves. But experts are skeptical.
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Jul 14, 2022 • 8min
Is There Good News for Monarch Butterflies? Scientists Disagree
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.
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Jul 13, 2022 • 9min
Abortion Pills May Force States and the FDA Into a Standoff
Under the Constitution, federal laws overrule state ones. But challenges to medication abortion will test the agency’s ability to make nationwide regulations.
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Jul 12, 2022 • 7min
Scientists Are Trying to Grow Crops in the Dark
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.
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Jul 11, 2022 • 10min
The Secrets of Covid ‘Brain Fog’ Are Starting to Lift
Scientists are getting closer to understanding the neurology behind the memory problems and cognitive fuzziness that an infection can trigger.
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Jul 8, 2022 • 6min
Why the Search for Life on Mars Is Happening in Canada’s Arctic
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.
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Jul 7, 2022 • 9min
What the DNA of Ancient Humans Reveals About Pandemics
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.
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