Science Quickly

Allison Parshall, an associate editor at Scientific American specializing in cognitive science, dives deep into the perplexing world of consciousness. She explores the difference between wakefulness and actual experience, dissecting how dreaming and anesthesia reflect various states of awareness. Parshall unpacks Integrated Information Theory, questioning if AI could ever achieve consciousness. She also discusses animal sentience and the evolving understanding of minds in mammals, fish, and beyond, revealing just how elusive and fascinating consciousness truly is!

In this episode of Science Quickly, we unpack the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial decision to change how it calculates health benefits from regulating certain air pollutants, a move that experts warn could lead to dirtier air and worse health outcomes. And we’ve achieved a major milestone in cancer care, with five-year survival rates hitting a record high, but looming policy threats could stall progress. Plus, NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station could offer lessons for future missions. Recommended Reading: America’s Air Is about to Get Dirtier—And More Dangerous 70 Percent of Cancer Patients Now Survive at Least Five Years, Study Finds Astronauts Evacuate the ISS after Medical Incident New Study Probes How Same-Sex Behaviors Evolved in Nonhuman Primates E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join climate reporter Amy Westervelt as she explores the complex relationship between Venezuela’s heavy crude reserves and the looming climate crisis. With a focus on the Orinoco Basin, she dives into the challenges of refining and market limitations due to aging infrastructure and sanctions. The podcast also examines the escalating tensions over the Essequibo border dispute with Guyana and highlights the urgent climate threats facing the region. Westervelt emphasizes the often-overlooked climate conversation surrounding oil dependency and its impacts on local ecosystems.

Seed oils have become a target of wellness influencers and high-profile public officials. They say that these widely used and relatively inexpensive oils, which include canola, soybean and sunflower oil, are toxic. But do we really need to panic? Host Kendra Pierre-Louis speaks with food science expert Eric Decker to unpack what seed oils actually are, how their fats compare with those from other sources and whether claims about their toxicity hold up to scientific scrutiny. Recommended Reading: RFK, Jr., Upsets Food Pyramid, Urging Americans to Eat More Meat E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Eric Sullivan, Senior Tech Editor at Scientific American, as he shares insights from CES 2026. Discover how AI is moving beyond screens into physical devices and humanoid robots, with a nod to Stevie Wonder's vision of using technology to enhance life. Also, learn about woodpeckers' unique mechanics that allow them to peck without injury. Plus, hear how AI is using sleep data to predict health outcomes, showcasing the evolving connection between technology and our everyday lives.

Join Bethany Brookshire, a freelance science journalist with a knack for biomedical topics, as she dives into the world of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Discover how these medications transitioned from diabetes treatments to weight management wonders. Bethany explains their mechanisms and potential health impacts, revealing exciting new research on benefits beyond weight loss, including effects on metabolism and fertility. She also highlights the challenges of the newly approved oral version and discusses risks and ethical concerns surrounding usage.

Dan Vergano, a senior editor at Scientific American and expert in public health policy, discusses alarming federal changes impacting children's health. He highlights the reduction of recommended childhood vaccines and the repercussions of these shifts. Vergano also examines the politicization of youth gender-affirming care and its potential implications. He warns about the long-term risk of eroding vaccine trust among families and pushes for proactive conversations to combat misinformation in healthcare.

Katy Milkman, a behavioral economist renowned for her work on habit formation and the 'fresh start effect,' shares insightful strategies for sticking to New Year's resolutions. She explains how temporal milestones like New Year’s can boost motivation. Katy discusses the importance of enjoyment in habit formation and offers tips on planning for disruptions. She also highlights the effectiveness of commitment devices and encourages setting measurable goals, reinforcing the idea that flexibility and grace are crucial for lasting change.

Join linguist Adam Aleksic, the Etymology Nerd, as he dives into the fascinating world of internet slang and how it’s transformed by social media algorithms. Discover the origins of viral phrases like 'skibidi' and the concept of 'brain rot'—a cultural label rather than a linguistic shortcoming. Adam discusses how niche terms gain mainstream traction, the creative ways users evade censorship with words like 'bop,' and the ongoing battle between human creativity and algorithmic constraints in shaping language.

Wendy Zukerman, a renowned science journalist and host of the Science Vs podcast, dives into the mysterious phenomenon of squirting. She explores its cultural implications and shares her motivation behind investigating conflicting narratives. Wendy discusses scientific studies revealing that bladder fullness contributes to squirting, alongside the detection of urine markers in the fluid. Surprisingly, some individuals with penises also report squirting, revealing even more complexity. This eye-opening conversation unpacks what's known and speculated about this often-misunderstood topic.