Science Quickly

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.

Science is a journey of discovery, filled with surprising turns. Explore how nerve damage misconceptions shifted toward understanding regeneration. Discover the rethinking of adult brain neurogenesis, once deemed impossible. Uncover the intriguing history of plastic as a sustainable alternative to ivory, yet its environmental costs. Dive into the evolution of beliefs about Martian life, from canals to focusing on microbial habitats. Each topic highlights science's capacity for change and the excitement of new understanding.

Christmas trees may seem timeless, but growing them is becoming increasingly challenging in a warming world. In this episode, host Kendra Pierre-Louis talks to Priya Rajarapu, a Christmas tree extension specialist at Oregon State University, about how climate change is reshaping tree farming—from drought and heat stress to seedling survival—and the research efforts aimed at keeping this holiday tradition alive. Recommended Reading: Tweaks to U.S. Christmas Trees Could Help Them Survive Climate Change How Weather and Climate Change Affects Christmas Tree Production The OSU Christmas Tree Program 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. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Dan Vergano, Tanya Lewis, Andrea Thompson, and Lee Billings as they dissect the tumultuous shifts in science during 2025. Vergano reveals how political upheaval impacted trust in federal science policies. Lewis discusses alarming vaccine rollbacks, leading to potential measles outbreaks. Thompson critiques the rollback of climate policies, contrasting it with global trends. Meanwhile, Billings shares mind-blowing dark energy findings and upcoming space missions, suggesting a future filled with cosmic mysteries.

In this episode, take a dive into the underwater vocalizations of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Scientists analyzing thousands of hours of underwater recordings have uncovered a surprising array of previously unknown calls. Ocean writer Melissa Hobson explores how researchers captured the sounds of the species, why they matter for conservation and what they tell us about the social lives of one of the world’s rarest seals. Recommended Reading: “Underwater Sound Production of Free-Ranging Hawaiian Monk Seals,” by Kirby Parnell et al., in Royal Society Open Science, Vol. 12, No. 11; November 1, 2025 Melissa Hobson’s website Wiggling Whiskers Help Hungry Seals Hunt in the Dark 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 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

Kelso Harper, a Senior multimedia editor at Scientific American, shares his insights from the frontlines of conservation involving the endangered southern resident orcas. He recounts a rare encounter with these magnificent whales off the San Juan Islands, discussing their unique culture and the threats they face, including vessel noise and pollution. Kelso also highlights the innovative research methods, like using a detection dog to locate valuable whale feces, and sheds light on the challenges facing funding and policy in orca recovery efforts.

Andrea Thompson, Senior Desk Editor for Life Science at Scientific American, shares her insights on critical climate data. She discusses the alarming prediction that 2025 may be the second-hottest year on record. The conversation also covers a newly identified mpox strain with unknown vaccine implications. Moreover, Thompson reveals a concerning trend of parents refusing vitamin K injections for newborns, which could lead to serious health issues. Finally, she explores the mysterious extinction of Homo floresiensis, linking it to climate-induced food shortages.

Journalist Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI, dives into the profound impacts of generative AI on society. She links the tactics of tech giants to historical colonial patterns, exposing the resource extraction behind AI development. Hao highlights the environmental costs of data centers and critiques the idea that AI can solve the climate crisis. She emphasizes the exploitation of content moderators and advocates for better labor practices. The discussion wraps up with a call for accountability and the need for specialized AI tools that benefit all.

Lee Billings, a senior editor at Scientific American and expert in planetary science, discusses the NASA Perseverance rover's mission to uncover ancient life on Mars. He explains the significance of returning samples to Earth from the intriguing Jezero Crater. The conversation delves into the challenges facing the sample-return effort, including technical issues and funding. Billings also highlights promising findings, such as organic-rich mudstone that hints at past microbial activity and explores commercial alternatives that could reduce costs for future missions.

Join Lauren J. Young, an associate editor at Scientific American, as she dives into critical vaccine decisions by the CDC, discussing the shift of hepatitis B birth-dose guidance to parental choice. The conversation highlights new FDA proposals that might alter vaccine access and costs. Plus, discover alarming research about satellite light pollution potentially disrupting space telescopes' observations. Finally, learn how owning a dog as a teen could benefit your social skills and microbiome, making furry friends even more important for growing up!