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The viruses keep coming, the climate is warming, and the Earth is rewilding. Our human family has no playbook to address the mayhem unfolding around us. If there is a change to reckon with, argues the renowned economic and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin, it’s that we are beginning to realize that the human race never had dominion over the Earth and that nature is far more formidable than we thought, while our species seems much smaller and less significant in the bigger picture of life on Earth, undermining our long-cherished worldview. The Age of Progress, once considered sacrosanct, is on a deathwatch while a powerful new narrative, the Age of Resilience, is ascending.
Witty, entertaining, and illuminating, Spare Parts shows us that the history - and future - of transplant surgery is tied up with questions about not only who we are, but also what we are, and what we might become.
Hello, Ask Science listeners! This week, we're sharing the first episode of Curious State, a brand new podcast from Quick and Dirty Tips.
Episode 5 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Episode 4 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Episode 3 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Episode 2 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Episode 1 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Today, we're sharing a special excerpt from Test Gods, an audiobook from our friends at Macmillan Audio. Test Gods tells the remarkable story of the test pilots, engineers, and visionaries behind Virgin Galactic’s campaign to build a space tourism company. It's an epic story about bravery and the fulfillment of our dreams. If you like what you hear, get your copy of Test Gods here or wherever books or audiobooks are sold. https://amzn.to/3f0rQJ9
The Arecibo Telescope, featured in movies like "Contact" and "Goldeneye," collapsed in early December 2020 after 57 years of observing the universe. Here's what the telescope accomplished, and why its loss is a devastating blow to science.
Are we really at our smartest in our 20s? What about the wisdom and experience that come with age? At what age do we strike the right balance between cognitive ability and expertise?
What is CBD oil? What does science have to say about the extract's proposed health benefits?
You've isolated at home for months because of the pandemic, so why are you suddenly sick? Here are a few scientific reasons why you can get sick even on lockdown.
Is there a way to predetermine your baby's biological sex and conceive a girl or a boy? Here's what science has to say about things like genetics, timing, diet, and even adrenaline.
Light is the fastest moving thing we know of, but just how fast is it? Has science attempted to break the light speed record? And does the universe have a speed limit?
Go to the supplement aisle of almost any store in the US and you'll find melatonin, a synthetic hormone, marketed as an effective natural sleep aid, even for children! But is melatonin actually safe to use? Studies say ...
Not even light can escape a black hole's gravitational pull, so how do we actually know they exist? And what's the deal with the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way?
Spiders, snakes, heights, political corruption—we're afraid of a lot of things. But what's the difference between a fear and a phobia? And can either literally scare you to death?
Why do some fish thrive in salt water and others in fresh? And what happens if you, say, drop a saltwater shark into a fresh water swimming pool? Here's the science!
We experience extreme hot and cold temperatures on Earth, but they're nothing compared to the temperature extremes we've created in labs, not to mention the Universe at large. Do these hot and cold extremes have a limit?
Astronomers recently made a huge discovery—there may be life on Venus. But what does it really mean when we say we've discovered the potential for life on the second rock from the Sun? Don't go searching for aliens just yet.
How many days can it take to control a large wildfire? (More than you think.) Who fights wildfires? (You may be surprised!) What tools and methods do firefighters use to control, extinguish, and prevent them?
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes make headlines, but fewer people know about the unique and destructive weather force known as a derecho. What are derechos, and why are they so devastating? Everyday Einstein talked with Midwest meteorologist Vince Condella to find out.
Wild bee populations are at risk. Why are wild bee colonies in decline, why is it a big deal, and how can you help? First, step away from the pesticides.
Recently, a rock sample from the Neolithic structure Stonehenge made its way to a science lab after 60 years in a private collection. Here's what we learned from it.
Your blood type is one of the many things you inherit from your parents. But what does it mean, and how does it affect your medical care? Do you have a rare blood type?
Humans seem to be the only animals who produce one of three different types of tears. Can you guess what it is? Let's look at the science behind crying.
We have scientific evidence that masks effectively and dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19, yet myths about mask-wearing abound. Let's put them to rest and mask up!
Congress recently introduced a bill to prohibit the President from using weapons to alter weather patterns. But can you tame a hurricane by nuking it off the map?
Are aliens out there observing us? If they're not, why has the Pentagon released videos of "unidentified aerial phenomena?" What's going on at Area 51, anyhow?
Does the SPF really matter? Should I go organic? What about the warnings on possible carcinogens in sunscreens? Is it better to avoid sunscreen altogether? Let's ask science!
The Earth's surface is made of large slabs called plates. They move faster than your fingernails grow, and life on Earth might not exist without them.
Many viruses are like bad party guests—they show up uninvited and wreak havoc. But some viruses are more cooperative guests. A virus may have even made us mammals!
Did NASA really discover a parallel universe where time runs backward? It's not impossible! But we're still a long way from proving it.
How concerned should you be about transmission of the novel coronavirus through food?
There's much left unexplored beneath Earth's surface, uncluding miles of underground rivers. What forms them? What lives there? And how do these subterranean waterways help science?
The OSIRIS REx spacecraft will perform a cosmic smash-and-grab on the surface of the potentially hazardous asteroid, Bennu. What do scientists hope to learn?
You're longing for connection, your child is begging for a playdate, you're stir crazy. Is it okay to visit with just one other family during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Is the air noticeably clearer where you live right now? For Earth Day, you can become a citizen scientist by using an app to track air pollution in your neighborhood.
What’s the difference between a germ, a virus, and bacteria? Let's put these different disease-causing objects under a microscope and find out.
Although quarantine challenges us all, the reduction in human activity has meant good things for nature and our environment. Can we sustain that progress?
One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from the threat of COVID-19 is to separate the facts from the myths. Dr. Jonathan Quick, infectious disease expert and author of The End of Epidemics, joined Everyday Einstein to tell you how.
Each year a new flu shot is developed to try to combat the strains of the virus expected to wreak havoc that season. But who decides which viruses make it into the vaccine? What new technologies are being used to produce that vaccine more efficiently?
Sanitation is on everyone's minds right now. What's the best way to clean your (probably gross) phone, your home, and your own hands? Do you need antibacterial soap?
What's a chimera, and how common is chimerism? Most cases in humans are discovered by accident, so you could be a chimera and not even know it!
Rotting food in landfills is a major contributor to climate change. Composting works differently. Here's the science behind composting and some great reasons to get started.
On the "gravity train," you'd move really, really fast.
Is the flickering red giant star about to explode in a supernova?
Could you possibly find that one special person meant just for you?
Why is the black hole image so fuzzy? Do black holes really look like lopsided donuts? Why does this matter? Everyday Einstein, Dr. Sabrina Stierwalt explains the significance of this monumental scientific achievement.
What caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? Everyday Einstein looks at two new studies that blame volcanoes and asteroids. So, how did the dinosaurs meet their end?
Why can't astronomers decide if Pluto is a planet or not? Everyday Einstein explains what this argument is about.
What makes HIV so hard to eradicate? And how close has science brought us to a cure? Everyday Einstein explores the human immunodeficiency virus.
What is insulin and how do our bodies use it? What progress are scientists making toward regulating the hormone without insulin pumps or injections?
What if we could take a shortcut through spacetime and visit another galaxy? Sci fi movies have imagined the possibility for years, but are wormholes real? Everyday Einstein explores the far reaches of our universe (and beyond).
Why can some people hold their breath for minutes but others only seconds? What sets that limit? Everyday Einstein explores the mechanics (and psychology) behind world record breath holders.
