May 31, 2024
A science journalist discusses plants’ ability to communicate, store memories, and more in her new book, “The Light Eaters.” Plus, how the eerie calls of the common loons have made their way into pop music. And, the growing field of Indigenous data sovereignty demands that Native communities maintain the right to decide how data about their people are collected, owned, and used.
12:20
Starliner Crewed Test Flight Rescheduled For This Weekend
The much-delayed crewed test flight is back on the calendar, despite a helium leak.
8:27
Which Animals Like Cities Most? Slugs And Snails Top The List.
Researchers used data from the crowd-sourcing nature observation app iNaturalist to rank animals’ tolerance of urban environments.
12:17
Right-To-Repair Laws Gain Steam In State Legislatures
A growing number of states are adopting laws that force companies to give consumers better options to repair their devices.
17:31
Indigenous Nations Are Fighting To Take Back Their Data
Indigenous data sovereignty is the idea that Indigenous Peoples should decide how to collect, own, and use their own data.
8:49
The Organ That Gives Birds Their Voices
Scientists are studying birds’ unique vocal organ, the syrinx, to better understand its evolutionary history.
8:31
Common Loons Are Pop Music Icons
The eerie calls of the common loons have been heard in songs by Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and more.
26:26
The Unseen World Of Plant Intelligence
Science journalist Zoë Schlanger discusses plants’ ability to communicate, store memories, and more in her new book, “The Light Eaters.”
Does Anyone Actually Know What A Plant Is?
As author Zoë Schlanger dives into the world of plants, she finds it’s filled with contradictions, mysteries, and astonishing ingenuity.
Return Of The GEDI: Scanning The Amazon With Lasers
Data collected by an instrument on the International Space Station gives scientists insight into deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
This Scientist’s Memoir Charts Her Journey From Acting To Astrobiology
In her new memoir, astrobiologist Dr. Aomawa Shields describes how a quest for life in the cosmos helped her find meaning on Earth.
Federal Law Makes Weed Research Complicated. Can A Van Help?
Scientists want to understand how commercially available cannabis products affect users. They have to get creative to research it legally.
12:17
Zapping Nerves Into Regrowth
An early study found that electrical stimulation could improve hand and arm function in people with spinal cord injuries.
15:18
High-Speed Rail Gets A Boost In The U.S.
After decades of under-development, spending on high-speed rail projects is ramping up in California, Florida, and the Northeast Corridor.
8:21
Painting Wind Turbine Blades To Prevent Bird Collisions
A wind utility company in Wyoming is trying to make wind turbines more visible to birds by painting just one blade black.
8:10
Celebrating the Maya Calendar In Guatemala’s Highlands
For thousands of years, Indigenous communities in Guatemala have used observations and mathematics to track astronomical events.
11:36
The Small Jelly Creatures That Link Up And Swim In Corkscrews
For the first time, scientists have recorded how salps form chains and swim in corkscrews to reach the ocean’s surface each night.
17:25
Your ‘Biological Age’ Could Be Different Than How Old You Are
Metabolic markers could eventually result in a test for “biological age,” which considers how things other than time age the body.
17:15
Using A Lab On Wheels To Study Weed From Dispensaries
A van outfitted as a mobile laboratory helps scientists study how legal cannabis products affect users—without breaking the law.
The Deep Roots Of Astronomy In Latin America
By observing the cosmos, Indigenous peoples precisely measured natural phenomena like solar eclipses, leap years, and El Niño.
12:11
New Rule Sets Stage For Electric Grid Update
Upgrades to the power grid under the new rule could help accommodate increasing renewable energy supply and meet data center demands.