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Apr 2023
47m 44s

‘Possibility Of Life’ Book, PFAS Sewage,...

SCIENCE FRIDAY AND WNYC STUDIOS
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Today
‘Project Hail Mary’ brings a new kind of alien to the big screen
Science fiction nerds, rejoice: the long-awaited adaptation of “Project Hail Mary” is in theaters now. Host Flora Lichtman chats with book author Andy Weir and astrobiologist Mike Wong about the film’s aliens, and how they buck the trend of what extraterrestrials usually look lik ... Show More
24m 46s
Yesterday
Building a digital ant gallery, from the ground up
A project called Antscan has generated high resolution images of thousands of ants, representing over 700 species. To make it happen, researchers brought preserved ants from collections around the world to a particle accelerator in Germany. There, a powerful synchrotron X-ray sou ... Show More
12m 39s
Mar 18
The heaviness and (not) hope of climate change
For decades, renowned environmental writer Elizabeth Kolbert has taken readers to remote corners of the planet to understand how all life is connected—and how our planet is changing. She’s covered everything from the collapse of insect populations to the success of one town’s eff ... Show More
18m 1s
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Aug 2025
The Deep Sea’s Mysterious Oxygen Source
Trillions of potato-sized rocks scattered across the deep ocean floor are rich in metals such as cobalt and copper—making them a target for mining companies eager to fuel the clean-energy transition. But recent research suggests these rocks may also be supporting marine life in w ... Show More
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Aug 2025
The Deep Sea’s Mysterious Oxygen Source
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18m 3s
Oct 2025
Enceladus’s Alien Ocean, Ancient Fungi and the Flavor of Influenza
Saturn’s moon Enceladus reveals complex organic molecules that could hint at extraterrestrial life. Researchers also uncover fungi’s ancient reign over Earth and warn that second COVID infections may pose greater risks to young people. Plus, ants ferment yogurt, and flu detection ... Show More
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Jan 2025
Going Outside Can Change Our Hormones and Improve Microbiome Diversity
Going outside has many benefits, from positively affecting our nervous system to diversifying our microbiome. But you don’t need a forest preserve to benefit from nature—sometimes even a houseplant or the smell of lavender can improve our life. Kathy Willis, a professor of biodiv ... Show More
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Aug 2024
Unusual Archaeology: Contemplating the Cosmos (Part 2)
Gazing up at the night sky is a universal human experience, likely as old as our species itself. But how did our ancient ancestors feel about what they saw in the heavens, and how did it shape their lives? In Episode Two of our three-part Fascination miniseries on unusual archaeo ... Show More
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Feb 2025
Exploring the Hidden Life in the Air around Us with Carl Zimmer
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16m 47s