logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
26m 43s

Farewell, Murder Hornet | What FAA Regul...

SCIENCE FRIDAY AND WNYC STUDIOS
About this episode
Officials say the invasive Asian giant hornet, with its menacing nickname, has been eradicated from the United States. Also, with drone sightings in the news, we take a look at the current laws and regulations around hobby and commercial drone operation. 
Up next
Today
Your DNA is constantly mutating, and that’s a good thing
Our bodily systems are rife with mutations. In fact, your DNA is mutating right now. These errors, and attempts to repair them, are a key to understanding immune function, aging, and even how heart disease develops. Gene mutations can even mitigate the harm caused by some inherit ... Show More
17m 20s
Apr 25
Maine nearly became the first state to ban data centers
Data centers make controversial neighbors: They’re loud, they use a lot of water, and can drive electricity prices up. Following public concern and organizing efforts, Maine nearly implemented an 18-month ban on data center construction, before a governor veto. Joining Flora to t ... Show More
12m 27s
Apr 24
What urban design tells us about democracy
The way ancient societies like the Greeks, Maya, and Khmer Empire built their cities can tell us a lot about how a place was governed. Did rulers live in ornate palaces or alongside other residents? Are there large, open spaces for community gatherings? In a new study, archaeolog ... Show More
17m 44s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
Sky Sentinels: New Frontiers of Drone Warfare
<p>Join Colonel Vikrant Shinde and Arindam Goswami in this episode of All Things Policy, where we dive into one of the most transformative developments in modern warfare and aviation: the rise of unmanned aerial systems. Vikrant, a Research Fellow at Takshashila, is working on a ... Show More
54m 18s
Jun 2025
Extra: Deliveries, Taxis, War ... And The Future Of Drones
The White House says President Trump's executive orders on drones, signed earlier this month, will "unleash American drone dominance." It directs the Federal Aviation Administration to expedite the development of new rules governing the operation and flight paths of unmanned airc ... Show More
21m 3s
Dec 2024
Mystery Drones Over in the U.S? IELTS Practice
<p>If you like learning about the current news and improving your English for your next English conversation, this English lesson is for you. While watching a news report about mysterious drones flying over parts of the United States, you will learn English phrasal verbs, English ... Show More
14m 33s
Dec 2024
Officials Demand Explanation On Mysterious Drones
The highest-ranking government official yet, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN "we know of no threat" to the American public, in regard to the unidentified drone sightings over parts of the U.S. Federal agencies are facing intense pressure to give the public ... Show More
45m 53s
Dec 2024
Northeast On Edge Amid Mysterious Drone Sightings
Weeks of unexplained drone sightings in New Jersey have left residents, politicians and public safety officials scratching their heads, prompting security concerns. With residents and multiple public officials calling for a response to the drone activity and experts working to un ... Show More
46m 3s
Jun 2025
Drone wars
An ominous buzzing in the sky. Swarms of killer AI drones. Fields of fiberoptic grass. The weird future of drone warfare is here. The conflict in Ukraine has proven to be a testing ground for the next generation of weaponry. How will the proliferation of these small, cheap device ... Show More
20m 46s
Dec 2024
The New Jersey Drones Mass Delusion, Explained
Something mysterious has been going down in New Jersey this week…but it’s NOT drones. It’s that thousands of people are looking at airplanes in the night sky and thinking they see UFOs. What causes mass delusions like this wave of now mostly debunked drone sightings? In this conc ... Show More
32m 26s
Jan 2025
DC plane crash, Fed decision, RFK Jr under microscope and Arctic drones
Scores of people are feared dead after an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided and crashed into the Potomac River. Trump’s pick for health secretary – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – came under attack at his Senate confirmation hearing. NATO is s ... Show More
12m 23s
Jul 2025
Move Over Fireworks—Drone Shows Are Taking to the Skies
Drone shows are replacing fireworks for summer celebrations. They’re safer and more environmentally friendly but complicated to program and run. A recent preprint paper proposes an algorithmic solution that can take some technical challenges out of drone operators’ hands and give ... Show More
16m 6s