logo
episode-header-image
Yesterday
13m 26s

What are the mysterious ‘little red dots...

SCIENCE FRIDAY AND WNYC STUDIOS
About this episode
Little red dots appear all over images from the James Webb Space Telescope. They may belong to a new cosmic category called black hole stars. 
Up next
Aug 22
Could we live in a dinosaur world?
In the new movie “The End Of Oak Street,” bits of a suburban Michigan neighborhood get sucked back through time to a prehistoric world of dinosaurs. It made us wonder, aside from the danger of getting snacked on by an allosaurus, what other challenges would modern humans face in ... Show More
5m 25s
Aug 21
Do microplastics in the body affect pregnancy?
Microplastics have been documented throughout the human body, including the reproductive system. But the field of microplastics research is very new, and it’s not yet clear if, or how, these tiny particles affect our health. Producer Kathleen Davis has been reporting on the handf ... Show More
12m 34s
Aug 20
Making a case for physicists to join climate research
When you think of physics, your mind might go to forces—like gravity, friction, and magnetism—or to astrophysics, like galaxies and exoplanets. But many of the same principles used to understand how the universe works can also be used to study Earth’s climate systems. At its core ... Show More
12m 36s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2025
Algorithmic Social Media Is Driving New Slang
From viral slang such as “skibidi” to the rise of so-called brain rot, linguist and content creator Adam Aleksic, aka the “Etymology Nerd,” and associate editor Allison Parshall, who covers the mind and brain, unpack how social media and algorithms are reshaping the way we commun ... Show More
26m 55s
Aug 2022
The Whistling, Part 1
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
37m 6s
Aug 2022
The Whistling, Part 3
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
45m 26s
Aug 2022
The Whistling, Part 2
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
57m 5s
Jun 2024
Whistling!
Whistling is pretty cool when you think about it because it can mean many things, from simple happy tunes to legit communication. Learn all about this ubiquitous skill today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
50m 12s
Aug 2023
From the Vault: The Whistling, Part 3
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages. (originally published 08/09/2022)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
45m 48s
Aug 2023
From the Vault: The Whistling, Part 2
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages. (originally published 08/04/2022)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
57m 27s
Aug 2023
From the Vault: The Whistling, Part 1
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages. (originally published 08/02/2022)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
37m 34s
Feb 2017
How Does Vocal Fry Work?
<p>You’ve probably heard people complaining about vocal fry, and you’ve certainly heard it used in conversation, but what causes it? Christian explains the science of fry and creak in this episode of BrainStuff.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www ... Show More
6m 1s
Sep 2023
From the Vault: The Whistling, Part 4
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the nature and history of human whistling – including the subject of whistled languages. (originally published 08/16/2022)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
56m 30s