Evolution and the City: The Birds| Listen on Anghami

Yesterday

Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Dracula (1931)

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the iconic 1931 Universal Pictures adaptation of “Dracula,” directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi in his most iconic performance. (originally published 1/31/2025)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... Show More

1h 35m

Jan 26

The Invention of Dog Biscuits

In this invention-themed episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the origins of the humble dog biscuit or “scooby snack,” from discussions of dog bread in Ancient Rome to the Victorian origin of dog cake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

52m 48s

Jan 24

From the Vault: The Invention of Cotton Candy, Part 2

So what exactly IS cotton candy and how does this curious confectionary concoction tie into other culinary traditions, including China’s Dragon’s beard candy? Find out in this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind. (part 2 of 2) (originally published 2/4/2025)See omnystudio.com/list ... Show More

40m 13s

Feb 2025

Quantum Birds

<p>Annie McEwen went to a mountain in Pennsylvania to help catch some migratory owls. Then Scott Weidensaul peeled back the owl’s feathery face disc, so that she could look at the back of its eyeball. No owls were harmed in the process, but this brief glimpse into the inner worki ... Show More

34m 44s

Jan 2025

The Moth Radio Hour: Birds of a Feather

Let the feathers fly! This week, a special avian hour. Stories from a Ravenmaster, a scientist, and a reluctant chicken farmer about the birds that made them as happy as a lark or as crazy as a loon. This episode is hosted by The Moth's former Artistic Director, Catherine Burns, ... Show More

54m 1s

Jan 2025

What Scientists Have Learned From 125 Years Of Bird Counts

<p>This winter marks the 125th year of <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/125-years-audubon-christmas-bird-count/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count,</a> in which bird nerds across the Western Hemisp ... Show More

18m 22s

Jun 2025

How Bird Flu Went from an Isolated Avian Illness to a Human Pandemic Threat (Part 1)

Bird flu outbreaks in poultry and cattle have caused concern for public health officials. There have been few reported cases of human transmission, but the growing risks of H5N1 avian influenza have virologists on alert. Researchers at the St. Jude Center of Excellence for Influe ... Show More

31m 17s

Apr 2024

How Do Birds Fly?

Have you ever watched birds soaring in the sky and wondered... How do they fly like that? Our guest, Alex Troutman, wildlife biologist and science communicator, is here to explain it all. A lifetime birding enthusiast, Alex turned his interest in birds into a job as a scientist. ... Show More

28m 45s

Dec 2024

The New Conservationists: Thanks to Conservation Efforts, Pandas, Wolves and Panthers Are Making a Comeback (Part 4)

Tens of thousands of animal species are facing extinction, mostly because of human activity. But thanks to conservationists, there are some animals that are making a comeback. This is part four of “The New Conservationists,” a four-part series about the evolving world of animal c ... Show More

23m 25s

Jun 2025

How to Fight Bird Flu If It Becomes the Next Human Pandemic (Part 3)

Creating a bird flu vaccine requires several layers of bioprotective clothing and typically a whole lot of eggs. H5N1 avian influenza infections have gone from flocks of chickens to herds of cattle and humans. Scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute are taking their ... Show More

32m 51s

Aug 2025

Animals in the year 20202025

What do scientists think animals might be like millions of years from now? (First published in 2021) Guests: Benji Jones, senior correspondent at Vox; David Willard, ornithologist at Chicago's Field Museum; Liz Alter, marine biologist at San José State University; Jingmai O'Conno ... Show More

27m 19s

Feb 2025

Exploring the Hidden Life in the Air around Us with Carl Zimmer

Scientists now agree that COVID spreads via airborne transmission. But during the early days of the disease, public health officials suggested that it mainly did so via close contact. The subsequent back-and-forth over how COVID spread brought science journalist Carl Zimmer into ... Show More

16m 47s

Nov 13

Strigiformology (OWLS) Part 2 with R. J. Gutiérrez

<p>We’re back with Dr. R.J. “Rocky” Gutiérrez to answer listeners’ questions on owls. How much wisdom lies behind those big, immovable eyes? Are owls good or bad omens? What’s their proclivity for snatching hats? Is The Staircase owl theory plausible? Is it ok to hoot back at the ... Show More

1h 11m