Parasites and the interconnected biosphere December 13, 2022 One of the most fascinating things that a young person can experience in the complex realm of biology is the discovery of an animal living inside another animal. The questions that arise when these kinds of animals are encountered for the first time are innumerable and, if answered carefully, may lead to even more questions and, hopefully, more answers. Read More
Listening to the tree of life November 02, 2022 Listening to nature is an ancient art. But for most of human history, our ability to listen to other species was constrained. Humans are unable to hear many of the myriad sounds made by other species. Read More
Listen in: The Sounds of Life October 12, 2022 The natural world teems with remarkable conversations, many beyond human hearing range. Scientists are using groundbreaking digital technologies to uncover these astonishing sounds, revealing vibrant communication among our fellow creatures across the Tree of Life. Read More
Dinosaurs are more and less unknown than you think August 22, 2022 Even if you aren’t interested in dinosaurs, it’s almost impossible not to absorb some information from the endless swirl of discoveries reported in the media, new documentaries and even movies (of bother greater and lesser quality). Read More
David Hone on How Fast Did T. rex Run? August 08, 2022 How did dinosaurs rear their young? What did they eat? What did T. rex actually do with those tiny arms? Read More
The Secret Body August 04, 2022 Imagine knowing years in advance whether you are likely to get cancer or having a personalized understanding of your individual genes, organs, and cells. Imagine being able to monitor your body’s well-being, or have a diet tailored to your microbiome. Read More
A look inside The Secret Body July 27, 2022 Imagine yourself as an alien with an exceptionally powerful telescope trying to understand what happens on Earth. Read More
Why Trust Science? December 14, 2021 Are doctors right when they tell us vaccines are safe? Should we take climate experts at their word when they warn us about the perils of global warming? Why should we trust science when so many of our political leaders don’t? Read More
Listen in: The Genetic Lottery September 22, 2021 In The Genetic Lottery, Kathryn Paige Harden introduces readers to the latest genetic science, dismantling dangerous ideas about racial superiority and challenging us to grapple with what equality really means in a world where people are born different. Read More
Kathryn Paige Harden on The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality September 20, 2021 In recent years, scientists like Kathryn Paige Harden have shown that DNA makes us different, in our personalities and in our health—and in ways that matter for educational and economic success in our current society. Read More
Daniel M. Davis on The Secret Body August 29, 2021 New science of the human body is changing our lives. In The Secret Body, leading scientist Daniel M. Davis looks across six frontiers—cells, the embryo, the body’s organs and tissues, the brain, the microbiome, and the human genome—where revolutionary new understanding is emerging. Read More
Listen in: The Secret Body August 24, 2021 Imagine knowing years in advance whether you are likely to get cancer or having a personalized understanding of your individual genes, organs, and cells. Imagine being able to monitor your body’s well-being, or have a diet tailored to your microbiome. Read More
The birth of biology July 29, 2021 It is impossible to pinpoint the precise moment when the first notions of our modern understanding of biology emerged. Our interest in the natural world is not a new phenomenon—a preoccupation with reproduction, birth, and the nature of disease, as well as descriptions of animal and plant species, can be traced back to ancient times. Read More
Listen in: Delicious April 22, 2021 Start listening to Chapter 1 of Delicious by Rob Dunn and Monica Sanchez—a savory account of how the pursuit of delicious foods shaped human evolution. Read More
A cordial invitation to explore the science and history of flavor April 13, 2021 Nature, it has been said, invites us to eat by appetite and rewards by flavor. But what exactly are flavors? Why are some so pleasing while others are not? Read More
