Goggles Optional

Scott and Natalie are joined by science communicator Dr. Meenakshi Prabhune, who runs the blog Backpack Full of Questions. They discuss two stories from her blog about birds navigating and birds using tools, as well as her journey from PhD student to full-time science journalist!

This week, Nora tells us what a gigantic neuron might have to do with consciousness, Scott talks 7 new exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life, and Chelsea shares some quick thoughts on an exceptional scientist, Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus.

Emily, Nora and Jonathan are joined by guest Rohan Mehta from the Dish on Science! Join them as they talk about their favorite Dish articles, including studying the spread of disease using Twitter and a new model organoid.

Natalie, Emily, and Jonathan talk about all things genes today. A new DNA bases pair, Gene Drive, and a jump down the rabbit hole about exoplanets.

This week, Scott talks about a football-field sized quantum computer, Chelsea describes the physics of frog tongues, and Natalie explains some outlandish basic research in a new segment called "WHY IS THIS A THING?"

Psychology grad student Yuan Chang Leong joins Natalie, Nora, and Nicole to talk about using the show Sherlock to explore how different people store memories - and we're more similar than you might think! Plus, a three-round game show helps us crown a scientist of the week.

Natalie, Emily, and Chelsea discuss ways in which older technologies are helping today's science.

On this week's evolution-themed Beer Goggles, Chelsea explains a bamboo-zling observation about panda 'thumbs,' Nora tells us how our cells became different from bacteria, and Emily shares some general context about the theory that unifies biology.

Scott, Chelsea, and Natalie discuss how dinosaurs get beaks, NASA's asteroid missions, and a new way to find out if someone has a concussion.

Do you need a better and more science-inspired way to store your cat photos? Feeling lonely as an Earthling in a galaxy devoid of other life forms? Need a reason to stop hating insects? Chelsea, Nora, and Scott have you covered.

Emily, Ted, and Natalie talk this week about a new cousin on our evolutionary tree, the current status of the great barrier reef, and the Earth's new fling.

Lisl, Scott, and Emily talk about their favorite year end questions to finish out 2016.

This week, Natalie, Chelsea, and Emily talk about Dinosaur necks, Dinosaur muscles, and even Dinosaur feathers in a booze-lovin', know-nothin' Beer Goggles!

Diego, Lisl, and Scott bring you the buzz about bees and electric fields, another kind of buzz from 5000 year old beer, and what ancient DNA tells us about the domestication of dogs.

Nora, Charlie, and Emily talk about whether climate change is going to mess with ocean circulation and try to count ALL the fish in the sea. Plus, a quick aside on what makes the holidays happy.

Lisl, Rupa, and Scott discuss an impossible rocket engine, fetal alcohol syndrome, and a promising genetically modified tobacco plant.

Natalie, Nora, and Chelsea share their professional and unprofessional opinions on some of the hottest new research in climate science. Actually, scratch that - it’s mostly unprofessional, because this week is a free-wheelin’, beer-drinkin’ Beer Goggles!

Emily, Nora, and Natalie discuss how animals get their stripes, why male hormonal birth control is difficult to come by, and electrodes on the brain.

In honor of Halloween, hosts Natalie, Lisl, and Scott go scientific trick or treating. We find out whether or not the universe is expanding, if GMO crops are saving the world, and if the spectre Patient Zero truly spread a deadly disease to an entire continent.

This week Charlie, Rupa, and Chelsea talk about the (literally) cool geological features of Pluto, the hot hot topic of climate change and forest fires, and why the placebo effect is real and totally okay to ascribe to.