Science Quickly podcast

Science Quickly

Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.

Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.

 

#1722

A Farewell to 2024, and What We’re Following in the New Year

2024 brought heat waves and hurricanes, bird flu and breakthroughs, and an overwhelming amount of progress in AI. Science Quickly host Rachel Feltman is joined by sustainability editor Andrea Thompson, health and medicine editor Tanya Lewis and technology editor Ben Guarino to recap a busy year and weigh in on the stories they’re watching in 2025. Happy Holidays from all of us at Science Quickly! Thank you for your support and your curiosity. We’ll see you next year. Recommended reading: [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wildest-things-science-learned-about-the-human-body-in-2024/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wildest-things-science-learned-about-the-human-body-in-2024/) [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/summer-2024-was-the-hottest-ever-measured-beating-last-year/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/summer-2024-was-the-hottest-ever-measured-beating-last-year/) [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/78-books-scientific-american-recommends-in-2024/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/78-books-scientific-american-recommends-in-2024/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman, with guests Tanya Lewis, Andrea Thompson and Ben Guarino. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

23 Dec 2024

21 MINS

21:02

23 Dec 2024


#1721

The New Conservationists: Thanks to Conservation Efforts, Pandas, Wolves and Panthers Are Making a C...

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 conservation. Listen to [part one] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/modern-zoos-are-trailblazing-animal-conservation-efforts/) , [part two] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/ai-and-other-emerging-technologies-are-expanding-conservation-studies/) and [part three] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/can-a-new-generation-of-conservationists-make-the-field-more-accessible/) . Recommended reading: – [The Panda Factories] (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/15/world/asia/pandas-zoo-breeding-death-captivity.html)   – [Flying Conservationists Teach Endangered Birds to Migrate] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flying-conservationists-teach-endangered-birds-to-migrate/) – [The Last Wild Horses Are Finally Returning to Their Natural Habitat] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/przewalskis-horses-are-finally-returning-to-their-natural-habitat/) – [Great Nicobar Island Is a Paradise in Danger] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/remote-island-of-great-nicobar-threatened-by-container-terminal/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with co-host Ashleigh Papp. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

20 Dec 2024

23 MINS

23:25

20 Dec 2024


#1720

The New Conservationists: Meet the Next Generation of Conservationists (Part 3)

Ashleigh Papp, an animal scientist turned storyteller, shifts our perspective on the modern conservationist. With low wages and expectations of free work, conservation science lacks diversity as a field—but dedicated graduate students and new programs are trying to change that. Isaac Aguilar, a graduate student in the geology division at the California Institute of Technology, tells Papp about his journey into conservation. Plus, join a night patrol with crime prevention sergeant Malungane Naledi. She's a member of the Black Mambas, an all-woman anti-poaching unit in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park. This is part three of The New Conservationists, a four-part series about the evolving world of animal conservation. Listen to [part one] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/modern-zoos-are-trailblazing-animal-conservation-efforts/) and [part two] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/ai-and-other-emerging-technologies-are-expanding-conservation-studies/) . Recommended reading: – [Flying Conservationists Teach Endangered Birds to Migrate] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flying-conservationists-teach-endangered-birds-to-migrate/) – [The Last Wild Horses Are Finally Returning to Their Natural Habitat] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/przewalskis-horses-are-finally-returning-to-their-natural-habitat/) – [Great Nicobar Island Is a Paradise in Danger] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/remote-island-of-great-nicobar-threatened-by-container-terminal/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with co-host Ashleigh Papp. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

18 Dec 2024

19 MINS

19:30

18 Dec 2024


#1719

The New Conservationists: AI is Making Meaning from the Sounds and Visuals of Wildlife (Part 2)

Ashleigh Papp, an animal scientist turned storyteller, takes us on into the field. Conservationists and animal behaviorists were once restricted to wildlife data gathered manually. Now new technologies are expanding the amount of passively collected data—and machine learning is helping researchers cut through the noise. This is part two of The New Conservationists, a four-part series about the evolving world of animal conservation. Recommended reading: – [Flying Conservationists Teach Endangered Birds to Migrate] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flying-conservationists-teach-endangered-birds-to-migrate/) – [The Last Wild Horses Are Finally Returning to Their Natural Habitat] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/przewalskis-horses-are-finally-returning-to-their-natural-habitat/) – [Great Nicobar Island Is a Paradise in Danger] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/remote-island-of-great-nicobar-threatened-by-container-terminal/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with co-host Ashleigh Papp. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

16 Dec 2024

17 MINS

17:55

16 Dec 2024


#1718

The New Conservationists: Where Do Zoos Fit into the Conservation Puzzle? (Part 1)

Ashleigh Papp, an animal scientist turned storyteller, takes us on a trip to the zoo. People are divided on zoos, but as Papp explains, the thoughtful work that goes into caring for animals makes modern zoos conservation powerhouses. This is part one of The New Conservationists, a four-part Friday Fascination series about the evolving world of animal conservation. Recommended reading: – [Flying Conservationists Teach Endangered Birds to Migrate] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flying-conservationists-teach-endangered-birds-to-migrate/) – [The Last Wild Horses Are Finally Returning to Their Natural Habitat] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/przewalskis-horses-are-finally-returning-to-their-natural-habitat/) – [Great Nicobar Island Is a Paradise in Danger] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/remote-island-of-great-nicobar-threatened-by-container-terminal/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with co-host Ashleigh Papp. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

13 Dec 2024

18 MINS

18:26

13 Dec 2024


#1717

AI-Generated Audio Is Entering the Podcast World

If you were intrigued—or disturbed—by the artificial intelligence podcast on your Spotify Wrapped, you may wonder how AI audio works. Audio Overview is a feature of the tool NotebookLM, released by Google, that allows for the creation of short podcasts with AI “hosts” summarizing information. But questions remain about the accuracy, usefulness and environmental impacts of this application. Host Rachel Feltman and associate news editor Allison Parshall are joined by Google Labs’ editorial director Steven Johnson and AI researchers Anjana Susarla and Emily Bender to assess the promise of this buzzy tech. Recommended reading: [Google’s Project Green Light Uses AI to Take on City Traffic] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/googles-project-green-light-uses-ai-to-take-on-city-traffic/)   [Can One Chatbot Catch Another’s Lies?] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-one-chatbot-catch-anothers-lies/)   [Please Don’t Ask AI If Something Is Poisonous] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/has-generative-ai-lost-its-strange-charm/)   E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Allison Parshall with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

11 Dec 2024

24 MINS

24:40

11 Dec 2024


#1716

Leaded Gasoline, Orca Hats and ‘Disease X’

An outbreak of an unknown illness has occurred in the Democratic of the Congo, which has already been dealing with the spread of mpox. A new study finds that leaded gasoline could be responsible for 151 million cases of mental health disorders, with impacts highest among members of Generation X. Upping your daily movement could protect you from cardiovascular events. Plus, we look at Venus’s past and fashion-forward orcas.  Recommended reading: [For Orcas, Dead Salmon Hats Are Back in Fashion after 37 Years] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-orcas-dead-salmon-hats-are-back-in-fashion/) [Mpox Is a Global Health Emergency. Here’s What We Know ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-who-declared-mpox-a-global-health-emergency-heres-where-the-virus-is/) [Lead from Old Paint and Pipes Is Still a Deadly Hazard in Millions of U.S. Homes] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lead-from-old-paint-and-pipes-is-still-a-deadly-hazard-in-millions-of-us/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Jeffery DelViscio with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

09 Dec 2024

08 MINS

08:59

09 Dec 2024


#1715

Iron Deficiency and Anemia May Be More Common Than We Know

Low iron levels can cause fatigue and impact mental health, but doctors often miss cases of iron deficiency and anemia. Pediatric hematologist Angela Weyand, a clinical associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, points to one population that could be at a higher risk—young women with heavy menstrual bleeding. In one study from a national database, nearly 40 percent of otherwise healthy adolescent women were iron-deficient, and 6 percent were additionally anemic. Awareness and self-advocacy could help people receive accessible and inexpensive treatments for low iron levels. Recommended reading: [“Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in US Females Aged 12–21 Years, 2003–2020,” by Angela C. Weyand et al., in JAMA, Vol. 329, No. 24; June 27, 2023] (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2806540) [What Is Implicit Bias, and How Might It Affect Your Next Medical Visit?] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/what-is-implicit-bias-and-how-might-it-affect-your-next-medical-visit/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.    Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

06 Dec 2024

10 MINS

10:59

06 Dec 2024


#1714

Anthony Fauci Is Worried about Bird Flu—And How Our Divisions Could Help It Hurt Us

Anthony Fauci speaks with Tanya Lewis, senior editor for health and medicine at Scientific American, about his remarkable career, as detailed in his new book [On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743358/on-call-by-anthony-fauci-md/) . They discuss the experiences he faced while guiding the U.S. through the pandemic, the lessons learned by public health practitioners and the challenges posed by future threats, such as bird flu and other potential pandemics. This episode is part of “ [Health Equity Heroes] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/health-equity-heroes/) ,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from [Takeda Pharmaceuticals] (https://www.takeda.com/) . Recommended reading: [New Bird Flu Cases in Young People Are Raising Concerns about Mutating Virus] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bird-flu-has-infected-two-young-people-heres-why-experts-are-concerned/) [What Bird Flu in Wastewater Means for California and Beyond ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-bird-flu-in-wastewater-means-for-california-and-beyond/) [H5N1 Bird Flu Isn’t a Human Pandemic—Yet ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/h5n1-bird-flu-isnt-a-human-pandemic-yet/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was reported and co-hosted by Tanya Lewis. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

04 Dec 2024

21 MINS

21:34

04 Dec 2024


#1713

A Psychologist’s Tips for Avoiding Overconsumption This Black Friday

Black Friday sales have gone from one-day in-person shopping bonanzas to a multiday deals extravaganza. It’s tempting to give in to the seasonal pressures to shop, but knowing the tricks companies use to make sales so appealing can help us avoid overconsumption. Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University in England, explains how to spot marketing ploys and shop sustainably.  Recommended reading: It’s Actually Healthier to Enjoy Holiday Foods without the Anxiety [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/enjoy-holiday-food-without-the-anxiety/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/enjoy-holiday-food-without-the-anxiety/)   Eating Turkey Does Not Really Make You Sleepy [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eating-turkey-sleepy-thanksgiving/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eating-turkey-sleepy-thanksgiving/)   E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

27 Nov 2024

15 MINS

15:57

27 Nov 2024


#1712

What RFK, Jr., Could Mean for Public Health, and How Tobacco Use Has Dropped Unevenly

Donald Trump has nominated RFK, Jr., to run the Department of Health and Human Services, a position that includes oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. Senior health and medicine editor Tanya Lewis explains what that would mean for antivaccine policies, food safety and unproven therapies that Kennedy backs. Tobacco use is down across the U.S., but the drop has been uneven across groups. Astronomers have released the first-ever close up image of a star—and scientists are excited over an unexpected ring. Plus, studies of chimpanzees explore the role of social contagion on their behaviors and point to play in adult chimps. Recommended reading: [RFK, Jr., Is a Bad Prescription for U.S. Public Health | Opinion] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-is-a-bad-prescription-for-u-s-public-health/)   [Chimps Share Knowledge like Humans Do, Spurring Innovation] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chimps-share-knowledge-like-humans-do-spurring-innovation/)   E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest senior health and medicine editor Tanya Lewis. Our show is edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

25 Nov 2024

10 MINS

10:50

25 Nov 2024


#1711

Using AI to Understand the Thoughts of the Dead

Writings and records are how we understand long-gone civilizations without being able to interact with ancient peoples. A recent opinion paper suggested we could feed chatbots writings from the past to simulate ancient participants for social psychology studies. Similar survey experiments with modern participant data closely matched the outcomes of the real people they were based on. We speak with the opinion paper’s co-author Michael Varnum, an associate professor at Arizona State University, about what the limits of this spooky proposal are and what the ghosts of cultures past could teach us today.  Recommended reading: “Large Language Models Based on Historical Text Could Offer Informative Tools for Behavioral Science,” by Michael E. W. Varnum et al., in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, Vol. 121, No. 42, Article No.  e2407639121; October 9, 2024 [https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2407639121] (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2407639121)   Inside the AI Competition That Decoded an Ancient Herculaneum Scroll [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/inside-the-ai-competition-that-decoded-an-ancient-scroll-and-changed/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/inside-the-ai-competition-that-decoded-an-ancient-scroll-and-changed/)   E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Jeff DelViscio with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck.  The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

22 Nov 2024

12 MINS

12:04

22 Nov 2024


#1710

Unscheduled C-Sections May Depend on the Color of Your Skin

Disparities in health are not indicated by adverse outcomes alone. Adriana Corredor-Waldron, an assistant professor of economics at NC State University, sought to understand why Black infants are more likely to be delivered by C-section than white infants. A working paper she co-authored found that the elevated number of low-risk Black pregnant people who were given C-section surgeries in New Jersey from 2008 to 2017 was likely caused by physician discretion. Corredor-Waldron explains why unnecessary C-sections can be risky and what medical education and financial incentives could do to close the gap.  Recommended viewing: What Is Implicit Bias, and How Might It Affect Your Next Medical Visit? [https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/what-is-implicit-bias-and-how-might-it-affect-your-next-medical-visit/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/what-is-implicit-bias-and-how-might-it-affect-your-next-medical-visit/)   E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Adriana Corredor-Waldron Our show is edited by Jeff DelViscio with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

20 Nov 2024

11 MINS

11:41

20 Nov 2024


#1709

An Off Day on Uranus, a Wildfire in Prospect Park and Dispatches from COP29

A wildfire in Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Prospect Park was in part linked to drought conditions nationally. Plastic waste is set to grow with our expanding economy, but potential solutions look promising. Drops in gonorrhea and early-stage syphilis point to the first decline in sexually transmitted infections in 20 years. Voyager 2’s fly-by of Uranus in the 1980s collected data that led scientists to believe the planet’s moons were inactive. A reassessment of those data shows that Uranus could have just been having an off day. Plus, Alec Luhn reports from the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan. Recommended reading: [Melting Glaciers Are Causing Billions of Dollars of Damage] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/melting-glaciers-are-causing-billions-of-dollars-of-damage/)   [The U.S. Has Its First Plan for Plastic Pollution. This Is What’s in It] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-u-s-has-its-first-plan-for-plastic-pollution-this-is-whats-in-it/)   [This Astoundingly Simple Ancient Technique Is Helping to Beat Back Drought ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/this-astoundingly-simple-ancient-technique-is-helping-to-beat-back-drought/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest associate editor Andrea Thompson. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck.  The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

18 Nov 2024

11 MINS

11:44

18 Nov 2024


#1708

Reflecting on our First Attempt to Speak with the Stars

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of a transmission from the Arecibo Observatory, intended as our first attempt to send a message to intelligent life across the universe. Journalist Nadia Drake talks about the careful crafting of the signal and her personal connection with the astronomer who authored the transmission: her father Frank Drake.  Recommended reading: [The Arecibo Message, Earth’s First Interstellar Transmission, Turns 50] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-arecibo-message-earths-first-interstellar-transmission-turns-50/) [Arecibo Observatory Shuts Down Its Science ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/closing-down-an-icon-will-arecibo-observatory-ever-do-science-again1/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Nadia Drake. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

15 Nov 2024

15 MINS

15:20

15 Nov 2024


#1707

Humans Inherited a World That Insects Made

What does the Declaration of Independence have in common with Vincent van Gogh’s sketches? The ink used to produce them came from wasps. From pests to products, insects have played an enormous role in human history. Entomologist and animal behaviorist Barrett Klein encourages a historical and scientific perspective on these creatures and invites us to marvel at their beauty and biodiversity. – Read Barrett Klein’s book [The Insect Epiphany] (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/barrett-klein/the-insect-epiphany/9781643261362/?lens=timber-press) – [See more] (https://www.pupating.org/) from Klein – Explore [our coverage] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-insects-feel-joy-and-pain/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

13 Nov 2024

17 MINS

17:01

13 Nov 2024


#1706

Baseball Mud Bath, Water Woes and Wooden Satellites

A wooden solution to metal satellites polluting space. Water woes create droughts in 48 of the 50 U.S. states—and climate change is of course a culprit. Microplastics could make wastewater recycling more challenging. And researchers figure out how mud from a secret spot off the Delaware River makes baseballs easier to grip.  Recommended reading: [How Baseball Got Faster but Riskier ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-do-baseball-pitchers-shohei-ohtani-gerrit-cole-and-shane-bieber-have-in-common/) [Microplastics Linked to Heart Attack, Stroke and Death ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastics-linked-to-heart-attack-stroke-and-death/) [Space Junk Is Polluting Earth’s Stratosphere with Vaporized Metal ] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/space-junk-is-polluting-earths-stratosphere-with-vaporized-metal/) E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Our show is edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

11 Nov 2024

08 MINS

08:49

11 Nov 2024


#1705

Why Weight May Not Be the Whole Story on Health

Could our fixation on weight actually be harming, rather than helping, people’s health? Host Rachel Feltman is joined by Ragen Chastain, a writer, researcher and board-certified patient advocate, to discuss how weight stigma could be fueling many of the negative health outcomes we commonly link to weight gain. This episode is part of “ [Health Equity Heroes] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/health-equity-heroes/) ,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from [Takeda Pharmaceuticals] (https://www.takeda.com/) . Sign up for Chastain’s Substack newsletter, [Weight and Healthcare] (https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/) Recommended reading: [People Who Are Fat and Healthy May Hold Keys to Understanding Obesity] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-who-are-fat-and-healthy-may-hold-keys-to-understanding-obesity/) [Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. Sabrina Strings. NYU Press, 2019] (https://www.sabrinastrings.com/books) [Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness. Da’Shaun L. Harrison. North Atlantic Books, 2021] (https://dashaunharrison.com/shop/belly-of-the-beast/) Email us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Emily Makowski, Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

08 Nov 2024

24 MINS

24:41

08 Nov 2024


#1704

Your Zodiac Sign Mattered in Medieval Times

Rising Signs: The Medieval Science of Astrology, a new exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, takes a look at medieval manuscripts to showcase the importance of astrology to the period’s elites. Larisa Grollemond, an assistant curator at the museum, takes us through the impact of astrology on day-to-day decisions and the way it became tied up in the medieval obsession with humoral balances. Plus, we discuss how today’s astrology split from the modern science of astronomy. Rising Signs is on display at the Getty Museum through January 5, 2025. [https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/rising-signs/index.html] (https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/rising-signs/index.html)   Recommended reading: How to Survive Mercury in Retrograde [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-survive-mercury-in-retrograde/] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-survive-mercury-in-retrograde/)   E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Larisa Grollemond, an assistant curator at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

06 Nov 2024

14 MINS

14:36

06 Nov 2024


#1703

Your 2024 Election Rundown, from Climate Change to Education

The 2024 U.S. presidential candidates have very different visions for the country. On today’s show, host Rachel Feltman is joined by associate sustainability editor Andrea Thompson to talk about the climate choices faced by the next president and the shifting energy landscape. Senior news reporter Meghan Bartels reviews the gun control policies of the Biden administration and the complicated cultural dynamics around gun ownership that faces the next president. Plus, we discuss how public education could be stymied by a future Trump administration and how immigration decisions will shape the STEM workforce. Read more about the election: – [In-depth coverage] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-action-depends-on-the-2024-election/) explains the candidates’ climate and energy policies – Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offer starkly different [responses to gun violence] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-a-harris-or-trump-presidency-could-affect-gun-policy/) – How the 2024 election [could reshape education] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-and-harris-have-vastly-different-plans-for-public-education/) , from pre-K to college – [The 2024 Election Will Define America’s Stance on Immigration, with Consequences for Science and Technology] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/2024-election-will-define-americas-stance-on-immigration-with-consequences/) – [Deep dives] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/how-the-2024-presidential-election-will-shape-science-health-and-the-environment/) from other SciAm editors report on the candidates’ positions on artificial intelligence, heath care, and more E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guests associate news editor Allison Parshall, senior editor of mind and brain Gary Stix, senior news reporter Meghan Bartels and associate editor of sustainability Andrea Thompson. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

04 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:31

04 Nov 2024


#1702

Your 2024 Election Rundown, from Health Care to Nuclear Proliferation

The 2024 U.S. presidential candidates offer very different policy perspectives. On today’s show, host Rachel Feltman is joined by health editors Tanya Lewis and Lauren Young to discuss how Kamala Harris and Donald Trump plan to address reproductive rights and health care accessibility and affordability. Plus, senior opinion editor Dan Vergano draws on his coverage of nuclear weapons to preview what a win for each candidate would mean for the U.S.’s approach to nuclear policy.  Read more about the election: – In-depth coverage of the candidates’ [health] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-2024-election-will-affect-ivf-and-abortion-access/) [policies] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-trump-or-harris-would-mean-for-health-care-access-and-affordability/) – The [nuclear decisions] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hard-nuclear-weapons-choices-await-harris-or-trump-as-president/) awaiting the next president – [Deep dives] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/how-the-2024-presidential-election-will-shape-science-health-and-the-environment/) from other SciAm editors on the candidates’ positions on artificial intelligence, climate, and more E-mail us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with associate editor of health and medicine Lauren Young, senior editor of health and medicine Tanya Lewis and senior opinion editor Dan Vergano. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

01 Nov 2024

18 MINS

18:58

01 Nov 2024


#1701

Exploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear Lab

Why do so many of us love a good scare? Whether it’s horror movies, haunted houses or creepy podcasts, there’s something thrilling about feeling spooked—especially around Halloween. In this episode, host Rachel Feltman dives into our fascination with fear and morbid curiosity with [Coltan Scrivner] (https://www.coltanscrivner.com/) , a behavioral scientist at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. They explore the evolutionary and psychological reasons behind why we’re drawn to the dark and eerie and why a dose of fear can be so much fun. Recommended reading: [The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to Horror Movies and Haunted Houses] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-evolutionary-reasons-we-are-drawn-to-horror-movies-and-haunted-houses1/) Email us at [sciencequickly@sciam.com] (mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com) if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: [subscribe] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_subscribetext&utm_term=LP_subscribe_v1_s1_podcast) to Scientific American and [sign up] (https://www.scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences/?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may24-marketing2024_signuptext&utm_term=LP_signup_v1_s1_podcast) for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.  Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [megaphone.fm/adchoices] (https://megaphone.fm/adchoices) ... Read more

30 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:32

30 Oct 2024