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.

Science
26
Hantavirus at sea, microplastics, and the Alask...
A deadly hantavirus outbreak occurs on a cruise ship, scientists warn that microplastics may be contributing to climate warming, and a retreating-glacier‑triggered landslide unleashed a massive Alaska tsunami
11 min
27
Influencers are obsessed with peptides. What do...
As peptide “stacking” takes over social media feeds, we separate the science from the hype of the Internet’s latest wellness obsession
19 min
28
He let AI agents run a start-up—and things got ...
Journalist Evan Ratliff explores what happens when AI agents are given real autonomy to build and run a start‑up from scratch
22 min
29
Scorpion stingers, preeclampsia hope, canceled ...
11 min
30
The science of psychedelic therapy
Tracing how psychedelics have undergone a revival in the U.S. and what the White House’s new psychedelic push means for research
16 min
31
Why physics is poetic, political and personal
A physicist explores how poetry, pop culture and imagination help us understand spacetime and our place in the universe
22 min
32
NASA Curiosity, suicide hotline hope, AI voice ...
What NASA’s Curiosity Rover found on Mars, how youth suicides dropped after the launch of the 988 crisis line, and what people think of AI voice clones
7 min
33
The wildlife trade may be speeding up the next ...
New research shows the global wildlife trade is rapidly accelerating the spread of animal pathogens that can jump to humans
15 min
34
Earth Day special: How to save the planet (again)
This Earth Day three environmental experts share stories about times when environmental action succeeded in saving the planet—and explain why this can be done again
20 min
35
‘Cocaine hippos,’ underground bees, and surpris...
“Cocaine hippos,” underground bees, and fresh insights into aging and heart health
9 min
36
Why birds outlived T. rex
How a few unique traits helped modern-style birds—the last living dinosaurs—survive the asteroid apocalypse that took out T. rex and other mighty beasts
18 min
37
When science meets Pokémon
As Pokémon turns 30, we take a look at how the beloved Japanese kids’ franchise was inspired by—and has shaped—real-world science
16 min
38
Artemis II returned safely from the moon—but wa...
Artemis II’s safe return from lunar orbit sparks a debate over the costs, climate effects and long‑term value of going back to the moon
22 min
39
Alexis Hall turns Moby-Dick into a wild sci‑fi ...
Alexis Hall reimagines Melville’s classic with space whales, AI intrigue and a bold queer twist that launches Moby-Dick into an entirely new sci‑fi universe
19 min
40
U.S. measles cases surge as vaccination rates drop
A sharp rise in U.S. measles cases is linked to falling MMR vaccination rates and growing immunity gaps
13 min
41
Artemis II, endangered species and oil, snowpac...
An update on NASA’s historic moon mission, alarm over the low snowpack in the western U.S. and a move that could endanger wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico
10 min
42
Why NASA is betting big on Artemis II moon mission
Artemis II blasts off on a high‑stakes lunar flyby, marking NASA’s first crewed mission to the moon in decades
18 min
43
We weren’t supposed to have chins
Humans are the only species that has chins. A recent study sheds light on how that came to be and why evolution doesn’t always follow the rules
12 min
44
NASA’s nuclear spacecraft, Iran war climate fal...
NASA’s nuclear Mars mission, the Iran war’s carbon fallout, the looming climate cost of rebuilding and a hopeful new Lyme vaccine
9 min
45
You’ve been lied to about pain—here’s the truth
A pain scientist breaks down the surprising brain‑body science that explains why so many of us hurt more than we have to
21 min
46
Can AI do math, or does it just act like a cal...
A new challenge reveals how well AI can tackle true math problems
15 min
47
Heat dome, legal win for vaccines, lead-tainted...
An unseasonal heat dome over parts of the U.S., a federal court ruling that blocks the CDC’s recent change to its recommended childhood vaccine schedule, new research on unsafe levels of lead in fast fashion
10 min
48
Andy Weir spills the space tea on Ryan Gosling ...
The author of the novel Project Hail Mary breaks down aliens, anxiety and the process of bringing his story to the screen
12 min
49
GLP-1 drugs are entering a new chapter
“Imitation” drugs, unexpected benefits, serious pitfalls—here’s what comes next as GLP-1 medications continue to rise in popularity
14 min
50
Nuclear doubts, bigger hail, and new clues abou...
From emergency oil reserves to nuclear scrutiny, bigger hail, and research on a connection between the aging gut and the brain
10 min