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
Where Did Curly Hair Come From? Biological Anth...
Humans have a surprising lack of hair for mammals. Biological anthropology may provide insights into why the hair we have sometimes comes out curly.
17 min
27
Exploring the Hidden Life in the Air around Us ...
Journalist Carl Zimmer chats about aerobiology and his new book Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe.
15 min
28
Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just for Romance—The Scie...
Valentine’s Day often focuses on romance, but deep friendships deserve love, too. Here’s why they matter.
15 min
29
An Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032. What Can We ...
News of an asteroid with a 2 percent chance of hitting Earth in 2032 made headlines. But is its fluctuating risk really cause for concern?
11 min
30
Microplastics on the Mind, Superstrong Shrimp a...
In this week’s roundup, we’re reviewing some animal research, the latest on bird flu and the burden of microplastics on our brain.
7 min
31
Trump’s Executive Orders Create Confusion for R...
Researchers in the U.S. are grappling with Trump administration executive orders around health and science agency funding and communications.
18 min
32
Avoiding Outrage Fatigue in Overwhelming Times
Outrage fatigue can wear us down—but we can take care of ourselves in an onslaught of overwhelming news.
7 min
33
Tuberculosis Outbreak, RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation ...
In this week’s roundup, catch up on the spread of bird flu in the U.S., a tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas and lessons from fossilized vomit.
10 min
34
Are You Tired of Feeling Cynical? Hopeful Skep...
Giving in to cynicism makes us less trusting, less connected, and even less physically and mentally healthy.
15 min
35
Science Will Stare Directly Into the Sun--And L...
There’s a Lot to Be Excited About in Heliophysics This Year
10 min
36
WHO Withdrawal, Bird Flu Updates and a Link bet...
A rundown on what’s at stake for global health if the U.S. withdraws from the World Health Organization and an update on bird flu are in this week’s science news roundup.
9 min
37
Combatting Climate Anxiety through Community Sc...
The founder of Adventure Scientists explains how community science is the ultimate civic engagement.
13 min
38
What the End of U.S. Net Neutrality Means For You
A U.S. federal court struck down the FCC’s enforcement of net neutrality. What does that mean for Internet users?
9 min
39
The Health Risks of Alcohol, a Red Dye Ban and ...
We discuss a big week for commercial spaceflight, a red dye ban and a scary spider species in this news roundup.
6 min
40
Do Pain and Joy Have a Universal Language?
Linguists think that the words that we use to express pain might tell us something about our shared biology and the commonality of language.
17 min
41
How the U.S. Mishandled the Early Days of Bird Flu
Slow, Disjointed Response to Bird Flu Outbreak Could Allow Disease to Spread
14 min
42
Outbreaks of Norovirus, a Death from Bird Flu a...
The Reason Wildfires in L.A. Were So Destructive and an Update on Public Health Outbreaks
12 min
43
Finding Pluto’s Potential Replacement with a Gi...
Pluto was unseated as the ninth planet in our solar system. Will we find a real Planet Nine?
17 min
44
Going Outside Can Change Our Hormones and Impro...
Nature can affect our nervous system and diversify our microbiome—and you don’t need to go on a hike to reap the benefits.
16 min
45
A Farewell to 2024, and What We’re Following in...
We’re closing out the year with a roundup of the science stories that stood out to our editors in 2024.
19 min
46
The New Conservationists: Thanks to Conservatio...
There are so many species facing extinction—but today we’re telling stories about the animals making a comeback and the conservationists working hard to help.
22 min
47
The New Conservationists: Meet the Next Generat...
Modern conservationists are finding new ways to protect wildlife.
18 min
48
The New Conservationists: AI is Making Meaning ...
Conservationists have access to massive amounts of data on wildlife—and machine learning is helping them make meaning out of them.
16 min
49
The New Conservationists: Where Do Zoos Fit int...
Though it may seem paradoxical, zoos can play a big role in modern conservation efforts.
17 min
50
AI-Generated Audio Is Entering the Podcast World
Translating complex information into captivating podcasts is no simple task. Is AI up to the challenge?
23 min