Science, Spoken
WIRED
Get in-depth coverage of current and future trends in technology, and how they are shaping business, entertainment, communications, science, politics, and society.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 14, 2020 • 13min
How Albert Einstein's Son Tamed the Mississippi River
Multiple structures now keep the river from roaring into the Atchafalaya—but they may be inadequate against climate change.Â
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May 13, 2020 • 8min
Science Fairs Are Canceled. Maybe That’s Just as Well
It’s time to reconsider these earnest events—and find ways for kids to experience the joyous, collaborative nature of real scientific discovery.
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May 12, 2020 • 9min
This Bizarre Insect Is Building Shelters Out of Microplastic
Caddisfly larvae typically construct protective cases out of sand grains and silk. Now they're also using microplastic particles.
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May 11, 2020 • 13min
NASA's EmDrive Leader Has a New Interstellar Project
Harold White left NASA in December to join a new nonprofit focused on building the technologies to bring humans to the outer solar system and beyond.
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May 8, 2020 • 6min
This Mental Health App Is Tailor-Made for Your Pandemic Woes
Covid Coach, from the National Center for PTSD, offers exercises and resources for dealing with uncertainty, isolation, and unemployment.
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May 7, 2020 • 11min
The Neuroscience of Why You Could Really Use a Hug Right Now
For those quarantined alone, the lack of human touch can feel agonizing. A neurological phenomenon called "skin hunger" explains why.
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May 6, 2020 • 11min
The Race to Get Convalescent Plasma to Covid-19 Patients
Blood centers across the nation are trying to get antibodies from coronavirus survivors to patients who want this experimental treatment. But it’s not easy.
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May 5, 2020 • 9min
Physicists Clear the Air With a Sweet Frickin' Laser Beam
Fast laser pulses produce a shock wave in air that pushes water vapor aside. That clears channels in clouds for transmitting optical data from satellites.
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May 4, 2020 • 8min
The World Is Still Producing More Oil Than It Needs. Why?
Today, petroleum producers around the world will start shutting down wells after the Covid-19 pandemic caused demand to plummet. What took them so long?
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May 1, 2020 • 10min
Covid-19 Was Here Earlier Than Most Americans Thought. Now What?
Epidemiologists aren't surprised that virus was spreading in the US in early February. But those early days offer lessons for how to catch the next wave.
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