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 25, 2021 • 6min
What’s the Point of Wasps, Anyway?
A new study says the reviled stinging insects play a critical ecological role—and their venom might even be useful to people.
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May 24, 2021 • 8min
Sharks Use the Earth’s Magnetic Field Like a Compass
Biologists have long believed that these animals rely on magnetic sensing to migrate across oceans. Someone finally figured out how to prove it.
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May 21, 2021 • 12min
It’s Already Time to Stop the Next Pandemic. Can a Prize Help?
Covid-19 is still raging, but so are efforts to nip its successor in the bud—thanks to data sharing, political cooperation, or a multimillion-dollar challenge.
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May 20, 2021 • 6min
How Weird, Bouncy Cell Signals Can Help Track Wildfire Smoke
A hazy atmosphere makes data ricochet all over the place. Now scientists think they can use that signal to better predict severe smoke events.
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May 19, 2021 • 8min
When You Jump to Hyperspace, Make Sure You Wear a Seatbelt
May the 4th be with you! If you're hitching a ride on the Millennium Falcon today, you should know a little bit about the bumpy physics of acceleration.
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May 18, 2021 • 8min
Why Not Turn Airports Into Giant Solar Farms?
Airports have vast swaths of empty land and rooftops. But it’s not so easy as just covering everything with solar panels.Â
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May 17, 2021 • 9min
The Race to Save St. Mark’s Basilica From Salty Floodwaters
As Venice faces a four-foot sea level rise, the historic cathedral—and its marble—could succumb to damaging tides.
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May 14, 2021 • 9min
The Brain ‘Rotates’ Memories to Save Them From New Sensations
Some groups of neurons process sensory data and memories at the same time. New work shows how the brain pivots those representations to prevent interference.
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May 13, 2021 • 7min
Melting Mountain Glaciers May Not Survive the Century
Scientists crunched 20 years’ worth of satellite data to estimate the melt rate across the planet, and the news isn’t good.
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May 12, 2021 • 11min
35 Years Later, Studies Show a Silver Lining From Chernobyl
One new study found that radiation exposure didn't genetically harm future generations, while another offers insights into how radiation causes thyroid cancer.
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