Science Quickly

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American science reporter who covers psychology and behavior, joins to unpack the science behind deception. She highlights why people are bad at spotting lies. Conversation covers voice and inconsistency cues, cognitive-load research, and how real players use or misuse behavioral strategies in a high-stakes game.

In this episode of Science Quickly, we cover a few important updates on the measles outbreaks in the U.S. We also look at how governments are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for military action, including the recent U.S. airstrikes against Iran. Plus, we dive into a worrying new finding about the quickening pace of global warming. And finally, we explore the complex physics behind the delightful squeaks of basketball shoes. Recommended Reading: Measles outbreak erupts in one of U.S.’s largest ICE detention centers The U.S. just surpassed a grim measles milestone Squeak! The surprising new physics of why basketball games are so noisy E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, 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

Michael Pollan, journalist and author known for exploring mind and nature, joins to probe consciousness, AI and psychedelics. He discusses why so many theories exist. He contrasts feeling and thinking, questions materialist limits, and recounts AI experiments and psychedelic insights that blur ordinary awareness.

Thomas Germain, a BBC tech reporter who exposed AI quirks, shares how he tricked ChatGPT and Google into repeating a fake hot-dog fame stunt. He describes how fast AI propagated the claim, why bad actors game AI summaries, and humorous examples of AI hallucinations. The conversation covers source opacity, regulation questions, and practical tips to avoid being misled by AI.

A startling projection that nearly 60% of U.S. women could have cardiovascular disease by 2050 and what’s driving that rise. Analysis of laws and policy shifts that are shrinking OBGYN access in some states. NASA mission updates after hardware and fueling setbacks that push back lunar plans. A quirky study proposing female reindeer keep antlers as a post-birth nutrient source.

Richard Headley, a statistical ecologist studying acoustic monitoring. Naveen Dar, a high‑school coder who built a lightweight neural gunshot detector. Melissa Hobson, a wildlife writer who investigates the project. They discuss acoustic vs camera monitoring, the messy challenge of false positives in forests, building compact neural nets that generalize across habitats, and the promise and limits of real‑time alerts for anti‑poaching.

Rebecca J. Lester, an anthropologist and clinical social worker who studies relationships and non-monogamy, breaks down polyamory and its emphasis on consent and communication. She contrasts myths with lived practices. Topics include how multiple romantic ties function, ethical obligations versus cheating, negotiation of autonomy, and lessons that can strengthen any relationship.

Lee Billings, science writer and senior space and physics editor, offers informed commentary on spaceflight milestones. He discusses Artemis II wet dress rehearsal and SLS rocket fixes. Conversation also covers an inhaled broad respiratory vaccine, the FDA’s surprise review of Moderna’s mRNA flu shot, air pollution linked to Alzheimer’s, and a newly discovered spinosaurid that upends habitat ideas.

Paulina Rowińska, science journalist who explains competing theories. Daniel Bonn, physics professor who measures ice friction and skating implications. Martin Müser, theoretical physicist who studies surface disorder and proposed the amorphous-layer idea. They discuss pressure-melting limits, frictional heating across temperatures, thin pre-melt layers, and a new amorphization hypothesis as a possible slipperiness winner.

Susan Palmer, a study participant who had sensors installed to monitor gait and prevent falls. George Demiris, a researcher at Penn focused on AI for healthy aging. They discuss smart-home sensors that predict fall risk, AI tools for medication and care planning, ethical and privacy challenges, fairness and consent as dementia progresses, and how AI complements but does not replace hands-on caregiving.