Above the Arctic Circle, much of the land is underlaid by permafrost. But climate change is causing it to thaw. This is not good news for the planet.  As the carbon rich ground warms, microbes start to feast… releasing greenhouse gases that will warm the

Birds have it going on. Many of these winged dinosaurs delight us with their song and brilliant plumage. Migratory birds travel thousands of miles in a display of endurance that would make an Olympic athlete gasp. We inquire about these daunting migration

The zombie eco-thriller The Last of Us has alerted us to the threats posed by fungi. But the show is not entirely science fiction.Our vulnerability to pathogenic fungi is more real than many people imagine.Find out what human activity drives global f

Drinking a cup of coffee is how billions of people wake up every morning. But climate change is threatening this popular beverage. Over 60% of the worlds coffee species are at risk of extinction. Scientists are searching for solutions, including hunting

The Great North American Solar Eclipse will trace a path of shadow across Mexico and 13 U.S. States on April 8th. Phil Plait, also known as The Bad Astronomer, joins the show for an extended interview covering a wide-range of topics, such as his excitemen

Asteroids are rich in precious metals and other valuable resources. But mining them presents considerable challenges. We discuss these, and consider how these spinning, rocky resources might be the key to a space-faring future. But an economist points out

Standing on your own two feet isnt easy. While many animals can momentarily balance on their hind legs, were the only critters, besides birds, for whom bipedalism is completely normal. Find out why, even though other animals are faster, were champions

The Supreme Courts ruling on Roe has ignited fierce debate about bodily autonomy. But its remarkable how little we know about female physiology. Find out what studies have been overlooked by science, and what has been recently learned. Plus, why studyin

A century ago, British archaeologist Howard Carter opened the only surviving intact tomb from ancient Egypt. Inside was the mummy of the boy king Tutankhamun, together with wonderful things including a solid gold mask.Treasure from King Tuts crypt has

The discovery of a massive amount of lithium under the Salton Sea could make the U.S. lithium independent. The metal is key for batteries in electric vehicles and solar panels. But the area is also a delicate ecosystem. We go to southern California to hea