Science

Spatulas and other utensils made from black plastic are potentially toxic to human health, even more so than regular plastic items, researchers say.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Physician and journalist Bryce Y. Lee reveals how scientists are using the food dye found in Doritos to make see-through mice.

from Good Food

Health and nutrition reporter Alice Callahan breaks down "ultra-processed foods," a newish term to describe the evil that lurks on supermarket shelves.

What are ultra-processed foods? We have answers

Health and nutrition reporter Alice Callahan breaks down "ultra-processed foods," a newish term to describe the evil that lurks on supermarket shelves.

from Good Food

Life finds a way. National Park guide Joseph C. Ward explains how some Cheetos dust changed life in a New Mexico cavern.

The Cheetos bag that altered the ecosystem of a New Mexico cavern

Life finds a way. National Park guide Joseph C. Ward explains how some Cheetos dust changed life in a New Mexico cavern.

from Good Food

Anthropologist Susan Greenhalgh describes how soda companies have influenced the science around sugary drinks.

How corporations try to convince us soda isn't really that bad

Anthropologist Susan Greenhalgh describes how soda companies have influenced the science around sugary drinks.

from Good Food

The medical diagnosis used to convict a Texas death row inmate has drawn growing skepticism. At least 30 others similarly convicted have been exonerated.

Shaken baby syndrome: Junk science?

The medical diagnosis used to convict a Texas death row inmate has drawn growing skepticism. At least 30 others similarly convicted have been exonerated.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

California and eight other states mandate composting to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills. But so far, most of the laws haven’t done much, according to new research.

Enforcing composting laws: California fails, Massachusetts succeeds

California and eight other states mandate composting to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills. But so far, most of the laws haven’t done much, according to new research.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, says it’s waived fees for customers in hurricane-affected areas. The company is growing, but rivals may be coming.

Starlink proves useful in aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, says it’s waived fees for customers in hurricane-affected areas. The company is growing, but rivals may be coming.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Chemist and baker Kat Cermelj conquers recipes without gluten, dairy, or eggs in "The Elements of Baking."

Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, or vegan baking? Not a problem for chemist Kat Cermelj

Chemist and baker Kat Cermelj conquers recipes without gluten, dairy, or eggs in "The Elements of Baking."

from Good Food

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

‘Godfather of AI’ wins physics Nobel, he fears his creation

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Hurricane Milton intensified from Category 1 to Category 5 in just nine hours.

How did Hurricane Milton get so strong so quickly?

Hurricane Milton intensified from Category 1 to Category 5 in just nine hours.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

People who are at high risk of diabetes and heart disease could drop weight and lower their blood sugar and cholesterol if they intermittently fast, new research shows.

Intermittent fasting could have health benefits for adults, research shows

People who are at high risk of diabetes and heart disease could drop weight and lower their blood sugar and cholesterol if they intermittently fast, new research shows.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A new California law bars public schools from serving snacks with synthetic food dyes that have been linked to behavioral disorders in children.

What’s the link between food chemicals and children’s health?

A new California law bars public schools from serving snacks with synthetic food dyes that have been linked to behavioral disorders in children.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

New CA law protects ‘brain data’ collected by neurotech companies

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

New York Times correspondent Kim Severson reports on the attempts to replace plastics in the grocery store.

The Trader Joe's Effect: How one of the country's favorite grocery stores is part of the plastic problem

New York Times correspondent Kim Severson reports on the attempts to replace plastics in the grocery store.

from Good Food

A UC Davis scientist is trying to bioengineer cow microbes so they produce less methane.

Getting cows to release less methane: CA scientist turns to CRISPR

A UC Davis scientist is trying to bioengineer cow microbes so they produce less methane.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Charles Duhigg outlines the qualities of " supercommunicators " and the science behind their ability to connect deeply with others. This is an excerpt from " Life Examined ."

What does science say about the art of communication?

Charles Duhigg outlines the qualities of " supercommunicators " and the science behind their ability to connect deeply with others. This is an excerpt from " Life Examined ."

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

SoCal is bracing for a blistering heat wave over the next few days. What can cities like LA and Phoenix do to adapt to extreme temperatures amid climate change?

Hotter climate can mean a wholesale transformation of society

SoCal is bracing for a blistering heat wave over the next few days. What can cities like LA and Phoenix do to adapt to extreme temperatures amid climate change?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, unlocks some of the secrets discovered via 80 years of research on happiness.

In search of happiness: The secrets and science behind leading a good life

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, unlocks some of the secrets discovered via 80 years of research on happiness.

from Life Examined

Both COVID and mosquito-borne diseases are spreading this summer. A Pasadena-based doctor talks about the latest coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures.

‘There's so much virus circulating right now’: Doctor on vaccines this season

Both COVID and mosquito-borne diseases are spreading this summer. A Pasadena-based doctor talks about the latest coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand