Science

A project called Los Angeles Speaks is looking at how language evolves and affects communities, including neighborhoods impacted by recent wildfires.

from KCRW Features

This week, Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer prize-winning reporter and author of Supercommunicators; How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection talks about why some people are just better…

from Life Examined

Dire predictions about the future of artificial intelligence are in a recent report by a Berkeley-based group called the AI Futures Project.

Superhuman AI could be real in a few years, Berkeley group predicts

Dire predictions about the future of artificial intelligence are in a recent report by a Berkeley-based group called the AI Futures Project.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Bernie Krause’s thousands of hours of recordings reveal how climate change is affecting the natural world.

Documenting the sound of climate change with audio ecologist Bernie Krause

Bernie Krause’s thousands of hours of recordings reveal how climate change is affecting the natural world.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Alex Hutchinson, science journalist and endurance athlete, discusses the science that drives human exploration.

Are we wired for discovery? Alex Hutchinson on the explorer’s gene.

Alex Hutchinson, science journalist and endurance athlete, discusses the science that drives human exploration.

from Life Examined

The federal government will not test soil in the fire zones, so USC researchers are doing it for them. For earth scientist Josh West, the work is close to home.

USC professor’s house burned down, now he’s helping victims test their soil

The federal government will not test soil in the fire zones, so USC researchers are doing it for them. For earth scientist Josh West, the work is close to home.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Duonychus tsogtbaatari is a newly discovered plant-eater that roamed Earth tens of millions of years ago. It had a long neck, two legs, and two massive claws.

Newly found dino’s claws were like ‘oversized barbecue tongs’

Duonychus tsogtbaatari is a newly discovered plant-eater that roamed Earth tens of millions of years ago. It had a long neck, two legs, and two massive claws.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Invasive plants are overrunning the Santa Monica Mountains, making fires more destructive and more frequent. Thus, conservationists are trying to grow more native species.

Invasive plants make fires worse. Can they be stopped?

Invasive plants are overrunning the Santa Monica Mountains, making fires more destructive and more frequent. Thus, conservationists are trying to grow more native species.

from KCRW Features

Carolyn Kormann shares alarming facts about how microplastics have made their way into our bodies.

Microplastics have invaded our air, our water, our food, and our brains

Carolyn Kormann shares alarming facts about how microplastics have made their way into our bodies.

from Good Food

“Severance” on Apple TV+ mirrors the experience of medical procedures done on split-brain patients, which was first developed in the 1960s at Caltech.

‘Severance’: Medical science behind hit TV show studied in LA

“Severance” on Apple TV+ mirrors the experience of medical procedures done on split-brain patients, which was first developed in the 1960s at Caltech.

from KCRW Features

Microgravity, confined quarters, and heightened galactic radiation lead to physiological changes. What we’re learning in space is influencing terrestrial health care.

How space travel affects the human body

Microgravity, confined quarters, and heightened galactic radiation lead to physiological changes. What we’re learning in space is influencing terrestrial health care.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The National Institutes of Health gives most of its money to universities, medical schools, and research institutions.

Potential cuts to science research grants hurts everyone, says UCLA professor

The National Institutes of Health gives most of its money to universities, medical schools, and research institutions.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Environmentalists say the cuts would have drastic consequences on efforts to protect Americans from hazardous chemicals, air and water pollution, and climate change.

EPA considers eliminating its office of scientific research

Environmentalists say the cuts would have drastic consequences on efforts to protect Americans from hazardous chemicals, air and water pollution, and climate change.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Five years after the pandemic started, 2 million people still need treatment for long COVID. Doctors say there’s much yet to learn about the condition.

Long COVID: Much yet to learn 5 years after pandemic

Five years after the pandemic started, 2 million people still need treatment for long COVID. Doctors say there’s much yet to learn about the condition.

from KCRW Features

Psychologist Tracy Dennis Tiwary says anxiety is on the rise, but avoiding emotional distress only makes us weaker, more fragile and increases anxiety levels.

Understanding anxiety —and its surprising upside

Psychologist Tracy Dennis Tiwary says anxiety is on the rise, but avoiding emotional distress only makes us weaker, more fragile and increases anxiety levels.

from Life Examined

Gabriela Glueck puts lab grown chocolate under the microscope.

Sampling California's first lab-grown chocolate

Gabriela Glueck puts lab grown chocolate under the microscope.

from Good Food

Apoorva Mandavilli reports on the bird flu crisis and what items to avoid when you're shopping.

What you need to know about the latest version of bird flu

Apoorva Mandavilli reports on the bird flu crisis and what items to avoid when you're shopping.

from Good Food

This week, Kelsey Johnson , astronomer and author of Into the Unknown:The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos talks about the Cosmos and the moral necessity of exploring…

Midweek Reset: On The Cosmos

This week, Kelsey Johnson , astronomer and author of Into the Unknown:The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos talks about the Cosmos and the moral necessity of exploring…

from Life Examined

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. begins Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday to lead HHS. His views of alternative medicine are increasingly embraced by the MAGA movement.

RFJ Jr. brings New Age thinking to MAGA

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. begins Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday to lead HHS. His views of alternative medicine are increasingly embraced by the MAGA movement.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Julia Van Soelen Kim shares advice for gardeners concerned about how ash from the Palisades and Eaton fires might impact their crops.

Is the ash and residue from the recent fires a danger to the fruits and vegetables in your garden?

Julia Van Soelen Kim shares advice for gardeners concerned about how ash from the Palisades and Eaton fires might impact their crops.

from Good Food