Science unscripted

If you could put on VR goggles and talk to your future self... would that help you become who you want to be? Or would it harm you?

When Elon Musk talks about a human 'civilization' on Mars, he's suggesting we'll have babies there. Should we?

A new experiment shows pigeons use immune cells to navigate our planet. The discovery redefines our understanding of how an animal can 'feel' Earth's magnetic field.

There are plenty of reasons NOT to have kids. But a new paper suggests having them may be the only way to protect gender equality over the long term.

Influencers, billionaires, even the US health secretary. Proponents of testosterone — as a hormonal therapy or barometer of "masculinity" — are causing men to self-medicate. With nasty consequences.

This ship phase is over. But the nature of this virus means cases may rise — even as officials contain it.

If you want to understand why the Andes variant of the hantavirus is different than COVID-19, this episode's for you.

We know advertising works. (It's why the industry exists.) But a new study on beer ads in Germany shows how. Causally.

Some people seem to know if others are intelligent. Others... don't. A new study suggests why.

A new study tried just about everything to get people to have a more positive reaction to AI poetry and prose. It failed. Almost always. And it's worth talking about why. (NOTE: A human wrote this.)

Lust? Humiliation? Control? If you think you know why men and boys make fake AI nudes of women and girls... first-of-its-kind research suggests a motivation that's almost more troubling. (Note: If you or anyone you know is the victim of non-consensual intimate imagery, the global non-profit StopNCII.org provides step-by-step support in 38 languages.)

A shockingly high number of people believe a global calamity will happen in their lifetime. Are you one of them?

A viral TikTok of a woman kicked off a plane is a good time to talk about how to (productively) confront loud people.

Some of us get chills from music, movies or art. And others... never do. Why is that?

It's usually guys who complain about being 'friendzoned.' But new research says it definitely happens to women, too — sometimes.

A new study shows a sex difference in the early growth of the human brain. Does it matter?

The loss of a pet can affect you more than losing a loved one, a new study shows. With one exception.

Compared to chimps or gorillas, human males are unusually well endowed. A new study suggests it's partly because men 'size each other up' before a fight.

You really do benefit from 'friends with benefits,' a new study suggests. Also, a forgotten birthday can tank employee morale and a look at how the Autobahn lead to more support for the Nazi party.

When it feels like society's breaking down right before your eyes, it's called anomie. And it can lead to an even a darker place.

It's an interesting question. Even more intriguing is why you believe what you do — and whether you live near a city.

Cannibalism happened among the Neanderthals. That much we knew. Now, a paleoanthropological discovery has possibly uncovered an ugly truth about our distant cousins. Conor and Gabe head to a cave in Belgium to check it out.

Thanks to everybody who listened during this year. Most of all, thank you to those who wrote to us and — in the process — became part of our show.

Want to like someone more? It just takes eight seconds. Also, mice that smelled bacon... had more obese children?

$1,000 is put in your hand. With one condition: You have to donate it. What do you do next?