Best KCUR 89.3 NPR In Kansas City Podcasts (2025)

1
Forget something? Here’s how to improve your memory 32:56

2M ago32:56

32:56

Our memories are a big part of what makes us human. But why do some moments tend to stick in our brain for years, while others fade away? Neuroscientists Kausik Si and Elizabeth Kensinger explain the different types of memories and share tips for how we can remember better.By Kate The Chemist, Suzanne Hogan

1
Why do we need to sleep? 40:50

4M ago40:50

40:50

Humans spend one-third of their life sleeping, yet the purpose and function behind this regular state of unconsciousness remains a biological mystery. Sleep researcher Giorgio Gilestro is trying to understand some basic questions about it: like what sleep exactly is, and why it’s even necessary.By Kate The Chemist, Suzanne Hogan

1
How to adapt to the extreme cold, according to Finnish reindeer herders 37:31

5M ago37:31

37:31

Human biology thankfully allows us to adapt to major changes in temperature, but only so quickly. Professor Cara Ocobock is working with reindeer herders in subarctic Finland to find out how the human body evolved to withstand the extreme cold over time. What can we learn from communities that have a long history of living and working in the frigid…

1
Your most surprising science questions of the year, answered 24:02

6M ago24:02

24:02

We’ve dug into a lot of fascinating topics this past year on Seeking a Scientist, but they’re all so complicated! That means there are a lot of lingering questions that we haven’t had a chance to tackle yet. As we close out 2024, we’re celebrating our favorite science stories of the year and answering the weirdest, wackiest, and most surprising sci…

1
How living in outer space changes the human body 36:38

7M ago36:38

36:38

Gravity dominates every moment of our experience here on Earth. We may take it for granted, but NASA astronaut Kate Rubins assuredly does not. She knows firsthand the fun and challenges of living in microgravity. During her time in space, Rubins conducted important experiments so that someday humans can handle even longer missions — like heading to…

1
Feeling stressed? Here’s what is actually happening 39:50

8M ago39:50

39:50

Stress is a part of every human’s life, but the way it feels and how we handle it varies based on the individual. That’s one of the reasons stress is such a challenging topic for scientists to study. Dr. Rajita Sinha of Yale’s Stress Center says new brain imaging technology is helping us better understand our stress biology, the lasting effects of …

1
How can we bring extinct species back from the dead? 38:36

9M ago38:36

38:36

A new “Jurassic Park” movie is coming out next year, the latest installment of the blockbuster series all about the dangerous hubris in trying to bring dinosaurs back from extinction. Paleogeneticist Beth Shapiro says the science may be flawed, but cloning extinct species is more realistic than you may think. In fact, that work is already underway …

1
‘Twisters’ got one thing right: We can change the weather! 32:10

10M ago32:10

32:10

To save Oklahoma from treacherous tornados, scientists in the 2024 blockbuster “Twisters” try to use a real-life technique called cloud seeding. But would this really work? Researchers have actually been using cloud seeding to modify the weather since the 1940s. For professor Katja Friedrich, it’s a promising way to address some of the issues cause…

1
Dogs are talking — are you listening? 32:40

11M ago32:40

32:40

Dogs don’t talk to us the way our human best friends do, but they are biologically prepared to communicate with us in a range of ways. What if we could understand our furry companions better? Dr. Emily Bray, a canine cognition specialist, says that dogs are better at understanding us than we are them, but there are ways we can bridge the gap.…

1
Your burning questions about fireworks, answered 22:13

12M ago22:13

22:13

Fireworks have been used to dazzle and entertain for centuries. These spectacles can seem out of this world, and they’re directly related to Kate the Chemist’s favorite subject: chemistry. Kate answers your questions about fireworks, including what causes their sound, colors and even smell.By Kate The Chemist, Suzanne Hogan

1
Plants may be more intelligent than we think 33:33

1y ago33:33

33:33

We haven’t been giving the Plant Kingdom enough credit. Plants can move, attack, communicate, and adapt — even though they don’t have what's normally defined as a brain. But do plants meet the criteria for intelligent life? That’s the question Paco Calvo and Natalie Lawrence explore in their book “Planta Sapiens: Unmasking Plant Intelligence.”…

1
Can we stop an asteroid from hitting Earth? 32:50

1y ago32:50

32:50

Asteroids heading straight for planet Earth aren’t just a scenario out of a Hollywood thriller. Luckily, scientists around the world have long been preparing for such an “Armageddon” scenario.Kate The Chemist speaks with Nancy Chabot, one of the leaders behind NASA’s planetary defense missions, about destroying asteroids in space before they reach …

1
Breaking down the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of quantum dots 8:20

1+ y ago8:20

8:20

Ever since the 2023 Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of quantum dots, Kate’s phone has been ringing off the hook. Everyone wants her to explain what these tiny clusters of atoms are — and how they relate to the budding field of nanotechnology. In essence, she says, quantum dots are helping chemists make our world brighter, healthier and mo…

1
Seeking... your thoughts 2:00

2y ago2:00

2:00

Seeking A Scientist is returning for a second season! But before we head back to the lab, Kate The Chemist wants to hear from YOU. What episode was your favorite? What do you want to hear more about from us? Leave us a review and comment on your favorite podcast platform, or email Kate directly at [email protected].…

1
Does the multiverse actually exist? 32:24

2y ago32:24

32:24

Over the last few years, the box office has been dominated by films like "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" that explore ideas of parallel universes, quantum worlds and alternate lives. There's some real science behind those ideas, but they may not look exactly how we imagine. Theoretical physicist Sean Carroll helps us untangle the madness from…

1
Do fungi secretly rule our world? 36:18

2y ago36:18

36:18

From molds and yeasts to the mushrooms we fear and love, fungi are connected to life and death on our planet — but they're often misunderstood. We only know about 10% of the estimated 3.8 million species that exist. Do we need to be afraid of things like fungus zombies? We asked astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson and mycologist Giuliana Furci to he…

1
Can we stop our world from flooding? 34:20

2y ago34:20

34:20

In April 2023 alone, floods hit numerous regions of the United States, including land-locked states like Kansas, Tennessee and Colorado. With warmer temperatures and human activity causing the oceans to rise and the ground to sink, flooding is now a question of “when,” not “if.” NOAA oceanographer William Sweet explains why those disasters are gett…

1
Can we fix our failing electrical grid? 35:30

2y ago35:30

35:30

In February 2021, Texas and wide swaths of North America were shut down by Winter Storm Uri, which caused massive blackouts and left millions of people without power for days. The winter storms exposed vulnerabilities in our country’s electrical grid, and underlined the pressing need for a more reliable energy system. Is a recent breakthrough in nu…

1
Can we save the oceans from plastic? 35:16

2y ago35:16

35:16

In 1997, Captain Charles Moore discovered the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” the largest accumulation of plastic waste in the ocean. Since then, scientists have documented how plastic has permanently damaged marine ecosystems and even altered evolution. But marine biologist Danni Washington says it’s not all “doom and gloom" — scientists are alread…

1
Can humans reverse aging? 38:30

2y ago38:30

38:30

We tend to think of getting older as inevitable, but what if it’s actually something we can control? Researchers like David Sinclair and Nir Barzilai have discovered some of the secrets to reversing aging, found animals who defy our understandings of life, and turned old mice young again. But even if humans could live forever, should we?…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

KCUR 89.3 NPR In Kansas City Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Seeking A Scientist

KCUR Studios

1
Forget something? Here’s how to improve your memory 32:56

1
Why do we need to sleep? 40:50

1
How to adapt to the extreme cold, according to Finnish reindeer herders 37:31

1
Your most surprising science questions of the year, answered 24:02

1
How living in outer space changes the human body 36:38

1
Feeling stressed? Here’s what is actually happening 39:50

1
How can we bring extinct species back from the dead? 38:36

1
‘Twisters’ got one thing right: We can change the weather! 32:10

1
Dogs are talking — are you listening? 32:40

1
Your burning questions about fireworks, answered 22:13

1
Plants may be more intelligent than we think 33:33

1
Can we stop an asteroid from hitting Earth? 32:50

1
Breaking down the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of quantum dots 8:20

1
Seeking... your thoughts 2:00

1
Does the multiverse actually exist? 32:24

1
Do fungi secretly rule our world? 36:18

1
Can we stop our world from flooding? 34:20

1
Can we fix our failing electrical grid? 35:30

1
Can we save the oceans from plastic? 35:16

1
Can humans reverse aging? 38:30

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