Best WGBH Science Unit Podcasts (2025)

1
(Refeed) Dual Epidemics Threaten Koalas 6:39

11y ago6:39

6:39

Australia's koala population has been hit hard by two rapidly spreading diseases: chlamydia (a sexually transmitted infection) and a retrovirus similar to HIV. Scientists are working to develop vaccines, while lay citizens help care for sick koalas. Biologists say the epidemics, combined with other threats like habitat loss, pose a serious threat t…

1
(Refeed) Surveillance City 4:18

11y ago4:18

4:18

In this interview with The World's Marco Werman, NOVA Producer Miles O'Brien describes how surveillance footage played a key role in cracking the case of the Boston Marathon bombings. But as O’Brien discovered in the course of reporting the NOVA special “Manhunt—Boston Bombers,” other cities, especially New York City, have surveillance camera netwo…

1
(Refeed) Deadly Crocodiles Down Under 6:27

11y ago6:27

6:27

The residents of Australia's Northern Territory share their land with one of the deadliest predators on the planet—the saltwater crocodile. Getting humans and these fearsome reptiles to coexist isn't easy. But a government program called "Be Crocwise" is doing its best to keep the peace.For more global science stories, visit: http://www.world-scien…

1
(Refeed) Boosting Kids' Brain Power 7:06

11y ago7:06

7:06

An Oxford University researcher will soon test whether applying an electric current to part of the brain can help children learn math—an effect previously demonstrated in adults. Parents are already lining up for access to the device. But is the technique safe? And is this an ethical way to improve a child’s performance in school?For more global en…

1
(Refeed) The Clever Dog Lab 7:22

11y ago7:22

7:22

What makes a dog bold or shy, eager or sullen? The Veterinary University of Vienna's Clever Dog Lab aims to find out with the help of some 600 Austrian dogs that owners volunteer for experiments. The results could improve the training and selection of dogs that serve society, from helping the disabled to assisting the police. For more global scienc…

1
(Refeed) New Species in the Old World 4:10

11+ y ago4:10

4:10

The last place you'd expect to find a new treasure is where everyone has been looking for centuries. Yet in Europe, home to history's greatest taxonomists, professional scientists and amateurs are scouring the countryside for new species—and finding them at an astonishing rate.Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Publi…

1
Judo with Nature | NOVA Short 2:18

11+ y ago2:18

2:18

Eco-engineers in the Netherlands are taking hints from nature to rein in flooding. One idea is to plant trees in front of dikes to lower the height of approaching waves. They compare this type of approach to judo—they are using the forces of nature, rather than fighting against them, to produce powerful results.Funding for NOVA is provided by David…

1
(Refeed) Gamers and Genomics 5:24

11+ y ago5:24

5:24

People around the world spend an estimated 3 billion hours playing computer games every week. That might seem like a colossal waste of time, but scientists are starting to harness some of that effort to solve vexing problems in biology. Take, for example, a game developed by a pair of scientists in Canada.This podcast was produced by Sam Eaton for …

1
Reimagining New York | NOVA Short 4:35

11+ y ago4:35

4:35

Disaster risk management expert Klaus Jacob speaks candidly about the effects of climate change and sea level rise on New York City. He says we need to think ahead to what New York will look like 400 years from now in order to plan effectively.Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.…

1
(Refeed) A Gene for Fish Order 8:12

11+ y ago8:12

8:12

British scientists have developed a genetic test for a disorder that causes people to emit an unusual body odor: The gene causes sufferers to smell like rotten fish. For those who have been ostracized—shunned by friends and unable to hold jobs because they are perceived as unhygienic—the test offers some solace. But one patient says the genetic dis…

1
JFK | NOVA Short 3:38

11+ y ago3:38

3:38

Witnesses to JFK's assassination heard three shots, and police found three cartridges in Oswald's perch. Nevertheless, only two bullets were ever found. Could this missing bullet have hit a tree or the pavement? And if so, why was it never located? Forensics experts Luke and Mike Haag perform tests with a Carcano rifle to solve the mystery of the m…

1
Cryonics| NOVA Short 4:40

11+ y ago4:40

4:40

Since 1972, a company called Alcor has been preserving legally dead people at very low temperatures. The hope is that in the future, scientists will be able to revive these "patients," giving them a chance for eternal life. It may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but host David Pogue met with Alcor president and CEO Max More to tour the fac…

1
Cockroach Cyborgs| NOVA's Gross Science 2:26

11+ y ago2:26

2:26

Gross Science: With just a few simple tools, anyone can turn a cockroach into a tiny controllable 'bugborg.' Why would you want to? It turns out that these nasty pests could turn into life savers in the future.National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation …

1
Carnivorous Plants and Killer Ants | NOVA's Gross Science 3:03

11+ y ago3:03

3:03

Gross Science: These flesh-eating plants usually prey on unsuspecting insects. But one species of ant calls this plant home. Watch the drama unfold... through watercolor animation!National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and P…

1
NOVA Labs|The Making of a Cloud 3:35

11+ y ago3:35

3:35

Clouds affect us every day, no matter the weather. But what exactly are clouds and how do they form? And how can they help us predict severe storms, the availability of water, and our future climate?NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David …

1
NOVA Labs|Clouds and Severe Storms 3:37

11+ y ago3:37

3:37

We might prefer beautiful weather reports, but we really pay attention when severe storms are predicted. So how do Earth's most powerful storms develop, and how is this related to cloud formation?NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. …

1
Gamers and Genomics 5:24

11+ y ago5:24

5:24

People around the world spend an estimated 3 billion hours playing computer games every week. That might seem like a colossal waste of time, but scientists are starting to harness some of that effort to solve vexing problems in biology. Take, for example, a game developed by a pair of scientists in Canada.This podcast was produced by Sam Eaton for …

1
NOVA Labs|Why So Many Cloud Types? 3:35

11+ y ago3:35

3:35

What exactly is a cloud? Why do clouds form over some areas and not others? Take a look inside: learn about factors that cause clouds to develop in the first place and find out why there are so many different types.NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is pr…

1
NOVA Labs|Clouds and Weather 3:21

11+ y ago3:21

3:21

A perfectly sunny day one moment and driving rain the next. What atmospheric conditions are involved in the development of storm clouds and the dramatic weather effects they can unleash?NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the …

1
NOVA Labs|The Climate Wild Card 3:02

12y ago3:02

3:02

Clouds have a powerful influence on the temperature of our planet. Just how they will respond as global temperatures increase is one of the most pressing scientific questions of our time.NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the…

1
(Refeed) Collecting Rain in Mexico City 5:19

12y ago5:19

5:19

Mexico City faces a severe water crisis as 21 million residents slowly drain its aquifer. An environmental group is suggesting a plan to install rainwater harvesting systems on individual homes, but city officials are not convinced it will work.For more global science stories, visit: http://www.world-science.org/NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. …

1
Engineering Extra Senses 6:51

12y ago6:51

6:51

Sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. We interact with the world and navigate through it thanks to our senses. But what if we could add to that repertoire? A British scientist and a small group of enthusiasts are exploring ways to do just that. For more global science stories, visit:http://www.world-science.org/NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Nati…

1
(Refeed) Of Mice and Memory 12:43

12y ago12:43

12:43

Mice placed in enriched environments can recover lost memories, giving hope to those who study Alzheimer's.Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers.NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major fundin…

1
(Refeed) Sandy's Warning 6:03

12y ago6:03

6:03

Hurricane Sandy has renewed the debate over climate change in the United States, and two high-profile reports released since the storm have made it clear that without big changes we're headed for an extremely serious climate disruption. Reporter Sam Eaton takes a look at what would have to happen to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global war…

1
(Refeed) NSN | Can Machines Think Like Us? 13:31

12y ago13:31

13:31

A computer named Watson is the latest contestant in machine versus human battles of the "mind." Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers.National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Co…

1
Cornering the Higgs 7:40

12y ago7:40

7:40

On July 4, 2012, scientists at CERN used the word "discovery" to describe the results of experiments designed to prove the existence of the Higgs boson, a particle that gives mass to the universe. Host Marco Werman of PRI's The World gets a down-to-earth layman's analogy for what it means to say that a particle "gives mass," finds out why it's call…

1
(Refeed) Elements in the Ocean 4:05

12y ago4:05

4:05

There's a lot more to the oceans than salt and water. Many other ingredients make up the rich broth that sustains marine life and helps regulate the Earth's climate. But where do those ingredients come from? To answer that question, French geochemist Catherine Jeandel has collected seawater from all over the world and is examining it for elemental …

1
NSN | New Photos of Einstein's Brain 3:49

12y ago3:49

3:49

Researchers who've studied Einstein's brain have long known that parts of his parietal lobe—a part of the brain involved in spatial imagination—were unusually large. But now, a collection of 14 photographs missing since 1955 have revealed that Einstein's right frontal lobe has four ridges instead of the standard-issue three, giving him more brain p…

1
Climate Change and Sandy 6:36

12y ago6:36

6:36

Could climate change be contributing to extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy? Jennifer Francis, a climatologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, believes that may be the case. In fact, her research shows that Arctic warming may have contributed to many of the extreme weather events of the past few years. Sam Eaton reports from New Jersey…

1
(Refeed) NSN | Autism Genes 12:51

12y ago12:51

12:51

Researchers have begun to zero in on genes that might be responsible for autism.NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by The Boeing Company. Major funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the Nation…

1
Zeroing in on Surveillance Video 3:33

12y ago3:33

3:33

After a crime or terrorist attack, authorities looking for the perpetrators may need to review many hours of surveillance video—in just minutes. But how can they speed up the video without speeding up the action? That's where "video synopsis" can help.For more global science stories, visit: http://www.world-science.org/NOVA is produced by WGBH in B…

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