Shows / A Moment of Science
A Moment of Science
A Moment of Science is a daily audio podcast, public radio program and video series providing the scientific story behind some of life's most perplexing mysteries.
Episodes
- A Moment of Science
Right Brain, Left Face
Have you ever noticed that famous portraits always tend to depict people from their left side?
- A Moment of Science
Why Do Teens Make Dumb Decisions
Adults aren't exempt from making dumb decisions, either. It's all about impulse control.
- A Moment of Science
The Creature with an Extra Brain
Thinking with your stomach? After all, it does have its own nervous system.
- A Moment of Science
Eary Mammals Probably Had Dark Coats
How did scientists determine the color of the coats of prehistoric mammals from only a fossil?
- A Moment of Science
Counting Fish
The angelfish is making waves for demonstrating the surprising ability to count.
- A Moment of Science
The Benefits of Bullying
Some marmots – a type of ground squirrel – live longer when they get bullied by others.
- A Moment of Science
How Baleen Whales Hide Their Songs from Predators
Baleen whales, like the humpback whale, are known for their songs. But their predators can hear them, too.
- A Moment of Science
Diver Up
The Cartesian Diver is an easy science experiment for kids to make at home. How does it work?
- A Moment of Science
Diver Down
Rene Descartes discovered the phenomenon behind this neat science trick you can do at home.
- A Moment of Science
Meet the Mola: A Fish the Size of Your Car
The heaviest Mola weighed 6,000 pounds. These lumpy pillow-shaped fish love floating on the surface of the water.
- A Moment of Science
New Elephant Species
These elephants were hiding in plain sight – for almost 1.9 million years.
- A Moment of Science
Happy Memories
What’s the scientific method to happiness? It might just be how you think about the past.
- A Moment of Science
The Cuckoo's Secret
A bird that abandons their eggs? What’s worse – these birds leave them in other species’ nests.
- A Moment of Science
Exercising While under the Weather
Does it help to exercise when you're sick for a speedy recovery?
- A Moment of Science
How Casino Design Influences Gamblers’ Minds and Wallet
Save some money for the buffet, because this game is rigged.
- A Moment of Science
Do Flying Fish Really Fly?
Do they really fly? Or just kinda jump out of the water?
- A Moment of Science
Snoring and Metabolic Syndrome
Snoring is annoying, but it's also a red flag for metabolic syndrome.
- A Moment of Science
The Oldest Fossil Tadpoles
Have frogs changed very much since the days of the dinos?
- A Moment of Science
Being Top Banana, a Double-edged Sword
Being top banana comes with its advantages (and parasitic worms).
- A Moment of Science
The Asteroid That Made NASA Worry
In January 2025, scientists at NASA began to worry of a potentially devasting asteroid impact.
- A Moment of Science
Knowing Which Way the Wind Blows
How do engineers know where to place wind turbines?
- A Moment of Science
Are You Hopping on the Bandwagon?
How susceptible are you to social media influencers?
- A Moment of Science
All This Carbon Dioxide Is Making Me Hungry
Does carbon dioxide content in plants make bugs hungrier?
- A Moment of Science
The Powerful Punch of the Mantis Shrimp
He might look like a shrimp, but he packs a strangely powerful punch.
- A Moment of Science
Musical Healing
Music isn't just a therapeutic for your ears, it also affects your body.
- A Moment of Science
Why Are Bird Eggs Speckled?
Some have suggested the speckles work as camouflage, but that might not be the full story.
- A Moment of Science
For a Long Life, Is It Better to Focus on Fitness or Fatness?
Body weight is important, but how does it indicate health?
- A Moment of Science
The Great Eel Escape
Feeling swallowed alive? If you're like this eel, you still have one last trick up your sleeve.
- A Moment of Science
Invasion Can Be Hard on the Invaders, Too
This invasive toad has caused a lot of problems, even for itself.
- A Moment of Science
Vanishing Vanilla
Do you like vanilla? Because it's about to get really expensive.
- A Moment of Science
Ringed Seals on the Hotseat
Arctic melting causes problems for the homes of ringed seals.
- A Moment of Science
And You Thought Your Neighbors Were Annoying
This invasive plant causes a lot of trouble for its neighbors.
- A Moment of Science
Early Americans Ate Mammoth Meat
New evidence from an ancient burial site reveals a 13,000-year-old diet.
- A Moment of Science
Pythons Will Eat Your Alligators
In 2022, scientists dissected an 18-foot Burmese python only to find a barely digested 5-foot-long gator.
- A Moment of Science
The Cyclopean Ear
Praying mantids were long thought to be deaf, but neuroscientists have made a new discovery.
- A Moment of Science
No Gills, No Problems
420 million years ago, this fish evolved an interesting ability. For a fish, anyways.
- A Moment of Science
Baby Talk in Monkeys and Humans
It turns out that humans and monkeys have a shared language when it comes to talking to babies.
- A Moment of Science
Don't Dwell! Avoid Ruminating
Maybe you feel like your brain is a broken record. Are you sure you're not ruminating?
- A Moment of Science
Beetle Poop for Wildfire Recovery
Everybody poops, but does your poop help forests recover from wildfires?
- A Moment of Science
Uh Oh! Moles!
These critters are natural experts at digging holes in your backyard.
- A Moment of Science
The Magic of Glycerin
What do chocolate-covered cherries have in common with hand lotion?
- A Moment of Science
Smiling Voices
Can you tell whether someone is smiling just by hearing their voice?
- A Moment of Science
Collapse of the Conger Ice Shelf
20 times as large as the island of Manhattan, the Conger ice shelf has suddenly fragmented into icebergs.
- A Moment of Science
Sticky and Deadly
You've heard of Venus flying traps, but have you heard of pitcher plants?
- A Moment of Science
The Regenerative Power of Worms
How to live and long and healthy life? Ask a worm!