Science

California and eight other states mandate composting to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills. But so far, most of the laws haven’t done much, according to new research.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, says it’s waived fees for customers in hurricane-affected areas. The company is growing, but rivals may be coming.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Chemist and baker Kat Cermelj conquers recipes without gluten, dairy, or eggs in "The Elements of Baking."

Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, or vegan baking? Not a problem for chemist Kat Cermelj

Chemist and baker Kat Cermelj conquers recipes without gluten, dairy, or eggs in "The Elements of Baking."

from Good Food

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

‘Godfather of AI’ wins physics Nobel, he fears his creation

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Hurricane Milton intensified from Category 1 to Category 5 in just nine hours.

How did Hurricane Milton get so strong so quickly?

Hurricane Milton intensified from Category 1 to Category 5 in just nine hours.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

People who are at high risk of diabetes and heart disease could drop weight and lower their blood sugar and cholesterol if they intermittently fast, new research shows.

Intermittent fasting could have health benefits for adults, research shows

People who are at high risk of diabetes and heart disease could drop weight and lower their blood sugar and cholesterol if they intermittently fast, new research shows.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A new California law bars public schools from serving snacks with synthetic food dyes that have been linked to behavioral disorders in children.

What’s the link between food chemicals and children’s health?

A new California law bars public schools from serving snacks with synthetic food dyes that have been linked to behavioral disorders in children.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

New CA law protects ‘brain data’ collected by neurotech companies

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

New York Times correspondent Kim Severson reports on the attempts to replace plastics in the grocery store.

The Trader Joe's Effect: How one of the country's favorite grocery stores is part of the plastic problem

New York Times correspondent Kim Severson reports on the attempts to replace plastics in the grocery store.

from Good Food

A UC Davis scientist is trying to bioengineer cow microbes so they produce less methane.

Getting cows to release less methane: CA scientist turns to CRISPR

A UC Davis scientist is trying to bioengineer cow microbes so they produce less methane.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Charles Duhigg outlines the qualities of " supercommunicators " and the science behind their ability to connect deeply with others. This is an excerpt from " Life Examined ."

What does science say about the art of communication?

Charles Duhigg outlines the qualities of " supercommunicators " and the science behind their ability to connect deeply with others. This is an excerpt from " Life Examined ."

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

SoCal is bracing for a blistering heat wave over the next few days. What can cities like LA and Phoenix do to adapt to extreme temperatures amid climate change?

Hotter climate can mean a wholesale transformation of society

SoCal is bracing for a blistering heat wave over the next few days. What can cities like LA and Phoenix do to adapt to extreme temperatures amid climate change?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, unlocks some of the secrets discovered via 80 years of research on happiness.

In search of happiness: The secrets and science behind leading a good life

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, unlocks some of the secrets discovered via 80 years of research on happiness.

from Life Examined

Both COVID and mosquito-borne diseases are spreading this summer. A Pasadena-based doctor talks about the latest coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures.

‘There's so much virus circulating right now’: Doctor on vaccines this season

Both COVID and mosquito-borne diseases are spreading this summer. A Pasadena-based doctor talks about the latest coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Imagine looking at a friend’s face — and their eyes, cheeks, and lips begin to distort, instantly or gradually. It’s the result of prosopometamorphopsia (PMO).

Faces are more subjective than you think: Lessons from a rare disorder

Imagine looking at a friend’s face — and their eyes, cheeks, and lips begin to distort, instantly or gradually. It’s the result of prosopometamorphopsia (PMO).

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Body disposition can have a major environmental impact. That’s partly why 12 states and counting have legalized human composting in the past five years.

Dying harms the planet. So CA legalized human composting

Body disposition can have a major environmental impact. That’s partly why 12 states and counting have legalized human composting in the past five years.

from KCRW Features

One in 10 Americans over age 65 has dementia, an umbrella term for symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.

Dementia patients are living full lives thanks to experimental program in UK

One in 10 Americans over age 65 has dementia, an umbrella term for symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The epicenter of Monday’s 4.4 magnitude earthquake was in El Sereno on the Puente Hills fault system. While it's not as famous as the San Andreas fault, it could be more dangerous.

Beyond San Andreas: Monday’s 4.4 quake was from Puente Hills fault

The epicenter of Monday’s 4.4 magnitude earthquake was in El Sereno on the Puente Hills fault system. While it's not as famous as the San Andreas fault, it could be more dangerous.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams piloted the maiden voyage of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. Now they're stuck at the ISS and might have to hitch a ride home with SpaceX.

Two NASA astronauts possibly stuck in space until 2025

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams piloted the maiden voyage of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. Now they're stuck at the ISS and might have to hitch a ride home with SpaceX.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gender testing in sports is more complex than it sounds. Rose Eveleth of the podcast “ Tested ” explains why some elite female athletes face challenges to their ability to compete.

Gender testing: It’s tough to draw a clean line between men and women

Gender testing in sports is more complex than it sounds. Rose Eveleth of the podcast “ Tested ” explains why some elite female athletes face challenges to their ability to compete.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand