Watching a spiders’ heart beat, epigenetic ethics, and what science biographies reveal about fame

First up on the podcast, Online News Editor David Grimm shares a batch of fun stories with podcast host Sarah Crespi—from spider hearts racing when traffic gets loud to a disease-preventing house. Staff Writer Adrian Cho hops in to help discuss the possibility of black holes without singularities at their center. Next on the show, epigenetics has become a hot topic in pop science but the ethical conversation is not keeping up. The idea that parents can pass down epigenetic marks from environmental toxins or trauma to their children—without changes in DNA—has been around for decades but the research in people is lacking. Jackie Leach Scully, a professor of bioethics and director of the Disability Innovation Institute at the University of New South Wales, discusses where the research actually is and the concerns that may arise if such marks do appear to impact the young. Last up this week, we are launching our 2026 biography books series with books host Angela Saini and Science books editor Valerie Thompson. The pair discusses the difficulty of picking biographies and what can be learned about science, fame, and researchers as people from reading these types of books. This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy. About the Science Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Episoder(641)

Changing minds on charitable giving and a news roundup (31 October 2014)

Ayelet Gneezy discusses trends in charitable giving and how to maximize donations. David Grimm brings stories on an algal virus found in humans, how to stop zooming human population growth, and an ava...

31 Okt 201423min

High altitude humans living ~11,000 years ago (24 October 2014)

Kurt Rademaker discusses his work exploring the Andean plateau for artifacts of the earliest high-altitude humans, Paleoindians that lived at 4500 meters more than 11,000 years ago. Hosted by Sarah Cr...

24 Okt 201415min

Plants and predators and a daily news roundup (17 October 2014)

Adam Ford discusses linking plants, their herbivores, and their predators on the East African savannah. Science daily news editor David Grimm brings stories on storing CO2 underground for millions of ...

17 Okt 201419min

Robot relations and a daily news roundup (10 October 2014)

The rights and responsibilities of robots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Okt 201420min

Mapping the sea floor and a daily news roundup (3 October 2014)

Satellite data helps map the last unexplored terrain on planet Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Okt 201419min

The spread of an ancient technology and a daily news roundup (26 September 2014)

New evidence reveals the complicated history of stone tool use 400,000 - 200,000 years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Sep 201422min