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WNYC Studios · Science

Radiolab

Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.

Episodes

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Weighing Good Intentions

15 Aug 2025
24m
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Radiolab presents a story called "Weighing Good Intentions," which explores the ethical dilemma of species conservation through the lens of the Kirtland's Warbler's near extinction and subsequent recovery. The narrative follows the efforts to save the bird, including controversial methods like cowbird trapping and pres...

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The Menopause Mystery

08 Aug 2025
38m
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This Radiolab episode, hosted by Molly Webster and featuring Heather Radke, explores the science and evolutionary puzzle of menopause. The episode begins with Lucy Cooke's investigation into menopause in killer whales, guided by Dr. Deborah Giles' poop sample analysis. The discussion expands to include insights from sc...

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Galaxy Quenching

01 Aug 2025
40m
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In this Radiolab episode, Lulu Miller interviews Charity Woodrum, a NASA astrophysicist, about her work studying galaxy quenching and rejuvenation. Charity shares her personal journey, from growing up in rural Oregon amidst family struggles to finding solace in the night sky and eventually pursuing her dream of working...

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The Nothing Behind Everything

25 Jul 2025
32m
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This episode of Radiolab features two segments exploring complex concepts about the nature of reality and the universe. The first segment delves into the idea of multiple universes, featuring a discussion between Robert Krulwich and physicist Brian Greene, who debate whether the existence of multiple universes challeng...

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More Perfect: The Hate Debate

18 Jul 2025
37m
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This episode of Radiolab features a rebroadcast of a debate from their sister show, More Perfect, originally recorded in 2017, focusing on the extent of free speech, particularly online. The debate is structured in two rounds. The first round features Elie Mystal and Ken White debating whether the government should lim...

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Desperately Seeking Symmetry

11 Jul 2025
57m
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In this episode of Radiolab, Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich embark on a quest to explore symmetry, beginning with the ancient parable from Plato about humans once being connected and their longing for wholeness. The hosts delve into various facets of symmetry, from neuroscience and the phenomenon of "clicking" with ot...

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On [The Divided Dial]: Fishing In The Night

04 Jul 2025
38m
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This episode of Radiolab features the first episode of season two of On the Media's "The Divided Dial," a series exploring the history and impact of shortwave radio. The episode delves into the early days of shortwave, highlighting its initial promise as a tool for global connection and cooperation. It then explores ho...

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Sex, Ducks and the Founding Feud

27 Jun 2025
25m
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This episode of Radiolab, titled "Sex, Ducks and the Founding Feud," explores the ongoing tension between federal and state power in the United States, using the story of Carol Anne Bond, who was prosecuted under an international chemical weapons treaty for attempting to poison her husband's mistress. The podcast delve...

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Baby Shark

20 Jun 2025
28m
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This episode of Radiolab, the final installment of "Week of Sharks," delves into the fascinating world of shark reproduction. The hosts, along with lead reporter Rachael Cusick, explore the three categories of shark birth: Viviparous (live birth with a placenta), Ovo-viviparous (eggs hatch inside the mother), and Ovipa...

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Mystery Bay

19 Jun 2025
21m
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This episode of Radiolab, part of a "Week of Sharks" series, explores the dynamics between great white sharks and seals at Seal Island off the coast of South Africa. It begins with a story about a marine biologist, Alison Koch, whose life was changed after seeing photographs of great white sharks breaching. The episode...

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The Shark Inside You

18 Jun 2025
28m
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This episode of Radiolab, part of a week dedicated to sharks, explores the surprising potential of shark antibodies in fighting human diseases like cancer. The story begins with a visit to a secret lab in Wisconsin where nurse sharks are being used to develop these antibodies. The discussion then delves into the evolut...

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The Cage

17 Jun 2025
18m
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This episode of Radiolab, part of a week-long series inspired by the 50th anniversary of "Jaws," features a discussion about the cultural impact of shark movies and a firsthand account of cage diving with great white sharks. The hosts explore the proliferation of monster shark films following "Jaws," highlighting the a...

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Making a Monster

16 Jun 2025
26m
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This episode of Radiolab, titled "Swimming with Shadows," kicks off a week dedicated to shark stories, beginning with the harrowing experience of Rodney Fox, a shark attack survivor. The hosts, Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser, along with producer Rachael Cusick, delve into Fox's story of surviving a great white shark atta...

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It's Like ... Radiolab

14 Jun 2025
0m
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Swimming with Shadows: A Radiolab Week of Sharks

13 Jun 2025
2m
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This Radiolab podcast episode, "Swimming with Shadows," is a promotional announcement for a week-long series focused on sharks. The hosts, Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser, playfully discuss the upcoming episodes, highlighting diverse stories about sharks—from large and small species to their potential medical application...

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Double-Blasted

13 Jun 2025
20m
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This episode of Radiolab features a discussion with author Sam Kean about the story of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, a man who survived both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. The podcast explores Yamaguchi's experience, from the moment of the blasts to his later life, and delves into the science of how radiation affects...

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The Elixir of Life

06 Jun 2025
50m
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In this episode of Radiolab, co-hosts Lulu Miller and Avir Mitra present a live show about Bifidobacterium infantis, a bacterium crucial for infant gut health. Avir shares the story of scientist Bruce German's quest to understand and restore this disappearing microbe, which plays a vital role in preventing leaky gut an...

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A Flock of Two

30 May 2025
19m
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The Radiolab podcast episode "A Flock of Two" explores the story of Jim Eggers, a man with bipolar disorder and a history of violent outbursts, and his African Grey Parrot, Sadie. After a series of incidents, including threatening an archbishop, Jim acquires Sadie, who begins to mimic his speech. Jim notices that when ...

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The Echo in the Machine

23 May 2025
32m
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In this episode of Radiolab, producer Simon Adler shares a story that begins with his mother watching television with closed captioning, which leads him to question how those captions are created. The hosts, Lulu Miller and Simon Adler, delve into the history of closed captioning, starting with Greg Leibach's experienc...

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How to Cure What Ails You

16 May 2025
25m
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This episode explores the potential of using brain scans, specifically fMRI, to diagnose mental illnesses like depression, and questions the implications of such technology. The discussion begins with the premise of diagnosing depression through brain scans, similar to identifying a broken arm via X-ray, featuring insi...

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