Episodios

  • Can Vaccines Help Defeat Cancer?

    Can Vaccines Help Defeat Cancer?
    Nov 14 2025
    Host Kendra Pierre-Louis speaks with reporter Rowan Moore Gerety about how mRNA vaccines, first successfully developed to protect against COVID, are now being tested to treat cancers such as pancreatic cancer. Together, Pierre-Louis and Moore Gerety explore the science behind these therapeutic vaccines and share the story of a survivor whose remission underscores their potential to transform cancer care. Recommended Reading New Cancer Vaccines Could Treat Some Types of Pancreatic, Colorectal and Other Deadly Forms of the Disease Why mRNA Vaccines Are So Revolutionary—And What’s at Stake if We Lose Them E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 m
  • Can AI Ease the Pain of Loss?

    Can AI Ease the Pain of Loss?
    Nov 12 2025
    Griefbots—artificial-intelligence-powered chat tools that simulate conversations with the deceased—are helping some people navigate loss in unexpected ways. Science writer David Berreby shares his firsthand experience with these digital companions and explores what they reveal about mourning, memory and the limits of technology. Recommended Reading David Berreby’s substack E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 m
  • Why Some Foods Gross Us Out

    Why Some Foods Gross Us Out
    Nov 10 2025
    In this episode of Science Quickly, Rachel Feltman introduces interim host Kendra Pierre-Louis, a climate journalist with a strong aversion to mayonnaise—and a knack for turning that disgust into fascinating science reporting. Pierre-Louis shares insights into the psychology of taste, the cultural language of food textures and the way that categories of such textures, including creamy foods such as mayo, can trigger visceral reactions. Recommended Reading “Mayonnaise Is Disgusting, and Science Agrees,” by Kendra Pierre-Louis, in Popular Science. Published online October 31, 2017 “Texture Is the Final Frontier of Food Science,” by Kendra Pierre-Louis, in Popular Science. Published online February 13, 2021 Kendra Pierre-Louis’s website. E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 m
  • The Science of Headaches

    The Science of Headaches
    Nov 7 2025
    Headaches are among the most common human experiences—yet science still struggles to explain them. Journalist Tom Zeller, Jr., joins host Rachel Feltman to explore the cultural, gender-related and scientific blind spots that have stalled research into migraine, cluster and tension-type headaches. Recommended Reading Tom Zeller, Jr’s website The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction––And a Search for Relief, by Tom Zeller, Jr. Mariner Books, 2025 E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 m
  • Why Defiance Can Be a Virtue

    Why Defiance Can Be a Virtue
    Nov 5 2025
    Many of us are taught from a young age that being “good” means being obedient—but that conditioning can make it hard to speak up when it counts. In this episode, Cornell University professor Sunita Sah explains how defiance can be a powerful tool for challenging injustice, asserting boundaries and reclaiming our voice. Recommended Reading Sunita Sah’s website Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes, by Sunita Sah. One World, 2025 E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 m
  • How Hurricane Melissa Became a Meteorologic Outlier

    How Hurricane Melissa Became a Meteorologic Outlier
    Nov 3 2025
    Hurricane Melissa stunned meteorologists with its rare intensity, reaching wind speeds that are more typical of Pacific supertyphoons and maintaining Category 5 strength for more than 24 hours. Scientific American senior editor Andrea Thompson breaks down what made the storm so unusual, how it impacted Jamaica and Haiti and what it might signal about the future of hurricanes. Plus, we discuss quick updates on viral infections and heart health, black hole collisions and chimpanzee rationality. Recommended Reading Hurricane Melissa Images Reveal a Monster Storm for the Record Books How Hurricane Melissa Became One of the Most Intense Atlantic Storms on Record With Melissa, 2025 Becomes Only the Second Season with More Than Two Category 5 Hurricanes Why Hurricane Melissa Could Be the Worst Storm to Ever Hit Jamaica Chimps Can Weigh Evidence and Update Their Beliefs Like Humans Do E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    12 m
  • How to Trick-or-Treat Your Gut

    How to Trick-or-Treat Your Gut
    Oct 31 2025
    Halloween might be a treat for your taste buds, but what about the trillions of microbes in your gut? Gastroenterologist Chris Damman joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how different candies affect your gut microbiome—and why moderation and whole foods matter even after a sugar binge. Recommended Reading “Halloween Candy Binges Can Overload Your Gut Microbiome—A Gut Doctor Explains How to Minimize Spooking Your Helpful Bacteria,” by Christopher Damman, in the Conversation. Published online October 23, 2024 E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 m
  • How TikTok’s Algorithm Could Shift with a U.S. Spin-off

    How TikTok’s Algorithm Could Shift with a U.S. Spin-off
    Oct 29 2025
    TikTok’s algorithm has become a cultural force, shaping what more than a billion users see and share, but its future may be shifting. As the platform prepares for a U.S.-only spin-off, Kelley Cotter, an assistant professor in the department of human-centered computing and social informatics at Pennsylvania State University, joins Science Quickly to explore how changes in ownership could affect the algorithm’s influence and transparency and the kinds of content we consume. Recommended Reading “TikTok Sale Puts App’s Algorithm in the Spotlight—A Social Media Expert Explains How the For You Page Works and What Changes Are in Store,” by Kelley Cotter, in the Conversation. Published online September 22, 2025 E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 m