Undark: Truth, Beauty, Science

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This is Undark. We’re a digital science magazine situated at that place where science, culture, and politics collide. Tune in for in-depth interviews with some of the world’s top science journalists, a healthy serving of media criticism, and reported pieces from the intersection of science and socie…

Undark Magazine


    • Aug 3, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 95 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Undark: Truth, Beauty, Science

    Ep. 63: For Deep Ocean Mining, Questions Abound

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 35:29


    This month: Some regions of the deep ocean contain vast amounts of key minerals, like cobalt and nickel, that are needed to power clean energy technologies. But some scientists warn that mining them could have tremendous consequences, not just for underwater ecosystems, but for the planet as a whole.

    Ep. 62: Restoring Landscapes and Livelihoods in Western Bosnia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 31:50


    This month: Twenty-six years after the end of the Bosnian War, farmers in Livno are once again making cheese the traditional way, grazing herds of sheep on the wide-open plains. The animals' return is restoring natural wetlands, leading to cascading impacts on the environment and the economy.

    Ep. 62: Restoring Landscapes and Livelihoods in Western Bosnia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 31:50


    This month: Twenty-six years after the end of the Bosnian War, farmers in Livno are once again making cheese the traditional way, grazing herds of sheep on the wide-open plains. The animals' return is restoring natural wetlands, leading to cascading impacts on the environment and the economy.

    Ep. 61: When Accents Speak Louder Than Words

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 35:25


    For scientists who come from abroad to live and work in America, accents can be personal. It's discouraging to be misunderstood, even when they think they're speaking clearly. Sometimes, it could even be a career liability. Is the problem the accent, or those on the receiving end?

    Ep. 61: When Accents Speak Louder Than Words

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 35:25


    For scientists who come from abroad to live and work in America, accents can be personal. It's discouraging to be misunderstood, even when they think they're speaking clearly. Sometimes, it could even be a career liability. Is the problem the accent, or those on the receiving end?

    Ep. 60: Shifting Blame Over Water Pollution

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 37:39


    Residents of Lebanon's Beqaa Valley say pollution in the Litani River is responsible for a host of chronic health problems. While a causal link is hard to prove, cleanup efforts are precarious amid the country's economic crisis and shifting blame between refugees and government inaction.

    Ep. 60: Cascading Effects of Pollution in Lebanon's Litani River

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 37:39


    Residents of Lebanon's Beqaa Valley say pollution in the Litani River is responsible for a host of chronic health problems. While a causal link is hard to prove, cleanup efforts are precarious amid the country's economic crisis and shifting blame between refugees and government inaction.

    Ep. 59: Water Cremation Ignites Debate Over Dignified Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 29:32


    Alkaline hydrolysis is an end-of-life option that's gaining popularity in Canada and the U.S. It's marketed as a greener form of cremation — a way to still end up with ashes, but without sending harmful emissions into the air. But getting the technology approved by lawmakers has proven difficult.

    Ep. 59: Water Cremation Ignites Debate Over Dignified Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 29:32


    Alkaline hydrolysis is an end-of-life option that's gaining popularity in Canada and the U.S. It's marketed as a greener form of cremation — a way to still end up with ashes, but without sending harmful emissions into the air. But getting the technology approved by lawmakers has proven difficult.

    Ep. 58: When an Intellectual Disability Means Life or Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 37:44


    When Pervis Payne was sentenced to death more than three decades ago, it was permissible to execute someone with an intellectual disability. A Supreme Court decision changed that in 2002, but Payne's disability was acknowledged only last year. Why did it take so long to remove him from The Row?

    Ep. 58: When an Intellectual Disability Means Life or Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 37:41


    When Pervis Payne was sentenced to death more than three decades ago, it was permissible to execute someone with an intellectual disability. A Supreme Court decision changed that in 2002, but Payne's disability was acknowledged only last year. Why did it take so long to remove him from The Row?

    Ep. 57: In Lagos, Vulnerable Communities Buried by Urbanization

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 32:49


    Urbanization in Lagos, Nigeria, is moving at a rapid clip — burying mangrove forests and wetlands under mounds of sand to make way for wealthy subdivisions. Without strong regulations around how that sand is harvested, the social, economic, and environmental consequences are vast.

    Ep. 57: In Lagos, Vulnerable Communities Buried by Urbanization

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 32:49


    Urbanization in Lagos, Nigeria, is moving at a rapid clip — burying mangrove forests and wetlands under mounds of sand to make way for wealthy subdivisions. Without strong regulations around how that sand is harvested, the social, economic, and environmental consequences are vast.

    Ep. 56: Understanding a Terrorist's Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 32:00


    Scientists and counterterrorism experts believe understanding the underlying motivations of radical extremists will help them deradicalize people. Now, one group has studied the brain activity of active extremists after asking them to contemplate the values they are willing to fight and die for.

    Ep. 56: Understanding a Terrorist's Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 31:57


    Scientists and counterterrorism experts believe understanding the underlying motivations of radical extremists will help them deradicalize people. Now, one group has studied the brain activity of active extremists after asking them to contemplate the values they are willing to fight and die for.

    Ep. 55: In Pursuit of Climate-Friendly Refrigerants

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 23:42


    In December of last year, Congress passed legislation that gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to phase out most hydrofluorocarbons — potent greenhouse gases that keep refrigerators cool — over the next 15 years. But there's no perfect alternative to replace them.

    Ep. 55: In Pursuit of Climate-Friendly Refrigerants

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 23:40


    In December of last year, Congress passed legislation that gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to phase out most hydrofluorocarbons — potent greenhouse gases that keep refrigerators cool — over the next 15 years. But there's no perfect alternative to replace them.

    Ep. 54: Translating Portugal's Approach to Drugs and Addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2021 29:21


    Twenty years ago Portugal decriminalized all drugs as part of a bigger national strategy to fight addiction. Last month Oregon became the first U.S. state to do the same, in a policy modeled off Portugal's approach — but many questions about how success may translate remain unanswered.

    Ep. 54: Translating Portugal’s Approach to Drugs and Addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2021 29:19


    Twenty years ago Portugal decriminalized all drugs as part of a bigger national strategy to fight addiction. Last month Oregon became the first U.S. state to do the same, in a policy modeled off Portugal’s approach — but many questions about how success may translate remain unanswered.

    Ep. 53: 'Mainstreaming' Psychedelic Drugs to Treat Mental Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 30:45


    Amid a worldwide mental health crisis, the discovery of new pharmaceuticals to treat conditions like depression has stalled. But researchers and therapists are showing that when paired with therapy, psychedelic drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms are a new class of promising treatments.

    Ep. 53: ‘Mainstreaming’ Psychedelic Drugs to Treat Mental Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 30:43


    Amid a worldwide mental health emergency, the discovery of new pharmaceuticals to treat conditions like depression has stalled. But researchers and therapists are showing that when paired with therapy, psychedelic drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms are a new class of promising treatments.

    Ep. 52: In India, Mismanaging the Monkey Menace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 31:51


    In India, macaque monkeys are a menace — attacking people for food, breaking into offices, and in one state, damaging at least 54 million dollars worth of crops. A sterilization program aimed to curb the population, but some experts and locals question if it's working or even the right approach.

    Ep. 52: In India, Mismanaging the Monkey Menace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 31:48


    In India, macaque monkeys are a menace — attacking people for food, breaking into offices, and in one state, damaging at least 54 million dollars worth of crops. A sterilization program aimed to curb the population, but some experts and locals question if it’s working or even the right approach.  

    Ep. 51: A Scramble to Define 'Habitat' — and the Future of Conservation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 30:52


    A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the dusky gopher frog now has conservationists and developers squaring off over the legal definition of the term ‘habitat.' The accepted meaning will guide American lawmakers in designating protected areas for endangered species across the country.

    Ep. 51: A Scramble to Define ‘Habitat’ — and the Future of Conservation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 30:26


    A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the dusky gopher frog now has conservationists and developers squaring off over the legal definition of the term ‘habitat.’ The accepted meaning will guide American lawmakers in designating protected areas for endangered species across the country.

    Ep. 50: Studying and Surviving the Pandemic's Collective Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 28:43


    In South Africa, trauma researchers are studying — and working to ease — the psychological toll of Covid-19, while trying to endure the pandemic themselves. They warn the widespread and long-lasting impacts of this collective trauma could span generations and cross national borders.

    Ep. 50: Studying and Surviving the Pandemic's Collective Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 28:43


    In South Africa, trauma researchers are studying — and working to ease — the psychological toll of Covid-19, while trying to endure the pandemic themselves. They warn the widespread and long-lasting impacts of this collective trauma could span generations and cross national borders.

    Ep. 49: When Wildfires and a Pandemic Collide

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2020 25:42


    As smoky summers resulting from wildfires have become the new normal across much of the West Coast, communities have tried to put better systems in place protect their most vulnerable residents. But this year, they didn't plan on dealing with a smoke wave in the middle of a pandemic. How are they coping?

    Ep. 49: When Wildfires and a Pandemic Collide

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2020 25:39


    As smoky summers resulting from wildfires have become the new normal across much of the West Coast, communities have tried to put better systems in place protect their most vulnerable residents. But this year, they didn’t plan on dealing with a smoke wave in the middle of a pandemic. How are they coping?

    Ep. 48: Capturing the Songs of a Changing Climate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 26:50


    This month: Acoustic ecologists are racing to record Earth's shifting soundscapes before they disappear. Some researchers are using their recordings to answer questions about how the environment and its inhabitants are changing, while others are sounding the alarm on pressing conservation issues.

    Ep. 48: Capturing the Songs of a Changing Climate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 26:48


    This month: Acoustic ecologists are racing to record Earth’s shifting soundscapes before they disappear. Some researchers are using their recordings to answer questions about how the environment and its inhabitants are changing, while others are sounding the alarm on pressing conservation issues.

    Ep. 47: The Toll of the Culture of Silence in Animal Research

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2020 26:02


    This month: Communicating about animal research with the public can open early career scientists up to social stigma and even campaigns that threaten careers. But working with animals can be an emotionally taxing job — and the silence could isolate scientists further and strengthen public misconceptions.

    Ep. 47: The Toll of the Culture of Silence in Animal Research

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2020 26:00


    This month: Communicating about animal research with the public can open early career scientists up to social stigma and even campaigns that threaten careers. But working with animals can be an emotionally taxing job — and the silence could isolate scientists further and strengthen public misconceptions.

    Ep. 46: A Debate on the Dregs of Asbestos Mining

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 26:42


    This month: Ground-up waste leftover from asbestos mining still lines the landscape of Quebec. Now, a number of companies are eager to transform that waste into profitable product — but health officials worry this new industry might reawaken an old problem the province finally seemed to be moving away from.

    Ep. 46: A Debate on the Dregs of Asbestos Mining

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 26:45


    This month: Ground-up waste leftover from asbestos mining still lines the landscape of Quebec. Now, a number of companies are eager to transform that waste into profitable product — but health officials worry this new industry might reawaken an old problem the province finally seemed to be moving away from.

    Ep. 45: Making Precision Medicine a Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2020 31:24


    This month: Tailoring medicine to each individual patient could make health care more affordable and effective. But that reality won’t come to fruition unless researchers, industry, the government, and the public reach a consensus on issues like patient privacy, data bias, and sharing of medical records.

    Ep. 45: Making Precision Medicine a Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2020 31:24


    This month: Tailoring medicine to each individual patient could make health care more affordable and effective. But that reality won’t come to fruition unless researchers, industry, the government, and the public reach a consensus on issues like patient privacy, data bias, and sharing of medical records.

    Ep. 44: Confronting Knowledge Gaps in Intersex Health Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2020 30:19


    This month: The impulse to “fix” intersex infants with invasive surgeries is facing increased and, some would argue, long overdue scrutiny. As doctors, parents, and intersex people face decisions that may affect their long-term health, researchers grapple with defining and measuring outcomes.

    Ep. 44: Confronting Knowledge Gaps in Intersex Health Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2020 30:22


    This month: The impulse to “fix” intersex infants with invasive surgeries is facing increased and, some would argue, long overdue scrutiny. As doctors, parents, and intersex people face decisions that may affect their long-term health, researchers grapple with defining and measuring outcomes.

    Ep. 43: A Reality Check on Regenerative Agriculture

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020 28:38


    This month: A new farming method has been touted as better for the earth and for struggling farmers. Some are putting these claims to the test.

    Ep. 43: A Reality Check on Regenerative Agriculture

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020 28:35


    This month: Proponents of a new farming technique called regenerative agriculture argue that it can restore the earth, combat climate change, and alleviate the economic needs of farmers in debt. Now, farmers and researchers alike are putting claims about what this method can actually accomplish to the test.

    Ep. 42: Screening Illicit Drugs to Prevent Fentanyl Deaths

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2019 35:16


    This month: Harm reduction organizations take a controversial step in checking illicit drugs for fentanyl.

    Ep. 42: Screening Illicit Drugs to Prevent Fentanyl Deaths

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2019 35:19


    This month: Harm reduction organizations take a controversial step in checking illicit drugs for fentanyl.

    Ep. 41: India's Battle to Control Forest Fires

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 26:57


    This month: The story of a devastating wildfire in India reveals how a complex tangle of law, policy, and science are hindering the country's efforts to contain and prevent forest fires.

    Ep. 41: India's Battle to Control Forest Fires

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 27:00


    On this episode: The story of a devastating wildfire in India reveals how a complex tangle of law, policy, and science are hindering the country's efforts to contain and prevent forest fires.

    Ep. 40: The Struggle to Change an HIV Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 34:09


    This month: The history of a destigmatizing message about HIV transmission and how it finally made it to the public.

    Ep. 40: The Struggle to Change an HIV Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 34:07


    This month: The history of a destigmatizing message about HIV transmission and how it finally made it to the public.

    Ep. 39: Solving the Deadly Transplantable Organ Shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2019 23:57


    This month: A penetrating look at the trials of patients with kidney failure, and the doctors working to make more lifesaving transplants possible.

    Ep. 39: Solving the Deadly Transplantable Organ Shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2019 23:59


    The Undark Podcast returns in a brand new format. This episode takes a deep look at the uncertain and challenging paths of patients diagnosed with kidney failure, and the doctors working to make more lifesaving transplants possible.

    Ep. 36: Fighting the Flu, Green Burials, and Teen Vaccinations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 36:24


    This month: the quest for a universal flu shot, the trend of low-carbon burials, and understanding medical consent laws for minors.

    Ep 37: Crisis Mapping, Tracking Citations, and Sexual Harassment in Science

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 36:04


    This month: using social media in search and rescue, developing a more accurate way to track citations, and tackling sexual harassment in science.

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