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Seeking A Scientist

by KCUR Studios
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Latest episodes

  • Forget something? Here’s how to improve your memory

    April 16, 2025 · 33 min

    Our memories are a big part of what makes us human. But why do some moments tend to stick in our brain for years, while others fade away? Neuroscientists Kausik Si and Elizabeth Kensinger explain the different types of memories and share…

  • Why do we need to sleep?

    February 26, 2025 · 41 min

    Humans spend one-third of their life sleeping, yet the purpose and function behind this regular state of unconsciousness remains a biological mystery. Sleep researcher Giorgio Gilestro is trying to understand some basic questions about it…

  • How to adapt to the extreme cold, according to Finnish reindeer herders

    January 29, 2025 · 38 min

    Human biology thankfully allows us to adapt to major changes in temperature, but only so quickly. Professor Cara Ocobock is working with reindeer herders in subarctic Finland to find out how the human body evolved to withstand the extreme…

  • Your most surprising science questions of the year, answered

    December 30, 2024 · 24 min

    We’ve dug into a lot of fascinating topics this past year on Seeking a Scientist, but they’re all so complicated! That means there are a lot of lingering questions that we haven’t had a chance to tackle yet. As we close out 2024, we’re…

  • How living in outer space changes the human body

    November 20, 2024 · 37 min

    Gravity dominates every moment of our experience here on Earth. We may take it for granted, but NASA astronaut Kate Rubins assuredly does not. She knows firsthand the fun and challenges of living in microgravity. During her time in space…

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  • Feeling stressed? Here’s what is actually happening

    October 29, 2024 · 40 min

    Stress is a part of every human’s life, but the way it feels and how we handle it varies based on the individual. That’s one of the reasons stress is such a challenging topic for scientists to study. Dr. Rajita Sinha of Yale’s Stress…

  • How can we bring extinct species back from the dead?

    September 25, 2024 · 39 min

    A new “Jurassic Park” movie is coming out next year, the latest installment of the blockbuster series all about the dangerous hubris in trying to bring dinosaurs back from extinction. Paleogeneticist Beth Shapiro says the science may be…

  • ‘Twisters’ got one thing right: We can change the weather!

    August 28, 2024 · 32 min

    To save Oklahoma from treacherous tornados, scientists in the 2024 blockbuster “Twisters” try to use a real-life technique called cloud seeding. But would this really work? Researchers have actually been using cloud seeding to modify the…

  • Dogs are talking — are you listening?

    July 31, 2024 · 33 min

    Dogs don’t talk to us the way our human best friends do, but they are biologically prepared to communicate with us in a range of ways. What if we could understand our furry companions better? Dr. Emily Bray, a canine cognition specialist…

  • Your burning questions about fireworks, answered

    June 28, 2024 · 22 min

    Fireworks have been used to dazzle and entertain for centuries. These spectacles can seem out of this world, and they’re directly related to Kate the Chemist’s favorite subject: chemistry. Kate answers your questions about fireworks…

  • Plants may be more intelligent than we think

    May 29, 2024 · 34 min

    We haven’t been giving the Plant Kingdom enough credit. Plants can move, attack, communicate, and adapt — even though they don’t have what's normally defined as a brain. But do plants meet the criteria for intelligent life? That’s the…

  • Can we stop an asteroid from hitting Earth?

    April 15, 2024 · 33 min

    Asteroids heading straight for planet Earth aren’t just a scenario out of a Hollywood thriller. Luckily, scientists around the world have long been preparing for such an “Armageddon” scenario.Kate The Chemist speaks with Nancy Chabot, one…

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About the show

The future is scary, but it doesn’t have to be! Host Dr. Kate Biberdorf (aka Kate the Chemist) is seeking scientists to guide us into the great unknown. From fungus zombies to feeling young forever, we’re puzzling out what our world could look like — and how we can get ready. A podcast from KCUR Studios and the NPR Podcast Network. Supported by The Stowers Institute For Medical Research.