Latest Episodes
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Is My Pollen Allergy Getting Worse?
First up - Edgar decodes our paychecks, asking "what exactly happens with all the money taken out each week?” We’ll have some help from Steven Dean, a professor of law at Boston University. Then, we'll exploring the world of microplastics research with oceanographic researcher Victoria Fuller, whose work has brought her as close as New England as far as Antarctica. Lastly we answer the question... Is the pollen in our air worse getting worse by the year? Richard Primack, a professor plant ecology at B.U., explains why there might be some truth to that idea. Caroline Sokol is a physician scientist who’ll speak to how pollen impacts us on a physiological level. -
How Can I Score 654 Points In Scrabble?
First up, Edgar hosts an AI news panel with Reuters tech reporter Deepa Seetharaman and Shaleen Title, former chair Cannabis Control Board commissioner who teaches AI regulation at Roger Williams University School of Law. They’ll talk about last week's attack on Open AI CEO Sam Altman, pushback to the construction of data centers in Everett, and the value of AI in school classrooms. Then, we’re celebrating National Scrabble Day with Bradley Whitmarsh, a competitive Scrabble player ranked in the top 100 for the U.S. We’ll talk strategy, learn about the world of competitive Scrabble, and take calls & texts from listeners. -
How Many Frogs At Are Mount Auburn Cemetery?
First up.... With some help from our studio audience, we’re playing a game of “bad fibs” – that's news-inspired mad libs, with nightside anchor Tori Bedford and a special guest appearance from reporter Marilyn Schairer. Then, All Things Considered host Arun Rath just so happens to be a practicing magician. He’ll join to talk about Boston’s rich history in the world of magic. He’ll also perform the first-ever live radio magic trick in Curiosity Desk history. (And yes... you can do this along at home, all you need is a desk of cards) Lastly, Mount Auburn Cemetery has become a living laboratory for scientists in the field of biodiversity. Edgar meets Herpetologist Joe Martinez & Vice President of Cemetery of Visitor’s Services Bree Harvey to talk about their work reintroducing native aquatic amphibians missing from the cemetery. -
How Do You Get A Species Named After You?
First, Edgar speaks with NASA flight director Rick Henfling, who is overseeing the Artemis II crew’s return this weekend.Next, shifting from outer space to the ocean’s depths, Edgar sits down with Boston University microbiologist Jeff Marlow to discuss his new book, The Dark Frontier: Unlocking the Secrets of the Deep Sea. Finally, Edgar explores the question, “Who’s really naming all these creatures?” in a conversation with Steve Heard, Honorary Research Professor at the University of New Brunswick, about his book, Charles Darwin's Barnacle and David Bowie's Spider: How Scientific Names Celebrate Adventurers, Heroes, and Even a Few Scoundrels -
Why Are "Ticked Off" Meat-Lovers Going Vegan?
First up.... Mass. is one week into a new system tracking Alpha-Gal syndrome across the state. The worst concentrations remain on Martha’s Vineyard – but not Nantucket. What’s going on? We'll explore all things Alpha-Gal with biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds and epidemiologist Lea Hamner, both from The Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program. Then.. We get caught up on Four Things To Know for today, with Gal Tziperman-Lotan who writes the GBH Daily Newsletter. Lastly, we addressing the pressing question: how does an emoji make it from concept to smartphone? We’ll ask Joan Donovan, who helped co-create the beaver emoji. She’ll join alongside Jennifer 8. Lee, a member of the Unicode Emoji Standard and Research Working Group. -
Nutella On The Far Side of The Moon: An Artemis ll Update
Edgar talks with GBH reporter Trajan Warren about his latest reporting on a lack of major protests over the killing of Stephenson King, and the state of police accountability activism in Boston. Then... we’re exploring the psychology and economics behind betting sites like Polymarket, with MIT economics chair Jonathan Gruber.Lastly, as the crew on Artemis II rounds the moon & begins their return home, we'll check back with Houston Chronicle space reporter Andrea Leinfelder about the state of the mission. -
April 6, 2026
First, we're going behind the scenes on how influencers make a living with Maddie Graves-Witherell, a Boston-based influencer known as Maddie GW, and creator economy expert Lia Haberman, who’s provided social and influencer marketing insight to Google, Robert Half, AT&T and more. Then, for our America 250 coverage, Edgar interviews Nina Sankovitch, author of “Not Your Founding Father: How a Nonbinary Minister Became America's Most Radical Revolutionary,” about the 18th century minister known as Public Universal Friend. Lastly, we dive into the importance of enriched uranium with renowned scientist and Harvard professor John Holdren. -
Where's The Bathroom?
On today’s podcast: Jeremy Siegel guest hosts! First, we dive into Anime Boston with chair Omega Au and researcher Mel Stanfill, exploring the world of fandoms. Then we take a look at Boston’s public restrooms and discuss accessibility with Max Grinnell. We’ll also preview Red Sox opening day with GBH reporter Craig LeMoult. And finally, astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi joins us to guide us through April’s night sky. -
What Does an Ant's Organs Look Like?
We’re learning about the wild world of ants, and a new research project documenting the morphology of over 2,000 ant specimens. Helping us along is Evan Economo, a researcher with the University of Maryland. And more animal news, there's new research into how horses make their “whinny” sound, and it turns out they’re creating two different tones simultaneously. We’ll get insights from Élodie Briefer with the University of Copenhagen.Plus, Edgar talks with Peter Girguis, a Harvard Professor of Organic and Evolutionary Biology, about his work curating an exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History titled "Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination.” -
What's So Funny?
First up, we’re learning the latest on the launch of Artemis II with Andrea Leinfelder, a space reporter with the Houston Chronicle – on site in Florida!Then, we'll investigate whether we can turn the ocean into one big CO2-absorbing sponge. Adam Subhas is a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who last year led a major study around ocean geo-engineering. He’ll join alongside Kristin Kleisner with the Environmental Defense Fund. And lastly, we explore the psychology of why we laugh with Harvard psychologist Natalie Dattilo.
