Cool Science Radio

Dr. Alexander Mossbrucker discusses how bioacoustics, artificial intelligence and digital monitoring tools are helping conservationists track endangered wildlife. From detecting Asian elephants by their vocalizations to training rangers in Sumatra, Mossbrucker explores how better data can strengthen efforts to protect animals and their habitats.

Caltech physicist and engineer Gabriele Vajente explains how LIGO detects the faint ripples in spacetime known as gravitational waves. He explores the engineering behind the world's most sensitive measuring instruments, what we've learned from black hole collisions and neutron stars, and what future observations could reveal.

University of Utah doctoral student Colin Domnauer discusses new research linking reports of vivid “tiny people” hallucinations to a single mushroom species — and what the discovery could reveal about an unidentified hallucinogenic compound.

MIT engineer Amos Winter discusses how to design affordable, high-performance products that can succeed in different global markets. Drawing on examples from eye care, prosthetics, mobility and clean water, Winter explains how engineers can create innovations that scale and make a lasting impact.

Gene-editing researcher Raj Chari discusses how CRISPR technology is being used to study cancer, develop potential new treatments, and explore the challenges of bringing gene-editing therapies from the laboratory into clinical care.