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The final episode of the Undark Podcast was published in August, 2022, capping nearly five years of audio journalism and discussion. We appreciate your interest in exploring the intersection of science and society with us during that time, and hope you’ll continue to visit undark.org, where you’ll find our rich mix of in-depth investigations, news features, essays, op-eds, and multimedia journalism.
Episodes
Friday Feb 26, 2021
Ep. 53: ‘Mainstreaming’ Psychedelic Drugs to Treat Mental Health
Friday Feb 26, 2021
Friday Feb 26, 2021
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.
Friday Jan 29, 2021
Ep. 52: In India, Mismanaging the Monkey Menace
Friday Jan 29, 2021
Friday Jan 29, 2021
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.
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Ep. 51: A Scramble to Define ‘Habitat’ — and the Future of Conservation
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
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.
Monday Nov 30, 2020
Ep. 50: Studying and Surviving the Pandemic's Collective Trauma
Monday Nov 30, 2020
Monday Nov 30, 2020
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.
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Ep. 49: When Wildfires and a Pandemic Collide
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
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?
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
Ep. 48: Capturing the Songs of a Changing Climate
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
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.
Saturday May 30, 2020
Ep. 47: The Toll of the Culture of Silence in Animal Research
Saturday May 30, 2020
Saturday May 30, 2020
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.
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Ep. 46: A Debate on the Dregs of Asbestos Mining
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
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.
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Ep. 45: Making Precision Medicine a Reality
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
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.
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Ep. 44: Confronting Knowledge Gaps in Intersex Health Care
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
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.