An analysis of small, prehistoric fossils found in sandstone is giving researchers new clues into the time before the explosion of complex life on Earth.

And we’ll visit high school students celebrating Lunar New Year, which is now being recognized in New York state schools.

Arsenic is a naturally-occurring toxin with a big reputation.

But scientists say arsenic-contaminated waste could have a potential public benefit, including in advanced manufacturing. We’ll explore how an environmental challenge could become an economic opportunity.  

An analysis of pottery fragments from ancient Mesopotamia has revealed what may demonstrate a mathematical system developed before numbers.

And in the absence of federal funding, a proposal hopes to create a new hub for medical research.

The culture and traditions of Ancient Egypt have long captivated history students. But one part its history may have been swept under the rug.

On today’s program, we’ll explore opium use in Ancient Egypt, and how the drug was used by people of all classes, including the pharaohs.

A common lizard in the American west plays a unique game of rock, paper, scissors.

And your dog may be smarter than you think. A new study finds some dogs can learn by eavesdropping.

Scientists have discovered a distant planet that resembles a lemon.

And while studying a mysterious cloud of hot dust 70 light-years away, researchers have found an unusual star.

On this episode, we’ll speak with a scientist who helped pinpoint a unique – and long theorized – form of matter.

And we’ll visit museum in upstate New York that organizers hope will inspire the next generation of firefighters.

This week we’ll celebrate the best of The Best of Our Knowledge in 2025.

We’ll learn about a new color that humans normally can’t see, a project that created one of the most advanced maps of the brain, and research that uncovers truths to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

On this episode, we’ll learn how an endangered antelope was born to a mother of a separate species.

A new report from New York examines declining public school enrollment.

And lawmakers are celebrating the return of whole milk to the cafeteria.

The Rapa Nui peoples of Easter Island have sculpted statues known as Moai for centuries.

These statues are likely familiar to you – giant stone heads with prominent figurative facial features.

We will learn all about how the Moai statues were transported by the Rapa Nui on the island to their places of display.

The East African Savannah is known to be the cradle of humanity.

Now, researchers are presenting a different history of homo sapiens, theorizing they evolved all across the continent including in rainforests as early as 150,000 years ago. 

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Imagine seeing something brighter than 10 trillion suns… seems impossible.

Well, scientists have detected a black hole flare that achieved this rare unbelievable brightness.

This sighting opens up the possibility of there being more flares of this magnitude.

We will learn all about this supermassive black hole flare.

Can you imagine early humans over 2 million years ago using tools, maybe not, but guess what they did!

Technology has been a major part in our evolution as humans and stone tools were some of the beginnings of what we recognize as modern technology.

We will explore a discovery of stone tools found in Kenya’s Turkana Basin to learn more about early technology and humans.

There are about 600 venomous snake species worldwide and I hope you never run into one.

A new study looks into how some venomous snakes attack their prey.

Vipers, Elapids, and Colubrids all have different behaviors when striking and we will learn all about it.

We learn about fossils of dinosaurs found in New Mexico that provides evidence that they were quite diverse and thriving before their extinction.

And we learn about a series of forums looking at what challenges rural schools are facing in New York State.

The sun is the center of our solar system and our source of almost all energy.

The space probe Solar Orbiter has been able to identify the Sun’s dual engines for fast electrons, explosive flares and coronal mass ejections.

Being able to collect this data researchers have uncovered the key mysteries about these sun particles.

Ever thought about wanting to change the shape of your head, well peoples in Latin America did thousands of years ago.

This practice is called head binding and was done on newborns, when their heads are pliable, to have the desired form of being flat, round, or cone shaped.

We learn all about head binding and the cultural significance of it all.

Seahorses are some of the most unique and beautiful creatures in the ocean.

The Pygmy Seahorse is one of the most interesting looking and complex of them all.

They are only 1 inch big, and due to their size were not known to exist until about 50 years ago.

We will learn all about this tiny creature that comes from the depths of the ocean hidden in coral.

A monster Molecular Cloud has been discovered in our galaxy that was not previously known to exist by a team of astronomers.

This cloud is made up of gas and dust and is about 200 light years long... whoa that is indeed a monster.

We will learn more about this cloud and what exactly it is and its functions.

Vampire Bats… not really an inviting name, but new research discovers that these bats have behaviors of cuddling, playing, sharing, and more.

And we also learn about an ancient voyage recreation that happened thousands of years ago across one of the strongest ocean currents in the world by a team of researchers.

At Yellowstone National Park about 5,000 Migratory Bison roam and graze the grasslands.

In new research it hints that these Bison are actually helping the environment with their grazing habits.

This means that there are potential benefits to restoring Bison to an ecosystem.

The Nation’s Report Card shows a drop in average scores for eighth graders in science and for 12th graders in math and reading.

And liberal arts colleges are going through a challenging time, but one private college in Massachusetts is "reimagining" education. 

We’ll explore how one private college is developing a strategy to safely integrate artificial intelligence into instruction.

And a public college in Massachusetts is taking a big step to combat food insecurity on campus.  

Scientists are studying how the small, seemingly ordinary Zebrafish could one day help people restore their hearing.

And why knot? We’ll speak with a researcher who says knots and string tell stories of human history.

Under President Donald Trump’s push to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School is providing advice to families who are concerned about their children during back-to-school season.

And an organization representing public school districts in New York has published a report to assist districts attract teachers during a national shortage.