Transistor

Two hosts, one adventure: This episode marks the beginning of five weeks of special Transistor episodes featuring Trace Elements. Hosts and producers Cristina Quinn and Alison Bruzek take listeners on an off-road trip into the science that connects us. In this episode: Meet a man who woke up from a hospital procedure and no longer felt any fear.

We love a good backstory to a scientific invention that is ubiquitous today. Meet the women who got pregnancy tests out of labs and into homes.

“Biophilia” refers to the instinctive affection humans have for nature. This story is about one such connection: Rodney grew up selling dope and guns. But he's always loved caring for birds. The drugs landed him in jail. The birds helped set him free.

Casey is just four, but he already has an imaginary grandson. What does science say about what imaginary friends do for kids and adults?

Ebola, salmonella, even measles. All of these have a source, and disease detectives trained at the CDC know how to find the culprits. Join two rookies as as they solve the case of the nutty dish.

Why are humans so quick to attribute unknowns to the work of aliens? Hosted by Michelle Thaller and featuring guest Phil Plait, the "Bad Astronomer".

Do animals like music? Science might know.

“52 Hz” is the name given to a mysterious whale that vocalizes at a different frequency than other whales. Some refer to him as “The World’s Loneliest Whale,” but other scientists aren’t convinced that its unique call has left the whale isolated at all. Craig and George went on a whale watch when they reported this story. See their photos and videos here. This episode was produced for PRX & Transistor by Craig Shank and George Drake Jr. of Everything Sounds, and was mixed for Transistor by Josh Swartz. Image from Shutterstock. Not 52 Hz.

The sci-fi epic "Dune" takes place on a desert planet. There, the water in even a single tear is precious. Can "Dune" offer lessons for the drought-stricken California of 2015?

Join us for a math adventure. Just bring your thickest jacket.

Over the past 20 years, there’s been a revolution in the science of arson investigations. Many of the clues that had been used for decades to determine that a fire was not accidental have been proven to be false. Reporter Michael May looks closely at two deadly fires to explore the cutting edge of fire science.

What does it mean when a woman commits a crime and attributes her actions to PMS? We revisit the court case for — and the science behind — the first use of the “PMS defense” in this country, back in 1981. Featuring the true crime show, Criminal.

Step inside an archaic machine on the brink of extinction: the iron lung.

Math meets mime -- and the result is unforgettable.

Told by the couple who lived it, this is a story of how Crohn’s disease can change lives when you least expect it. And it’s a story of how science can present multiple paths to — hopefully — relief or recovery.