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.

On this episode, we’ll learn about how one artist views and creates visual art through the use of artificial intelligence – and discuss the importance of AI literacy.

And American cities are sinking. We’ll learn how satellites are used to track shifting population centers.

On this program, we’ll learn about curious orcas.

The Supreme Court has issued a decision could affect religious freedom in schools.

And we’ll speak with an artist whose medium of choice is Lego.

It’s summertime and people are flocking to the beach.

On today’s program we will talk about sharks! We will uncover why they are misunderstood and all the important information about the “perceived ultra-predator.”

Researchers have revealed how an otherwise ordinary moth in Australia uses the stars to make an annual voyage.

And a coalition of teachers’ unions is suing the Trump administration over billions of dollars in frozen education aid.

On this episode, we’ll speak with investigative journalist Mariah Blake.

Blake’s new book “They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals” chronicles the decade-long fight for clean drinking water in the small community of Hoosick Falls, New York.

Unlocking a genetic mystery, scientists studying an unusual jellyfish-like creature have determined the animal to have multiple lineages.

A new report examines an adolescent literacy gap.

And we’ll visit a new museum dedicated to all things pinball.

On this episode, we’ll learn how artificial intelligence is allowing scientists to understand brain function. A new algorithm illuminates the brain’s internal wiring. Researchers are gaining new insight into the brain’s reward system.

We’ll speak with one of a handful of winners of this year’s Dan David Prize. Hamilton College professor Mackenzie Cooley received the world’s largest history prize for her study of “bioprospecting.”

And we’ll speak with school administrators in New York about the state’s new ban on cell phones in schools.

New research offers a glimpse at the evolutionary link between prehistoric creatures and contemporary fowl.

And fossilized amber is sought after for jewelry. A new study demonstrates the substance that takes Mother Nature millions of years to create can be synthesized in the lab.

Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting an active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. We’ll speak with an atmospheric scientist about this year’s forecast.

The president of Vassar College discusses executive orders directed at colleges and universities.

And we’ll speak to a super speller who participated in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Humans aren’t the only animals able to keep a beat. And we may not be the best at it either.

A new study examines the time-keeping abilities of a special sea lion.

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.

Scientists have discovered a new color. Only a handful of people on Earth have seen “olo” – a greenish-blue hue that can only be seen by using special equipment.

And we’ll learn how scientists are aging stars – not by the light they emit, but by their “sound.”

In recognition of Mother’s Day, we’ll learn how Affectionate Mothering impacts children as they grow up.

It’s graduation season, and students are showcasing their research and preparing for life after college.

And new research provides a deeper look at what’s underneath Yellowstone National Park.

Scientists say recent publications by the MICrONS project are a watershed moment for neuroscience. We’ll speak with Dr. David Markowitz, who coordinated the effort to the develop the most advanced 3D map of neuronal circuitry ever.

We may not remember our earliest days, but that doesn’t mean that infants aren’t making memories.

And in a challenging time for higher education, we’ll speak with the college presidents of two merging institutions.

As the Trump administration continues to take actions against colleges and universities, we’ll speak with Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, President of the University at Albany, about how the public institution is planning for changing federal policy.

And new research examines how stress affects the body at the cellular level.

Einstein theorized that at the center of a black hole, the laws of time and space break down. But quantum theory might allow researchers to further our understanding of the unknown.

And an underground water source that feeds rivers in the Pacific Northwest could be much larger than previously thought.

Shape-shifting, fluid-like robotic materials may one day no longer exist only in science fiction.

We’ll learn about how microplastics could contribute to antibiotic resistance.

And students and faculty at UVM ask questions about cuts to federal funding for college campuses.

Black students in America are more likely to be disciplined with out-of-school suspension than their white counterparts. Author Aaron Kupchik explores the legacy of racism and segregation in schools. And we’ll cheer on a robotics competition in Massachusetts.  

New research on aging finds lifestyle and environmental factors may contribute more to aging and health than genetics.

We’ll speak with outgoing Hampshire College President Ed Wingenbach about his efforts to stabilize the private Massachusetts institution.

And filmmaker Jay Craven tells us about how he involves students in his productions.

New research gives a more accurate picture of the lifespan of whales. And some whales may live longer than previously thought.

And scientists have located a mysterious, repeating source of radio waves from far across space.

And new research looks deeper into what causes allergic reactions and intolerances to common foods like nuts, milk, and eggs.

And new research reveals new details about the nervous system of octopuses.

And Connecticut has hired its first student loan ombudsperson. We’ll speak with them about their goals in their new role.

And modern 3D imaging technology is being used to uncover dinosaurs’ diets and how they changed hundreds of millions of years ago.

A new lab at Western New England University is dedicated to studying “extended reality.”

And Marist College has officially rebranded as Marist University

And New York’s largest teachers’ union is backing a proposal to ban cell phones in classrooms across the state.

And after the death of American filmmaker David Lynch, we’ll speak with a film studies professor about how Lynch’s films impacted him and his students.

And a new study suggests evidence of water reserves deep underground on Mars.

And we’ll speak with an international scholar in the area of therapy dogs in classrooms.

We’ll visit a former pig barn that is serving as a temporary home to the largest collection of popular music in the world.

We’ll spend time at the intersection of music and evolutionary theory.

And we’ll learn how children’s ideas are brought to life in glass.

And we’ll learn about a giant centipede with a talent for toxins.

And the Fish and Wildlife Service wants to place the monarch butterfly on the Endangered Species List.

Several Northeast communities experienced record dryness this fall.

And a private New York college is becoming a university.

And we’ll visit the ancient sand dunes of a unique upstate New York landscape.

And we’ll learn about how human practices can both contribute to and help prevent wildfires.

We’ll speak about beginning a writing career, avoiding writer's block, and adapting books for TV or film.

And amid a drought in the northeast United States, we’ll learn about the causes and science behind wildfires.

We’ll learn about a new national study that may lead to a new affordable treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.  

And officials are celebrating a new national hub for semiconductor research.  

And a New York Congressman wants to place new restrictions on mobile sports betting. We’ll learn how sports betting affects student athletes

We’ll meet students in upstate New York who are celebrating the turning point of the American Revolution.

And we’ll catch up with an apple researcher in Western Massachusetts.

We’ll learn about how farmers create a seasonal corn maze.

And we’ll take a trip to the weight room.

And we’ll learn about how libraries are creating sensory-focused spaces.

And a Colgate University physics professor’s research on oysters could lead to advancements in the medical and construction industries.

And Hartwick College, a private liberal arts school in Oneonta, New York, rolls out a new “life balance” initiative.

We’ll speak with author Leonard Cassuto about his book, “Academic Writing as if Readers Matter.”

And we’ll catch up with a pair of college presidents.  

We’ll visit a native plant farm in upstate New York.

And we’ll celebrate the return of Friday night lights at a new field in Massachusetts.

We’ll speak with Godfrey-Smith about his latest work.

The book tells the story of an orphaned owl who was cared for by Carl and his wife Patricia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the large impact a little owl had on their lives.  

Marine photographer Brian Skerry has traveled the globe, capturing dramatic and moving images of the ocean and the life it supports. On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll speak about his latest work documenting change in the Gulf of Maine.

 And we’ll have a conversation with Laura Homsey, author, illustrator, and creator of Petit Paper Stories.

For some, Scrabble is more than just a board game. On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge we’ll attend a competitive Scrabble tournament.

We’ll learn about a high school graduate who has devoted himself to recording the stories of veterans.

And NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is marking two years of science operations.

On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll learn about the students and faculty at Stony Brook University who have created a resilience tool kit for student journalists.

And we’ll learn about a national initiative to expand local news coverage through academic partnerships.

The spring 2024 semester was marked by student protests across the country. On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll speak with an organizer at Bard College, where administration officials reached an agreement with Pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

A new public authority is hoping to steer the future of a recently-closed college in Albany, New York.

And we’ll learn about a rare fern with a record-setting genome.

College textbooks can be a necessary part of coursework, but they’re often pricey. On this week's episode of The Best of Our Knowledge, we'll hear about a new report examining automatic textbook billing practices.

And a new effort is seeking to assist college presidents in preparing students for civic life.

America is experiencing renewed efforts to ban books, pass so-called parents' rights legislation, and vilify teachers unions.  We’ll speak with the authors of "The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual," about who and what is putting schools at the center of the culture war.

New York education officials have unveiled a proposal that would transform the state’s graduation requirements.

Lucas Willard speaks with state Commissioner of Education Dr. Betty Rosa.

Research shows that college students are increasingly lonely. We’ll dive into a study that examines students’ mental health and how colleges and universities are fostering community and belonging.

And the use of artificial intelligence in writing scientific research has skyrocketed. But does it create accuracy concerns?

The rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, has been rocky this year. We’ll dig into how the bumpy rollout could affect colleges and universities.

It’s been more than 6 years since the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida. We’ll speak with Parkland parent and school safety advocate Max Schachter.

And high school students in upstate New York are exploring careers in trucking.  

Published in 1995, James W. Loewen’s “Lies My Teacher Told Me” continues to challenge the U.S. education system and everything we thought we knew about American history.

The book has now been adapted into a graphic novel. On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge we’ll speak with illustrator and National Book Award-winning comics artist Nate Powell.

For five centuries, the world has benefitted from the artistic and scientific contributions from Leonardo da Vinci. A touring exhibit brings the Renaissance polymath’s ideas to life.

We’ll go behind the scenes at America’s largest theater company for young people.  

And it’s time for students preparing for college to fill out their federal student aid applications.

Researchers are using artificial intelligence to listen in on the animal kingdom.

Periodical cicadas this spring are singing in enormous numbers across the United States. It’s reunion hundreds of years in the making.

And we’ll speak with young students who are exploring careers in education.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's bicentennial commencement will feature a special guest, brought to life with artificial intelligence technology.

Students at Union College blend traditional fine art with advanced technology.

And an indigenous student graduating from a South Dakota high school shares his ideas with an international audience.

The 2019 documentary Fantastic Fungi continues to mesmerize audiences with its time-lapse photography and perspectives on perhaps the most misunderstood kingdom of life. The film has been remastered and is now showing in theaters. We’ll speak with director Louie Schwartzberg.

And new research shows frogs are evolving faster than we thought.

The documentary “Common Ground,” a follow-up to 2020’s “Kiss the Ground,” examines the U.S. agricultural system and the industrial threats to the nation’s farmland. On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll speak with film co-director Josh Tickell.

And advanced 3D imaging is letting scientists examine and share museum specimens in a new way.

Hairy bodies. Compound eyes. Feather-like antenna. The perhaps misunderstood moth is in the limelight in the experimental documentary film, “The Night Visitors.” The movie provides a glimpse into a world many of us overlook. We’ll speak with filmmaker Michael Gitlin.

The April 8th solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for millions. We’ll meet students who are using balloons to study the celestial event.

And what’s better than a sturdy pair of shoes? Horseshoes, that is. We’ll learn about a program that is educating future farriers.

From Mexico to Maine, the April 8th solar eclipse will carve a path of darkness across North America. We’ll learn how NASA is preparing to study the event.

And commercial interest in space is at an all-time high. We’ll learn more from the U.S. Office of Space Commerce.

What’s your favorite board game? We’ll explore the history of board games in America.

And we’ll visit an upstate New York woodworking shop that is opening its doors to the community.

In an age of smartphones and streaming, where physical media is disappearing, we’ll take a trip to the largest collection of popular music in the world – and meet the man who has dedicated most of his life to cataloguing recordings and historic materials.

And we’ll attend a groundbreaking for a new middle school in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge: In a changing climate, researchers around the world are asking citizen scientists to use their smartphones to help monitor beach erosion and storm damage.

And we’ll find out why company Columbia Sportswear is currently displaying its logo on the moon.