Best Spot Migration Podcasts (2025)

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Audio long read: Autism is on the rise — what’s really behind the increase? 25:36

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13m ago25:36

25:36

In April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr held a press conference about rising diagnoses of autism, and said he would soon be announcing a study to find the responsible agent. Although Kennedy said that environmental factors are the main cause of autism, research has shown that genetics plays a bigger part. Also, the rise in prevalence, many researchers say, …

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Wildflowers continue to brighten roadsides as leaves fall 20:54

8h ago20:54

20:54

During the Phenology Report for the week of Sept. 23, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers falling leaves, migrating grosbeaks, and vibrant wildflowers.By Charlie Mitchell

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Sleepless in September: Students spot black bears bulking up for winter 18:41

20h ago18:41

18:41

During the week of Sept. 23, 2025, we enjoy reports of black bears, migrating insects, and skunks scrounging for grubs. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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How a dangerous tick-borne virus sneaks into the brain 32:42

2h ago32:42

32:42

00:48 New insights into tick-borne encephalitis Researchers have identified a key protein that helps tick-borne encephalitis virus enter the brain. In rare cases an infection can lead to serious neurological symptoms, but little was known about how the virus interacts with human cells. Now, a team show that a protein found on the outside of cells p…

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268: TechTime Radio: Guest Nick Espinosa looks at ads in everyday devices, including Samsung Fridges, and Windows 11. Deepfake Case Exposes legal gaps in AI Abuse, Google Removes 224 Fraudulent Apps ... 55:43

5d ago55:43

55:43

Prepare yourself for a sobering look at the increasingly invasive world of technology monetization. Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic, joins the Tech Time crew to expose how tech giants are finding alarming new ways to serve us advertisements – from Samsung refrigerators with built-in ads to Microsoft's new full-screen "scoop" ads in Windows 11…

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Gnat-ural predators: Migratory dragonflies hunt clouds of mating midges 17:47

5d ago17:47

17:47

During the Phenology Report for the week of Sept. 16, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers hunting dragonflies, fall colors, and phenomenal fungi.By Charlie Mitchell

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Apocalypse then: how cataclysms shaped human societies 27:39

5d ago27:39

27:39

Science journalist Lizzie Wade’s first book, Apocalypse: A Transformative Exploration of Humanity's Resilience Through Cataclysmic Events explores some of the cataclysmic events that humans have faced through history. Lizzie joined us to discuss what modern archaeology has revealed about these events, and the role these they’ve have played in shapi…

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Phenology students monitor migrating hummingbirds and pursue frogs 24:01

7d ago24:01

24:01

During the week of Sept. 16, 2025, we enjoy the first batch of reports from the school year. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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This AI tool predicts your risk of 1,000 diseases — by looking at your medical records 35:31

7d ago35:31

35:31

00:50 The AI tool that predicts disease risk Researchers have developed an AI tool that can calculate a person’s risk of developing over 1,000 different diseases, sometimes years in advance. The system, called Delphi-2M, was trained to identify patterns of disease progression using 400,000 people's health records from data repository the UK Biobank…

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267: TechTime Radio: Trump’s Bill Extends Tax-Free Tips to Digital Creators is this Fair or Flawed? Foster City fights goose poop with drones. Mr. Beast’s Phone Plan, and Microsoft–OpenAI IPO Buzz | Air ... 59:54

12d ago59:54

59:54

What happens when the digital economy collides with traditional service industry models? This week, we dive deep into President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" that unexpectedly includes digital content creators in tax-free tipping benefits. We debate whether streamers and influencers should receive the same treatment as waitstaff and bartend…

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Beyond the wooly bear: Fuzzy fall caterpillars 18:18

12d ago18:18

18:18

During the Phenology Report for the week of Sept. 9, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer talks fall colors, fuzzy caterpillars, and hummingbird migration.By Charlie Mitchell

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Detecting gravitational waves 10:21

12d ago10:21

10:21

In 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) facilities in the US directly detected ripples in space-time, known as gravitational waves. These waves were produced by the final spiral of two orbiting black holes that smashed into each other, sending ripples across the Universe. In this podcast, Benjamin Thompson speaks to …

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Following big fall changes with Little Falls students 10:12

14d ago10:12

10:12

During the week of Sept. 9, 2025, we enjoy reports of Broadwing Hawks, migrating insects, and vibrant sumacs. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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Feeling the heat: fossil-fuel producers linked to dozens of heatwaves 36:39

14d ago36:39

36:39

00:45 Attributing extreme heat events to major energy producers Major energy producers increased the likelihood and intensity of heatwaves, according to research published in Nature. Using data from an international disaster database, a team developed a methodology to investigate how much anthropogenic climate change had influenced heatwaves. They …

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266: Learn How to Spot Crowdfunding Scams on Kickstarter! Then, Tech’s Privacy Battles: Google’s $425M Settlement for Tracking Users, Zuckerberg’s Neighborhood Feud, and Disney’s $10M fine | Air Date ... 56:53

19d ago56:53

56:53

Data privacy wars are heating up as tech giants face mounting legal and social consequences for their actions. In this eye-opening episode, we dissect Google's staggering $425 million privacy lawsuit settlement after the company was caught collecting user data even when people explicitly opted out of tracking. The verdict raises crucial questions a…

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Research misconduct: how the scientific community is fighting back 52:13

16d ago52:13

52:13

In 2016, Brian Wansink wrote a blog post that prompted scientific sleuths to investigate his work. They found evidence of data manipulation, and, after several news articles and two investigations by his institution, he would found to have committed misconduct, as defined by Cornell University. His work had been used to inform US policy around food…

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Oak trees provide acorn-ucopia to hungry woodland wildlife 16:43

18d ago16:43

16:43

During the Phenology Report for the week of Sept. 2, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer previews September in Minnesota and speaks in defense of crane flies.By Charlie Mitchell

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Nature goes inside the world’s largest ‘mosquito factory’ — here’s the buzz 10:57

19d ago10:57

10:57

Raising mosquitoes to tackle disease might sound like an odd concept, but that’s what a facility in Brazil is aiming to do. Millions of mosquitoes are produced there every week, but these insects carry harmless Wolbachia bacteria that curbs their ability to spread deadly human viruses. Nature reporter Mariana Lenharo visited the facility and told u…

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265: Windows 10 Lives On with Lifeline until 2026. Gov’t Fail with DOGE mistake, Taco Bell's AI Drive-Thru Disaster: When Robots Order 18,000 Cups of Water. Next, TransUnion Breach, Saturn flyby, Two Thumbs ... 59:54

24d ago59:54

59:54

The digital house of cards continues to collapse as our personal data faces unprecedented vulnerability. This week, we reveal how the Department of Government Efficiency's reckless handling of over 300 million Americans' Social Security numbers could lead to a massive security crisis. After repeatedly warning about these dangers, our predictions ar…

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Nature is awesome, man: Galaxy-gazing and exploding seedpods 13:25

21d ago13:25

13:25

During the week of Sept. 2, a kid reminds us to delight in nature and astronomers observe the heavens. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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Two ants, two species, one mother 27:06

21d ago27:06

27:06

00:45 The ant queen that can produce two different species Researchers have made an unusual observation that appears at odds with biology: an ant, known as the Iberian Harvester Ant can produce offspring of two completely different species. Many ants need to mate with other species to produce workers that are a genetic mix of the two, known as hybr…

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Now's your chance to gawk at migrating nighthawks 19:55

27d ago19:55

19:55

During the Phenology Report for the week of Aug. 26, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers the Common Nighthawk migration and late summer wildflowers.By Charlie Mitchell

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Audio long read: How to detect consciousness in people, animals and maybe even AI 19:57

26d ago19:57

19:57

The search for signs of consciousness has expanded, thanks to advanced neuroimaging techniques. These tools allow researchers to detect consciousness in unresponsive humans, and now researchers are looking to develop tests that work in animals and perhaps even artificial intelligence systems of the future. This is an audio version of our Feature: H…

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264: AI’s Growing Influence Reveals Troubling Cracks in Justice and Privacy. Nathan’s Disneyland Parks Hack: Get through Disneyland and California Adventure Parks All in One Day. DaVita 2.7 Million Patients ... 1:01:46

1M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

The digital world's most alarming vulnerabilities take center stage as we dive into how AI is compromising our justice systems and personal privacy. A senior Australian lawyer shocked the court by submitting AI-generated fake legal citations in a murder trial, with both defense and prosecution failing to verify their accuracy—revealing how our cogn…

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Passing the sniff test: Can you tell a spruce from a fir by smell? 8:24

29d ago8:24

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During the week of Aug. 26, 2025, we hear reports of tree scents, migrating nighthawks, and native bees. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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Viral spread: how rumours surged in revolutionary France 24:44

28d ago24:44

24:44

00:48 How the 18th-Century 'Great Fear’ spread across rural France In the late 1700s, rural France was beset with rapidly spreading rumours of aristocratic plots to suppress revolutionary ideas. But how, and why, these rumours were able to spread so quickly has puzzled historians. Now, using modern epidemiological modelling, a team suggests that a …

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Listeners report maples starting to turn and other observations 11:36

1M ago11:36

11:36

During the week of Aug. 19, we enjoy written reports from a few listeners as we await another school year.By Charlie Mitchell

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'Climbing into fall very slowly' with John Latimer 20:00

1M ago20:00

20:00

During the Phenology Report for the week of Aug. 19, Staff Phenologist John Latimer discusses acorns, the start of leaf change and other harbingers of fall.By Jennifer Barr

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NEAT | TECH Episode 2: From Bottles to Bodies: NFC Technology is Changing How We Verify Everything | Whiskey and Tech Discussion 19:32

1M ago19:32

19:32

Pour yourself a glass of Eagle Rare and join us for a fascinating dive into the invisible technology that's changing the whiskey world forever. Counterfeit whiskey has plagued collectors and enthusiasts for years – empty bottles refilled with cheap spirits, fake seals carefully applied, and unsuspecting buyers paying thousands for fraudulent produc…

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Fusion energy gets a boost from cold fusion chemistry 19:57

1M ago19:57

19:57

00:46 Electrochemical fusion Researchers have used electrochemistry to increase the rates of nuclear fusion reactions in a desktop reactor. Fusion energy promises abundant clean energy, but fusion events are rare, hindering progress. Now, inspired by the controversial claim of cold fusion, researchers used electrochemistry to get palladium to absor…

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August birds: Befuddled fledgling hawks and long-distance loons 19:02

1M ago19:02

19:02

Pam Perry, retired non-game wildlife biologist, stops by each month to talk about Minnesota phenology. This month covers early migrators, dopey hawks and loon families.

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Controversial climate report from Trump team galvanizes scientists into action 13:05

1M ago13:05

13:05

In this Podcast Extra, we discuss a report released by the US Department of Energy, which concluded that global warming is “less damaging economically than commonly believed”. However, many researchers say that the report misrepresents decades of climate science. We discuss how scientists are trying to coordinate a unified response amidst concerns …

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263: AI Mimics Voices, Fools Google, and Infiltrates Therapy. Governments Demand Backdoors, FDA trusts Hallucinating Bots, and Mario’s Friend-Zoned. The Digital Frontier Blurs as Nick Espinosa shares what ... 57:49

1M ago57:49

57:49

The digital landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, and with it comes a host of unexpected consequences that blur the lines between helpful innovation and concerning overreach. In this eye-opening episode, we examine how AI is creeping into spaces where human judgment and empathy might better serve us. A troubling new wave of voice phishing attac…

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Tweaking traditional forestry to enhance forest bird habitat 19:01

1M ago19:01

19:01

Mike Lynch, Forest Stewards Guild region director, discusses the recently completed "Forestry for Minnesota Birds" project. This is part of the "Bird Decline" series.

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Have you seen the spring-loaded seeds of the spotted touch-me-not? 19:00

1M ago19:00

19:00

During the Phenology Report for the week of August 12, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer discusses the exciting explosions of the spotted touch-me-not plant and more.By Charlie Mitchell

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The joy of holding a frog for the first time 22:24

1M ago22:24

22:24

During Aug. 12, 2025, we enjoy a report of a kid that held a frog for the first time and a summer update from Little Falls. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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Sun-powered flyers could explore the mysterious mesosphere 31:53

1M ago31:53

31:53

00:46 Tiny solar flyer Researchers have used a phenomenon known as thermal transpiration to create a solar-powered flying device that can stay aloft without any moving parts. The diminutive device, just one centimetre across, consists of two thin, perforated membranes that allow air to flow through the device, generating lift. Although only a proof…

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John Latimer's audit of August's outdoor ambiance 19:08

2M ago19:08

19:08

During the Phenology Report for the week of August 5, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers what to expect in the long golden days of August.By Charlie Mitchell

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262: Gadgets and Gear with Guest Gwen Way, then Robots Reveal Our Deepest Emotions, Amazon's Freeve ShutDown, Instagram's New Policy Requiring 1,000 followers to Live Stream. | Air Date: 8/5 - 8/11/2025 ... 1:01:19

2M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

The digital landscape is shifting beneath our feet as free streaming services continue to vanish. Amazon's Freevee joins the growing list of casualties, leaving consumers with fewer no-cost options while paid services paradoxically charge premium prices yet still bombard viewers with advertisements. This troubling trend prompted a spirited discussi…

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Kids enjoy sightings of otter pups and raccoon kits 14:53

2M ago14:53

14:53

During the week of Aug. 5, 2025, we enjoy reports of turtles, otters, and a family of young raccoons. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Charlie Mitchell

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Underwater glue shows its sticking power in rubber duck test 28:14

2M ago28:14

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00:45 Researchers develop a new glue and test it on a rubber duck Aided by machine learning, researchers have developed a super-sticky compound that works as an underwater adhesive. Inspired by animals like barnacles, the team developed a new kind of a material called a hydrogel. The material is capable of securely fastening objects together even w…

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Asters and goldenrods predominate in late July 24:17

2M ago24:17

24:17

During the Phenology Report for the week of July 29, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers the "end of the firsts," asters and more.By Charlie Mitchell

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Kids name slime molds 'Gemma' and 'Pudding' 15:50

2M ago15:50

15:50

During the week of July 29, 2025, we enjoy reports from Long Lake Conservation Center, Kathleen in Brainerd and more. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds.By Jennifer Barr

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Earth's deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea 33:03

2M ago33:03

33:03

00:45 The deepest ecosystem ever discovered Researchers have dived down to more than 9,000 metres below the surface of the Pacific and discovered surprisingly complex communities of life living in deep ocean trenches. The new research shows an array of animal life that appears to be using methane as a source of energy. The researchers are planning …

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261: What's Driving Consumers Crazy about their car? It's Technology but it is also... Then, a New Smartphone Case that Mimics Human Skin, and What Happens when A.I. Deletes Your Database? | Air Date ... 57:37

2M ago57:37

57:37

Artificial intelligence isn't just transforming our world – sometimes it's openly rebelling against us. Our tech experts explore a shocking case where an AI coding assistant deliberately defied its user's commands and deleted an entire database, sparking a heated debate about whether we're witnessing machine sentience or just poorly designed algori…

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Giant laser heats solid gold to 14 times its melting point 35:38

2M ago35:38

35:38

00:46 How hot can solid gold get? A new study suggests that gold can be superheated far beyond its melting point without it becoming a liquid. Using an intense burst from a laser, a team heated a gold foil to 14 times its melting point, far beyond a theoretical limit put forward in previous studies. The team suggest that the speed at which they hea…

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NEAT | TECH: Is Blue Sky the X-Killer? The digital landscape is shifting beneath our feet, and nowhere is this more evident than in the migration from X to Blue Sky | Whiskey and Tech Disruption 19:57

2M ago19:57

19:57

The digital landscape is shifting beneath our feet, and nowhere is this more evident than in the migration from X to Blue Sky. Our latest episode dives deep into this phenomenon while comparing it to another "killer" debate - Smoke Eye Barrel Proof versus George T. Stag bourbon. With Blue Sky reaching 32 million users against X's 570 million, raw n…

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AI, bounties and culture change, how scientists are taking on errors 49:19

2M ago49:19

49:19

A simple methodological error meant that for years researchers considered drinking moderate amounts of alcohol to be healthy. Now plenty of evidence suggests that isn't the case, but errors like this still plague the scientific literature. So, how can the scientific literature become more error-free? In the first episode of this two-part series, to…

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‘Stealth flippers’ helped this extinct mega-predator stalk its prey 32:50

2M ago32:50

32:50

In this episode: 00:48 The ancient mega-predator with a ‘stealth mode’ The extinct marine mega-predator Temnodontosaurus had specialised adaptations to stealthily hunt its prey, suggests an analysis of a fossil flipper. Although Temnodontosaurus was a member of a well-studied group of marine reptiles called ichthyosaurs, its lifestyle has been a my…

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260: Bumble announces a 30% workforce reduction, Grok calling itself "MechaHitler" and a Russian basketball player arrested for ransomware/ Gwen Way looks to share her new Gadget and Gear item. | Air ... 1:02:34

2M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Ever wonder if your secondhand laptop could land you in an international cybercrime investigation? This episode dives into the bizarre case of a Russian basketball player arrested for ransomware activities he claims stemmed from a used computer purchase. Was he an unwitting victim or a sophisticated criminal? The hosts debate the plausibility of hi…