Ancient Music
Playing ancient Peruvian instruments inside the ruins of a temple gives researchers clues to the music's cultural significance.
Sick Mummies
Researchers discover signs of heart disease in ancient Egyptian mummies.
Podcast
FLU REPORT: Why older people are at less risk of contracting the H1N1 flu virus, how to avoid the flu, and can you get the flu from a library book? Also: ancient mummies with heart disease and harmful bacteria discovered in cigarettes.
Ancient Fibers
Ancient flax fibers found in a cave suggests humans may have been turning the plant into clothing or rope as far back as 36,000 years ago.
Podcast
The gecko's phantom tail, the social lives of fruit flies, stem cells from fat, fall color secrets, ancient cave discoveries.
Early Climate Change
Humans may have affected the Earth's climate thousands of years ago.
Podcast
CENTRAL AMERICAN CONSERVATION: Saving the Caribbean coral reef, conserving the world's largest sharks, and ancient Mayan forest conservation.
Mayan Forestry
The early Maya culture practiced forest conservation – and may have paid a heavy price when they stopped.
Rammed Earth
The right amount of water can make a green building material super-sturdy.
Online Antiquities
Online auction sites have transformed both legal and illegal antiquities markets.
Evolution of Conscience
Hunting and gathering in pre-historic times may have led to the evolution of the conscience.
Podcast
EVOLUTION & MORALITY SPECIAL: Hunting large game led to the evolution of the conscience, and evidence of moral systems in other animals. Also: Giant snake fossil points to warmer times, and grandparents helped civilization evolve.
Podcast
EVOLUTION SPECIAL: Celebrating Charles Darwin's 200th birthday, the evolution of kissing, mosquito love duets, robot sex, and the unhealthy history of the human diet.
Little Ice Age
Widespread disease epidemics in the Americas may have set off a period of global cooling in the past.
Podcast
CLIMATE CHANGE: A listener asks: How can it be "global warming" when it's so cold outside? And the chilling effects of deadly disease on the climate of the past.
Antikythera Mechanism
An ancient astronomical calculator had a dedicated calendar for the Olympics and other games.
Podcast
DANGEROUS MICROORGANISMS: Diseases of the Crusaders unearthed. New mosquito repellents on the horizon. And is your moldy basement a health hazard?
Satellite Archaeology
Satellite images are helping scientists measure the influence of an ancient Mexican civilization.
Magellan’s Weather
The climate anomaly known as El Niño could explain why the voyage of Magellan encountered an unusually calm Pacific Ocean.
Cat Domestication
A listener asks: where and when were cats first domesticated?
Podcast
Archaeologists dig deep, the mystery of Maya Blue, where your hair has been, and more.
Archaeological Digs
A listener asks: When archaeologists uncover ancient cities, why do they have to dig so deep?