Stories by Naeem Amarsy

A physicist explores how poetry, pop culture and imagination help us understand spacetime and our place in the universe

How a few unique traits helped modern-style birds—the last living dinosaurs—survive the asteroid apocalypse that took out T. rex and other mighty beasts

Humans are the only species that has chins. A recent study sheds light on how that came to be and why evolution doesn’t always follow the rules

A pain scientist breaks down the surprising brain‑body science that explains why so many of us hurt more than we have to

Step into a room so quiet you can hear your own heartbeat—and your nervous system.

After 10 years of gravitational-wave research, the LIGO Lab team at MIT is getting ready for the next generation of detectors.

This San Antonio, Tex., lab takes biosecurity seriously. Suit up with its scientists and go behind the scenes of the science of vaccine creation.

The Milky Way’s big crash with Andromeda might not be a sure thing. Plus, we discuss an overheated ocean, a giant planet circling a tiny star and worms that build living towers.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is pushing the boundaries of particle physics.

AI chatbots called “griefbots” or “deadbots” offer our loved ones a new digital way to grieve but raise ethical and privacy concerns.

 In a new book called Slither, Stephen S. Hall takes a deep dive into the biology and history of one of the most reviled animals.

A mysterious and often debated aspect of human sexuality colloquially known as “squirting” sparks controversy. This episode explores what research reveals.

Botanist Mason Heberling challenges how we think about invasive species and our role in their spread.

A neurosurgeon who has acted as a consultant for Severance explains the science behind the show’s brain-altering procedure—and whether it could ever become reality.

Novelist John Green talks about his new nonfiction book, Everything is Tuberculosis, and the inequities in treatment for the highly infectious disease

Many people are concerned about microplastics reaching our brain—but few realize how this connects with petroleum production and the climate crisis

In this week’s news roundup, we cover activity from the black hole at our galaxy’s center and a troubling measles outbreak in Texas.

Journalist Carl Zimmer chats about aerobiology and his new book Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe.

News of an asteroid with a 2 percent chance of hitting Earth in 2032 made headlines. But is its fluctuating risk really cause for concern?

In this week’s roundup, we’re reviewing some animal research, the latest on bird flu and the burden of microplastics on our brain.