Your most surprising science questions of the year, answered

As a scientist, the theme I keep coming to at the end of 2024 is the importance of feeding curiosity — to ask questions and take the time to understand new proposed theories.

It’s hard to pick a favorite science story of the year because scientists have really been on their A-game. But some of my favorite scientific achievements of the year include record-breaking green energy production. For the first seven months of the year, the U.S. generated more power from wind and solar than coal.

We saw the FDA approve two new drugs to help slow the progression of the rare disease Niemann-Pick Type C.

And I admired the World Mosquito Program’s work using naturally-occurring bacteria to help fight viruses like Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue.

I’m also amazed by the wide range of topics we’ve covered on Seeking A Scientist this past year, from cloning extinct species, plant intelligence, and how to handle stress. It was a great honor to share everything I discovered with all of you.

Matt Cashore

But the sheer amount of things still left to unveil in this wild world never ceases to amaze me.

When we asked our listeners to share some of your end-of-year science curiosities, we were blown away by the amount and range of responses. Here are just a few of our favorites:

• How do reusable water bottles keep our drinks hot and cold?
• Is plastic inert or non-reactive? And if that’s the case, then why are microplastics so bad for our environment?
• Why can’t we see the other side of the moon?
• What’s the future of space exploration now that the ISS is retiring?
• What do astronauts do with their trash in space?
• Why and how do the “immortal” jellyfish stay forever young?
• Why do cats love laying on puzzles?
• Is there a sound frequency that is calming to humans?
• Is it true that no two snowflakes are identical?
• What in the sciences give you hope?

To hear the answers, listen to the latest episode of Seeking A Scientist.

Elizabeth Gassmann

Additional sources from Seeking A Scientist:

• Metals and Semiconductors
• What is the Most Conductive Element?
• Conductors
• Metallic Bonding
• How does a Hydro Flask Keep Water Cold?
• Heat, Temperature, and Conduction
• Reusable Water Bottles – Understanding the Reasons Why to Use Them
• Can We Save the Oceans From Plastic?
• On the Chemistry of Inert Gases
• Chemical Inertness
• Microplastics Generated When Opening Plastic Packaging
• Polystyrene Microplastics Disrupted Physical Barriers, Microbiota Composition and Immune Responses in the Cecum of Developmental Japanese Quails
• Study Explains Why Food High in Saturated Fat May Lead to Plaque Build-up in Arteries
• Wastewater
• The Unseeable Enemy: Microplastics vs. Our Home Plumbing
• Microplastics in Deep-Sea Stomachs: Study Finds Plastic Eaten by Fish and Crustaceans Increases with Depth in the Gulf of Mexico
• Small Particles, Big Problem: Measuring Microplastic’ Impact on Fish
• Microplastics Everywhere
• Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects
• Exposure to Nanoplastic Particles and DNA Damage in Mammalian Cells
• Can We Stop an Asteroid From Hitting Earth?
• How Living in Outer Space Changes the Human Body
• The Moon’s Orbit and Rotation
• Tidal Locking
• What is Tidal Locking?
• DSCOVR - Deep Space Climate Observatory
• From a Million Miles Away, NASA Camera Shows Moon Crossing Face of Earth
• The International Space Station Has Been Leaking for Five Years
• The ISS Has Been Leaking For Five Years. NASA and Russia Disagree on How to Fix It
• Space Commercialization
• The International Space Station Retires Soon. NASA Won’t Run it’s Future Replacement
• SpaceX
• Blue Origin
• Gateway
• Gateway Space Station
• Artemis
• Kate Rubins
• Space Debris
• Trash Bag Jettisoned From Space Station in Waste-Management First
• The Immortal Jellyfish
• Shutterstock: Turritopsis Dohrnii
• Can a Jellyfish Unlock the Secret of Immortality? 
• ‘Immortal Jellyfish’ Could Spur Discoveries about Human Aging
• Immortal Jellyfish: the Secret to Cheating Death
• Dogs are Talking – Are you Listening? 
• Take A Look At Me Meow! 8 Cat Attention-Seeking Behaviors Explained
• Cats on Puzzles, Cats Wrecking Puzzles, Cats Eating Puzzles Pieces
• Understanding Your Cat’s Prey Drive
• Identifying Prey Preference
• Why Your Cat Always Sits on the Paper You’re Reading
• What is a Singing Bowl (and How to Use it for Meditation)?
• The Best White Noise Machine
• World’s Most Relaxing Song May Reduce Anxiety by 65%
• Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65%
• The World’s Most Relaxing Song
• The Chemistry of Snowflakes, Explained
• What is Deuterium?
• Deuterium Content of Naturally Occurring Water
• Quintillion
• Is It Really True That No Two Snowflakes Are Alike?
• New Report: Wind & Solar Energy Tripled in US Over Past Decade
• Niemann-Pick Disease
• World Mosquito Program: How it Works
• Wolbachia Dramatically Reduces Dengue Cases

Seeking A Scientist is a production of KCUR Studios. It's made possible with support from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, where scientists work to accelerate our understanding of human health and disease.

It's hosted by Dr. Kate Biberdorf, AKA Kate the Chemist. This episode was produced by senior producer Suzanne Hogan with help from Olivia Hewitt. Our editor is Mackenzie Martin. Our digital editor is Gabe Rosenberg.

Additional support from Zach Perez, Byron Love, Allison Harris and Genevieve DesMarteau.

Our original theme music is by The Coma Calling. Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions.