Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of Science Quickly, we examine a proposal to roll back protections for millions of acres of U.S. roadless forests, explore how climate change is opening a new Arctic shipping route and discuss new research suggesting that extreme weather can shape how Americans view their future. Plus, scientists uncover the secrets of shrew noses and narwhal tusks.
00:00 – Intro
0:36 – Roadless Rule rollback proposal
2:05 – Arctic shipping route (interview with Andrea Gawrylewski)
6:00 – Extreme weather & American outlook poll
7:05 – Long-clawed shrews' winter snouts
8:52 – Narwhal tusk spirals
9:52 – Outro
Recommended Reading:
How melting Arctic ice has created a new Silk Road
scientificamerican.com/article/how-climate-change-created-a-new-ice-silk-road-in-the-arctic
Trump moves to end protections for 44 million acres of U.S. forests
scientificamerican.com/article/trump-moves-to-end-protections-for-44-million-acres-of-u-s-forests
Extreme weather is making Americans feel powerless
scientificamerican.com/article/extreme-weather-is-making-americans-feel-powerless
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Marielle Issa and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
In this episode of Science Quickly, we examine a proposal to roll back protections for millions of acres of U.S. roadless forests, explore how climate change is opening a new Arctic shipping route and discuss new research suggesting that extreme weather can shape how Americans view their future. Plus, scientists uncover the secrets of shrew noses and narwhal tusks.
00:00 – Intro
0:36 – Roadless Rule rollback proposal
2:05 – Arctic shipping route (interview with Andrea Gawrylewski)
6:00 – Extreme weather & American outlook poll
7:05 – Long-clawed shrews' winter snouts
8:52 – Narwhal tusk spirals
9:52 – Outro
Recommended Reading:
How melting Arctic ice has created a new Silk Road
scientificamerican.com/article/how-climate-change-created-a-new-ice-silk-road-in-the-arctic
Trump moves to end protections for 44 million acres of U.S. forests
scientificamerican.com/article/trump-moves-to-end-protections-for-44-million-acres-of-u-s-forests
Extreme weather is making Americans feel powerless
scientificamerican.com/article/extreme-weather-is-making-americans-feel-powerless
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Marielle Issa and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
