Republicans across Iowa will gather Monday night at 7:00 pm CT to caucus for a presidential candidate. What does that mean? We tell you how caucusing works, what you should watch for on Monday & how Iowans are reacting to former New Jersey governor Chris Christie suspending his campaign.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national political correspondent Don Gonyea, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell & Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Erica Morrison. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Since they were discovered in 2019, strange, glowing circles of light in space have mystified researchers. Now called odd radio circles, or ORCs, these rings of light sit in the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. They pulse out of the centers of some galaxies – and until now, no one knew why.

In this episode, host Regina G. Barber talks to Alison Coil, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at University of California San Diego, about her latest research. They break down what ORCs are, where they come from and what they might reveal about how galaxies evolve over billions of years.

Wondering about other happenings across the universe? Email us at [email protected] – we'd love to hear about it!

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The stream of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border hit record numbers at the end of 2023. The stream of illegal border crossing has slowed, but could a lack of agreement on immigration policy issues be a factor in a partial government shutdown next week?

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd.

Our producers are Casey Morell & Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Erica Morrison. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Former President Trump's attorneys appeared at the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to argue Trump should have blanket immunity for actions he took while in office related to the January 6th insurrection. We discuss the opposing arguments, the judge's questions and what's next for this case.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell & Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Erica Morrison. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Human beings are hardwired for social connection – so much so that we think of even the most basic objects as having feelings or experiences. (Yup, we're talking to you, Roomba owners!) Social robots add a layer to this. They're designed to make us feel like they're our friends. They can do things like care for children, the elderly or act as partners. But there's a darker side to them, too. They may encourage us to opt out of authentic, real-life connections, making us feel more isolated.

Today on the show, host Regina G. Barber explores the duality of social robots with Eve Herold, author of the new book Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding on to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots.

Curious about other innovations in technology? Email us at [email protected].

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Iowa Republicans caucus in less than a week. Republican presidential candidates are making their final rounds across the state, and our reporters are following their campaigns. We talk to two about what they've learned on the ground.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and Minnesota Public Radio senior politics reporter Clay Masters.

This episode was edited by Erica Morrison. It was produced by Jeongyoon Han and Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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With only 11 days to go until a possible government shutdown, congressional leaders have agreed to a topline budget. But, it resembles one that didn't pass last spring. Will Congress make its deadline?

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

This episode was edited by Erica Morrison. It was produced by Jeongyoon Han and Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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A winter storm brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the East Coast this weekend, which got us thinking about snowflakes. Those intricate, whimsical crystals are a staple of magical wintry scenes, but how big can they really get? Well, according to the Guinness World Record keepers, the "largest snowflake" ever recorded was a whopping 15 inches in diameter. It was spotted near Missoula, Montana in 1887. But Kenneth Libbrecht, a physicist at Caltech, has long been skeptical of that record. So he set out to find what makes a snowflake a snowflake and whether that 1887 record is scientifically possible. You can read more about what he discovered here.

Want to share the snowflakes you've spotted this winter? Email us a photo at [email protected].

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President Biden used his first campaign event of 2024 to call out his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, for the threat he poses to American democracy, calling the issue a 'sacred cause' for the race ahead.

Plus, uphill climbs in congressional races this year, and Can't Let It Go.

This episode: political correspondents Ashley Lopez & Susan Davis, and congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales.

This episode was edited by Erica Morrison. It was produced by Jeongyoon Han and Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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The winter is usually when insects die or go into a state of paused development, but for tiny specks on the white snow called snow flies, it's time to run around, find a lover and make baby snow flies. Neuroscientist John Tuthill has been studying these creatures since he first came across them in 2016. He's found that not only can they survive in the cold, but if one of their limbs starts to freeze, they can self-amputate and pop it right off. That buys the snow fly time to find a mate and make sweet, sweet snow fly love.

Interested in other winter biology? Email us at [email protected] — we'd love to hear from you!

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