Science

When did horses become a part of Western Indigenous communities? That’s the focus of a recent study that challenges long-held ideas. But it also highlights the importance of decolonizing science.

For decades, people have wondered how ancient ancestral Puebloans transported heavy building materials to Chaco Canyon, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Southwest. Now researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder say they may have solved this 1,000-year-old supply chain mystery.

In spite of ongoing drought in parts of the state, it was a very wet August in Colorado’s mountains. Heavy rains brought an abundance of wild mushrooms, including some that are new to science. But novel mushroom species are more common than you might think. And a lot of them are found by citizen scientists – amateurs - with a passion for foraging.

An instrument developed by researchers at CU Boulder will be launching next fall to study Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

On today’s show, we hear from two Colorado scientists who recently discovered one of the oldest female infant burial sites in a cave in Europe. We’ll hear their analysis, and what they think life may have been like for the child and her family.

If you’re watching the Olympics, you’ve likely seen big brown mountains covered in veins of artificial snow trails. That more compact manufactured snow has pros and cons: racers like its consistency and how fast they go. But if you crash, you might get hurt worse. It will likely continue to be used, as researchers look for a way to scale up making fluffier, more natural snow for the future.

70 years ago, experimenters first proved that nuclear power could be used as more than just a weapon.

Researchers from institutes in the U.S. and U.K., including at Colorado State University, are taking action to improve soil health and land management strategies in order to build more profitable business for ranchers and farmers.

After another historic wildfire season, scientists from across the region will gather virtually to discuss what to do about the health impacts of wildfire smoke.

Colorado State University recently opened the Panacea Life Sciences Cannabinoid Research Center which will study the health benefits of cannabinoids on both humans and animals.