FULL EPISODE: Planet-Eating Stars - November 19, 2025

Astrophysics professor Jesse Rogerson joins David to cover the following science stories: Humans are evolving in front of our eyes on the Tibetan plateau; Earliest chemical traces of life on Earth discovered in a 3.3 billion year-old rock; Giant stars are eating planets, and we finally know why; and The eye's maximum resolution is even higher than we thought. Jesse fields a listener question. (Got a science question for us? Leave a voicemail at ⁠1-888-505-6644⁠.) Music psychologist Scott Bannister explains how musicians frequently experience frisson while performing. On Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld and David discuss how to break up with your therapist. Computer scientist Zainab Iftikhar reveals how AI chatbots can often violate ethical standards in mental health contexts. Social psychologist and sexuality researcher Tanja Oschatz shares her studying connecting how a woman's choice of words for her privates is tied to her sexual well-being. Social and personality psychology researcher Hanieh Naeimi talks about how friends' support protects intercultural couples. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:41) Jesse Rogerson pt. 1 (10:00) Jesse Rogerson pt. 2 (20:00) Scott Bannister (30:00) Gary Direnfeld pt. 1 (39:50) Gary Direnfeld pt. 2 (49:50) Zainab Iftikhar (59:50) Tanja Oschatz (1:09:50) Hanieh Naeimi (1:18:40) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices