The sun has been in a relatively quiet period in recent years -- but astronomers say that's going to change soon.

Thirty years ago this week, Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' debuted on television. We'll look back on the series and Sagan's contributions to popular science.

Solar experts discuss the politics and technology of new solar installations planned for California.

Geoengineering could cool the Earth a few degrees, but with what consequences? [17 mins. 44]

Researchers discuss bees in urban areas and beekeeping in the wake of colony collapse disorder.

If all goes according to plan, two spacecraft will launch en route to the moon next week. We'll get an update on the LRO and LCrOSS missions.

Will the shift in administration mean a re-ordering of national space policy? We'll talk with a space policy expert about prospects for the space agency and human space flight.

NASA has given the go-ahead to researchers to begin planning an array of radio telecopes on the far side of the moon.

New Year's resolution to lose the weight? We'll get the latest on research into obesity.

A conversation with Nobel-winning neurobiologist Eric Kandel about learning and memory. [35 mins. 49 secs.]

With energy prices a top issue this season, we'll get a roundup of current energy news. [29 mins. 31]

Is it possible to engineer diatoms to secrete oil?

A trip to a geologic attraction: a boulder field.

Geologist Damon Teagle talks about what boreholes may reveal about the Earth's formation. [16 mins. 39]

How big a role does concrete manufacture play in greenhouse gas emissions? New research says it may be less than previously thought.

We'll get highlights from the American Geophysical Union's ocean sciences meeting.

Bat colonies across the Northeast US have fallen victim to 'White Nose Syndrome,' a lethal and mysterious condition. We'll talk with researchers about what, if anything, can be done to protect colonies affected by the syndrome.

The arid Texas climate preserved rock art painted by early Native American groups.

Record-breaking rain in the northeast means more mushrooms, mycologists say.

How solid is the science behind clinical psychology? A group of practitioners suggests a new accreditation system for clinical psychological research training programs.

Ira talks about global sustainability with Lester Brown, head of the Earth Policy Institute.

Could porous rocks deep in the ocean floor be a place to stash unwanted carbon dioxide?

We'll get highlights from the scientific meeting of the American Geophysical Union, going on this week.

A frozen vault containing samples of seeds from around the world has begun accepting seeds for storage. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault aims to preserve seeds to protect the world's crop diversity.