More precise radiocarbon dating, secrets of hibernating bear blood, and a new book series

<p><em>Anchoring radiocarbon dates to cosmic events, why hibernating bears don't get blood clots, and kicking off a book series on sex, gender, and science</em></p> <p> </p> <p>First up this week, upping the precision of radiocarbon dating <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi2040">by linking cosmic rays to isotopes in wood</a>. Producer Meagan Cantwell talks with Online News Editor Michael Price about how spikes in cosmic rays—called Miyake events—are helping archaeologists peg the age of wooden artifacts to a year rather than a decade or century.</p> <p> </p> <p>Next on the show, we have a segment on why bears can safely sleep during hibernation without worrying about getting clots in their blood. Unlike bears, when people spend too much time immobilized, such as sitting for a long time on a flight, we risk getting deep vein thrombosis—or a blood clot. Johannes Müller-Reif of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry talks with host Sarah Crespi about<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abo5044"> what we can learn from bears about how and why our bodies decide to make these clots</a> and what we can do to prevent them.</p> <p> </p> <p>Stay tuned for an introduction to our new six-part series on books exploring science, sex, and gender. Guest host <a href="https://www.angelasaini.co.uk/">Angela Saini </a>talks with scholar <a href="https://www.annefaustosterling.com/">Anne Fausto-Sterling</a> about the books in this year's lineup and how they were selected.</p> <p> </p> <p>We’ve been nominated for a Webby! Please support the show and <a href="http://scim.ag/webbyaward2023">vote for us</a> by 20 April.</p> <p> </p> <p>This week’s episode was produced with help from <a href="https://podigy.co/">Podigy</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.science.org/content/page/about-science-podcast">About the <em>Science</em> Podcast</a></p> <p> </p> <p>[Image: Thomas Zsebok/iStock/Getty; Music: Jeffrey Cook]</p> <p> </p> <p>[alt: brown bear lying in a cave with podcast over