910: 50 Years Of Science With Lucy, Our Famous Early Ancestor
On the anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she means to science, and what she taught us about ourselves.
19m Nov 25, 2024
19m
909: SpaceX’s Starship Completes In-Orbit Engine Test | Resuscitating Shipwrecked Rye Seeds
This was the sixth test launch of the Starship vehicle, which could eventually carry humans and cargo to the moon. It was extremely loud. Also, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. Scientists hope to bring it back to life. SpaceX’s Starship Completes In-Orbit Engine Test On Tuesday, the rocket company SpaceX conducted another test...
26m Nov 22, 2024
26m
908: Chef Jack Bishop Breaks Down ‘The Science of Good Cooking’
In an interview from 2012, Jack Bishop from America’s Test Kitchen explains how science can sharpen your cooking skills.
19m Nov 21, 2024
19m
907: Bacteriophages Lurk In Your Bathroom, But Don’t Worry
Researchers found hundreds of viruses that prey on bacteria on toothbrushes and showerheads. They’re unlikely to pose a threat to humans.
19m Nov 20, 2024
19m
906: Managing Invasive Plants And Ticks Together | Clue Into The Evolution Of The Bird Brain
Researchers are connecting two ecological problems in the Northeast in hopes of reducing the risk of tick-borne illnesses. Also, a “one-of-a-kind” fossil of Navaornis hestiae helps fill a giant gap in scientists’ understanding of how bird brains evolved. Managing Some Invasive Plants Might Reduce Blacklegged Ticks In much of the eastern US, October and November usher in an autumn peak of the ...
19m Nov 19, 2024
19m
905: The Gurgling, Growling History Of The Gut
In her new book, medical historian Dr. Elsa Richardson discusses the changing cultural and scientific understandings of the gut.
20m Nov 18, 2024
20m
904: At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows | Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking
Leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, aren’t showing up to the UN’s big climate conference in Azerbaijan. And, walking pneumonia typically affects school-age kids, but the CDC reports a rise in cases in children aged 2-4. At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows The United Nations’ annual international climate conference, COP29, got underway this week (https...
26m Nov 15, 2024
26m
903: Oliver Sacks Searched The Brain For The Origins Of Music
On Science Friday’s 33rd anniversary, excerpts from a classic interview with neurologist and author Dr. Oliver Sacks about music and the brain.
19m Nov 14, 2024
19m
902: CAR-T Cell Therapy For Autoimmune Diseases | Measuring Early Life Adversity—In Marmots
In a Chinese study, donor CAR-T cells sent autoimmune diseases into remission. There’s hope that the therapy is scalable. And, scientists used decades of yellow-bellied marmot research to find a way to measure how adverse events affect wild animals’ survival. CAR-T Cell Therapies Show Promise For Autoimmune Diseases For decades, immunologists have explored CAR-T cell therapy as an effective t...
21m Nov 13, 2024
21m
901: Your Arm Position Can Make Blood Pressure Readings Inaccurate
Blood pressure categories are based on patients who are sitting in a certain position. But not every doctor’s office takes readings that way.
18m Nov 12, 2024
18m
900: Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?
Decades of research shows that expanding highways, despite its promise to reduce congestion, actually increases travel times.
18m Nov 11, 2024
18m
899: Ballot Measures Passed To Protect Abortion Rights | New Largest Prime Number
Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states, and seven of them passed constitutional amendments defending abortion rights. Also, this ginormous number has a whopping 41,024,320 digits, which isn’t very helpful for mathematicians but is certainly exciting for math nerds. Seven States Passed Ballot Measures To Protect Abortion Rights This week, science was on the ballot in many states. Voters acros...
23m Nov 08, 2024
23m
898: Chickens Have Friendships And Reputations | Tourist Photos May Help Map Penguin Colonies
Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses chicken intelligence and her experience raising a flock in New Hampshire. And, snapshots from over the years could provide researchers with valuable data about how penguin colonies have shifted. Chickens Have Friendships, Memories, And Reputations Chickens don’t exactly have a reputation of being the sharpest creatures in the animal kingdom. Yet, ...
24m Nov 07, 2024
24m
897: The Clean Air Act Has Saved Millions Of Lives—But Gaps Remain
The legislation gave the U.S. some of the world’s cleanest air. But with industrial zones and climate change, it’s not protecting everyone.
26m Nov 06, 2024
26m
895: How Does Long-Distance Running Affect Your Body?
Running a marathon is a major physical feat. One expert answers listener questions about how it impacts the body and mind.
19m Nov 05, 2024
19m
896: Gender-Affirming Care Is On The Line In This Election
Gender-affirming care is lifesaving treatment for many transgender people. Its availability could drastically change after the election.
19m Nov 04, 2024
19m
894: Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bids | An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech
Two years ago, energy companies scrambled for offshore wind contracts. At a recent auction, the demand was significantly lower. Plus, artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future.
20m Nov 01, 2024
20m
893: After A Park Fire, Milkweed Bloomed | The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood
Great news for the nearly-extinct monarch butterflies, which will pass through the area as they migrate back to Mexico. Also, to find out how blood affects aging, scientists can surgically connect two animals and let blood circulate between them. After California’s Park Fire, A Second Bloom of Milkweed Don Hankins examines a bright yellow-green patch in the meadow. The land all around is char...
19m Oct 31, 2024
19m
892: How Insects Changed The World—And Human Cultures
In “The Insect Epiphany,” an entomologist explores the history of insects in art, food, engineering, and more.
18m Oct 30, 2024
18m
891: The Science Behind Third-Trimester Abortions
Abortions later in pregnancy are the most stigmatized, leading to misinformation and a hesitancy to talk openly about why people have them.
18m Oct 29, 2024
18m
890: How Aging Water Systems Are Pushing Sewage Into U.S. Homes
Outdated and poorly maintained sewage and stormwater systems have led to chronic sewage backups in communities across the country.
18m Oct 28, 2024
18m
889: Did Dinosaur Flight Evolve More Than Once? | Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway
Some paleontologists argue the ancient footprints found in South Korea show flight may have evolved in multiple dinosaur lineages. And, COP16 will tackle questions like who should profit from non-human DNA, and who is responsible for financing critical conservation projects. Do Fossil Prints Show Dinosaur Flight Evolved More Than Once? Researchers studying tracks fossilized in Cretaceous-era ...
26m Oct 25, 2024
26m
888: How Do Animals Understand Death?
Philosopher Susana Monsó unpacks the latest research into how animals like possums, chimps, and ants interpret death.
18m Oct 24, 2024
18m
887: MRIs Show How The Brain Changes During Pregnancy
New research sheds light on changes in gray and white matter during this transformational event.
18m Oct 23, 2024
18m
886: How Metaphor Shapes Science | Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music
Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside. And, a pair of musicians wrote a concept album inspired by moths—and found that humans have more in common with the insects than they expected. How Metaphor Has Shaped Science, For Better Or Worse Here at Science Friday, we’re big fans of metaphors (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/metap...
27m Oct 22, 2024
27m
885: NASA’s Europa Clipper Heads To Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa
Scientists suspect that beneath Europa’s icy crust is a giant ocean of liquid water. They launched a spacecraft to investigate.
19m Oct 21, 2024
19m
884: Pandas Return To Washington, D.C. | A Lesser-Known Grain Called Kernza
Two giant pandas on loan from China have arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Also, originally from Central Asia, Kernza doesn’t need to be replanted every year, unlike crops such as corn and soybeans. Pandas Return To Washington, D.C., Zoo On Tuesday, two VIPs (Very Important Pandas) arrived at Washington’s Dulles International Airport, en route to new quarters at the Smithsonian’s Nat...
19m Oct 18, 2024
19m
883: How Health Misinformation Spreads | A Play About Ben Franklin And His Son
We kick off a series on health misinformation leading up to the election. Plus, tell us what health information you’d like us to investigate. ALso, Ii the play “Franklinland,” Benjamin Franklin’s son takes centerstage in an exploration of his father’s life as a scientist, statesperson, and parent.
24m Oct 17, 2024
24m
882: Searching The Universe For Clues To The Ultra-Small
Several astronomy projects are mapping vast areas of space, searching for traces of tiny quantum fluctuations in the early universe.
18m Oct 16, 2024
18m
881: What Makes ‘SuperAgers’ Stay Healthy For So Long?
Scientists are looking to recruit 10,000 people over age 95 to study how their genes may contribute to longer, healthier lives.
18m Oct 15, 2024
18m
880: Asheville Was Never A ‘Climate Haven.’ Nowhere Is.
Although the kinds of risks vary by location, there is no place that’s immune to the damaging effects of climate change.
19m Oct 14, 2024
19m
879: The Science Behind Hurricane Milton | ‘Unsettling’ Warm Water In Lake Michigan
Hurricane Milton caused a major storm surge, but also a reverse one. And, Lake Michigan's surface temperature has been above average nearly every day this year so far. All five Great Lakes are heating up. The Science Behind Hurricane Milton On October 9, Hurricane Milton made landfall (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/hurricane-milton-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_camp...
20m Oct 11, 2024
20m
878: How Campaigns Use Psychology To Get Out The Vote
With the presidential election a month away, researchers explain the psychology behind holding, changing, and acting on political opinions.
19m Oct 10, 2024
19m
877: How Gut Microbes Are Linked To Stress Resilience
A recent study concluded that people who are highly resilient to stress have specific biological signatures in their gut microbiomes.
19m Oct 09, 2024
19m
876: How Magnetic Brain Stimulation Helps Relieve Depression
One lab’s approach to transcranial magnetic stimulation has sent many patients with hard-to-treat depression into remission.
18m Oct 08, 2024
18m
875: How The Origin Of Life On Earth Can Help Find Life In Space
In his book “Is Earth Exceptional?,” Mario Livio tackles a question that has captured imaginations for centuries: Are we alone in the universe?
24m Oct 07, 2024
24m
874: Hurricane Helene's Effect On The Global Tech Industry | A Stretchy Band-Aid For The Heart
The storm flooded mines in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, which supply the tech industry with some of the purest quartz in the world. Also, researchers developed a 3D-printable material, inspired by worms, that can act as a Band-Aid for damaged heart and cartilage tissue. Hurricane Helene’s Damage Could Affect The Global Tech Industry After making landfall on September 26, Hurricane Helene deva...
26m Oct 04, 2024
26m
873: Herbicides Approved For Public Land | Hidden Physics In Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’
This summer, the Bureau of Land Management approved seven herbicides to fight invasive plants in the West. Also, when scientists analyzed the swirls in the famous painting, they found Van Gogh depicted forces of nature with startling accuracy. What Newly Approved Herbicides Could Mean For Federal Land Invasive plants are a big problem across the western US. Cunning interlopers like cheatgras...
18m Oct 03, 2024
18m
872: Improving Hospitals’ Support For Teens In Mental Health Crises
Emergency departments often handle incidents of self-inflicted injury. Equipping them better could save lives.
19m Oct 02, 2024
19m
871: Greenhouse Gases From Anesthesia | Fighting Militarization In The Mariana Islands
Emissions from anesthesia are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases from hospitals. This anesthesiologist wants to change that. And, a cultural anthropologist discusses the Mariana Islands’ long history of colonization and why demilitarization matters for climate progress. A Major Source Of Greenhouse Gases In Hospitals? Anesthesia Did you know that some of the gases used in anesthes...
19m Oct 01, 2024
19m
870: Empowering Older Adults To Step Up For The Climate
Climate activists Bill McKibben and Akaya Windwood say it isn’t fair to leave the climate crisis for younger generations to solve.
18m Sep 30, 2024
18m
869: Microsoft Makes Deal To Restart Three Mile Island | Fish That Use Their Legs To Taste
The company is betting big on nuclear energy to meet increasing power needs of data centers and new technologies like AI. Also, new research into a strange fish known as the sea robin finds that leg-like appendages can “taste” prey buried in the sand. Microsoft Makes Deal To Restart Three Mile Island Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania has quite a reputation in the world of nuclear energy: One ...
25m Sep 27, 2024
25m
868: Former NIH Director Reflects On Public Mistrust In Science
In his new book, Dr. Francis Collins explores how the pandemic increased skepticism of the scientific process and what to do about it.
24m Sep 26, 2024
24m
867: How Are AI Chatbots Changing Scientific Publishing?
Generative AI is boosting production of fake scientific papers. How are journal publishers adjusting to this new reality?
18m Sep 25, 2024
18m
866: These Artists Serve Up Environmental Crises Through Food
May we interest you in a smog-infused cookie? The Center for Genomic Gastronomy is making foods that capture environmental crises.
13m Sep 24, 2024
13m
865: Surgeon General Takes On Parental Stress And Mental Health
In his latest advisory, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy adds parents’ wellbeing to his agenda of improving the nation’s mental health.
26m Sep 23, 2024
26m
864: Earth May Once Have Had A Ring Like Saturn | An AI For Sand
The ring would have gradually fallen to Earth as meteorites, correlating to a spike of impacts seen in the geological record. Also, a new AI tool can judge whether sand came from a beach, a river, a glacial deposit, or a wind-blown dune. Earth May Once Have Had A Ring Like Saturn Hundreds of millions of years ago, Earth may have looked quite different when viewed from space: Scientists propos...
23m Sep 20, 2024
23m
863: Physicists Create Heaviest Antimatter Nucleus | Bird Species May Team Up For Migration
The heaviest antimatter nucleus to date was spotted in a particle accelerator. It could provide new insights into the nature of matter. And, research indicates different songbird species might intentionally travel together during migration, giving each other a possible boost in survival. Physicists Create Heaviest Antimatter Nucleus Yet Antimatter is one of science’s great mysteries. It is pr...
19m Sep 19, 2024
19m
862: Your Questions About The Updated COVID Vaccines, Answered
Immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire answers audience questions about when to get the latest COVID shot, rapid test efficacy, and more.
18m Sep 18, 2024
18m
861: To Confront Climate Change, Imagine Getting It Right
In her new book, climate policy expert Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson explores what ideal climate solutions look like to a lineup of experts.
18m Sep 17, 2024
18m