841: Could Light And Sound Therapy Treat Alzheimer’s?
Exposing mice to a specific frequency of light and sound decreases Alzheimer’s biomarkers and symptoms. Now it’s being tested on humans.
13m Aug 20, 2024
13m
840: Dr. Fauci On A Life Of Medical Research And Public Service
His new book “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service” chronicles his work on health crises from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19.
26m Aug 19, 2024
26m
839: Evidence For Liquid Water On Mars | Making Campsite Booking Fairer
Data from the Mars InSight lander points to the presence of liquid water underneath its crust. Also, some national and state parks are changing the way they open up campsite reservations online to make them more accessible to everyone. Scientists Find Strong Evidence For Liquid Water On Mars Scientists discovered that there could be oceans’ worth of liquid water hidden underneath Mars’ surfac...
22m Aug 16, 2024
22m
838: Dinosaurs’ Secrets Might Be In Their Fossilized Poop
Analyzing fossilized feces, called coprolites, is key to better understanding ancient ecosystems and dinosaur diets.
19m Aug 15, 2024
19m
837: The Promise Of Perovskite Solar Panels
This specific type of solar cell is more efficient than what’s currently on the market. But what is it, and can it be scaled up?
18m Aug 14, 2024
18m
836: An Expert Vegetable Breeder On Innovating Crops For The Future
As the climate changes, we need vegetables resilient to drought, pests, and heat. An expert explains how to breed plants for harsh conditions.
18m Aug 13, 2024
18m
835: What The Private Sale Of Fossils Means For Paleontology
After a stegosaurus skeleton sold for $44.6 million, paleontologists are concerned about how selling dinosaur fossils affects research.
18m Aug 12, 2024
18m
834: Starliner Leaves Astronauts Stuck | Could We Get Weather Forecasts Years In Advance?
The Boeing capsule is having issues with its thrusters and cannot bring astronauts back to Earth, leaving NASA scrambling for alternatives. Also, move over, Farmer’s Almanac. A more accurate long-term weather forecast could be on the horizon.
27m Aug 09, 2024
27m
833: Why Does COVID-19 Spike In Summer?
This is the fourth summer the U.S. has seen a COVID-19 surge. And no, it’s not a coincidence.
19m Aug 08, 2024
19m
832: Deep-Sea ‘Nodules’ May Produce Oxygen | A Bird’s Physics Trick For High-Altitude Flying
New research suggests that polymetallic nodules found 13,000 feet deep produce “dark oxygen” by electrolyzing water. Also, at higher altitudes, the air is less dense, which makes it harder for birds in flight to generate lift. The turkey vulture has a solution.
24m Aug 07, 2024
24m
831: PLATO’s Mission To Discover Exoplanets Like Earth
The European Space Agency mission aims to discover new exoplanets in habitable zones. It is scheduled for launch in late 2026.
19m Aug 06, 2024
19m
830: Why Cancer Death Rates Have Decreased Over The Last 30 Years
Cancer treatment and prevention has come a long way in the past few decades. Here’s what’s new, and where challenges persist.
19m Aug 05, 2024
19m
829: Hawaiʻi Wildfire Survivors Join Health Study | Wind Turbine Blade Sinks Off Massachusetts Coast
The University of Hawaiʻi study will be the largest of its kind to investigate the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires. Also, fiberglass is washing up on Nantucket’s shores, and residents are concerned about the long-term environmental impact of this debris. Hawaiʻi Wildfire Survivors To Join Long-Term Health Study Nearly a year ago, Maui experienced a series of wildfires (https:/...
21m Aug 02, 2024
21m
828: The Science And History Of Refrigeration
In her book ‘Frostbite,’ Nicola Twilley examines how refrigeration changed the world and spoiled us—and our food.
20m Aug 01, 2024
20m
827: Sodium Replaces Lithium In A New Type Of Battery
Researchers developed the first anode-free solid-state battery that’s based on sodium, which is cheaper and more abundant than lithium.
19m Jul 31, 2024
19m
826: Inside The Race To Save Honeybees From Parasitic Mites
Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.
19m Jul 30, 2024
19m
825: What A Rodent Brain Shows Us About Love | If Colorado Was Flattened, How Big Would It Be?
Monogamous prairie voles may help us understand how our brains respond to love, and how they move on after heartbreak. Also, science suggests Colorado would be very, very, large if it were rolled out flat. And still, somehow, probably larger than you think.
20m Jul 29, 2024
20m
824: Curiosity Rover Discovers Pure Sulfur On Mars | A Science Hero, Lost and Found
In a first, NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered pure sulfur on Mars. And, we revisit a conversation from 2015 about Alexander von Humboldt and Andrea Wulf's “The Invention of Nature,” which is our August book club pick. Curiosity Rover Discovers Pure Sulfur On Mars NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover ran over a rock, which cracked open to reveal pure sulfur crystals (https://www.sciencefriday.com/s...
26m Jul 26, 2024
26m
823: What Are The Risks Of Drinking Raw Milk?
As public figures promote raw milk, and sales increase, experts warn about the risks from pathogens like salmonella and avian flu.
18m Jul 25, 2024
18m
822: A Space Suit To Turn Pee Into Water | A Bitcoin Mine Causing A Health Crisis In Texas
Researchers developed a prototype of a space suit that could replace the high-absorbency diapers that astronauts wear on space walks. And, a bitcoin mine's cooling fans are so loud they rattle windows. Residents of Granbury, Texas, are having migraines, panic attacks, and hearing loss. A ‘Dune’-Inspired Space Suit To Turn Astronaut Pee Into Water On the International Space Station, resources ...
20m Jul 24, 2024
20m
821: How A Shark Scientist Forged Her Own Path
In her book, marine biologist Jasmin Graham writes about uplifting young scientists of color and why she pursues research outside of academia.
19m Jul 23, 2024
19m
820: FDA Panel Rejects MDMA Therapy For PTSD
The panel raised concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.
20m Jul 22, 2024
20m
819: A Small Meteor Blazes Over New York City | Tornado Science From ‘Twisters’
The foot-long meteor passed through the Earth’s atmosphere near the Statue of Liberty. Don’t worry, it was fine. Also, the follow-up to the 1996 movie “Twister” is a whirlwind of tornado science. A weather expert decodes its lingo—and real-life tornado trends. A Small Meteor Blazes Over New York City Tuesday morning, some New York area residents heard a loud boom and saw a daytime fireball st...
26m Jul 19, 2024
26m
818: Why Are There So Many Drug Shortages In The U.S.?
It’s not just Ozempic. There are 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications.
35m Jul 18, 2024
35m
817: What The Small Intestine Can Tell Us About Gut Health
Most gut microbiome research focuses on the colon. But understanding the small intestine might unlock better treatments for GI disorders.
13m Jul 17, 2024
13m
816: Helping Queen Conchs Mate In The Florida Keys
Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters.
12m Jul 16, 2024
12m
815: How Congestion Pricing Can Impact Human Health
Congestion pricing increases commuting costs in cities, but it can also mean better air quality and a healthier population.
19m Jul 15, 2024
19m
814: Galaxies ‘Dance’ In Stunning New JWST Image | Why Some Cats Scratch Furniture
As the James Webb Space Telescope marks two years of operations, NASA unveils a new image of two galaxies interacting. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night. Galaxies ‘Dance’ In Stunning New JWST Image The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful telescope created by humans, has been successfu...
21m Jul 12, 2024
21m
813: Your Pain Tolerance May Have Been Passed Down From Neanderthals
Gene variants inherited from Neanderthals can impact pain tolerance and nose shape in modern humans. What else could they influence?
14m Jul 11, 2024
14m
812: How Can Iowa’s Agriculture Adapt To Climate Threats?
From drought-resistant crops to making sure farmers of color thrive, here’s how experts in Iowa are looking at the future of agriculture.
19m Jul 10, 2024
19m
811: How Do They Actually Store The Declaration Of Independence?
At a live event in Washington, Ira talks to restoration experts about the science of preserving America’s founding documents.
18m Jul 09, 2024
18m
810: How Politics And Diplomacy Shape Panda Conservation
In this story from 2023, we look back at 80 years of panda conservation, and how “panda diplomacy” paved the way for groundbreaking science.
32m Jul 08, 2024
32m
809: The Best Science Books For Summer 2024
Two science writers and voracious readers have compiled their summer reading recommendations, just for Science Friday fans.
32m Jul 05, 2024
32m
808: Avoiding Grilling and Barbecue Pitfalls
In a conversation from 2014, Ira talks marinade myths, charcoal chemistry, and the elusive “smoke ring”—the science behind barbecue and grilling. Are marinades a myth? How does the elusive “smoke ring” form? And can the debate over gas versus charcoal be settled at last? In this episode of our “Food Failures” series, barbecue and grilling expert Meathead Goldwyn looks at the science behind the...
15m Jul 04, 2024
15m
807: From Microbes To Mammoths: How Life Transformed The Planet
In “Becoming Earth,” author Ferris Jabr reexamines our relationship to Earth, and makes the case that Earth itself is alive.
29m Jul 03, 2024
29m
806: Study Shows Which Kids Are Getting Periods Younger Than Others
The age of first menstruation trended downward from 1950 to 2005, but more so among low-income kids and kids of color.
17m Jul 02, 2024
17m
805: What To Do When Your Hypothesis Is Wrong? Publish!
In an effort to learn from scientific failure, The Journal of Trial Error only publishes “negative” results.
19m Jul 01, 2024
19m
804: The Sample From The Far Side Of The Moon | Will The Seine Be Clean Enough For The Olympics?
China’s Chang’e 6 return capsule landed in Mongolia, carrying samples from the far side of the moon. Also, Paris has invested $1.5B in cleaning up the Seine for open-water swimming events, but recent tests indicate it’s not yet safe. A Sample From The Far Side Of The Moon Lands On Earth This week, the return capsule from China’s Chang’e 6 lunar mission (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/...
26m Jun 28, 2024
26m
803: The Octopus Overlooked By Science | Squid With ‘Giant’ Eggs Could Be New Species
The larger Pacific striped octopus is unusually social. But it wasn’t recognized by scientists until 2015, despite one man’s efforts. And, a deep-sea squid in the family Gonatidae was filmed cradling large eggs for its body size, which suggests it’s an entirely new species. Why It Took Decades For This Octopus To Be Recognized Octopus mating behaviors can be quite deadly. Many species are can...
19m Jun 27, 2024
19m
802: House Stalls On Bill To Compensate Victims Of Nuclear Testing
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expired on June 10, but supporters are still fighting to expand it.
19m Jun 26, 2024
19m
801: Crowdsourced Data Identifies 126 ‘Lost’ Bird Species
Researchers analyzed photos, videos, and audio from crowdsource platforms to identify bird species that have not been spotted in over a decade.
18m Jun 25, 2024
18m
800: 20 Years Later, How Are City Climate Plans Actually Going?
When the federal government wavered in its commitment to climate action, cities stepped up. But goals, and success, are hard to define.
19m Jun 24, 2024
19m
799: It’s Hot. But How Hot? | Canine Cancer Vaccine Shows Promising Results
Researchers say the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is a better indicator of heat stress. Also, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs. A new vaccine has increased survival rates in clinical trials, offering hope for dogs and humans. Yes, It’s Hot. But How Hot? Much of the country has been enduring a heat wave this week, with millions sweating from Maine to the Midwest. But describing exactl...
27m Jun 21, 2024
27m
798: Mannequins Help Teach People How To Spot Ticks | Protecting A Flickering Symbol Of Summer Nights
Two mannequins walk into a science lab, and one’s got a big tick problem. She can teach humans how to check for ticks. Also, researchers used citizen science observations and machine learning to understand where fireflies are and what they need to thrive. In Wisconsin, Mannequins Help Teach People How To Spot Ticks Nationwide, Wisconsin is a hot spot for Lyme disease. And cases are rising, as...
19m Jun 20, 2024
19m
797: ‘The Singularity Is Nearer,’ Says Futurist Ray Kurzweil
Two decades after his book “The Singularity is Near,” Kurzweil is back with more predictions about the future of AI.
19m Jun 19, 2024
19m
796: Why Do Cephalopods Make Ink?
Squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish use ink to confuse predators and to communicate. But there’s still a lot we don’t understand about inking.
19m Jun 18, 2024
19m
795: Meet The Emotions Behind Teenage Angst In ‘Inside Out 2’
Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour helped make the film more scientifically accurate to how a teenager’s mind works.
19m Jun 17, 2024
19m
794: Elephants Seem To Use Names For Each Other | Kids Discover Rare T. Rex Fossil
A new study used machine learning to analyze elephant vocalizations and identified “contact rumbles” that appear to function as names. Also, on a hike in the Badlands, a family found a dinosaur bone sticking out of a rock. It joined the few teenage T. rex fossils ever discovered. Elephants Seem To Use Names For Each Other Scientists have long known that elephants exhibit some advanced social ...
26m Jun 14, 2024
26m
793: How Sound Rules Life Underwater
In her new book, science journalist Amorina Kingdon explores the astonishing variety of sound in the ocean, and how it affects ecosystems.
19m Jun 13, 2024
19m
792: Metal-Absorbing Plants Could Make Mining Greener | A Tiny Fern's Gigantic Genome
Plants called “hyperaccumulators” have evolved to absorb high levels of metals. Scientists want to harness them for greener metal mining. And, a little fern from New Caledonia is just a few inches tall, but its genome has 160.45 billion base pairs—50 times more DNA than a human. How Metal-Absorbing Plants Could Make Mining Greener Scientists are exploring a somewhat unusual green energy solut...
23m Jun 12, 2024
23m