731: A Strange-Looking Fish, Frozen In Time
A group of fish called gar, dubbed “living fossils,” may have the slowest rate of evolution of any jawed vertebrate.
19m Mar 21, 2024
19m
732: What We Know After 4 Years Of COVID-19
Four years ago this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Experts say it’s far from over.
19m Mar 20, 2024
19m
733: Science Unlocks The Power Of Flavor In ‘Flavorama’
In her new book, Dr. Arielle Johnson explains how and what we taste with chemistry.
18m Mar 19, 2024
18m
729: Abortion-Restrictive States Leave Ob-Gyns With Tough Choices
Post-Dobbs, ob-gyns and medical students alike must navigate the risk of criminal prosecution associated with patient care in some states.
19m Mar 18, 2024
19m
730: Nasal Rising Safely | How Your Brain Constructs Your Mental Health
A recent study looked into life-threatening Acanthamoeba infections, and a few deaths, linked to the use of tap water with devices like neti pots. And, in ‘The Balanced Brain,’ Dr. Camilla Nord explores the neuroscience behind mental health, and how our brains deal with life’s challenges. Scientists Warn Against Nasal Rinsing With Unboiled Tap Water Researchers at the Centers For Disease Cont...
26m Mar 15, 2024
26m
726: A New Book Puts ‘Math in Drag’
Do you think math is boring? Drag queen Kyne is on a mission to make math fun and accessible for all.
19m Mar 14, 2024
19m
725: With This Rare Disorder, No Amount Of Sleep Is Enough
A new book explores idiopathic hypersomnia, which causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness despite ample sleep.
18m Mar 13, 2024
18m
724: How Election Science Can Support Democracy | The Genetic Roots Of Antibiotic Resistance
The Union of Concerned Scientists has unveiled an election science task force led by experts from across the country. Also, a survey of soil and animal poop samples from around the world identified 18 new species of Enterococcus bacteria.
20m Mar 12, 2024
20m
728: Triple Feature: Dune, Mars, And An Alien On Earth
On the heels of the Oscars, we dive into three films that take us to other worlds: A planetary scientist compares Arrakis from 'Dune' to real planets and analyzes whether life could exist on such a sandy, scorching-hot world. And, in a new documentary, NASA psychologists try to find solutions for the mental health challenges of a three-year trip to Mars. Finally, in the movie “65,” an alien cra...
32m Mar 11, 2024
32m
727: Could This Be The End Of Voyager 1?
Voyager 1 has been sending incoherent data back to Earth, possibly marking the beginning of the end of its decades-old mission.
13m Mar 08, 2024
13m
723: What It Takes To Care For The US Nuclear Arsenal
The book “Countdown” looks at why the US is modernizing its arsenal, and what it means to exist with nuclear weapons.
18m Mar 07, 2024
18m
722: A Young Scientist Uplifts The Needs Of Parkinson’s Patients
Neuroscience graduate student Senegal Alfred Mabry is looking at effects of Parkinson’s disease beyond the most visible body tremors.
19m Mar 06, 2024
19m
721: Snakes Are Evolutionary Superstars | Whale Song Is All In The Larynx
In the trees, through the water, and under the dirt: Snakes evolve faster than their lizard relatives, allowing them to occupy diverse niches. Also, researchers are working to understand just how baleen whales are able to produce their haunting songs. Snakes Are Evolutionary Superstars Love ‘em or hate ‘em, new research shows that snakes deserve our recognition as evolutionary superstars. The...
26m Mar 05, 2024
26m
720: What’s Behind The Measles Outbreak In Florida?
Two pediatricians discuss the outbreak, vaccine hesitancy, and unraveling public health measures in Florida and beyond.
18m Mar 04, 2024
18m
719: Pythagoras Was Wrong About Music | Biochar's Potential For Carbon Capture
The Greek philosopher Pythagoras had specific ideas about the mathematical ratios behind music. It turns out that he was wrong. Also, the charcoal-like substance known as biochar packs carbon into a stable form, making it less likely to escape into the atmosphere. Pythagoras Was Wrong About Music The ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras proposed a mathematical argument for what music sounds b...
20m Mar 01, 2024
20m
718: As Space Exploration Expands, So Will Space Law
A new generation of space lawyers will broker deals and handle disputes between countries as the world enters a new era of space exploration.
19m Feb 29, 2024
19m
717: Blood In The Water: Shark Smell Put To The Test
Despite their reputation as super-smellers, sharks don’t have a better sense of smell than other fish. One researcher investigates.
19m Feb 28, 2024
19m
714: How Trivia Experts Recall Facts | One Ant Species Sent Ripples Through A Food Web
How can some people recall random facts so easily? It may have to do with what else they remember about the moment they learned the information. Also, in Kenya, an invading ant species pushed out ants that protected acacia trees. That had cascading effects for elephants, zebras, lions, and buffalo. A ‘Jeopardy!’ Winner Studied How Trivia Experts Recall Facts When contestants play “Jeopardy!,”...
25m Feb 27, 2024
25m
716: OpenAI’s New Product Makes Incredibly Realistic Fake Videos
A security expert weighs in on Sora, OpenAI’s new text-to-video generator, and the risks it could pose, especially during an election year.
18m Feb 26, 2024
18m
715: Private Spacecraft Makes Historic Moon Landing | New Cloud Seeding Technique
The Odysseus lander, made by Intuitive Machines and launched by SpaceX a week ago, is the first commercial mission to soft-land on the moon. Also, scientists try swapping silver iodide for liquid propane to keep long-running cloud seeding programs effective in warmer temperatures.
20m Feb 23, 2024
20m
713: Making Chemistry More Accessible To Blind And Low-Vision People
Scientists are working to make chemical research more accessible to blind and low-vision students through 3D-printed models and modified equipment.
18m Feb 22, 2024
18m
712: Understanding And Curbing Generative AI’s Energy Consumption
As the environmental costs of tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E mount, governments are demanding more clarity from tech companies.
18m Feb 21, 2024
18m
711: Which Feathered Dinosaurs Could Fly? | Some French Cheeses At Risk Of Extinction
Researchers found that a specific number and symmetry of certain feathers can indicate whether a bird (or dinosaur) could fly. Plus, a lack of diversity in the microbes that make Camembert, brie, and some blue cheeses could mean we bid adieu to some French varieties.
23m Feb 20, 2024
23m
710: Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins Defamation Case
Michael Mann discusses what the victory means for the public understanding of climate science—and for bad-faith attacks on scientists.
19m Feb 19, 2024
19m
709: Odysseus Lander Heads To The Moon | Ohio Chemical Spill, One Year Later
If successful, Odysseus will be the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since the Apollo mission. And, in East Palestine, Ohio, the stream that flows under residents’ houses is still polluted following a train derailment and chemical spill. Odysseus Lander Is On Its Way To The Moon Just after 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, SpaceX successfully launched a commercial spacecraft from N...
22m Feb 16, 2024
22m
708: One Crisis After Another: Designing Cities For Resiliency
The leaders of a global architecture and design firm discuss how design can help communities adapt to global crises.
19m Feb 15, 2024
19m
707: Using Sound To Unpack The History Of Astronomy
A new podcast series examines sonified space data to explore pivotal moments throughout the history of astronomy.
19m Feb 14, 2024
19m
706: Colorectal Cancer Rates Rising In Young People | What An AI Learns From A Baby
Colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common among adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Plus, associating images and sounds from a child’s daily life helped teach a computer model a set of basic nouns.
24m Feb 13, 2024
24m
705: A Black Physician’s Analysis Of The Legacy Of Racism In Medicine
In a new book, Dr. Uché Blackstock reflects on her experiences as a Black physician and the structural racism embedded in medicine.
19m Feb 12, 2024
19m
704: Faraway Planets With Oceans Of Magma | The Art And Science Of Trash Talk
Hycean planets were thought to be covered by oceans of water, but a new study suggests it could be magma instead. And, author Rafi Kohan explains the psychological and physiological responses to trash talk, ahead of Super Bowl Sunday. Faraway Planets Could Have Oceans Of Magma Far beyond our solar system are hycean planets (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/exoplanet-magma-ocean/?utm_sou...
21m Feb 09, 2024
21m
701: Is Each Fingerprint On Your Hand Unique? | In This Computer Component, Data Slides Through Honey
A new study uses artificial intelligence to show that each of our ten fingerprints are remarkably similar to one another. Plus, honey could be the secret ingredient in building a more eco-friendly “memristor,” which transmits data through malleable pathways. Is Each Fingerprint On Your Hand Unique? We often think about each fingerprint as being completely unique, like a snowflake on the tip o...
20m Feb 08, 2024
20m
700: The FDA Approved The First CRISPR-Based Therapy. What’s Next?
The first CRISPR gene-editing treatment is a cure for sickle cell disease. Are we on the cusp of a gene therapy revolution?
19m Feb 07, 2024
19m
703: Protecting The ‘Satan’ Tarantula | If Termites Wore Stripes, Would Spiders Still Eat Them?
A team of scientists in Ecuador is on a mission to describe new-to-science tarantula species to help secure conservation protections. And, undergraduate researchers pasted striped capes onto termites’ backs to see if a well-known warning sign would fend off predators. Protecting The ‘Satan’ Tarantula and Other Lovable Giant Spiders A team of scientists in Ecuador is on a mission to find and d...
19m Feb 06, 2024
19m
699: Scientists Are Uncovering A World Of ‘Dark Matter’ Carcinogens
New findings about how substances like air pollutants can trigger cancer may help reveal carcinogens we were unaware of.
19m Feb 05, 2024
19m
702: Syphilis Cases Up 80% Since 2018 | The Largest Deep-Sea Coral Reef In The World
There has been a boom of syphilis cases, including a 180% increase in congenital syphilis cases, despite other STI levels staying stable. Also, the world's largest deep-sea reef stretches for hundreds of miles in near-freezing waters and total darkness, but it’s bustling with life. Syphilis Cases Are Up 80% Since 2018 Syphilis is rearing its ugly head again in the United States. A new report ...
26m Feb 02, 2024
26m
698: Expanding Our Umwelt: Understanding Animal Experiences
Writing about animals’ sensory experiences in ‘An Immense World’ changed author Ed Yong’s own worldview—and hobbies.
18m Feb 01, 2024
18m
695: How Signing Characters Help Deaf Children Learn Language
A lab at Gallaudet University is creating television shows with signing characters to increase literacy in both English and ASL.
19m Jan 31, 2024
19m
696: ‘Mysterious’ Canine Illness: What Dog Owners Should Know
Veterinary experts discuss what is known about the potential respiratory pathogen—or pathogens—and which dogs are most at risk.
18m Jan 30, 2024
18m
694: An App For People Of Color To Rate Their Birthing Experiences | How Different Animals See
Irth is a “Yelp-like” app to help expectant parents make informed decisions by exposing bias and racism in healthcare systems. Also, a new video camera system shows the colors of the natural world as different animals see them. An App For People Of Color To Rate Their Birthing Experiences For some patients, finding a good doctor can be as simple as looking up a doctor’s degrees and accolades....
19m Jan 29, 2024
19m
697: NASA Opens Canister With Asteroid Sample | ADHD Prescription Rates Spiked During The Pandemic
Engineers had to design bespoke tools to open the OSIRIS-REx capsule nearly four months after it arrived back on Earth. Also, prescription rates for ADHD drugs rose by 30% from 2020-2022, with large increases among women and young people. NASA Finally Opens Canister Containing Asteroid Sample NASA’s OSIRIS-REx was the first U.S. mission to retrieve fragments of an asteroid (https://www.scienc...
26m Jan 26, 2024
26m
693: AI Helps Find Ancient Artifacts In The Great Lakes | An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech
Researchers in Michigan modeled a prehistoric land bridge and used AI to predict where caribou–and humans–might have traveled along it. Also, artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future. Using AI To Help Find Ancient Artifacts In The Great Lakes At the bottom of Lake Huron there’s a ridge that was once above wate...
19m Jan 25, 2024
19m
691: When The ‘Personal’ Computer Turned 30
In a conversation from 2014, Ira and guests looked back on the early days of personal computing, talk about how the Macintosh came to be, and reflect on what the anniversary of the Mac meant after 30 years.
33m Jan 24, 2024
33m
690: How The Moon Transformed Life On Earth, From Climate to Timekeeping
A new book explores how the moon changed us—and how we’ve changed the moon.
28m Jan 23, 2024
28m
692: From Scans To Office Visits: How Will AI Shape Medicine?
Scientists are testing artificial intelligence’s ability to read imaging results, make diagnoses, and more. Listeners call in.
35m Jan 22, 2024
35m
689: Rhesus Monkey Cloned With Modified Approach Has Survived Into Adulthood
In China, a cloned rhesus monkey has lived for over two years, signifying advances in cloning and reproductive gene editing technology.
13m Jan 19, 2024
13m
688: 3,000 Types Of Brain Cells Categorized In Massive Brain Cell Atlas
The new atlas catalogs cell types by the genes they express, which could help medical researchers tailor treatments.
20m Jan 18, 2024
20m
685: Brain ‘Organoids’: Lab-Grown Cell Clusters Model Brain Functions
Scientists can coax stem cells into clusters that mimic the functions of brain regions, which could help us understand brain disorders.
14m Jan 17, 2024
14m
687: The Lasting Allure Of Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’
In a conversation from March 2023, the maritime archeologist who found the storied wreck discusses the mission and his new book. There are few stories about heroic survival equal to Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic rescue of his crew (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/shackleton-endurance-beneath-the-ice-book/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , which turned disaste...
20m Jan 16, 2024
20m
684: How Close Are We To Answers About Aliens?
Dr. Adam Frank discusses the human fascination with extraterrestrial life—and the scientific search for it—in his new book.
35m Jan 15, 2024
35m
686: NASA Delays Crewed Moon Missions | Top Technologies To Watch In 2024
With this week’s delays to Artemis II and III, astronauts likely won’t walk on the moon until 2026 at the earliest. Also, weight-loss drugs, AI, clean-energy tech and more: digging into MIT Technology Review’s annual list with executive editor Amy Nordrum. NASA Once Again Delays Artemis Crewed Missions To the Moon This week, NASA announced that it was delaying two of its planned crewed missio...
25m Jan 12, 2024
25m