985: How Plants Powered Prehistoric Giants Millions Of Years Ago
A new book explores how prehistoric plants and dinosaurs co-evolved, and puts the spotlight on often overlooked flora.
19m Mar 13, 2025
19m
984: How Narwhals Use Their Tusks To Hunt And Play | This Week's ‘Blood Moon’ Lunar Eclipse
An international team of researchers used drones to study narwhals and learn more about their behavior. And, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across most of North and South America in the early morning hours of March 14. New Footage Shows How Narwhals Use Tusks To Hunt And Play We’re taking a polar plunge into the science of sea unicorns (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/narwhal-tu...
17m Mar 12, 2025
17m
983: Where Have All The Butterflies Gone?
A new study of butterfly populations in the US shows a 22% decline among over 500 species in just 20 years.
18m Mar 11, 2025
18m
982: What Does Dismantling USAID Mean For Global Health?
USAID has historically funded programs focused on disease eradication, maternal and child health, and healthcare infrastructure.
19m Mar 10, 2025
19m
981: Protesters ‘Stand Up For Science’ At Rallies Nationwide | Blue Ghost Lunar Lander
Scientists aren’t always encouraged to be politically active. But recent political interference by the Trump administration has many fired up. And, the Blue Ghost lunar lander, part of NASA’s CLPS initiative, completed the first fully successful commercial moon landing. Protesters ‘Stand Up For Science’ At Rallies Across The Country Scientists and defenders of science are gathering in cities ...
28m Mar 07, 2025
28m
980: The Effort To Save Thousands Of Donor Kidneys | Ocean Liner Will Become An Artificial Reef
Last year, 9,000 deceased donor kidneys were discarded due to storage and time limitations. A kidney “life support” machine could change that. Also, the SS United States will join Florida’s 4,300 artificial reefs—human-made places for fish and other marine life to live. How do these reefs work? The Effort To Save Thousands Of Donor Kidneys From Being Wasted Sylvia Miles was diagnosed with lup...
19m Mar 06, 2025
19m
979: Where Does Plastic And Other Trash Go After We Throw It Away?
A journalist traveled to five continents to learn about the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t. Have you ever gotten to the end of, say, a jar of peanut butter and wondered if it should go in trash or recycling? If it’s worth rinsing out? And where will it actually end up? Journalist Alexander Clapp had those same questions, and went to great lengths to a...
19m Mar 05, 2025
19m
978: An Animal’s Size And Its Cancer Risk | Bastetodon, A 30 Million-Year-Old Apex Predator
A study finds that Peto’s Paradox, which states that larger animals are no more likely to get cancer than smaller ones, may not hold up. Also, a nearly complete predator skull was found in the Egyptian desert. Its lineage indicates that it was a top carnivore of the age. What Does An Animal’s Size Have To Do With Its Cancer Risk? If you throw a huge party, there’s more of a chance of problems...
18m Mar 04, 2025
18m
977: How Trump’s DEI Ban Will Affect Medical Research
Changes limiting programs, grants, and even the nature of studies are already underway at the NIH, NSF, FDA, CDC, and more. On President Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/dei-ban-medical-research/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) to end what he calls “illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” referencing...
19m Mar 03, 2025
19m
976: Conflicting Directives Sow Confusion For NIH Workers | The Mycobiome
The acting head of the NIH reportedly pushed back against legal guidance to resume grant funding, leaving federal workers in the lurch. Also, though fungi make up a tiny part of the human microbiome, they play an important role in both the prevention and development of many diseases. Cuts And Conflicting Directives Sow Confusion For NIH Workers Just over a month after President Trump’s inaugu...
26m Feb 28, 2025
26m
975: The Best Tail For Balance | Bindi Irwin Wants Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’
The bone and joint structures in mammal tails help them keep their balance. Could those benefits be adapted for robots? And, in her first children’s book, conservationist Bindi Irwin takes little readers on a journey through Australia Zoo. In Search Of The Best Tail For Balance If you have met a cat, you’ve probably at some point been amazed by how acrobatic they are. They’re able to reorient...
23m Feb 27, 2025
23m
974: A Vaccine For Pancreatic Cancer Continues To Show Promise
In a small trial, nearly half of pancreatic cancer patients who received an mRNA vaccine for the disease had no relapse three years later.
18m Feb 26, 2025
18m
973: Why Are Flu And Other Viral Infection Rates So High This Year?
Flu infections are the highest they’ve been in nearly 30 years, and flu deaths this winter have surpassed COVID deaths. What’s going on?
19m Feb 25, 2025
19m
972: Making Sense Of Federal Cuts To Science—And What Comes Next
The CEO of one of America’s oldest scientific societies discusses the recent cuts to scientific institutions, and how scientists can respond.
18m Feb 24, 2025
18m
971: Tomb Of Egyptian King Unearthed | Why The Internet Was Captivated By A Hideous Fish
Finding the original tomb of the royal is one of the most significant developments in Egyptian archeology in recent history. Also, a video of a gloriously creepy anglerfish inspired tears and poetry online. But why was this deep-sea dweller near the surface at all? Royal Tomb Of Egyptian King Thutmose II Unearthed A British-Egyptian team has made one of the most significant Egyptian archeolog...
21m Feb 21, 2025
21m
970: What Happens To Your Body When You’re Grieving
In a new book, Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor explores the ways grief affects the body, from the heart to the immune system.
19m Feb 20, 2025
19m
969: Can Men and Women (Baboons) Really Just Be Friends? | The Best Bear Deterrent May Be Drones
Just like in “When Harry Met Sally”, the answer isn’t so simple for Kinda baboons, which form long-term friendships between the sexes. Plus, new research found drones to be more effective than dogs, cars, or loud noises at convincing bears to avoid human areas.
19m Feb 19, 2025
19m
968: Adventures In Science At The Icy ‘Ends Of The Earth’
A new book explores how one biologist’s work at the North and South Poles changed the way he sees the world and our place in it.
19m Feb 18, 2025
19m
967: FDA Approves A New, Non-Opioid Painkiller | Deep, Multi-Layer Oceans On Uranus And Neptune?
It’s the first FDA approval for a pain medication in 25 years. How does the drug work, and who is it for? Also, non-mixing layers of water and hydrocarbons thousands of miles deep could explain the icy planets’ strange magnetic fields. The FDA Approves A New, Non-Opioid Painkiller In January, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new pain medicine called Journavx (suzetrigine) (https://...
25m Feb 17, 2025
25m
966: Most Powerful Neutrino Ever Is Detected In the Mediterranean | Nerdy Valentines
A neutrino with a record-breaking level of energy was picked up by a detector in the Mediterranean Sea. Also, listener stories of love at first science.
17m Feb 14, 2025
17m
965: ‘Common Side Effects’ And An All-Healing Mushroom | The Unique Smell Of Snow
In "Common Side Effects," the starring scientist finds a mushroom that can heal any ailment. But powerful people will do anything to stop him from cultivating it. And, a combination of environmental factors and the way our bodies function play a role in how we perceive the smell of snow. In ‘Common Side Effects,’ A Clash Over An All-Healing Mushroom In the new Adult Swim show “Common Side Eff...
19m Feb 13, 2025
19m
964: Investigating Fraud At The Heart Of Alzheimer’s Research
In “Doctored,” an investigative journalist outlines how fraud and misconduct have stalled the search for effective Alzheimer’s treatments.
19m Feb 12, 2025
19m
963: Managing Wildfires Using A Centuries-Old Indigenous Practice
The Karuk Tribe in Northern California has stewarded its home using prescribed burns for millennia. Now, they’re training others on the skill.
18m Feb 11, 2025
18m
962: Can Vaping Help You Quit Cigarettes? What Are The Risks?
Some research shows that e-cigarettes can be a useful tool for quitting cigarettes, but that strategy is hotly contested by scientists.
19m Feb 10, 2025
19m
961: How Lucy Runs On A Virtual Treadmill | Comparing DeepSeek’s AI To Other Models
Scientists determined that Lucy, a human ancestor from 3.2 million years ago, couldn’t have beaten modern humans in a foot race. Also, the Chinese AI company DeepSeek startled industry observers with an efficient new system. But how does it compare with the leading tech? How Lucy, Our Famous Ancestor, Runs On A Virtual Treadmill Lucy is one of the most famous fossils—an Australopithecus afare...
26m Feb 07, 2025
26m
960: Scientists Create Glowing ‘RNA Lanterns’ With Bioluminescence
Researchers tagged mouse RNA with the enzyme that makes fireflies glow, in hopes of better understanding how viruses and memories work.
19m Feb 06, 2025
19m
959: What’s Next For Quantum Computing In 2025?
On the heels of some big quantum computing advances in 2024, at least one company is telling businesses to get “quantum ready” this year.
19m Feb 05, 2025
19m
958: Building Blocks Of Life Found On Asteroid Bennu
Early analysis of asteroid samples from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission show the residue of an icy brine, and a soup of amino acids.
19m Feb 04, 2025
19m
957: The Toxic Aftermath Of An Urban Fire
When a fire burns in an urban area, it unleashes a slurry of chemicals. Scientists are trying to understand the chemistry at play.
19m Feb 03, 2025
19m
956: Strain Of Bird Flu Discovered In California | Understanding Bipolar Disorder Through The Genome
The outbreak of H5N9 avian influenza occurred at a California duck farm in November 2024. Also, new research pinpoints 298 parts of the genome associated with higher risk of bipolar disorder. This could lead to better treatments. Another Strain Of Bird Flu Discovered In California This week, the World Organization for Animal Health reported that it had been notified by the USDA that a Novembe...
25m Jan 31, 2025
25m
955: The Science Of Thriving In Winter—By Embracing It
A psychologist and author of “How To Winter” explains what we can learn from people thriving in the coldest, darkest parts of the world.
19m Jan 30, 2025
19m
954: The Factors That Make Bird Sounds So Diverse Across The World
An analysis of 140,000 vocalizations from 77% of bird species showed that beak size and geography play a big role in the way birds sound.
17m Jan 29, 2025
17m
953: Can Paxlovid Relieve Long COVID Symptoms? For Some, Yes
Research on long COVID patients who took an extended course of Paxlovid shows mixed results.
19m Jan 28, 2025
19m
952: AI Is Coming Up With Brand New Molecules, Fueling Drug Discovery
AI models are able to design molecules that don’t even exist in nature. Some have proven effective as snake antivenom.
19m Jan 27, 2025
19m
952: Trump Administration Cancels Meetings, Freezes Hiring At NIH | What Is A Meme Coin?
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health say the move has sent fear and confusion throughout the agency. Plus, what's the technology behind meme coins? Trump Administration Cancels Meetings, Freezes Hiring At NIH This was President Trump’s first week back in the Oval Office. Along with issuing a flurry of executive orders, his administration has imposed a range of restrictions (https:...
25m Jan 24, 2025
25m
951: Why Editors At Scientific Journals Are Resigning En Masse
Publishers want to put out more papers with less editorial staff, all while charging scientists more to publish. Editors have had enough.
19m Jan 23, 2025
19m
950: This January, See A ‘Planet Parade’ In The Night Sky
Astronomer Dean Regas gives us the lowdown on what to look for in the sky this winter, from a “planet parade” to the ATLAS comet.
18m Jan 22, 2025
18m
949: ‘Orbital’ Imagines The Inner Lives Of Astronauts On The ISS
The award-winning novel explores the inner thoughts of astronauts during a single day aboard the International Space Station.
22m Jan 21, 2025
22m
948: Fire Risk To Homes Where Cities And Wildlands Meet
About a third of US homes are in a wildland-urban interface, a kind of high-risk area where development meets open land.
19m Jan 20, 2025
19m
947: 2 Private Lunar Landers | Cervical Cancer Deaths Plummet, Experts Credit HPV Vaccine
The SpaceX rocket carries lunar landers from companies based in Texas and Japan. They could arrive at the moon in the coming months. HPV can cause a variety of cancers, including cervical. New mortality data for women under 25 point to the success of the HPV vaccine. Rocket Launches With Lunar Landers From 2 Private Companies On Wednesday, a SpaceX rocket launched carrying payloads from two s...
25m Jan 17, 2025
25m
946: ‘Artificial General Intelligence’ Is Apparently Coming. What Is It?
For years, AI companies have said that AGI is coming soon. But what does the term mean, and what is the science behind it?
18m Jan 16, 2025
18m
943: NASA Considers Cheaper Ways To Retrieve Mars Samples | How Does A Hula Hoop Stay Up?
Scientists investigated how the shape of the human body makes hula hooping possible—and what hips and a waist have to do with it. And, the decision for how to proceed with NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission will fall to the incoming administration. What Makes A Hula Hoop Stay Up? Hula hooping might appear to be a simple physical activity. But there’s some complex math and physics at play (http...
18m Jan 15, 2025
18m
944: Surgeon General Highlights Link Between Alcohol And Cancer
In his final advisory, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy spotlights how alcohol increases the risk of developing certain cancers.
19m Jan 14, 2025
19m
945: First U.S. Bird Flu Death Raises Concerns About Preparedness
This week, the U.S. reported its first human death from bird flu amid a rise in cases globally.
20m Jan 13, 2025
20m
942: Meet Flora Lichtman | Los Angeles Wildfires Stoked By Santa Ana Winds
After her SciFri internship 20 years ago, Flora went on to become a beloved science journalist, video producer, and podcaster. Now she’s back! Also, several different fires are causing extreme damage in the Los Angeles area. Strong Santa Ana winds are one factor behind their rapid spread. Science Friday Now Has Two Hosts: Meet Flora Lichtman! Big news! Science Friday now has two hosts—Ira Fla...
24m Jan 10, 2025
24m
941: What Lichen Tell Us About Ecology, Air Quality, And More
Ira is joined on stage by experts in Portland, Oregon, to talk about the amazing world of lichen and their role in a changing climate.
31m Jan 09, 2025
31m
940: Biologists Call For A Halt To ‘Mirror Life’ Research
A “mirror organism” would have proteins and DNA shaped in a way that’s the mirror image of how they naturally appear.
19m Jan 08, 2025
19m
939: The Breakthrough Technologies To Watch In 2025
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence is still poised to be a major driver of technological change this year.
19m Jan 07, 2025
19m
938: What Scientists Have Learned From 125 Years Of Bird Counts
This winter marks Audubon’s 125th Christmas Bird Count. It’s the longest-running community science project in the world.
20m Jan 06, 2025
20m
937: Scientists Predict Loss Of Deep Snow In Most Of U.S.
Without climate action, the United States would only have snow cover high in the mountains by the end of the century.
13m Jan 03, 2025
13m